The Samsung Galaxy A7 is priced at Dh1,799. Courtesy Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy A7 is priced at Dh1,799. Courtesy Samsung

Business

Samsung Galaxy A7: UAE release is announced

For those who like a big screen and selfies and looking for a price tag under Dh2,000.

The National staff

March 01, 2015

The world is waiting for the Samsung to unveil its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S6, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this evening.

For those of whom can’t wait that long for their Samsung fix, the company has announced another device in its Galaxy range for release in the UAE.

The Galaxy A7 follows on the heels of the A3 and A5, which were released last month.

“The Galaxy A7 has been developed with social media enthusiasts in mind and makes sharing content even more enjoyable through enhanced features and technology,” said Hayssam Yassine, head of Telecommunications Group at Samsung Gulf Electronics.

With a 5.5in screen, the A7 is slightly smaller than the Galaxy Note 4, but similarly has a Super Amoled screen albeit at a lower resolution.

It comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front selfie camera. The advanced selfie features include Ultra Wide Shot and Auto Selfie modes, which make it possible to take a photograph using only a voice command or a wave of the hand.

The Galaxy A7 is available at Dh1,799 in white, black, and gold.

Galaxy A7 vs Galaxy Note 4:

Weight: A7 - 141g, Note 4 - 176g

Screen size: A7 - 5.5in, Note 4 - 5.7in

Resolution: A7 - 1080x1920, Note 4 - 1440x2560

Rear camera: A7 - 13-megapixel, Note 4 - 16-megapixel

Front camera: A7 - 5-megapixel, Note 4 - 3.7-megapixel

Storage: A7 - 16GB, Note 4 - 32GB

Battery talk time: A7 - 17 hours, Note 4 - 20 hours

Processor: A7 - 1,500MHz, Note 4 - 1,900MHz

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Anxiety and work stress major factors

Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.

A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.

Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.

One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.

It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."

Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.

“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi. 

“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."

Daniel Bardsley