Introduction and specs
While last year’s Galaxy A16 5G brought a significant upgrade over the previous generation, this year’s A17 5G’s hardware upgrades are more modest, but still noteworthy.
The Galaxy A17 5G is your second-cheapest option from the Samsung portfolio, making it an ideal entry-level solution for Samsung fans and Samsung even offers long software support with promised 6 years of major OS upgrades.
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G specs at a glance:
- Body: 164.4×77.9×7.5mm, 192g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, glass fiber back; IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes).
- Display: 6.70″ Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 385ppi.
- Chipset: Exynos 1330 (5 nm): Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G68 MP2.
- Memory: 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
- OS/Software: Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, AF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 5 MP, f/2.2, 1/5.0″, 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1″, 1.12µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; 25W wired.
- Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 5; BT 5.3; NFC.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted).
The new Galaxy A17 5G is now equipped with Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the front and a glass fiber back. The new materials have allowed Samsung to slim down the phone a bit and to shave off a few grams too.
The camera hardware remains largely the same (now with OIS), and so does the battery hardware. It’s still 5,000 mAh with 25W charging.
The Galaxy A17 5G will likely be well-positioned in the US, where the entry-level solutions are scarce, but it will face some challenges in markets such as Europe and India. Let’s take a deeper look at the Galaxy A17 5G.
Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G
The phone comes in a standard retail box containing only the user manuals and a USB-C to USB-C cable.
You will need to get your own charger separately, and if you are after the fastest charging speed possible, Samsung’s own 25W charger is a cost-effective way to get an adapter that supports the required PPS profile.