The Galaxy A17 brings the most affordable Samsung line to the 120 Hz display refresh rate party
The affordable Samsung Galaxy A16 has been a go-to backup Android phone for many people out there, and for a good reason. This sub-$200 device offers a great display, a decent camera system, and six years of software support, covering the most important smartphone pillars.
Now, Samsung has quietly launched the successor, the Galaxy A17, and it’s very interesting to see what upgrades the new model brings to the table. And there are some pretty substantial ones, such as the 120 Hz display refresh rate, which is crazy to see on such a budget phone when the iPhone 16 is still stuck at 60 Hz. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Samsung Galaxy A17 vs Galaxy A16 differences:
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The last A-series phones took design cues from the Galaxy S lineup, offering a sleek and stylish look, with the same separate cutout for the cameras on the back pioneered by the Galaxy S Ultra some time ago.
Now, the Galaxy A17 brings a change to the design, going back to an elongated, pill-shaped camera housing, similar to the one Sony has been using on Xperia phones for the past couple of generations.
We don’t find the change too appealing, as we were fond of the stylish look of the Galaxy A16, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The front of the two phones looks almost identical, with quite a substantial bezel around the screen, a hefty chin, and a teardrop cutout for the selfie camera.
In terms of materials, there are some differences. The Galaxy A16 uses a plastic frame and back and Gorilla Glass Victus over the screen, while the Galaxy A17 is listed with a glass-fiber back material and the same plastic frame and Victus-protected display.
The dimensions are almost identical, but the A17 is 0.4 mm thinner and 8 grams heavier than its successor. This is almost imperceptible when holding the phone in your hand, so for all intents and purposes, these two feel almost exactly the same.
The color options are pretty similar. The new Galaxy A17 is available in Black, Gray, and Blue, while the previous generation offers Light Green in place of the Blue option.
Display Differences
It’s crazy how a $200 phone can get you a 120 Hz refresh rate while Apple still rocks 60 Hz on its premium iPhone 16.
