Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until January 2020 · Buy-by January 2018
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~3-year update track record — on that basis the Galaxy A3 (2017) should be supported until around January 2020. Buying it today still gets you about -6.4 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
Our verdict
A pocket-friendly compact with surprising IP68 and a glass build, but support ran out years ago.
Pros
- Genuinely small and light 4.7-inch body
- IP68 water resistance and USB-C, rare at this size
- Glass-and-metal design above its price class
Cons
- Support ended around 2020 after Android 8
- Low-res 720p screen and just 2GB RAM
- Small 2350mAh battery with slow 5W charging
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 4.7-inch Super AMOLED, 720 x 1280 (HD), 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 7870 Octa |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 13MP |
| front | 8MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 2,350 mAh |
| Charging | 5W wired (USB-C) |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 135.4 × 66.2 × 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 138 g |
| Materials | Glass front and back, metal frame |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 6.0.1 with Grace UX at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C, 3.5mm jack |
| Update policy | ~1 years of updates (our estimate from Samsung's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy A3 (2017) get updates?
It received Android 8 Oreo and stopped getting security patches around 2020, leaving it unsupported for years.
Is the Galaxy A3 (2017) a good compact phone?
For size, yes. Its 4.7-inch body is unusually small and pairs with IP68 and USB-C, though the 720p screen and 2GB RAM show its budget roots.
Can the A3 (2017) handle modern apps?
Only lightly. With 2GB of RAM and an old Android 8 base, heavier apps and games struggle, and some newer apps may refuse to install.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-12.