Samsung has recently launched its first full-metal smartphones - the Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 - and the two handsets are now available unlocked in the U.S.
After launching countless devices with polycarbonate bodies and receiving lots of criticism over its love of plastic, Samsung finally took a first step in the right direction recently and created handsets with more premium bodies. The Galaxy Alpha was the first smartphone to signal a change, as it came with a sleek metal chassis to break the all-plastic tradition.
Samsung then took things up a notch in terms of design with its Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5, two smartphones that boast full-metal bodies, launching as part of the company's new Galaxy A series.
The Samsung Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 are yet to become available through carriers in the U.S., but unlocked versions of the handsets have nonetheless gone on sale stateside. The unlocked smartphones are in stock at Expansys, a third-party retailer that sells SIM-free devices.
This means that interested customers won't have to commit to any lengthy contracts with carriers, but they will have to pay extra for the benefit. The Samsung Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 don't come with any stellar specs on board, as their main attraction is design, but apparently they're more expensive than many anticipated.
The entry-level Samsung Galaxy A3 was believed to cost around $250, for instance, yet the unlocked model of the handset retails for $329.99. The mid-range Galaxy A5, meanwhile, was expected to come in at roughly $300 or so, but it costs $409.99. Both the Galaxy A3 and the Galaxy A5 available from Expansys come in dual-SIM flavors, albeit only one of those slots will support high-speed data connections. Both handsets are 4G LTE-enabled.
It remains unclear at this point just when or if the Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 will become available at subsidized prices in the U.S., as no carriers have announced plans to offer the devices so far. This means that only unlocked versions are available for purchase stateside at this point, and many may find the prices quite steep for what the handsets have to offer.
To learn more about the devices or to place an order with Expansys, you can find the Galaxy A3 here and the Galaxy A5 at this link.
