Samsung Galaxy A17 5G Review – The Samsung Galaxy A-series has always been a bestseller globally, but interestingly, Samsung released the Galaxy A17 with very little noise—almost as if it didn’t want anyone to notice. Despite the quiet launch, the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G aims to become one of the most recommended budget Android smartphones for 2025.
We picked up the Galaxy A17 5G to test whether it truly deserves a spot in the competitive budget segment. Keep in mind that Samsung offers both 4G and 5G variants of this phone. For this review, we’re focusing on the 5G model, which comes with a few minor differences beyond connectivity.
Priced at $249, the Galaxy A17 5G shares the same launch price as its predecessors—the Galaxy A16 5G and A15 5G—and it has already dipped to $209 during sales. Oddly enough, it’s still unavailable in the US market as of now.
Screen & Speakers
Display Quality
- 6.7-inch AMOLED display
- 90Hz refresh rate
- Full HD+ resolution
- Teardrop-style selfie notch
The Galaxy A17 5G retains the exact display setup from the A16 5G. You’re getting a large and vibrant 6.7-inch AMOLED screen offering a smooth 90Hz refresh rate and crisp Full HD+ visuals. It’s a reliable screen for everyday use, streaming, and casual gaming.
Speaker Setup
If you were hoping for stereo speakers, you’ll be disappointed. The A17 5G sticks with a single bottom-firing speaker, which is serviceable but not ideal for immersive media consumption.
Cameras
Triple Rear Camera System
- 50Mp main camera
- Ultrawide lens
- Macro lens
The camera setup on the Galaxy A17 5G is also unchanged from the A16 5G. While the triple-camera layout may look impressive at first glance, only the 50Mp main lens delivers consistently usable results.
Selfie Camera
On the front, the phone features a 13Mp selfie camera housed in a small teardrop notch. It performs decently in good lighting, making it suitable for video calls and social media photos.
Specs & Performance
Hardware Overview
- Samsung Exynos 1330 chipset
- 4GB RAM
- 128GB storage
The Galaxy A17 5G continues Samsung’s tradition of reusing hardware across A-series generations. This device runs on the Exynos 1330 chipset, paired with 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. This setup is basic but adequate for standard daily tasks such as browsing, messaging, and light app usage.
The major improvement over the 4G version is the chipset—while the 4G model uses the older MediaTek Helio G99, the 5G variant benefits from the more capable Exynos 1330.
Some regions may offer additional memory configurations, but in the UK and likely the US, there’s usually just one model available.
Performance in Real Use
Budget phones usually fall short in gaming, but the A17 5G handles light-to-moderate games surprisingly well. Titles like Asphalt Legends run smoothly—even at 60fps with upgraded settings.
However, don’t expect demanding games like Genshin Impact to perform flawlessly. The phone simply isn’t designed for heavy gaming workloads.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G brings small but meaningful improvements while maintaining the strengths that make Samsung’s A-series so popular. With a high-quality AMOLED display, reliable main camera, decent performance, and an attractive price point around $249, it stands as a strong contender in the budget smartphone market.
If you need a dependable, affordable phone with 5G connectivity and a great screen, the Galaxy A17 5G is definitely worth considering—especially when it goes on sale.
