Samsung has yet again released a new series and this time it’s the Galaxy A71 series with a bit of twist.
This phone comes in two models: the Samsung Galaxy A71 and another being the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G.
Should you spend more and get the 5G model over the other? Find out the answer in our article on the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G.
Get your very own Samsung Galaxy A71 5G 128GB (Unlocked) – Prism Cube Black at BestBuy.com now!
List of Specifications
Dimensions | 162.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm |
Weight | 185g |
Display | 6.7 inches FHD+ sAMOLED |
1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | |
Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
Storage options | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
Software | One UI 2.0 based on Android 10 |
Rear Camera | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72″, 0.8µm, PDAF |
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) | |
5 MP, f/2.4, (macro) | |
5 MP, f/2.2, (depth) | |
4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS (Video) | |
Selfie Camera | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm |
HDR | |
4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (Video) | |
Chipset | Exynos 980 (8 nm) |
Card Slot | microSDXC |
Battery | 4500 mAh (supports 25W fast charging) |
Colours | Prism Cube Black, Prism Cube Sliver, Prism Cube Blue |
Other Features | UFS 2.1 storage |
Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
Pros
- Long battery life
- Good overall camera
- Has a dedicated external memory
Cons
- Lacks telephoto sensor
- Not water resistant
- Built in battery
- Does not have wireless charging technology
Design and Layout
The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is one of Samsung’s cheaper phones. Although it’s cheaper than other models, the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is still a huge phone, with a 6.7 inch display, making it the same size as the Galaxy Note 20.
The front of the phone is covered in a curved glass that expertly slips through the metal frame and this frame extends all the way across the phone’s corners.
The back of the phone on the other hand is protected by a plastic panel, which is painted to look like glass.
Samsung has included a cool feature on the phone by giving it a two-tone appearance that changes when you move the phone. However, this glossy blue coating is prone to collecting dust and fingerprints. The display is also covered with a sheet of Gorilla Glass 3 for protection.
On the right edge of the handset, Samsung placed the screen lock button and volume toggle. These buttons performed admirably.
The SIM tray is tucked into the top edge, and the bottom edge houses a USB-C slot, headphone socket, and speaker grille. The fingerprint sensor on the A71, like many other phones these days, is embedded into the display.
While this can seem to be a privilege for midrange consumers, this scanner can be a hit or miss for users as it takes time for users to get used to this feature.
Another downside to this phone is that it does not come with wireless charging technology, which is surprising as it’s available with the iPhone 11, which only cost 100$ more.
The Galaxy A71 5G is also not water resistant in any way, unlike the iPhone 11 or Samsung’s new Galaxy S-series phones.
Neither functionality is unrealistic to demand from a system that costs more than $500; however, the A71 lacks both. At the very least, Samsung did not eliminate the headphone port.
Display
The Galaxy A71 has one of Samsung’s Super AMOLED displays, which measures 6.7 inches and has a full-HD resolution.
Because of the small pixel count for the scale, jagged edges of text, icons, and graphics are more noticeable than on larger phones with quad-HD displays, though this is to be expected for its price range.
That being said, this isn’t a bad display by any stretch. It reaches a maximum brightness of 481 nits. It also produces vibrant colours, mainly when using the Vivid colour profile.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A71 has a large 4500 mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging.
Unlike several other brands, the fast charger is included in the package and does not need to be purchased separately.
The battery life is outstanding, with a single charge lasting up to one and a half days, even after gaming.
The Galaxy A71 not only lasts longer on a charge than the Pixel 4a and iPhone SE, but it also charges better, with a 25-watt converter that charges 60% in just 30 minutes.
Fast charging is challenging to come by on lower-cost phones (and much more so on higher-cost phones, as the iPhone 11 only comes with a sluggish 5-watt charger), so it’s good to see Samsung include the best possible charging technology for the A7.
Software and Performance
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765 processor powers the Galaxy A71 5G, which is also used in most reasonably priced 5G phones these days. For example, the current OnePlus Nord has a 765G chip that is best suited to gaming.
The Snapdragon 765 is paired with 8GB of RAM in the A71, resulting in excellent raw efficiency — even though it falls shy of Qualcomm’s quicker 8-series silicon in benchmarks.
The Galaxy A71 5G carries out basic tasks, such as using Google Docs, with ease. However, when it comes to playing games on this model, the Snapdragon 765’s limits are tested.
Overall, however, the A71’s performance is satisfactory. Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A51, was thrown off by simple tasks like unlocking and launching applications.
The A71, on the other hand, is free of those bumps in the road, and we would much more easily recommend it for purchase.
Camera Performance
The Galaxy A71 has four cameras on the back: a 64-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultra wide lens, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 5MP depth sensor.
Apart from the 64MP main camera, the other three are identical to those seen in the Galaxy A51. The phone shoots binned-down 16MP pictures right out of the box.
If you choose to use the entire 64MP resolution, you must manually pick it. Otherwise, you have the option of shooting in a variety of aspect ratios, including the full 21:9 screen for the cinematic feel.
Pro, panorama, food, night, macro, super slow-mo, slow motion, and hyperlapse are among the shooting modes available in the app.
The most evident downside to this model is its night mode photography feature. Since it does not include telephoto technology, the images are dark and filled with overwhelming noise.
The Competition
If you’re in the hunt for an Android phone and want to be future-proofed with 5G, the A71 is a good option if you don’t want to spend more than $500.
That’s how much the Pixel 4A 5G costs. It is similar to the A71 in several respects and takes great shots.
The Pixel, on the other hand, lacks expandable capacity and shorter battery life. Both phones will receive three years of app and security upgrades, but the Pixel will most likely receive them even earlier.
If you want pictures of skyscrapers at night, then you should opt to get Google’s Pixel 4a as it is able to capture images in the dark with more visibility and way less noise.
The Pixel can also paint more definition and colour in the highlights of images, thus offering a more appealing image.
Another notable competitor is the iPhone SE. This phone has the world’s best smartphone chipset, which can outperform the A71 and last for years longer; it still has a great camera, wireless charging, and water resistance, and it’s $200 less.
And then comes the OnePlus Nord, which, in several ways, matches the A71 — at least in countries where OnePlus sells it. It has the same number of rear cameras, the same processor, and also supports 5G.
Although being about $100 cheaper than the A71, the Nord is better built and fitted with flagship features such as a 90Hz camera.
The Bottom Line
Similar to Samsung’s other budget phones, the Galaxy A71 is one of the best Samsung has to offer for its price range.
You get a phone with Super AMOLED displays, which measures 6.7 inches and has a full-HD resolution. If you’re looking for a cheap phone with good features, then the Galaxy A71 is the right choice for you.
On the other hand, if you are willing to spend more money, we recommend opting for Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which is better in every aspect even though it’s more expensive.
Check out the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G on BestBuy.com to know more!