For
Lightweight, quality build, fast camera, rich screen colours
Against
Still a plastic back, 720p screen doesn't match competition, price
Samsung's first truly premium quality phone, the Galaxy Alpha, has arrived. Has Samsung
got everything perfect for those people looking for a bit more luxury in their smartphone?
Could it even be the replacement for the S5 flagship smartphone?
We've been spending time living with the Samsung Galaxy Alpha to see if a quality build
also means this is a top-end handset all round. It's clear Samsung has a certain fruit-named
giant in its sights. But does the Alpha hit the mark?
is its weight. Or the lack of it, given it weighs just 115g. When we first held it, and when
anyone else we know has held it, the first words are "wow, that's so light".
The outer frame is metal and, visually, is a bit like that of the iPhone 4S in construction.
The Alpha's flat edge is brushed and looks matte with the chamfered polished for a finish
that shines. The power button and the volume rocker are also made of quality metal and
feel solid.But it's not perfect for everyone because, in true Samsung style, the back is still
plastic. It's more premium than the Galaxy S5 though, with a more rubberised, leather-esque
feel - but for many the presence of plastic on a premium phone is a no-no. It's not a patch
on the HTC One M8's full metal body for example.
The advantage on Samsung's side is that the rear panel can be removed, meaning
battery accessfor swap outs should you want. Plus its grippy to the point where you can
hold it against your fingers upright and it won't slip out of the hand, which can't be said of
HTC's all-metal bodywork.
What it boils down to is personal preference. Since the plastic rear feels matte and sits flush
within the metal frame, it still appears premium. You may prefer this and the ability to remove
the rear, while maintaining the lightweight design, than a heavier and potentially hotter metal
rear of some competitors. The glass-sandwich Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, for example, which
this phone goes head-to-head with.
Another upgrade to quality is found in the speaker setup, which has now moved to the
bottom of the handset, rather than sitting on the back. The speaker grille is drilled into the
metal frame for a seamless finish. This also appears to offer more reinforcement that,
compared to the SamsungGalaxy S5, delivers slightly more bass but isn't quite as loud.
The vibrations can be felt somewhat throughout the rear cover too - but only at full volume.
The Galaxy Alpha's front is otherwise much like the Galaxy S5 or the Note 4 on a smaller
scale, with Samsung's slim home button doubling as a fingerprint reader, a screen that fills
the face, and a dot-finish bezel.
things about this compact handset. The model we tested featured the Exynos 5 octa-core
with a 1.8GHzCortex-A15 quad-core and a 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 quad-core running in unison.
All that is backed by 2GB of RAM which equates to a completely smooth user experience
and decent power efficiency that goes easy on the battery life.
We've been testing it against the Galaxy S5 and the two match up almost exactly - although
the houses a Qualcomm chipset. Where the browser might open a micro second quicker on
the S5, Google Maps can open a little faster on the Alpha - there's really nothing between
them in terms of performance.
The European model of the Alpha we reviewed comes with Cat 6 4G LTE which will mean it
can work extra fast on 4G networks in the future. Not just yet for most of the country, though,
as there's a lack of compatibility in the UK. Think of it as future-proofing, as it is capable of
speeds up to 300Mbps, something that will become more mainstream soon as EE leads the way with this faster 4G.
From using apps to making calls we've had no problems with the phone - callers we spoke to
reported that the call quality from the Alpha was very good.
1280 x 720 resolution screen despite being a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED panel. This is an area
that we thought would be the big downfall of the Alpha now that we're so accustomed to
1920 x 1080 screen resolutions and beyond, even at 4.7-inches, like the HTC One (M7) from
2013.
That resolution equates to a 317ppi density, but we didn't find it to be a huge issue. It's the
same resolution as the Xperia Z3 Compact (although that display is fractionally smaller at
4.6 inches). The Super AMOLED panel means colours are still vibrant, while refresh rates
are near instant.
The resolution won't make a difference when doing something like watching a movie -
because the source is probably only 720p, however, when not watching moving images the
Alpha isn't as noticeably sharp as the SGS5, where font definition and the like can be seen
more clearly.
The point is this screen isn't as top spec as it should be for a flagship device at this price.
But it still looks great, despite what the numbers might make you presume. There will always
be those who won't settle for anything less than the best money can buy, but we didn't find
the resolution of the Alpha to be a huge problem.
flash to its rear, while a 2.1-megapixel selfie camera leads the front.
