OPPO has released its latest A Series lineup, the A5 range with a new wave of smartphones built for durability, performance and outstanding everyday value.

Combining unbeatable resilience, smart features and polished design, the A5 Series makes high-performance essentials accessible to everyday users, without the premium price tag.

The expanded A5 Series includes the OPPO A5 5G and A5 4G, two feature-rich devices made for daily life. They join OPPO’s toughest smartphone to date, the A5 Pro 5G – which launched in June 2025 – in offering more choice when it comes to durable, dependable tech.

OPPO New Zealand Managing Director Morgan Halim says the A Series range is for Kiwis who need a good-value phone that works as hard as they do. “Whether someone’s on the tools, outdoors in all conditions or buying a reliable first phone for their kids, the A Series is a dependable, great-value choice that’s made to last,” says Halim. “It’s built to survive backpacks, pockets and the occasional drop – and it keeps up with your hustle, whatever your day looks like.”

The A5 5G and A5 4G are engineered to handle more than just the basics. With large, high-refresh-rate displays, splash and dust resistance and OPPO’s 300% Ultra Volume Mode, these phones are made to be heard and seen clearly – even outdoors or on noisy job sites.

With 6,000mAh batteries across both models and support for 45W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charging, users can spend less time plugged in and more time getting things done. OPPO’s battery technology has been tested for 1,700 full charge cycles, equivalent to approximately five years of regular use, while maintaining at least 80% battery health. It’s power that lasts day after day, year after year.

And because durability should extend beyond hardware, the A5 Series is backed by OPPO’s industry-leading software support – with 5 years of operating system updates and 6 years of security updates. It’s long-term peace of mind that sets a new standard in this price bracket, especially compared to competitors who typically offer only 2 years of updates or less.

These devices are made to move at your pace. They offer practical, efficient performance for everything from messaging and music to maps and media.

The OPPO A Series is available online at OPPO’s official website and from electronic retailers.

The post Tough just got smarter – OPPO’s A5 2025 Series appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

In the current generation of android based smartphones and the multi tasking pros that we have all become, there is no necessity to rush out and get the latest high end device, over compensated for some consumers’ needs, when a mid range handset will offer the much needed grunt under the hood.

Samsung’s mid range of Galaxy mobiles is an excellent example, placing ‘mid-range’ into an almost high end sphere.

Recently Samsung released the ‘A Series‘ – A7, A5 and A3. Purported to be middle road devices that do not have the higher price tag of the more elite.

StG was given a A5 to try out and try out we did.

Myself having owned an S7 edge for almost a year, going to an A5 had me thinking that the device would choke up and I’d need to pass on over to the slow lane.

My assumptions were wrong.

Being 5.2″ Full HD Super AMOLED in screen size it still has a sizable screen for day to day functions and media viewing. Infact within a day or so I hadn’t really noticed the slight drop in screen real estate from my Samsung S7 edge.

But how would it cope with heavy resource gaming, online play and general day to day? Answer; superbly.

I was able to get almost two days battery life out of the device with moderate usage before it completely died. To full charge took less than one hour. Gaming was no issue, playing heavily 3D rendered titles did chew the battery of course (but this is expected behaviour on any device), however it did not heat up or lag.

The A5 is powered by a Octa Core which crunches numbers and processors at a 1.9 GHz and has 3GB of onboard RAM (memory) for expert multitasking functions. 32GB Rom (phone storage) is the common ground for Samsung phones. Expandable of course up to a 256GB microSD.

This 2017 A5 model also has features that had primarily and previously  been set aside for high end Galaxy phones – the front Home Button Finger Sensor as an example. Also included is the KNOX Voice recognition security.

Samsung’s A5 has also been built with snap happy mobile owners in mind. The rear camera is at a pleasing 16MP, the front Selfie Camera… wait for it… also 16MP. Among the included camera software and photo filters is a Food mode, yeah, for the foodies out there I guess.

The Galaxy A5 that I had for review came with Android 7.0, however for those that are in the market for a mid range might need to update shortly after the unboxing the phone.

While the week or so with the A5 was a very surprising and pleasing experience, there were the odd moments where the A5 became unresponsive and to open an App took a couple of taps as the phone did not register the command, yet the touch screen recognised the interaction. It was hard to say if this was a caveat of a bug inside Android 7.0 or the handset itself.

The A5 and the entire ‘A Series’ are really in a league of their own. With budget conscious price points, but no lack of functionality.

If anything the A5 is a strong competitor to last years S7.

Right now the excitement is focused on the upcoming release of the S8 and S8+ (and deserved excitement), but if you are not someone who gets in to the hype of owning the latest and greatest handset on the market, yet still require a phone that is going to pack a punch or two, check out the Galaxy ‘A Series’ and especially the Samsung Galaxy A5 – it’s a super powered smartphone without the need of a payment plan to own one.

Find out more on the Samsung ‘A’ Series at the Official Website!

The post Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Samsung Electronics New Zealand today announced to us at StG the latest Galaxy A series, including the 5.7-inch A7, 5.2-inch A5 and 4.7-inch A3 smartphones, with refinements that deliver a beautiful design, powerful performance and ultimate convenience.

“The A Series combines some of the most popular and practical Galaxy features, such as IP68 water and dust resistance, with a sleek and stylish design. The versatility of the new A Series makes these devices perfect for students, first time smartphone purchasers and those looking for Galaxy performance from a midrange device,” said Todd Selwyn, Head of Mobile Portfolio at Samsung New Zealand.

The Galaxy A features a premium metal frame and 3D glass back that draws on Samsung’s premium design heritage. With a sleek camera and home key, the device is more seamless than ever and comfortable to hold and use. The Galaxy A is available in two stylish colours; Black Sky and Gold Sand. Capture important memories with the enhanced front and rear 16-megapixel cameras on the A7 and A5, which are now more stable with accurate autofocus, resulting in vibrant and clear photos and selfie even in low-light conditions.

With the Galaxy A, taking selfies has never been easier. Touch anywhere on the screen to easily snap a high-resolution selfie with the floating camera button and use the display as a front flash for bright pictures. The camera on the Galaxy A offers a simplified UX, including easy swipe to quickly change modes or instant filters to activate picture effects. Users can leverage modes such as the Food Mode, to optimize photos and enhance the colour of images.  Galaxy A takes the hassle out of everyday tasks. For the first time on the Galaxy A series, the smartphone offers IP68 water and dust resistance, allowing it to withstand the elements, including rain, sweat, sand and dust, making the device suitable for nearly any activity or situation.

The Galaxy A provides an expanded, larger memory, as well as expandable storage capabilities with microSD support up to 256GB. With a longer battery life to keep up with users’ active lifestyles and Fast Charge on A5 and A7, the device powers up in no time. The Galaxy A is equipped with reversible USB Type-C port for easy connectivity, including hassle-free charging. It also features Always on Display so users can quickly glance at the time and calendar without waking up the device, saving time and battery.

The Samsung Galaxy A series is available now with New Zealand telcos: Spark, Vodafone and 2 Degrees starting from NZD$599.00

The post The Stylish, Powerful and Practical Samsung Galaxy A appeared first on Shane the Gamer.