Samsung Galaxy Alpha preview: First look

13 August 2014
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is a surprising change in the Samsung product strategy. It certainly has many of the Galaxy S5 key selling features, while staking on more premium material such as aluminum. But it’s not another flagship, no, it’s rather an offshoot of the Galaxy family tree – something that the Galaxy S5 mini could have been but is not. An unusual bird, indeed.

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  • D
  • AnonD-221566
  • tAN
  • 14 Aug 2014

My S2 is barely able to last 5hrs and that has a 1650mAh battery.
I'd rather a Moto X over this.

    • a
    • advice
    • fwM
    • 14 Aug 2014

    it is a beautiful phone,i will not comment on the performance and battery life until gsmarena review.

      (Post withdrawn.)

        • E
        • Enema
        • niH
        • 14 Aug 2014

        Samsungs marketing on the Alpha battery:

        1. If you don't like it - buy S5 (or even S5 mini);
        2. Live with "ultra power save" mode (how uncool is that).
        3 Buy an iPhone 6.

          • n
          • narakete
          • 39V
          • 14 Aug 2014

          I like the camera of Alpha, the bezels. It could be a rival to Sony Compact, but my Z1 Compact has much cleaner and more elegant user interface, can shoot under water, and it has a hole for a lace. These are the selling points for me.

          Thank you for a first look review, the most informative as always.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • bEK
            • 14 Aug 2014

            IMHO, the S2 was the best design put out by Samsung and I'm glad they have refined this design for the Alpha.

            To bad I recently bought a Nexus 5, else I might have gone for this in the future.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 0BG
              • 14 Aug 2014

              Just what we needed, another "premium" device for the sheeple. Nowadays "premium" usually means no SD slot, poor battery and "great" design. When the **** are they going to remove mobile devices from the fashion industry...


                • C
                • Chupacabra
                • c}h
                • 14 Aug 2014

                This is going to cause a lot of Apple users to jump ship.

                  • H
                  • Heynekko
                  • RIL
                  • 14 Aug 2014

                  So the galaxy s5 was just a scout to snap up those pre-emptive buyers out there. And to draw out other flagships to see their offering. This galaxy alpha is to deal with iphone 6. Later the galaxy note 4 will crush every other flagships out there. Quite a good strategy I would say. Now only the z3 has a chance to one up note 4 given the timing. Though i doubt it will able to. All other manufacturer has to wait till next year to counter note 4.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • BC3
                    • 14 Aug 2014

                    looks amazing! well done samsung! i will sell my HTC one mini2 for this beauty!

                      • D
                      • AnonD-232646
                      • tVs
                      • 14 Aug 2014

                      Iphone6 becoming like Samsung/HTC look alike.. and Samsung Alpha is becoming Iphone4/5

                        • a
                        • anonymous
                        • v0q
                        • 14 Aug 2014

                        Hi guys. What do you think of its audio capabilities on videos? Is it a worthy rival to Nokia Lumia 1020?

                          • C
                          • Chupacabra
                          • c}h
                          • 14 Aug 2014

                          This looks so much better than iPhone 6 4.7".

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • Kxv
                            • 14 Aug 2014

                            6.7mm thin and user-removable battery.
                            this fact actually negates the old argument that you need a non-removable battery to made a super thin device.

                            about the size of the battery,
                            let's wait until GSMArena put it on their usual test.
                            but, by looking at the specs, i guess it will score around 65h endurance rating.

                              • r
                              • revetahw
                              • 050
                              • 14 Aug 2014

                              when did aluminum become a 'premium' material, it costs about 1 dollar per pound.

                                • E
                                • Eddy
                                • vf1
                                • 14 Aug 2014

                                This one spec is a dealbreaker:
                                - Memory: 32GB storage, no microSD card slot;

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • mRt
                                  • 14 Aug 2014

                                  I'll wait for the Galaxy Alpha Active or Mini instead. Ot maybe Duos. Or Ace. Or Young. Or the limited Piano Black edition. Or..,

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • sF2
                                    • 14 Aug 2014

                                    AnonD-10363, 13 Aug 2014IMO, The size of the display does not effect the battery li... moreThe size of the screen HAS to have an impact on the battery life (as does processor, resolution etc) . Bigger screen = more power.

                                      • n
                                      • nano
                                      • v0q
                                      • 14 Aug 2014

                                      If Samsung put at least 2500mah battery this may be my first Samsung phone..