Mid-range smartphones, or “uberflagships,” as Russian tech journalists dubbed them, are perhaps the best thing that happened to the mobile industry in 2016. Rapid progress has led to the fact that mid-range smartphones are now so good that they quite successfully satisfy the needs of even very demanding users.
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
CPU: Exynos 7880 Octa
RAM: 3 GB
Memory: 32 GB
Display: 5.2" Super Amoled 1080 x 1920
Camera: 16 MP, f/1.9 (main), 16 MP, f/1.9 (front)
Battery: 3000 mAh
Size and weight: 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm, 157g
Roughly speaking, modern flagships are superior to mid-range devices only in the camera level, as well as various innovations such as a fingerprint scanner, heart rate sensor, screen pressure detection, improved sound path, fast wireless charging and others. Such technologies first appear in flagship devices and only the next year become available in mid-range devices.
In this regard, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is made, as they say, according to classic patterns and is similar to the 2016 flagship Samsung Galaxy S7.
The case is made of impact-resistant Gorilla Glass with an oleophobic coating. The smartphone received a curved back panel and slightly rounded edges (2.5D) screen glass.
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The Galaxy A5 features a Super Amoled display, water and dust protection according to the IP68 standard (up to 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1.5 m).
The device also supports such fashionable "chips" as Always-on display, Samsung Pay payment service, fast charging technology and others.
Design and screen
Externally, the Galaxy A5 (2017) really looks like the Galaxy S7 and looks, as marketers would say, no less premium than last year's Samsung flagship.
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The display is made using Super Amoled technology, diagonal - 5.2 inches, resolution - Full HD (1080 x 1920). This is a bright and contrasting screen with wide viewing angles and deep blacks.
At the same time, the Galaxy S7 display had a higher resolution - QHD (1440 x 2560). Oddly enough, this reduction turned out to be quite a good decision. If you do not insert the Galaxy A5 into a VR helmet, where QHD is just a necessary minimum, then for a diagonal of 5.2 Full HD resolution is enough.
Battery and processor
Importantly, a lower resolution screen is not only cheaper, but also consumes less power. In terms of battery life, the Galaxy A5 (2017) clearly outperforms the Galaxy S7. Although Samsung does not position the device as a special long-playing device, moderate power consumption is one of its strong points.
And for at least a year, you'll be able to play the most graphic-demanding games.
Support for fast charging is an added bonus.
Camera
Taking photos is where the Galaxy S7 analogy doesn't fit. Last year's Samsung flagship has one of the best mobile cameras to date, and it's certainly a shame it didn't make its way into the A5.
The smartphone has a completely different photomodule: a 16 MP camera with f/1.9 aperture. For comparison, the Galaxy S7 has a 12MP camera with f/1.8 aperture.
Do not think that more pixels of the matrix will provide better image quality. A lot of other parameters also matter, such as aperture ratio, pixel size, autofocus operation, stabilization, processing algorithms.
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Especially the Galaxy A5 camera loses in low light. If in photographs taken during the day and even at dusk, the difference in quality is not very noticeable, then when shooting at night it is still fatal.
Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru
Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru
Perhaps the point is in the algorithms for processing night shots and in the absence of optical stabilization (OIS). If developers can still fix the software part in future firmware updates, then you will have to put up with the lack of OIS.
Note that
Galaxy A5 (2016) had optical stabilization, and why it was abandoned is a mystery.
But the front camera with 16 megapixels is designed to please selfie lovers. To her, unlike the main one, there are no complaints.
Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru
"Chips"
What is interesting about the Galaxy A5 that makes it stand out from the competition?
Water and dust protection distinguishes the Galaxy A5 (2017) from other competitors. Only Sony Xperia smartphones can boast of similar durability. Of course, we are talking about ordinary smartphones, and not about special devices for extreme sports and the military.
The fingerprint scanner can be configured to recognize three fingerprints. The technology works quite correctly, but still slower than in the Galaxy S7. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the scanner is combined with the Home button.
