Samsung Galaxy Alpha Brings Metal, Less Plastic. What's Known About Flagship Smartphone?
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is being seen in some circles as a match for the upcoming iPhone 6 which is expected to have a 4.7-inch model. However, it is unlikely that this mid-range specification model will actually outdo the iPhone. You'll need to look to the Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge or LG G3 to have that possibility. With that said, the Alpha is a nice piece of kit with some aesthetic upgrades beyond the typical plastic Samsung phone look-a-like.
The Galaxy Alpha was seen at the recent IFA trade show in Berlin where a number of upcoming models were put on show. It comes in many colors including Sleek Silver, Charcoal Black, Dazzling White, Frosted Gold and Scuba Blue
The main feature that impresses with the Galaxy Alpha is the aluminium metal surround around the edges of the device. This makes the corners slightly raised rather than sitting flush. The back uses the expected Galaxy S5-like dotted faux leather backing. The other materials used like polycarbonate are typical of Samsung design like the flexible removable back but the metal surround does lend a more luxurious feel than we're used to with Samsung smart phones. Therefore it's kind of a mixed visual experience, but still an improvement.
Middling Screen
The 4.7-inch Super AMOLED screen uses a PenTile subpixel 720p display which is behind the curve compared to late 2013 and early 2014 smart phones and way behind it with 1440p resolutions starting to be seen in the latest Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge and expected in the upcoming iPhone 6 range.
Power Under The Hood
For processor power, the Samsung Exynos 5430 processors are “octa-core” with four cores moving along at 1.8Ghz and the other four at 1.3Ghz. Bear in mind when it says “octa-core” only four of the cores can be running at any given time so it's not actually an 8 core smart phone in that sense. These latest 5430 processors utilize 20nm manufacturing process which should ensure they're more power efficient. They'll need to be as there is only a 1680 mAh battery inside.
The 2GB of RAM memory is enough to run this mid-range phone. The 32GB of internal storage is plenty too. What is lacking is a microSD slot which is rather unfortunate and more like HTC than Samsung here.
Communications
4G LTE category 6 is covered as well as 3G of course. Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band Wi-Fi ac standard and Wi-Fi Hotspot included too.
Cameras
There is a 12 megapixel shooter on the back with a LED flash and a front-facing camera for selfies. Video can be shot at 2160p up to 30 frames per second.
Latest Operating System
The Android 4.4.4 KitKat is present along with Samsung TouchWiz skin. This is the latest version compatible with TouchWiz at the present time, so no “kill switch” which only comes with Android 4.5.
Conclusion
The Galaxy Alpha is a bit of an odd bird. If you want a 4.7-inch phone that has the latest Android OS with a decent camera, 4G LTE communication, strong dual-band Wi-Fi and reasonable power, then the Galaxy Alpha is a strong contender. The improved partial metal looks and the wide range of color choices are strong selling points too.
The lack of microSD card support, limited battery and 720p PenTile display are the big let-downs here. How you use your new smart phone will determine whether these are deal breakers for you. Otherwise, the Galaxy Alpha is a good mid-range phone.
