Samsung Galaxy A series

Developer	Samsung Electronics
Type	Smartphones and tablets
Release date	31 October 2014; 9 years ago (2014-10-31)
System on a chip	Exynos (2014–present) Qualcomm Snapdragon (2014–2016, 2018–present) MediaTek (2019–present) UNISOC (2022)

The Samsung Galaxy A series is a line of mid-range smartphones and tablets manufactured by Samsung Electronics as part of their Galaxy line. The first model in the series was the first-generation Galaxy Alpha, released on 31 October 2014.

Following the announcement of the 2017 series, Samsung announced that they hoped to sell up to 20 million Galaxy A series smartphones, targeting consumers in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.^[1]

As of 2020, most of the Galaxy A series models are available in most countries. Galaxy Tab A is also part of the A series and is available in most countries as well.^[2]

Phones

Galaxy Alpha and A (2015)

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha was introduced on 13 August 2014 and released in September 2014. A high-end device, the Galaxy Alpha is Samsung's first smartphone to incorporate a metallic frame and more premium materials, although the remainder of its physical appearance still resembles previous models such as the Galaxy S5. It also incorporates the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 or Samsung's new Exynos 5430 system-on-chip, which is the first mobile system-on-chip to use a 20 nanometer manufacturing process.

However, the Galaxy Alpha received mixed reviews: although praised for its higher quality build and design in comparison to earlier Galaxy models' utilitarian plastic construction, the device was criticized for its modest specifications in comparison to the flagship Galaxy S5, with the Alpha being criticized for lacking water resistance, lower resolution screen (720p versus 1080p) and no MicroSD slot for expandable storage. The Alpha also debuted at a price too high for what some considered to be a "mid-range" smartphone, as although it did share the same Snapdragon 801 as the Galaxy S5, most earlier phones with the Snapdragon 801 had already been on the market for months and saw price drops.

Following its launch, Samsung Electronics CEO JK Shin explained that the Alpha was "built and designed based on the specific desires of the consumer market." The company touted that the Galaxy Alpha would mark a "new design approach" for Samsung's products, and that elements from the Alpha could appear on future Samsung models.^[3] Its operating system is based on Android 4.4.4 "KitKat" with its own version of TouchWiz UI. Several updates were made throughout the world and in April 2015, Android 5.0.2 "Lollipop" was made available through an OTA update.^[4]

Galaxy A (2016)

New features were introduced in the Galaxy A 2016 Series which includes metal and glass body, NFC which supports Samsung Pay, Samsung's Adaptive Fast charging feature and increased battery life. The Galaxy A (2016) series are very similar to the Galaxy S6, and the Galaxy Note 5 flagships, which were released in April 2015, and August 2015, respectively.

Galaxy A (2017)

In January 2017, Samsung unveiled the 2017 edition of the Galaxy A series. Newly improved features include 16-megapixel front and back cameras, an Exynos 7 Octa 7880 SoC, a 3D glass display (similar to Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S7), barometer and gyroscope sensors and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance as well as support for Gear 360 (2017). The new design of the series are very similar to the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge, released in March 2016.^[16][17] The series comprises three models. This was the last Galaxy A series to use the TouchWiz user interface, before being superseded by Samsung Experience and One UI in later models.

Galaxy A (2018)

The 2018 Galaxy A Series marked a major expansion for the lineup and introduces many high-end features for the first time in the Galaxy A series, including multi-lens camera, Infinity Display, Adaptive Fast Charging, IP68 certification, and revamped design. It was the first generation of Galaxy A devices that launched with the Samsung Experience UI derived from the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 9, and the oldest series that would partially receive an update to One UI. The series comprises nine models.

Galaxy Ax0

Samsung introduced the 2019 Galaxy A Series in February 2019, alongside the online-exclusive Galaxy M Series. Unlike all the previous models, the lineup shifts to the new two-digit nomenclature first introduced in the Galaxy S10. It retains the higher-end features previously introduced in the Galaxy A 2018 series with several improvements, alongside a "waterdrop" notch display (also debuted in the Galaxy M series), higher battery capacity, newer SoCs, and higher memory capacity. The video stabilization feature returned after it was removed from the Galaxy A 2017 series, but IP67 rating was removed on the higher models.^[21] This lineup, except the A2 Core, features One UI user interface, in accordance to the S10 series. The series comprises the most numerous models of the Galaxy A series, with nineteen models.

Galaxy Ax1

Samsung introduced the 2020 Galaxy A series a few months after the release of mid-generation refresh of the 2019 series (those with the "s" suffix). The series brought new features such as geometric design, newer and faster SoCs (compared to their predecessor), hole-punch display (on some devices) and increased RAM and storage options. The series comprises fourteen models. The Galaxy A01 Core was the second ultra-budget model within the Galaxy A series, the first being 2019's Galaxy A2 Core.

Galaxy Ax2

Samsung introduced the 2021 Galaxy A series in September 2020. The series has increased RAM and storage options, various camera upgrades, optical image stabilization on higher-end models, and 5G on a wider range of models, with some featuring larger screens than the LTE counterparts. It also shifts away from Exynos SoCs in favor of Qualcomm and MediaTek, as Exynos SoCs are now focused only on flagship models. IP67 rating returned for the higher-end models after being absent in two previous generations. The series comprises thirteen models.

Galaxy Ax3

Samsung introduced the 2022 Galaxy A series in August 2021. The series introduced larger screens (on both LTE and 5G versions compared to the previous generation which was only reserved for 5G versions), various camera upgrades, the return of the peach device color option after it was absent in two previous generations, and the return of Exynos chipsets (for A33 and A53) after it was last used on the A51 and A71. The series consists of ten models, continuing the trent of smaller lineup compared to its peek with the Ax0 line.

Galaxy Ax4

Samsung introduced the 2023 Galaxy A series in 2022. The series consists of eight models.

Galaxy Ax5

Samsung introduced the 2024 Galaxy A series in 2023. The series introduced a SuperAMOLED display for the first time on the A1x line, Super Fast Charging (25W) on the lower-end models, and a "Key Island" design (except for the A0x line). The series also introduces a metal frame for the first time on the A5x series. Currently, the series comprises seven models.

Tablets

In March 2015, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab A series with 8.0 inch and 9.7 inch displays, a S Pen stylus, as well as preloaded Samsung applications. The S Pen feature on the Galaxy Tab A series, makes the first Samsung Galaxy device to be equipped with the Samsung stylus outside of the Note series. Succeeding Tab A models didn't have the S Pen feature to reposition its series to the budget line-up.

Galaxy Tab A 8" series

Galaxy Tab A 9"/10"/11" series

Other tablets

Galaxy Tab A 7.0 (2016)