Galaxy A5 is on sale in China: $420 for mid-range metal

Plastic parts create broken hearts. This adage is held dear by many Samsung haters. Regardless of what one might feel, there has been a growing acceptance that the Galaxy series is in need of a metallic makeover. While the Alpha, Note 4, and Note Edge all made use of a metallic frame, the back cover was still removable plastic. Last month Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A series: the A3 and A5, both sporting a full metal frame sans removable back cover.

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The A5 has now launched in China, and it costs quite a pretty penny, retailing for 2,599 CNY, which roughly converts to $420. That said, Asian prices are typically higher than the US prices of the same devices, so a direct currency conversion may not paint a fully accurate picture.

All things considered, the A5 isn’t exactly the most powerful piece of product for its portly price. With a 5-inch 720p SAMOLED screen, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, and a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 420, it’s not even on par with the Galaxy Alpha, released back in September, which had a superior CPU and double the storage, as well as a removable battery. Rounding out the specs for the A5 is a 13 megapixel rear camera, 5 megapixel front camera, microSD slot, and dual SIM capabilities.

Given that the Galaxy S5 has fallen in price since its release earlier this year, it is somewhat questionable for Samsung to price the A5 in excess of $400. But given the rumors that production problems plagued the device (due to the unibody frame) and the higher cost of materials, as well as Samsung’s need to keep selling its plastic devices, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. Said alleged production trouble is also likely the reason for the limited market availability of the Galaxy A5.

Any thoughts on the A5? Is it, in fact, worth the money? Or would the somewhat high price for rather average specs put you off?