The Pros and Cons of the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G LTE
Samsung has released the successor to the Galaxy A16, which is the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G LTE variant. This is part of Samsung’s usual approach, where the affordable series often comes in two options, one with 5G and one with 4G LTE.
In 2024, Samsung launched the Galaxy A16 and Galaxy A16 5G. Then, in 2025, they followed up with the Galaxy A17 and Galaxy A17 5G. The Galaxy A17 is the direct upgrade from the Galaxy A16. So, what makes the Samsung Galaxy A17 interesting? Let’s take a closer look at its pros and cons.
Pros of Samsung Galaxy A17
The Samsung Galaxy A17 is priced as low as USD 200. In this price range, what makes this phone stand out?
1. Super AMOLED Screen with Gorilla Glass Victus+
amsung Galaxy A17 comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels). With a pixel density of 386 ppi, the screen looks sharp and clear. This makes activities such as watching movies or playing games very fun.
The display is also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, which makes it more durable and resistant to scratches.
The only drawback is that Samsung does not provide clear information about brightness levels. Some reports say the screen can reach 800 nits with High Brightness Mode (HBM). Still, the important thing is that the screen remains visible under sunlight.
2. Fast Performance with Helio G99
The Samsung Galaxy A17 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99, a 4G chipset often used in mid-range phones, including gaming-focused models.
This chipset gives the Galaxy A17 an edge in its price class. The Helio G99 is built on a 6 nm process and has eight CPU cores. It includes two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.2 GHz for performance tasks and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz for efficiency. For graphics, it uses the Mali-G57 MP2 GPU at 1000 MHz.
Performance is also supported by solid memory options. The Galaxy A17 has 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM with either 128 GB or 256 GB of internal storage. Since it uses the Helio G99, this phone also benefits from UFS storage, which is faster than eMMC in data processing.
With this combination of a strong chipset and large memory, the Galaxy A17 is reliable for gaming. Popular titles like Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, and Genshin Impact can run smoothly at certain graphics settings. Multitasking also feels quick and responsive.
3. Guaranteed OS Upgrades Up to 6 Versions and Samsung Knox Vault
When it was announced on September 18, 2025, the Samsung Galaxy A17 already came with Android 15 and the One UI 7 interface. Like most Samsung phones, from entry-level to flagship, this model also receives long-term software support.
The Galaxy A17 is guaranteed to get up to six OS upgrades, which means it can be updated up to Android 21. Security updates are also promised until 2031. With this long support, the Galaxy A17 is a good choice for users on a budget, since you will not need to replace the phone often.
Although it runs on One UI 7, some advanced AI features are not available due to the chipset’s limits. Still, the phone includes the Circle to Search feature, a lighter version that lets users quickly find information directly from the screen.
One highlight is its security. Samsung has added Samsung Knox Vault to the Galaxy A17. This feature protects sensitive information such as PINs, passwords, and biometric keys in a secure environment separate from the main system.
With Knox Vault, your important data stays safe from hardware and software attacks and gives you strong and reliable protection.
4. 50 MP Main Camera with OIS and Ultrawide Lens
The camera has received an upgrade with the addition of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the main lens. OIS helps reduce shake, making photos sharper and clearer, even when taken while moving.
The Galaxy A17’s main camera has a 50 MP resolution with an f/1.8 aperture. It also supports autofocus to ensure accurate shots. Along with the main lens, the phone includes a 5 MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 2 MP macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture.
On the front, the phone uses a 13 MP camera. Both front and rear cameras are limited to recording 1080p video at 30 FPS. While the main camera benefits from OIS, it does not include gyro-EIS, which could have helped make video stabilization even better.
5. 5000 mAh Battery with 25W Fast Charging
The Samsung Galaxy A17 is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, the same capacity as the Galaxy A16 5G. Even though the size has not changed, the battery life is slightly shorter compared to the previous model. Still, it is durable enough for its price range.
The phone also supports 25W fast charging, just like the older generation. While this speed is not the fastest in its class, it can charge the battery up to 48 percent in 30 minutes. A full charge takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
6. Minimalist Design and Comfortable to Hold
The Galaxy A17 comes with a more stylish design, with the addition of a black camera module on the back.This module groups the three camera lenses together in one area to give the phone a more structured and modern look compared to designs where the lenses are placed directly on the body.
The black module also makes the back look more striking. The phone is available in three solid colors: Black, Grey, and Blue. All of them use fiberglass with a matte finish, which feels smooth in the hand and helps reduce fingerprints.
The Galaxy A17 is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. At only 7.5 mm thick and weighing 192 grams, it feels comfortable to hold for long use.
For durability, the phone has IP54 certification. This makes it resistant to dust and splashes of water, but not fully waterproof. You should still be careful when using it in areas with heavy dust or rain.
Cons of Samsung Galaxy A17
Despite its many advantages, there are, of course, several drawbacks. What are the drawbacks of the Samsung Galaxy A17? Check out the details below.
1. No 5G Support
Because it uses the Helio G99 chipset, the Samsung Galaxy A17 does not support 5G networks. This is quite disappointing for a phone in its price range, as 5G is becoming more common. If you want 5G, you can choose the Galaxy A17 5G variant, but the price is slightly higher.
2. Only a Mono Speaker
For users who like to play games or watch videos without earphones, having stereo speakers makes a big difference. Unfortunately, the Galaxy A17 only has a mono speaker placed at the bottom, so the sound feels less immersive.
Stereo speakers give clearer sound from both sides, which is especially useful in games to detect the direction of movement or footsteps.
Another drawback is the absence of a 3.5 mm audio jack. This makes wired earphones less practical, as you need a converter or Type-C earphones. A simpler option is to use wireless Bluetooth earphones.
In the same price range, many rivals already offer stereo speakers. For example, the Infinix Note 50 Pro and Redmi Note 14 5G could be better choices if sound quality is a priority.
3. Outdated Infinity-U Display
From the back, the Galaxy A17 looks modern with its new camera module design. However, the front still looks outdated because it uses a waterdrop notch, also called Infinity-U.
This type of notch is usually found on budget phones priced below USD 100. Phones above mentioned price range mostly use punch-hole displays, which look more modern. Unfortunately, the Galaxy A17 still uses a notch design that feels behind the trend.
On top of that, the display only supports a 90 Hz refresh rate, while many competitors in the same range already offer 120 Hz.
4. Virtual Proximity Sensor
The Galaxy A17 has a solid set of sensors, including hardware gyro and NFC. However, the proximity sensor is virtual instead of physical. This is not a major issue, but still worth mentioning.
For the rest, connectivity and sensors are complete. The phone supports Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi 5, and USB Type-C 2.0. It also has a gyroscope sensor, which is useful for gaming and video stabilization (with software support).
Other sensors include a side fingerprint sensor, light sensor, and compass. The only weak point in this area is the virtual proximity sensor.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A17 is an appealing phone because it offers a long update guarantee and better performance than typical entry-level devices, thanks to the Helio G99 chipset.
It also performs well in the display and camera departments, with the added benefit of an ultrawide lens. Still, the camera has limits, as video recording is restricted to 1080p at 30 FPS and does not include EIS.
Other drawbacks include the lack of 5G support, mono speakers, an outdated front design, and the use of a virtual proximity sensor. For some users, these might not be deal breakers. If those issues are not a concern, the Galaxy A17 remains a solid choice in its price class.