There’s a reason a six-year-old Samsung keeps turning up in UK shopping baskets: the Galaxy A70’s 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen still dwarfs most budget phones sold today. At a second-hand price of around £100 to £150, the question isn’t whether it was a good phone in 2019 — it was. The real question is whether buying an unsupported Android device in 2025 makes sense for your wallet, your banking apps, and your peace of mind. This guide weighs every trade-off so you can decide if the A70 is a bargain or a risk.

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Release date: March 2019 ·
Display: 6.7-inch Super AMOLED ·
Battery: 4500 mAh ·
Storage: 128 GB ·
Typical second-hand price (UK): £100–£150 ·
Software support ended: Android 12 (2022)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Actual battery health of any given second-hand unit
  • Exact date when banking apps will drop Android 12 support
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • 2026: high probability of banking apps delisting Android 12

Eight key specs, one pattern: the A70 was a mid-range flagship when it launched, but security has stalled.

Specification Value
Launch date March 2019
Original OS Android 9 (Pie)
Final OS update Android 12 (2022)
Security patch status No regular updates after 2022
Display 6.7-inch Super AMOLED
Battery capacity 4500 mAh
Weight 183g
Current typical used price (UK) £100–£150

Is the Galaxy A70 worth buying in 2025?

Pros and Cons of buying a Galaxy A70 now

Upsides

  • Large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display — still one of the biggest screens at this price point (TechRadar (tech review outlet))
  • 4500mAh battery with 25W fast charging (GSMArena (phone database))
  • Headphone jack still present
  • Expandable storage via microSD
  • Very low second-hand entry price

Downsides

  • Software support ended at Android 12; no guaranteed security patches (SamMobile (firmware archive))
  • Snapdragon 675 processor lags behind modern budget chips (Trusted Reviews (tech editorial))
  • 60Hz display — many budget phones now offer 90Hz or 120Hz
  • No 5G support
  • 6 years old — battery degradation likely in second-hand units

Who is the Galaxy A70 still good for?

  • Someone who primarily uses a phone for calls, messaging, YouTube, and light web browsing — and can tolerate a slower processor.
  • Someone buying a dedicated music player or secondary device for media consumption.
  • Not for users who rely on banking apps, Google Pay, or need the latest security updates.
The trade-off

For budget buyers in the UK, you’re weighing a £100 display giant against a phone that hasn’t seen a security patch since 2022. If your bank drops Android 12 next year, that bargain screen becomes a brick.

The implication: for a secondary device or a child’s first phone, the Galaxy A70’s screen and battery still hold up. For daily banking and personal data, the gap in security patches makes it a genuine liability.

How old is a Samsung Galaxy A70?

Galaxy A70 release date and launch timeline

  • Global launch: March 2019 (GSMArena (phone database))
  • Original OS: Android 9 (Pie)
  • Software updates: Received Android 10, 11, and finally Android 12 in late 2022 (SamMobile (firmware archive))
  • Security updates: Last known patch around late 2022 (SamMobile (firmware archive))

How Galaxy A70 compares in age to newer A-series models

  • The A70 is 6 years old. For context, the Galaxy A55 (2024) is already 2 years ahead in chipset and software support.
  • Samsung typically provides 4 years of security updates for A-series. The A70’s window closed in 2022.
Why this matters

A six-year-old Android phone is like a 2019 laptop running Windows 10: it works, but the security patching has stopped. UK banks increasingly enforce SafetyNet checks, and an unsupported device may already fail Google Play Integrity verification.

The pattern: the A70’s hardware age (6 years) is less the problem than the software age (3 years without updates). Hardware ages gracefully; security doesn’t.

How much is a second hand Samsung A70 worth in the UK?

Current second-hand price ranges (eBay, CeX, Back Market)

  • Gumtree (private sales): £60 to £89 for 128GB unlocked in good condition (Gumtree (UK classifieds))
  • CeX (retail second-hand): Approximately £120–£160 depending on grade
  • Back Market (refurbished): Varies, but typically around £100–£130 for Fair to Good condition
  • Trade-in value: Up to £0.00 for faulty units; higher for excellent condition (Mazuma Mobile (UK phone recycler))

Four different channels, one pattern: CeX sits at the upper end of the range because they provide a 24-month warranty. Gumtree and Back Market undercut that by about 20–30%, but with less buyer protection.

Selling your Galaxy A70: trade-in and buyback options

  • Compare and Recycle (UK trade-in aggregator): Requires phone to power on with only minor scratches for a full quote (Compare and Recycle (UK price comparison))
  • The Big Phone Store: Offers instant trade-in quotes via a condition quiz on their specialist UK site (The Big Phone Store (UK phone trader))
  • Private sales on eBay or Gumtree will get you the highest price, but require more effort and risk

The catch: selling the A70 in 2025 is straightforward, but trade-in values are dropping every quarter as more phones leave support. If you’re selling, do it sooner rather than later.

Is the Samsung A70s still a good phone?

Galaxy A70 vs A70s: differences in camera and design

  • Both launched in 2019, but the A70s came a few months later (August 2019) with a 64MP main camera, up from the A70’s 32MP (GSMArena (phone database))
  • Both have the same 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, 4500mAh battery, and Snapdragon 675 chip
  • A70s design is slightly different with a more angular camera bump

Software and security support for the A70s

  • Same software fate: ended at Android 12, with no regular security patches after 2022 (SamMobile (firmware archive))
  • Essentially the same phone with a better camera — but the same security risks
What to watch

Neither the A70 nor the A70s is getting security patches. The higher-resolution camera on the A70s is a marginal benefit, not a reason to choose it over a modern budget phone with active support.

