Samsung Unveils Two New Smartphones: Galaxy A5 And A3

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Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:0059935) has stayed true to its word, revealing details of the new Galaxy A5 and the Galaxy A3, with the new pair being touted as the company’s “slimmest smartphones to date”. The use of a metallic case is an intriguing step away from the traditional use of plastic bodies by the Korean company.

Samsung Galaxy A5, Galaxy A3: Specifications

The body of the Galaxy A5 is just 6.7 mm thick, and the A3 measures 6.9 mm. Both of the new smartphones feature a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

The Galaxy A5 has the stronger specs, with a 5-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and a 15-megapixel back-facing camera. The A3 has some respectable specs of its own, including a slightly smaller 4.5-inch screen, the same processor, 1 GB RAM and an 8-megapixel camera.

Both of the new models can support 4G networks and include a Micro-SD slot to enable users to upgrade the memory of their device. The new pair will both run the Android KitKat (4.4) operating system.

An attempt to shore up revenue

The Korean manufacturer has seen its revenue stall as the iPhone squeezes its share of the top-end smartphone market, including in its home market of Korea, where the release of the new iPhone 6 saw a huge number of pre-orders.

The Galaxy A5 and A3 do not appear to be a challenge to the iPhone 6, instead looking towards the mid-tier market, and China more specifically. Samsung announced that the new phones would be released in “select markets including China” in November.

Commentators have seized upon the specific mention of China, linking it to the fact that Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi’s phones are impacting Samsung’s business in the country. Xiaomi smartphones retail at $300 and $150, and strong sales have boosted it to No. 3 in the smartphone rankings. Although pricing details for the A5 and A3 are yet to be announced, it would seem that Samsung is taking aim at Xiaomi with its new duo.

The battle for the Chinese smartphone market is hotting up, with Lenovo announcing plans to create a rival to Xiaomi in the shape of a new China-specific business to be launched next year,

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