Slimline Samsung Galaxy A7 comes with eight cores, selfie mode and KitKat (hands-on)
The Samsung Galaxy A7 is a svelte 4G smartphone, but doesn't include the latest Android software.
BARCELONA -- The Samsung Galaxy A7 is a new eight-core 4G smartphone that's slimmer than Kate Moss on a juice cleanse, but it should perhaps have helped itself to a Lollipop.
The A7 is a follow-up to the all-metal Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 . Like the older A3 and A5, the A7 runs Android 4.4 KitKat. KitKat is still perfectly serviceable, but phone fans will be disappointed that it's not the latest Android software, which is called Lollipop.
Exact prices and release dates are yet to be confirmed. We've gone hands-on with the A7 here at MWC however, and we can report that its metallic frame makes a strong first impression, feeling very sturdy and much swankier than some of Samsung's earlier plastic smartphones.
Samsung trumpets that the A7 is "one of the slimmest Galaxy smartphones" and at just 6.3mm wide and 141 grams (5 ounces) it's certainly sworn off the carbs. Choose from white, very dark blue or a champagne tint for the case.
Out front is a 5.5-inch full HD AMOLED screen. Underneath, the phone is powered by eight cores of silicon: 1.8GHz quad-core and 1.3GHz quad-core processors supported by 2GB of RAM.
Data connection comes thanks to Category 4 4G LTE for speedy Internet browsing, video and music streaming, and uploading pictures to social media.
The main camera is a 13-megapixel with autofocus and LED flash. On the front is a 5-megapixel camera. Photo features include an auto selfie mode that lets you snap away by talking to your phone or waving your hand, allowing you to capture a shot without disturbing your perfect pout.
For less frivolous pursuits, private mode locks away important files and documents behind an extra layer of security.
Selected countries will be able to choose a dual-SIM model, which allows you to keep two phone numbers on the same phone. The dual-SIM model boasts 1.5GHz quad-core and 1GHz quad-core chips.