While many gadget makers announced new products at CES last week, Samsung waited until today to unveil its new Galaxy A7 smartphone.

One of the slimmest Galaxy handsets to date at 6.3mm, the 5.5-inch A7 comes with a focus on the social experience. It has 16GB of memory, 2GB of RAM, and a 2,600mAh battery. There's a 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera with advanced selfie functions that allow the user to take photos using voice commands or hand gestures.

The A7 runs one of two octa-core processors: either the Samsung Exynos 5430 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, depending on the regional variant model.

For those who still use phones to make phone calls, the Samsung Galaxy A7 includes the "Always Clear Voice Auto Control" feature, which reduces background noise, and LTE Category 4 support.

For the security conscious, the A7 has Private Modean added layer of protection for important files and documents saved on the phone.

Running Android 4.4 KitKat, the mid-range phone comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC capabilities.

"We strive to develop devices that appeal to a broad range of consumers and are ahead of the next big social trend," Samsung CEO JK Shin said in a statement. "Combining both a stunning metallic design and a powerful performance, the Galaxy A7 is stylish while delivering the superior user experience."

Samsung has not officially announced availability or cost, but SamMobile tipped a 509 ($600) price tag, starting at the end of the first quarter.

The A7 comes several months after the October debut of the Galaxy A3 and A5, which sport 4.5- and 5-inch displays, respectively. For more, check out Samsung's comparison of the three handsets.

Editor's Note: This story was updated on Jan. 13, with clarification regarding the A7's two possible octa-core processors.

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