In 2015, Samsung introduced the Galaxy A8 — one of the first mid-range smartphones with a full metal body. The device became part of the updated Galaxy A series, which was designed for users who wanted premium materials and modern design without moving to the flagship Galaxy S lineup.
The Galaxy A8 featured an ultra-thin aluminum body with a thickness of only 5.9 mm. At the time of release, it was one of the thinnest smartphones on the market. The body was made from 6000-series aluminum, providing good durability while giving the device a premium appearance. The rounded edges and metal frame improved comfort during everyday use.
The smartphone was available in several colors, including black, white, and gold. Despite its large display, the Galaxy A8 remained lightweight, weighing approximately 151 grams.
Super AMOLED Display
The Galaxy A8 was equipped with a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD resolution (1920×1080 pixels). The AMOLED panel provided high contrast, deep blacks, and rich colors.
The screen offered wide viewing angles and was well suited for watching videos, viewing photos, and playing games. With a pixel density of around 386 pixels per inch, the display delivered clear and detailed images.
Samsung also included an eye protection mode that reduced blue light exposure during long periods of use.
Performance
Depending on the market, the Galaxy A8 was released with different hardware configurations. The main version featured the Samsung Exynos 5430 octa-core processor with a clock speed of up to 1.8 GHz. The chip was manufactured using a 20 nm process and combined four Cortex-A15 performance cores with four Cortex-A7 energy-efficient cores.
Graphics processing was handled by the Mali-T628 MP6 GPU. This hardware configuration provided enough performance for everyday tasks, multimedia playback, web browsing, and most games available at the time.
The smartphone came with 2 GB of RAM. Internal storage was 16 GB, with support for microSD cards up to 128 GB for additional storage space.
Cameras
The main camera featured a 16 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and phase detection autofocus (PDAF). It provided fast focusing and good image quality in well-lit conditions.
The camera supported Full HD video recording and used software image processing to improve photo quality. In low-light conditions, performance was more limited due to the lack of optical image stabilization.
The front-facing camera had a 5 MP sensor with a wide-angle lens. It was designed for selfies and video calls, providing sufficient image quality for social media and everyday communication.
Battery and Battery Life
The Galaxy A8 was powered by a 3050 mAh battery. Thanks to the energy-efficient Super AMOLED display and optimized processor, the smartphone could provide a full day of use under moderate conditions.
The device supported fast charging, allowing the battery to be restored more quickly. Samsung also included a power-saving mode that reduced background activity and lowered power consumption when needed.
Software
Out of the box, the Galaxy A8 ran Android 5.1 Lollipop with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface.
The interface included Samsung’s standard features, customization options, display settings, and pre-installed applications.
Later, the smartphone received an update to Android 7.0 Nougat. The update improved system stability, optimized application performance, and added support for split-screen multitasking.
Additional Features
The Galaxy A8 included a fingerprint scanner integrated into the Home button. It allowed users to unlock the device quickly and provided additional security for personal data.
The smartphone supported LTE Cat.6, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Some regional versions were released with dual SIM support.
Certain models also received IP54 certification, providing protection against dust and water splashes.
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2015) Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2015 |
| Operating system | Android 5.1 Lollipop |
| Latest official update | Android 7.0 Nougat |
| Display | 5.7-inch Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 5430 |
| CPU cores | 8 cores |
| Clock speed | Up to 1.8 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-T628 MP6 |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Internal storage | 16 GB |
| Memory expansion | microSD up to 128 GB |
| Main camera | 16 MP, PDAF, f/2.2 |
| Front camera | 5 MP |
| Battery | 3050 mAh |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes |
| Mobile network | LTE Cat.6 |
| Protection | IP54 on selected versions |
| Body material | 6000-series aluminum |
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2015) was one of the first Galaxy A series smartphones to combine a metal body, Super AMOLED display, and mid-range hardware in a single device.
