Samsung Galaxy Alpha early reviews - interesting but no game changer

[Rdmkr]

It seems to me that this thing is being compared to the wrong things. IOS vs Android has always been a matter of personal preference, as has the small vs. big phone choice. The only Western competitors that really meet this phone on a level playing field are the XPeria Z1 Compact and the Moto X and the alpha blows them out of the water.

It is about 2/3 as thick as either of them, meaning the total volume is down to that same ratio. On top of this it is over 20 grams lighter than either. I guarantee you these are both things you notice when you hold it in your hand. The Z1 Compact has 0.4" less screen real estate despite its larger body and the moto X is two classes below it in terms of CPU power. Its battery is not *all that much smaller* than the 2200mAh ones in its competitors and the 20nm CPU and modern Amoled screen make up for quite a bit of the difference. Camera wise it probably matches the Z1C (the "20MP" cam in it has some issues) and beats the moto X easily.

I'm really pretty excited about it. It's a great development if more OEMs follow suit and start offering sub-high-end +/- 4.5 inch phones.

edit: the battery is also removeable, so not 1 on 1 comparable to the moto X and Z1C's and arguably better since carry a spare means your battery life is effectively doubled.

 

[michaelmicro]

This looks like a really nice device, I just want to see it running a better OS.

 

[Ravynmagi]

This looks like a really nice device, I just want to see it running a better OS.

If you want it running Windows Phone, then it's called the Icon/930.
If you want it running iOS, then it will be called the iPhone 6.

 

[s44]

Why would an iPhone fans leave their iPhone with subpar resolution and RAM for an Android with subpar resolution and RAM when there are so many better Android phones?

Because of intents, customization, etc?

And as someone else has pointed out, there are better specced Android phones, but none at this size.

If you want it running Windows Phone, then it's called the Icon/930.

Huh? The Icon is the size of a regular S5, the weight of a Note, and generally beefy/overbuilt like most Nokias.

 

[thepath]

What is wrong with 720p when it is only 4.7 inch ?

Besides that, Galaxy Alpha is using an improved AMOLED display that has better color accuracy than even galaxy S5
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Early-Samsung-Galaxy-Alpha-display-tests-improved-more-accurate-AMOLED-screen_id59303?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+phonearena%2FySoL+%28Phone+Arena+-+Latest+News%29

Resolution is not everything. I rather have high quality 720p screen over 1080p screen with poor colors and brightness.

As for battery, yes they are very small. But keep mind that this thing is using new 20nm CPU which consume less power. And 720p display consume less power as well. I rather wait for real world tests before making a quick judgement

I just don't get the 1280x720 display. The iPhone 6 will likely top that and it's below what your normally get an a premium Android phone. And the Exynos 5 is pretty mediocre too.
.

Why do you think Exynos 5 is mediocre ?

Keep in mind that Galaxy Alpha is using more power efficient 20nm Exynos 5430 and aslo support HEVC hardware decoder according to anandtech
http://www.anandtech.com/show/8382/samsung-announces-exynos-5430-first-20nm-samsung-soc

Early benchmarks show that it is comparable and sometimes beats snapdragon 801
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_alpha-review-1114p3.php

Snapdragon 801 is used by most high-end android phones in 2014. So, no Exynos 5430 is not a mediocre

 

[shabby]

If you want it running Windows Phone, then it's called the Icon/930.
If you want it running iOS, then it will be called the iPhone 6.

And if i want it running bb10?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Because of intents, customization, etc?

And as someone else has pointed out, there are better specced Android phones, but none at this size.
Huh? The Icon is the size of a regular S5, the weight of a Note, and generally beefy/overbuilt like most Nokias.

I assumed he said it was a nice phone because of the aluminum frame, but wanted a different OS. Just pointing out other phones with nice metal builds running different OSes.

 

[Ravynmagi]

And if i want it running bb10?

They are now down to 0.5% market share. We don't need to talk about Blackberry anymore.

 

[michaelmicro]

If you want it running Windows Phone, then it's called the Icon/930.
If you want it running iOS, then it will be called the iPhone 6.

It doesn't have to be either of those. I'd actually prefer it if Samsung produced their own OS and ecosystem so as to make the smartphone OS market more dynamic.

 

[Rdmkr]

Heterogenous multi-processing is enabled on the Alpha's octa-core exynos chip, so all 8 cores can be active simultaneously.

Now normally this would sound like a good thing, but it makes me wonder if some of the benchmark results we'll be seeing shouldn't be taken with more of a grain of salt, since it's not uncommon for these to overstate the impact of increased multi-threaded throughput.

