Not everybody wants or needs high-dollar, cutting-edge smartphones. That’s why Samsung’s Galaxy A-series phones sell so well. One step up from entry-level, the Galaxy A16 5G launched earlier this year and is already the best-selling Android phone in the world. It was rumored to get improved specs with the next refresh. A week after a set of renders leaked, however, preliminary retailer listings show the Galaxy A17 will likely not get a bump in processor performance. But, maybe, all is not lost (via GSMArena).
What the listings say
And where they’re a little confusing
A listing in France and one in Spain claim to have all the details of the 4GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB versions, respectively, of the Galaxy A17. Most of those details, like the redesigned camera bar and 50MP primary lens, were entirely expected. The associated images also appear to match the recently leaked trove.
Here’s the disappointing part. Both listings clearly reference the Exynos 1330 system-on-a-chip, not the Exynos 1380 that was originally rumored to make its way to the budget-friendly device. To be clear, more recent rumors did indicate cost-conscious buyers would be stuck with the lesser of the two chipsets. So, while the decision is not exactly surprising, we had held out hope for an upgrade. The two processors were launched simultaneously in 2023, but the 1380 outperforms the 1330 by a significant margin.
With that said, there’s a tiny bit more to the story.
Two small hints of uncertainty
And a secret, potential third thing
The Spanish listing, in particular, is slightly inconsistent. The device is titled simply, “Samsung Galaxy A17,” with no mention of 5G in the main part of the page. That title also explicitly mentions the MediaTek Helio G99, previously found in the Galaxy A16 4G, which didn’t launch in the US. The Spanish listing’s spec sheet also mentions the Helio G99.
However, the listing’s spec sheet claims it’s for a 5G phone — a level of connectivity not supported by the 4G-only Helio chipset. Furthermore, the page’s body text clearly explains the inclusion of the Exynos 1330 and 5G connectivity.
One of at least two things could be happening here. Most likely, the 4G MediaTek chipset reference could be a typo, or an inaccuracy left over in a reused listing template. That would make sense because Samsung doesn’t usually release the 4G and 5G versions of its low-cost A-series phones at the same time in the same markets. Alternatively, the listing could actually be for the A17’s 4G version. That’s less likely, because its €309 price exceeds the €230 cost of the clearly labeled A17 5G sold in France.
And then there’s the slight possibility these specs apply only to the global or EU versions of the A17, whether 4G, 5G, or both. Given the most recent rumors of the phone reusing the Exynos 1330, this is even less probable, but it is theoretically possible non-EU markets could see a different chipset (such as the Exynos 1380). Just to drive it home, that’s probably not the case — but too-early retailer listings aren’t necessarily perfect, so we’ll have to wait and see what kind of hardware makes it Stateside in Samsung’s highly popular mid-entry-level smartphone.
The preliminary listings also make it clear the A17 will not include a charger in the box. That was another surprising rumor floating around recently, but clearly, it was too good to be true. On the other hand, many people probably don’t really need more e-waste chargers.