Unfortunately the main camera doesn't come with optical image stabilisation, but the
results are still impressive. The most notable thing about this camera is the speed, from
opening the app through to shooting it's all instant. Use a finger to adjust the focus point with
ease and the depth of focus is impressive.
The Live HDR is useful for photos where the light varies. We found this to adapt milliseconds
after the camera was moved between varying light. The photos with HDR Auto switched on
were definitely better in most cases and didn't appear to take any longer to process, so we'd
leave this on most of the time.
The selfie camera isn't as high resolution as some out there but it does the job. It's also got
Samsung's Beauty Face feature which you can use to soften the skin and appear more like a
plastic doll, machine, or airbrushed celeb, if that's what you want. The ability to snap that shot
using the volume button really helps, especially with that solid frame and button as a base to
press against.
Shooting 4K video was as easy and as fast as shooting 1080p footage, so why not?
Available space would perhaps be one issue but another is the lack of extra options that
shooting UHD results in. Things like Dual camera mode, HDR, video effects, remote
viewfinder and taking a picture while recording are all no longer options if you opt to record
in that 3840 x 2160 resolution. It does mean this camera is future-proofed, however.
Voice controls were really helpful and work well. One example is saying "smile" or one of a
few other command options to take a photo.
Since the Alpha's new metal frame allows the phone to be stood on its side this could be
useful when lining up a group shot to be taken from far away. You can also use someone
else's device, paired via NFC, as a viewfinder to snap remotely.
capacity and in comparison to a lot of other phone's juice-boxes it is. But that means the
handset remains light and slim and thanks to the efficiency of that octa-core processor it
means decent battery performance too.
In our use we found the Samsung Galaxy Alpha gave at least a day of charge, even a day
and a half of use before needing to plug it in. Then there's Samsung Ultra Power Saving
Mode which can deliver up to another day's use on just 10 per cent battery.
Despite the battery capacity sounding low, the restrained screen resolution, along with the
efficiency of the octo-core processor is problem behind its efficiency: certainly, you shouldn't
have problems making it last through an average day.
interface over the top. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently, and the experience is very
much like the Galaxy S5.
rear for quick checks rather than acting as a sustained measure - for true sporty activities the
Gear Fit wearable or similar is more likely the way people will sync health data between
devices.
The heart rate sensor works well enough and we've found that the results are comparable to
those we've measured on other devices. You will need to have your finger well placed on the
sensor, however, or it will fail.
You can feed information into S Health 3.0, as well as have the app record your steps or
other types of exercise, with the ability to set targets or goals (time, distance) and then do
those workouts. You can also log your food intake and monitor your profile in an attempt to
have that healthier lifestyle.
At present S Health has room to evolve because it's a straight logging system rather than a
fully interactive one. But there's plenty of scope for that to change in the future - and we fully
expect it to grow and expand. It has to make the Samsung-only software and hardware tie-in worthwhile, because if you want to sync the Alpha with a smartwatch then it has to be a
Samsung Gear device.
Admittedly, we like the built-in pedometer functions, and the thing we like the most is the
inclusion of your steps on the lock screen of your phone. Setting everything else aside, this is
one small but mighty detail that we found really useful on the earlier SGS5 model. Every
time you look at your phone, you'll be reminded of just how active you've been.
There's a lot more nuance to the S Health system. If you want to know more,
take a read of our What Is S Health? feature for all the deep dive information.
frame, lightweight build and slim design. Some will find the plastic back and 720p resolution
screen too inferior compared to the competition, even if the £549 price tag is decidedly
flagship. Setting this in context, the similarly-specced Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is selling for
£429, although the Alpha has 32GB of storage, the Sony only 16GB.
What it really comes down to is what you're looking for. If it's a quality build that looks and
feels good in the hand and avoids the larger-than-5-inch screen size then the Alpha is a fine
example of an Android handset, especially if you want all those Samsung extras.
However with phones such as the HTC One M8 offering an even more premium all-metal
build and stronger specs, there are obvious competitors that will put the Alpha into a
questionable position for some.
Overall the Galaxy Alpha is an attractive smartphone that's powerful enough to handle
anything you care to throw at it. Compared to any Samsung smartphone that's come before it,
it's also a lot more premium in build quality. That makes it a significant step forward in the
range and one we hope to see further develop in future devices.
got everything perfect for those people looking for a bit more luxury in their smartphone?
