Samsung Galaxy A17
Old Flagships vs New Budget Phones - THE TRUTH
Pros
- Camera performs well in bright, well-lit environments.
- Large 5,000 mAh battery capacity for extended use.
- Impressive display quality with good colors and brightness for its price.
- Comes with six years of software support and OS upgrades.
- Features expandable storage via an SD card slot.
Cons
- Camera capabilities are limited in low light and when zooming.
- The Exynos 1330 processor feels notably slow during tasks.
- Video recording is limited to 1080p on all lenses.
- Asymmetric bezels and lack of an always-on display.
- Low IP54 water and dust resistance and less premium plastic build.
The Samsung Galaxy A17 is a viable option for those seeking a new device with peace of mind from a 12-month warranty and extensive software support at a $200 price. It offers a surprisingly impressive display and decent camera performance in bright conditions, complemented by a large battery and expandable storage.
However, its slow Exynos 1330 processor can lead to sluggish performance, and the camera's limitations become evident in low light or when zooming. While the device is usable, consumers should be aware of these trade-offs and its basic IP54 water resistance.
“if you prefer something a little bit safer, you want something new, was never owned by somebody else, and you want peace of mind knowing that you have that 12-month warranty, the Samsung Galaxy A17 can definitely make sense.”
“Just know that cameras are definitely a bit more limited. You're going to do they're going to do a great job in very bright, well-lit environments, but when you're in darker environments, when you're zooming in, uh when you're doing things like that, you're going to find the limit of this camera fairly quickly.”
“And the only real complaint I have is that the processor does feel a bit slow. But if you're patient and you're okay with that, it's definitely a usable phone.”
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G full review
Pros
- The main camera includes optical stabilization and takes decent daytime photos.
- Selfies captured by the 13MP front-facing camera are solid with good detail.
- It features a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus protection.
- The 5,000 mAh battery provides good active use time.
- The phone promises seven major OS upgrades.
Cons
- The ultrawide and 2MP macro cameras are basic and unimpressive.
- The Exynos 1330 chipset, carried over from the previous model, results in stutters and lag.
- The screen's brightness is not adaptive and is limited compared to some competitors.
- No charger is included in the box.
- The phone is considered hard to recommend due to its performance issues and better value from competitors.
The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G offers a high refresh rate OLED screen, decent main camera with OIS, and solid selfies, backed by Samsung's software support and a large 5,000 mAh battery. However, its primary drawback is the low-end Exynos 1330 chipset, which causes a laggy user experience, especially in the 4GB RAM variant, and is the same as its predecessor.
The ultrawide and macro cameras are also basic, and the screen brightness is not exceptional. The reviewer finds the phone hard to recommend until its price decreases, suggesting that competitors or other Samsung models currently offer better value or more powerful hardware.
“However, our biggest issue with last year's A16 is back again. The low-end chipset and laggy user experience.”
“So, until this phone's price goes down as well, the A17 5G is a bit hard to recommend.”