 

[Fayd]

Annoying that they went with a 1800 mAh battery. I keep looking for a replacement for my droid razr maxx, and I really want to go with samsung. The form factor on this phone looks really good. the size is exactly what I want. However, the tiny battery, just won't work.

i need 2500 mAh minimum.

 

[s44]

Annoying that they went with a 1800 mAh battery. I keep looking for a replacement for my droid razr maxx, and I really want to go with samsung. The form factor on this phone looks really good. the size is exactly what I want. However, the tiny battery, just won't work.

i need 2500 mAh minimum.

New SoC process, smaller/more efficient screen... Let's wait for the testing before we jump to assumptions about battery life.

 

[ronitbajaj]

As a look, it's awesome. Let's see what the outcome will.

 

[s44]

GSM Arena review is up.

Looks like Samsung used their new AMOLED process but still cheaped out on subpixels, using pentile even at this low density. Battery tested pretty well but more like a 2013 flagship than one of this year's "die, why won't you die" models.

It fills a niche... Next year I hope they just shrink the main phone body back to S4 size.

 

[Rdmkr]

It's a solid battery life result at 220 nits brightness, especially for a removable battery model. Remember GSMArena tests at 50% brightness so you have to account for the brightness level at that setting. The alpha's brightness output at 50% is quite good. Nothing to worry about IMO.

 

[dawheat]

Battery life is better than I expected, but still only barely good enough and not good compared to 2014 phones. Considering their target market, they really should have increased thickness by a touch or made it a non-removable back to fit in a larger fixed battery.

 

[cbrunny]

Has anyone picked this up? It's caught my attention for a few reasons.

First, I've been using a BBZ30 this week while trying to decide what to do about my dead N5, and I didn't even notice the screen was 720p. Mind you I haven't been able to play games or consume media because the platform is NOT built for that in any way whatsoever (not even a G+ app...), but still. I didn't even know it was 720p until I looked it up.

As far as I can tell, there are two things holding me back from this phone. The screen at 720p, and apparently not a very good one with pentile (No idea what this means but apparently its bad? Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXjjg8SRrY <- not a very professional video but very educational. I get it now. Maybe this phone isn't for me...). And Touchwiz, but I'm sure I can learn to deal with it. before my N5, I had a Galaxy Nexus, and before that a BB.

I'm thinking this is targeted at a professional-type. Someone who has both a phone and a tablet. Phone for phoney things, and a tablet for browsing, social media, media consumption, games, etc. That idea fits my profile (except I'm missing the tablet atm... N9, if I can convince the wife). Looks sleek, screen size isn't a gamebreaker one way or the other. I can't imagine I'll be using a ton of battery if I do get a tablet as well.

What am I missing? Why should I not buy this?

 

[shabby]

I'm thinking this is targeted at a professional-type. Someone who has both a phone and a tablet.

A lot of people have a phone and a tablet and aren't professional-types, this phone doesn't have any professional-type qualities either, no phone does nowadays no matter what blackberry tells you(passport).
Samsung is targeting this phone more to iphone users, its small'ish and slim with a bevelled aluminum finish.

 

[blairharrington]

I demoed the Alpha. Z3C is a better choice. Superior battery life, SD card slot, waterproof, smaller footprint.

 

[cbrunny]

I agree, the Z3C does seem like a better choice. I think I'm actually going to go with the Z3 if it is ever actually released in Canada. Sony's North American (well, Canadian at least) rollouts on their phones are always terrible. We still don't even have pricing information at carriers.

The Alpha is attractive because i like its design and it is available today. But, I think I'm going to wait it out.... still smartphoneless, a full week as of today. My mind is exploding.

 

[Commodus]

So far, it sounds like the Z3 Compact isn't (officially) coming to Canada, alas.

As for the Galaxy Alpha: it's sleek, and probably the mid-size Samsung phone of choice. But it's gonna take a serious bruising versus the iPhone 6, at least in the marketplace. It no longer has a real thinness advantage; the iPhone has a higher-resolution screen, a better real-world camera, longer practical battery life and faster performance. There's a price advantage for the Alpha in Canada ($150 vs. $270 on contract), but that edge doesn't really exist in the US -- you're paying $200 on contract for both, and they're pretty close otherwise.

Unless you're really attached to Samsung, the Alpha is a hard sell... and if you are, you probably bought a GS5 or Note 4 already!

 

[cbrunny]

Z3C is available at Bell.

I've never owned a Samsung device before (well, galaxy nexus...) so I'm somewhat apprehensive. Leaning more towards the Note 4 but still unsure. Apparently I have $100 in store credit with Bell, which rocks.