The trade-off: if you find an A70s at the same price as an A70, the camera upgrade is pure bonus. But both phones carry the same software expiry date.

Where to buy a Galaxy A70 in the UK

Buying from CeX, Amazon UK, eBay and refurbishers

  • CeX: Check stock online for used A70 units; they offer a 24-month warranty and physical store collection
  • Amazon UK: Prime Video and Alexa supported; no new stock remains
  • eBay UK: Wide selection, but check seller ratings and return policies
  • Back Market: Refurbished units with varying condition grades

Four major channels, one fact: new units are entirely sold out in the UK as of 2025, confirmed by price comparison sites (Idealo (UK price comparison)).

What to check before buying a used Galaxy A70

  • Battery health: ask the seller for a screenshot of AccuBattery or Samsung Members battery report
  • Screen condition: check for burn-in, dead pixels, or scratches
  • Water damage: no official IP rating — check port covers and SIM tray for moisture
  • Software version: ensure Android 12 is installed; earlier versions are more vulnerable

The implication: buying an A70 blind on Gumtree saves you £40 but risks a battery that dies at 40% or a phone that won’t pass banking app checks. CeX’s warranty costs more upfront — it’s insurance against these unknowns.

Samsung Galaxy A70 full specs and features

Display, camera, processor and battery details

  • Display: 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels (GSMArena (phone database))
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 octa-core (GSMArena (phone database))
  • RAM & Storage: 6GB RAM, 128GB storage (expandable via microSD) (GSMArena (phone database))
  • Battery: 4500mAh with 25W fast charging (GSMArena (phone database))
  • Rear camera: 32MP main + 8MP ultrawide + 5MP depth, with 4K video recording (GSMArena (phone database))
  • Front camera: 32MP punch-hole selfie camera

Six numbers, one summary: the A70’s hardware was genuinely impressive for 2019. The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED and 4500mAh battery remain competitive even now, but the Snapdragon 675 processor is showing its age.

Connectivity: 4G LTE, USB-C, headphone jack

  • 4G LTE (no 5G)
  • USB-C 2.0 with USB On-The-Go support
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
  • Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
  • 3.5mm headphone jack — increasingly rare in modern phones

The trade-off: the headphone jack and expandable storage are the A70’s secret weapons for 2025 buyers, but they come at the cost of a slower processor and no 5G.

Timeline: Galaxy A70 from launch to 2025

  • March 2019: Samsung Galaxy A70 launched with Android 9 (GSMArena (phone database))
  • August 2019: Samsung Galaxy A70s launched in India
  • 2020–2022: A70 receives Android 10, 11, and 12 major updates (SamMobile (firmware archive))
  • Late 2022: Last known security patch for Galaxy A70 (SamMobile (firmware archive))
  • 2025: Device is 6 years old; no guaranteed security support; still sold used
  • 2026 (expected): Samsung may delist device from support; banking apps may start dropping compatibility
The upshot

The Galaxy A70 is at the end of its software lifecycle. UK banking apps like Monzo, Revolut, and Barclays may already flag the device as unsupported — and that window is closing for good.

“Galaxy A70 has a 6.7-inch Infinity-U display.”

— Samsung UK official product archive (2019)

“The Galaxy A70 delivers a good multimedia experience with its huge AMOLED screen.”

— GSMArena (phone review)

Additional sources

themall.ng, smartphonechecker.co.uk

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Frequently asked questions

Does the Galaxy A70 support 5G?

No, the Galaxy A70 supports only 4G LTE. For 5G you would need a newer device like the Galaxy A52s 5G or A32 5G.

Can I still use Google Pay on a Galaxy A70 in 2025?

Possibly, but there is no guarantee. Google Pay requires SafetyNet and Play Integrity verification. An Android 12 device without active security patches may fail these checks in the future.

What is the best case for a Samsung Galaxy A70?

Popular options include Spigen Rugged Armor, Ringke Fusion-X, and Samsung’s own Clear Cover (if still in stock). Third-party cases are widely available on Amazon UK and eBay.

Is the Galaxy A70 waterproof?

No, the Galaxy A70 has no official IP rating for water or dust resistance. Treat it as a non-waterproof device.

How long does the battery last on a Galaxy A70?

With the 4500mAh battery, original users reported 1–2 days on moderate use. In 2025 second-hand units, real-world battery life depends heavily on the unit’s battery health — expect 60–80% of original capacity in many cases.

Does the Galaxy A70 have a headphone jack?

Yes, the Galaxy A70 includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature increasingly absent from modern mid-range phones.

Can I trade in my Galaxy A70 at Samsung UK?

Samsung UK trade-in programs typically accept older devices, but the A70 may have low trade-in value (often £0 for faulty models). Check Compare and Recycle (UK comparison site) for current offers.

What is the difference between Galaxy A70 and Galaxy A70s?

The A70s has a 64MP main camera (versus 32MP on the A70), a slightly different camera module design, and launched a few months later in 2019. Both share the same display, battery, and processor.

Related reading

For UK buyers tempted by the Galaxy A70’s £100 price tag, the decision is not about specs — it’s about priorities. If you need a daily driver for banking, two-factor authentication, and Google Pay, buy a phone that still gets security patches. If you want a big-screen media player for sofa browsing and YouTube, the A70 remains the cheapest Super AMOLED on the market. The catch: the gap between those two use cases is narrowing every quarter as app support withdraws from Android 12.