For Android-smartphones, such an "iPhone" location of the scanner is a rather rare option.
Samsung Pay is, in a sense, a unique, although not the most requested option that is only found in the new Galaxy S and Galaxy A smartphones.
Especially for the paranoid, there is a safe KNOX environment. That is, private information can be stored in a special encrypted folder.
Always On Display has finally appeared not only on Samsung flagships. The essence of the function is that the time, calendar and notifications are shown even when the screen is off. At the same time, the battery is consumed a little faster, but the Galaxy A5 (2017) still lives its two days and with the Always On Display option activated.
And the last important detail is that the device does not have a hybrid slot for SIM cards and memory cards, but there are two separate full holes.
That is, you can insert two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time. Given that the A5 has only 32 GB of main memory, this is more than a justified decision.
Outcome
Of the obvious advantages of the Galaxy A5 (2017) is the spectacular design of the flagship S-series, high-quality screen, long battery life, 16 MP front camera, moisture and dust protection according to the IP68 standard.
Among the less noticeable ones are Samsung Pay support, a well-developed proprietary graphical interface, simultaneous support for two SIM cards and a memory card, branded accessories, high-quality assembly, warranty, technical support and other things that stand behind big brands.
Cons - the operation of the main camera in low light conditions, the lack of optical image stabilization in the camera, the lack of wireless charging, and still the rather high price of the device (28 thousand rubles), which is declared as a budget flagship.
Want to know which Samsungs support wireless charging and whether your smartphone has this capability? Let's take a closer look at which Korean company phones support this wireless feature.
This company was the first to offer customers to charge their devices wirelessly, over the air. For the first time, this technology from Koreans appeared at various exhibitions a couple of years ago and Samsung still does not change itself. However, not every device of the company boasts the function of replenishing the battery charge by air. In this article, you will learn about all the models of the company with the implemented technology for transmitting energy through the air.
Samsung Wireless Charging Support: How Does It Work?
After looking at the main competitors from Apple Corporation, Samsung engineers decided to implement their own Qi interface.
In total, the company's smartphones have support for two standards - Qi and PMA. The first is newer and has a faster battery charge rate. However, it is found only in flagship devices that many users cannot afford.
What else is there besides Samsung - you will learn from another article.
Samsung Wireless Charging Supported Models
Let's highlight the list of phones that support wireless charging from Samsung:
- for the first time, Qi support appeared already in the fifth generation of the Note phablet;
- galaxy S6 generation;
- extended version of the Galaxy S6 Plus;
- version with a curved screen galaxy S6 Edge;
- the latest generation of the galaxy S7;
- galaxy s7 edge version.
Now you know which Samsung phones support wireless charging and you can choose a device that suits your needs and capabilities. However, all the listed phones are flagships and their price tags differ slightly.
In the next section, you can read material about how well Qi works and much more.
Wireless charging is a very convenient feature that allows you to charge your smartphone battery without connecting any cables to your smartphone. Instead, you just need to put the smartphone on a special stand that is connected to the power supply, and. Of course, like a cable, but this is offset by ease of use.
Unfortunately, wireless charging is still a very rare feature. Not even all flagship devices support it, and there is nothing to say about mid-range and budget smartphones. Therefore, you will have to pay a tidy sum for a smartphone with wireless charging.
In this article, we will look at a number of smartphones with wireless charging that can be found on sale at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. We hope this list will help you choose the right model.
Galaxy S8 is the flagship smartphone of 2017 from Samsung. Like previous models in the Galaxy S line, the Galaxy S8 supports wireless charging.
However, the appearance of the Galaxy S8 has changed a lot compared to the previous Galaxy S. The body of the device is made of Gorilla Glass 5 glass. The main feature of the smartphone is the screen. It takes up almost the entire space on the front panel and has rounded edges. This makes the Galaxy S8 unmistakable from previous generations of the Galaxy S. Another distinguishing feature of the Galaxy S8 is the lack of a home button below the screen. The touch buttons "Back" and "Multitasking" have also disappeared, now the on-screen buttons perform the function, as in most modern Android smartphones. The fingerprint sensor has moved to the back side and is located to the right of the camera.