Could it even be the replacement for the S5 flagship smartphone?
We've been spending time living with the Samsung Galaxy Alpha to see if a quality build
also means this is a top-end handset all round. It's clear Samsung has a certain fruit-named
giant in its sights. But does the Alpha hit the mark?
Build quality
The first and most obvious thing that jumps out about the Galaxy Alpha when in the handis its weight. Or the lack of it, given it weighs just 115g. When we first held it, and when
anyone else we know has held it, the first words are "wow, that's so light".
The Alpha's flat edge is brushed and looks matte with the chamfered polished for a finish
that shines. The power button and the volume rocker are also made of quality metal and
feel solid.But it's not perfect for everyone because, in true Samsung style, the back is still
plastic. It's more premium than the Galaxy S5 though, with a more rubberised, leather-esque
feel - but for many the presence of plastic on a premium phone is a no-no. It's not a patch
on the HTC One M8's full metal body for example.
battery accessfor swap outs should you want. Plus its grippy to the point where you can
hold it against your fingers upright and it won't slip out of the hand, which can't be said of
HTC's all-metal bodywork.
within the metal frame, it still appears premium. You may prefer this and the ability to remove
the rear, while maintaining the lightweight design, than a heavier and potentially hotter metal
rear of some competitors. The glass-sandwich Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, for example, which
this phone goes head-to-head with.
bottom of the handset, rather than sitting on the back. The speaker grille is drilled into the
metal frame for a seamless finish. This also appears to offer more reinforcement that,
compared to the SamsungGalaxy S5, delivers slightly more bass but isn't quite as loud.
The vibrations can be felt somewhat throughout the rear cover too - but only at full volume.
The Galaxy Alpha's front is otherwise much like the Galaxy S5 or the Note 4 on a smaller
scale, with Samsung's slim home button doubling as a fingerprint reader, a screen that fills
the face, and a dot-finish bezel.
Power
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha does not compromise on power, which is one of the appealingthings about this compact handset. The model we tested featured the Exynos 5 octa-core
with a 1.8GHzCortex-A15 quad-core and a 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 quad-core running in unison.
All that is backed by 2GB of RAM which equates to a completely smooth user experience
and decent power efficiency that goes easy on the battery life.
the houses a Qualcomm chipset. Where the browser might open a micro second quicker on
the S5, Google Maps can open a little faster on the Alpha - there's really nothing between
them in terms of performance.
The European model of the Alpha we reviewed comes with Cat 6 4G LTE which will mean it
can work extra fast on 4G networks in the future. Not just yet for most of the country, though,
as there's a lack of compatibility in the UK. Think of it as future-proofing, as it is capable of
speeds up to 300Mbps, something that will become more mainstream soon as EE leads the way with this faster 4G.
From using apps to making calls we've had no problems with the phone - callers we spoke to
reported that the call quality from the Alpha was very good.
Screen
Despite the premium build, the Galaxy Alpha's screen specification isn't so hot. It has a1280 x 720 resolution screen despite being a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED panel. This is an area
that we thought would be the big downfall of the Alpha now that we're so accustomed to
1920 x 1080 screen resolutions and beyond, even at 4.7-inches, like the HTC One (M7) from
2013.
same resolution as the Xperia Z3 Compact (although that display is fractionally smaller at
4.6 inches). The Super AMOLED panel means colours are still vibrant, while refresh rates
are near instant.
The resolution won't make a difference when doing something like watching a movie -
because the source is probably only 720p, however, when not watching moving images the
Alpha isn't as noticeably sharp as the SGS5, where font definition and the like can be seen
more clearly.
The point is this screen isn't as top spec as it should be for a flagship device at this price.
But it still looks great, despite what the numbers might make you presume. There will always
be those who won't settle for anything less than the best money can buy, but we didn't find
the resolution of the Alpha to be a huge problem.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha packs a 12-megapixel autofocus camera with 2.1-inch LEDflash to its rear, while a 2.1-megapixel selfie camera leads the front.
Unfortunately the main camera doesn't come with optical image stabilisation, but the
results are still impressive. The most notable thing about this camera is the speed, from
opening the app through to shooting it's all instant. Use a finger to adjust the focus point with
ease and the depth of focus is impressive.
after the camera was moved between varying light. The photos with HDR Auto switched on
were definitely better in most cases and didn't appear to take any longer to process, so we'd
leave this on most of the time.
