The first launch by Samsung for this year wasn’t for the next high end premium offering - that will happen on February 11. No, rather it was to cater to those users who are on a constrained budget, but still want high end specs. 

More specifically, the company showed the latest in its Galaxy A series devices, the A71 and A51. Both are mid range offerings, but looking at the features on offer, no less compelling than their pricier premium brethren. 

Justin Hume, Director: Integrated Mobility at Samsung South Africa explained that Samsung recognised that customers want “a device that looks good, lasts longer and captures every experience as it happens.” 

In other words, a great screen, excellent camera and long lasting battery life emerged as the top three priorities. But is it realistic to expect all three in a mid range device? Apparently, yes. 

The devices pack an Infinity-O display to maximise viewing, with the Galaxy A71 offering Super AMOLED Plus and the Galaxy A51 offering Super AMOLED displays. As for screen sizes, the phones aren’t small, boasting a 6.7-inch or 6.5-inch screen on the A71 and A51 respectively. 

Addressing the second point, of the desire for great cameras, each phone sports quad cameras that include a 64 megapixel or 48 megaixel main camera on the A71 and A51 respectively along with a 123 degree Ultra Wide, Macro and Depth shooters as well, combined with intelligent features. As well, videographers can avail themselves of  Super Steady Video to remove camera shake 

On the battery front, the Galaxy A71 and Galaxy A51 come with a large 4 500 mAh and 4 000 mAh battery, as well as 25W and 15W fast charging capabilities, respectively. So how much will they cost? The A71 will go for R9000 while its smaller brother, the A51, will command a reasonable R7000 when they become available in February.

The announcement though to the devices that really caught our attention is that Samsung Pay will also be available on the midrange devices. With more than 3 million transactions being done using Samsung Pay since its launch, it will certainly be interesting to see how including it in mid range devices increases the popularity of transacting using one's phone.

“We are committed to bridging the gap between flagship features and affordability,” stressed Hume. “I believe the Galaxy A Series offers the best value in its segment,” he concluded.