- OS version: Android 7.0;
- SIM card type: nano SIM;
- Number of SIM cards: 2;
- Diagonal: 5.8 inches;
- Image size: 2960×1440;
- Number of pixels per inch (PPI): 568;
- Rear camera: 12 MP;
- Front camera: 8 MP;
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998;
- Video processor: Adreno 540;
- Wireless charging: yes;
Note 8 is another flagship smartphone with wireless charging from Samsung. Despite the explosive failure with the previous generation Galaxy Note, Samsung decided not to abandon this brand and in 2017 again released a new model.
The main feature of Note 8 is the dual rear camera, which fits very organically into the design of the smartphone. Like the Galaxy S8, the Note 8 has removed the buttons on the front of the device and moved them to the screen. The fingerprint scanner has also changed its location, now it is to the right of the camera.
Smartphone specifications include:
- OS version: Android 7.1;
- SIM card type: nano SIM;
- Number of SIM cards: 2;
- Diagonal: 6.3 inches;
- Number of pixels per inch (PPI): 522;
- Rear camera: dual 12/12 MP;
- RAM: 6 GB;
- Battery capacity: 3300 mAh;
- Wireless charging: yes;
The Galaxy S7 is Sansung's 2016 flagship smartphone and it also supports wireless battery charging. The Galaxy S7 is made in the classic style for the Galaxy S line. The front and back sides of the device are covered with 2.5D glass. The side face is metal. Below the screen is a home button with a built-in fingerprint scanner.
Smartphone specifications include:
- OS version: Android 7.0;
- SIM card type: nano SIM;
- Number of SIM cards: 2;
- Diagonal: 5.1 inches. ;
- Number of pixels per inch (PPI): 576;
- Rear camera: 12 MP;
- Front camera: yes, 5 million pixels. ;
- Number of processor cores: 8;
- RAM: 4 GB;
- Battery capacity: 3000 mAh;
- Wireless charging: yes;
The Elite X3 is a wireless charging smartphone from HP. Perhaps the main feature of this model is that it runs on Windows 10 Mobile. Design-wise, nothing special. The smartphone is made entirely of plastic, no premium materials or design frills.
Some configurations of the HP Elite X3 include a docking station. With its help, you can connect a screen and peripherals to your smartphone, so it can be turned into some kind of desktop computer.
Smartphone specifications include:
- OS version: MS Windows 10 Mobile;
- SIM card type: nano SIM;
- Image size: 2560×1440;
- Number of pixels per inch (PPI): 493;
- Rear camera: 16 MP;
- Front camera: yes, 8 million pixels;
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996, 2150 MHz;
- Video processor: Adreno 530;
- RAM: 4 GB;
- Battery capacity: 4150 mAh;
- Wireless charging: yes;
Good day, dear readers. Samsung's wireless charging is what sets Samsung's smartphones apart from the competition, and especially from the iPhone. This South Korean giant is engaged in the production of various equipment, but has achieved particular success by developing smartphones. Their devices are manufactured using the most advanced technologies, bringing in millions of dollars in revenue every year. Not surprisingly, it was the Samsung Galaxy line of smartphones that was one of the first to offer the user to abandon the usual wired chargers. And, I must say, so far only a few companies have been able to compete in this regard with a company from South Korea.
Samsung - to be the first everywhere
It seems that it is difficult to connect the wire of a conventional charger, especially since today many smartphones are endowed with a USB Type -C port, which is symmetrical - you can connect the cable to the device on either side. And yet, manufacturers do not stand still, coming up with something new to simplify the life of the user. One of the latest “chips” of branded devices is wireless charging. Of course, it was not bypassed by specialists from Samsung, who did serious work on the technology. Of course, there were others before them, such as Nokia, which equipped the well-known Lumia line with support for wireless charging.