The selfie camera isn't as high resolution as some out there but it does the job. It's also got
Samsung's Beauty Face feature which you can use to soften the skin and appear more like a
plastic doll, machine, or airbrushed celeb, if that's what you want. The ability to snap that shot
using the volume button really helps, especially with that solid frame and button as a base to
press against.
Shooting 4K video was as easy and as fast as shooting 1080p footage, so why not?
Available space would perhaps be one issue but another is the lack of extra options that
shooting UHD results in. Things like Dual camera mode, HDR, video effects, remote
viewfinder and taking a picture while recording are all no longer options if you opt to record
in that 3840 x 2160 resolution. It does mean this camera is future-proofed, however.
few other command options to take a photo.
Since the Alpha's new metal frame allows the phone to be stood on its side this could be
useful when lining up a group shot to be taken from far away. You can also use someone
else's device, paired via NFC, as a viewfinder to snap remotely.
Battery performance
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha comes with a 1,850mAh battery. This sounds like a limitedcapacity and in comparison to a lot of other phone's juice-boxes it is. But that means the
handset remains light and slim and thanks to the efficiency of that octa-core processor it
means decent battery performance too.
In our use we found the Samsung Galaxy Alpha gave at least a day of charge, even a day
and a half of use before needing to plug it in. Then there's Samsung Ultra Power Saving
Mode which can deliver up to another day's use on just 10 per cent battery.
Despite the battery capacity sounding low, the restrained screen resolution, along with the
efficiency of the octo-core processor is problem behind its efficiency: certainly, you shouldn't
have problems making it last through an average day.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha runs on the latest Android 4.4 KitKat with Samsung's TouchWizinterface over the top. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently, and the experience is very
much like the Galaxy S5.
Samsung offers what is calls a My Magazine page via a left swipe of the homepage, that
pulls in news and personalised feeds from Flipboard. For the full ins and outs about how
TouchWiz, My Magazine, notifications and so forth function take a look at our original S5
review.
pulls in news and personalised feeds from Flipboard. For the full ins and outs about how
TouchWiz, My Magazine, notifications and so forth function take a look at our original S5
review.
A healthy heart
Another newer Samsung staple is S Health 3.0. There's a heart-rate sensor positioned to therear for quick checks rather than acting as a sustained measure - for true sporty activities the
Gear Fit wearable or similar is more likely the way people will sync health data between
devices.
The heart rate sensor works well enough and we've found that the results are comparable to
those we've measured on other devices. You will need to have your finger well placed on the
sensor, however, or it will fail.
other types of exercise, with the ability to set targets or goals (time, distance) and then do
those workouts. You can also log your food intake and monitor your profile in an attempt to
have that healthier lifestyle.
At present S Health has room to evolve because it's a straight logging system rather than a
fully interactive one. But there's plenty of scope for that to change in the future - and we fully
expect it to grow and expand. It has to make the Samsung-only software and hardware tie-in worthwhile, because if you want to sync the Alpha with a smartwatch then it has to be a
Samsung Gear device.
Admittedly, we like the built-in pedometer functions, and the thing we like the most is the
inclusion of your steps on the lock screen of your phone. Setting everything else aside, this is
one small but mighty detail that we found really useful on the earlier SGS5 model. Every
time you look at your phone, you'll be reminded of just how active you've been.
There's a lot more nuance to the S Health system. If you want to know more,
take a read of our What Is S Health? feature for all the deep dive information.
Verdict
The Galaxy Alpha is the highest quality smartphone from Samsung yet thanks to its metalframe, lightweight build and slim design. Some will find the plastic back and 720p resolution
screen too inferior compared to the competition, even if the £549 price tag is decidedly
flagship. Setting this in context, the similarly-specced Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is selling for
£429, although the Alpha has 32GB of storage, the Sony only 16GB.
What it really comes down to is what you're looking for. If it's a quality build that looks and
feels good in the hand and avoids the larger-than-5-inch screen size then the Alpha is a fine
example of an Android handset, especially if you want all those Samsung extras.
However with phones such as the HTC One M8 offering an even more premium all-metal
build and stronger specs, there are obvious competitors that will put the Alpha into a
questionable position for some.
Overall the Galaxy Alpha is an attractive smartphone that's powerful enough to handle
anything you care to throw at it. Compared to any Samsung smartphone that's come before it,
it's also a lot more premium in build quality. That makes it a significant step forward in the
range and one we hope to see further develop in future devices.
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