Samsung Packs Galaxy Alpha’s Sleek Metal Frame With Many Features

By Don Reisinger

Many of the rumors surrounding the Galaxy Alpha suggested that Samsung would at least offer a device with a 5-inch screen. Instead, the company has decided to go with a 4.7-inch display in the Galaxy Alpha. That is likely to put the Galaxy Alpha in the same category as the upcoming iPhone 6, which is rumored to be launching with a 4.7-inch screen of its own.

Samsung has ditched quad-core processors in favor of an Octa Core in the Galaxy Alpha. The Octa Core processor is made up of one 1.8GHz quad-core chip and another 1.3GHz quad-core processor to give the device its eight cores. All that means one, simple thing: The Galaxy Alpha will deliver serious power.

Google’s Android 4.4 (KitKat) is the operating system of choice for the Galaxy Alpha. Samsung hasn’t said whether the device will be quickly updated to the new Android once it launches later this year, but for now, customers can expect KitKat and Samsung’s own slate of software baked into the Galaxy Alpha.

It’s nice to see Samsung providing some higher-end cameras in the Galaxy Alpha. The front-facing lens is a 2.1-megapixel option that the company said will deliver high-quality shots for selfies. The rear-facing camera is 12 megapixels and will include support for panoramic shots.

At long last, Samsung has given way to plastic and gone with metal in its latest device. The Galaxy Alpha comes with a full metal frame and rounded edges that make for a more refined look. The Galaxy Alpha still looks somewhat similar to the Galaxy S5 on its face, but the combination of metal and what Samsung is calling “a tactile soft back cover” makes the device more aesthetically pleasing than its plastic-only counterparts.

The Galaxy Alpha comes in a range of colors. At launch alone, Samsung will offer the device in Charcoal Black, Dazzling White, Frosted Gold, Sleek Silver and Scuba Blue. Odd names aside, that’s a surprisingly large number of color options. It appears Samsung believes that customers truly care about color choices, and it’s going to deliver every last option it can come up with.

Many of the Samsung features customers have found in the company’s other devices are also available in the Galaxy Alpha. For instance, the device comes with Samsung’s Ultra-Power Saving Mode; its health-tracking app, S Health; and the company’s Fingerprint Scanner. The handset also includes a Private mode to improve the device’s security.

Not surprisingly, Samsung has ensured that the Galaxy Alpha will link up with its line of wearables and communicate accordingly. That means that those who own the Gear Fit, Gear Live or Gear 2 will be capable of linking them with the Galaxy Alpha and seeing notifications, answering calls and more.

Given that Samsung is pitching the Galaxy Alpha as a flagship alternative to the iPhone, it’s no surprise that the company has bundled many must-have connectivity features into the product. The Galaxy Alpha comes with support for 801.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and near-field communication. Aside from those connectivity features, the handset has 2GB of memory and 32GB of internal storage. Interestingly, Samsung has ditched the microSD slot found in other Android devices, so there’s no expanding the storage.

Samsung will launch the Galaxy Alpha at the beginning of September. The company says that pricing will vary slightly by country, depending on carrier contracts, local rules and regulations, and exchange rates. News reports indicate Samsung will release the Galaxy Alpha in the U.K., but the device is expected to get the worldwide distribution through the end of the year.