However, Nokia has left the ranks of the most advanced companies, and competitors have adopted the most interesting features of its products. Samsung, in addition to other interesting features, began to actively introduce wireless charging. She did this with a special approach, not just declaring a new "chip", but providing the user with everything that is needed for comfortable use. So, Samsung Galaxy s6 and s7, which received wireless charging, included a very stylish and high-quality charging stand. At that time, Apple - the main competitor - presented thick cases that were equipped with an additional battery.
Which Samsung models support wireless charging
The South Korean company had the idea to introduce wireless charging even before the release of the Samsung Galaxy S 3, which joined the ranks of flagships in 2012. However, then the idea was only in its infancy, and a prototype mobile phone with contactless charging was introduced by Palm OS. The Samsung Galaxy S 3 already had contacts for connecting the device using the Qi standard (located under the back cover). The next two models S4 and S5 were equipped with contacts, but wireless charging was not integrated. Special accessories came to the rescue, which made the technology quite working.
But the Samsung Galaxy S 6 with all its modifications, which brought a lot to the smartphone market, has already received full wireless charging from the manufacturer. This model received an all-metal case, inside of which a coil is hidden, which serves as an energy receiver. The delivery set is accompanied by a docking station in the form of a platform that transmits energy. That is, the user just needs to put his Samsung Galaxy S 6 or S6 Edge on it to start charging. An interesting feature was that the smartphone supports wireless charging according to two standards at once: Qi and PMA. This allows you to use docking stations for various purposes.
More recent Samsung Galaxy S 7 and S 7 Edge solutions have not abandoned the innovative feature, which is not surprising. Wireless charging is also integrated in these models, and the package includes a pad. By the time the new product was released, many Chinese online stores were already inundated with original docking station solutions that are perfect for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Charging standards have remained the same - Qi and PMA.
The shelves are about to be replenished with the new Samsung Galaxy S 8 model. Several modifications with various innovations are expected. Wireless charging in the Samsung Galaxy S8, of course, is not new, but according to rumors, it will be seriously improved. According to a number of sources, the future flagship will receive an integrated receiver of three coils, which will significantly expand the reception range, increasing efficiency. It remains to wait quite a bit.
Principle of operation
Without going too deep, the principle of wireless charging for Samsung Galaxy, and other smartphones is the same. Two copper coils are used (transmitter - docking station; receiver - coil in a smartphone), which create a magnetic field. The receiver, receiving the waves, converts them into energy, charging the smartphone's battery. As a rule, the Qi standard (developed by the Wireless Power Consortium) is used, which supports the transmission of induction energy at a distance of up to 4 centimeters.
The idea of transmitting energy "through the air" appeared about 200 years ago, when Marie Ampère proved that an electric current produces a magnetic field. Nikola Tesla also gave a lot of strength, who managed to light an incandescent lamp without wires. Of course, this technology has become interesting to electronics manufacturers in our time. Several corporations have developed their own low to medium current transmission standards. And more recently, in 2015, a group of scientists found out that energy can be transmitted via Wi-Fi. Apparently, the time is not far off when we will be able to completely forget about the regular recharging of devices.
Samsung Wireless Charging Galaxy - different models, different options
So, having talked a little about energy transmission standards, let's get back to the "guests" of our article. Considering that we are talking about wireless charging, the entire Samsung Galaxy line can be divided into two groups according to this principle:
Models with built-in wireless charging. This group includes:
- Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 Duos
- S6 Edge
- S6 Edge Plus
- S7/S7 Edge
- Galaxy Note 5
- Galaxy Note 7
- Watch – Samsung Gear S2 / Classic
Models for which a special receiver is available (there are special contacts under the rear cover):
- Samsung Galaxy S3
- Galaxy S4
- Galaxy S5
- Note 2
- Note 3
- Note 4
- Note Edge
Some other models that do not support any of the options shown support universal receivers. They can be purchased online at low cost.
Built-in wireless charging Samsung Galaxy S 6, S 7
Most lucky owners of the latest Samsung Galaxy models, which are already provided by the manufacturer for wireless charging. As a rule, a branded docking station is included in the package, which is suitable for charging other smartphones that have received this technology. By the way, the stand from Samsung is in great demand due to its versatility and high-quality assembly. If suddenly it breaks down, then you can buy a new one in almost any electronics store, as well as at a lower price in Chinese online stores.
Considering that the Samsung Galaxy S 6, S 7 models and their modifications use wireless charging that supports several standards, you can buy another docking station in a more stylish design. Today, there are hundreds of offers on the market that will definitely work with smartphones of the South Korean brand.
For recharging, it is enough to put the smartphone on the platform-transmitter. Do not forget to connect it to the electrical network using an adapter. The original docking station has a backlight that will notify the user about the progress of charging: blue color - the smartphone is charging; green - fully charged. The manufacturer has equipped the platform with an automatic shutdown function after the battery is fully charged. It plays a rather significant role, protecting the smartphone battery from destructive overcharging. Full charge time depends on the specific model (different battery capacities) - on average, it takes 3 hours to charge a 3000 mAh battery.
Wireless charging Samsung Galaxy S 3, S 4, S 5 - you need to buy something extra
As mentioned above, a number of Samsung Galaxy models (S 3, S 4, S 5, etc.) received special contacts that are "hidden" under the back cover. For each of the models, special receivers are presented (corresponding to the contacts), which are sold in online stores. They are inexpensive (about 700 rubles for a set with a docking station), they are connected very simply, hiding under the cover. These receivers are made according to the Qi standard, which allows you to use almost any platform for Samsung wireless charging (of course, also Qi).
It is most advantageous to buy such a receiver in Chinese online stores. The main thing is to look for which Samsung model it is intended for. It’s better to look under the smartphone’s cover on your own to understand how the contacts are located. Unfortunately, wireless charging still doesn't work well through cases, especially those made of metal, so either use thin cases or don't use them at all.
Universal wireless chargers
If someone remains faithful to their Samsung S 2, but wants to try out wireless charging, then they will have to buy a universal receiver. The fact is that at the time when this smartphone model came out, priority was clearly not given to charging without wires. The Samsung S2 doesn't have special pins like its descendants, but friends from China have found a way out. The universal receiver (it is a thin plate and a connector) is connected to the charging port, and the main part is bent to the back cover. Covers are used for fixation. Soldering iron virtuosos manage to connect the receiver directly, hiding it under the back cover. Docking stations come with the receiver, as a rule. However, any models that support the Qi standard can be used.
More expensive or cheaper
Of course, we all love to save money. However, when buying wireless charging for Samsung smartphones, it is better not to do this. This is especially true for the latest models. Although the manufacturer has already provided the original docking station for them, and you don’t have to worry about the receiver at all, many users want something new. Of course, no one is immune from the breakdown of the site, which entails additional costs. Give preference to branded wireless chargers from Samsung, well, or proven models: DT-900 from Nokia, Belsis TECs TS1001, interesting solutions from Woodpuck. By overpaying a little, you will reduce the risk of undesirable consequences: overheating of the site, power surges, overcharging, etc.
So what should owners of older Samsung Galaxy models do that didn't get wireless charging from the factory? Yes, almost the same thing - buy the original docking station. The receiver, of course, will have to be looked for from third-party manufacturers. If you decide to save money by ordering a cheap replica, then study user reviews that will help you set the level of quality.
Outcome
Wireless charging in Samsung smartphones is no longer just another feature that will interest only some users. Thanks to the responsible approach of manufacturers, the technology is becoming more popular day by day. Wireless charging points for smartphones from Samsung and other companies appear at airports, cafes, cinemas. Yes, wireless charging is far from a perfectly polished technology that has no drawbacks. They are, but every year the manufacturer solves them a little, bringing users closer to giving up a bunch of wires in the house.
