Samsung Galaxy Alpha

“Samsung seems to be at its best when it embraces excess, with high-res screens, high-megapixel cameras and super-fast processors. The Galaxy Alpha is the company's attempt to play the taste game, and it's not altogether successful. I get the feeling Samsung doesn't want to take this form factor seriously. With Motorola out of the smaller-phone market and Sony's Z3 Compact apparently never coming to a U.S. carrier, though, your choices are limited for a one-handed, high-quality Android phone on AT&T. Verizon subscribers get the HTC One Remix, which has a slower processor, but at least it's much less expensive. I'd consider the Remix a better value for the money than the Alpha.Against flagships, the Galaxy Alpha doesn't quite measure up to the iPhone 6 in the 4.7-inch space—or in general, to Samsung's own S5 or to the new Moto X. Smaller shouldn't have to mean second-rate. While the Galaxy Alpha has solid four-star specs, especially considering its bright screen and solid battery life, I'm marking it down half a point for being less than it could be.”

“The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is a brilliant addition to the Galaxy line. Not quite an alpha dog but a starry-eyed pup, dreaming of leaving its own legacy. What if they dropped the Galaxy moniker and just called it Samsung Alpha?A tempting thought. The plastic back, the hardware keys below the screen, and some of the TouchWiz bloatware are all weighing down the Galaxy Alpha and those are all Galaxy genes. Samsung missed an opportunity to one-up the iPhone 6 with water resistance and a large battery - one that Sony won't miss with the Xperia Z3 Compact.We have to give credit where credit is due - after handling the Galaxy S5 and S5 mini, the Galaxy Alpha was a revelation. The metal frame puts it a notch above its siblings and Samsung did a great job with the homemade chipset, which is a solid alternative to Snapdragon 801.We haven't seen the iPhone 6 and Xperia Z3 Compact and rumors aren't enough to tell whether the Samsung Galaxy Alpha has a shot at all. We do know that it fills a gaping hole in Samsung's lineup, a proper compact flagship, a hole many other makers still need to worry about.With the familiar Galaxy branding (a blessing and a curse) the Alpha should sell reasonably well. It won't make everyone happy but seems capable of helping Samsung extend their reach, perhaps even dip into Apple territory.”

“Any look at the Galaxy Alpha can best be summed up by encouraging people to re-read Galaxy S5 reviews from earlier this year, then imagine that experience delivered in a handsome, perfect-for-your-palm chassis. We poked and prodded in the hopes of finding great, new TouchWiz features or uncovering serious problems or gaps in performance, but our testing didn't reveal anything groundbreaking or surprising.If you're a Samsung devotee who doesn't want a giant phone or phablet and you skipped the S5 in the hopes that it'd see a superior second draft, this is the phone for you. And if Samsung hasn't won you over in the past, we think the only thing that'll turn your head with this device is the build quality, as much for looks as for size and lightness.But this is the phone Samsung should have introduced in April when it could have competed with metal-framed phones with a better screen (like the HTC One M8) or a lower price (like this year's Moto X). Instead, we're stuck making such comparisons and wondering who would pick this Android phone as a $199-with-contract option (let alone a $600-plus option out of contract). Our tests were spent mostly using this side-by-side with the LG Nexus 5, and while performance and usability were comparable, Samsung's 4.7-inch option never felt worth $300 more than an unlocked Nexus 5.Had the Galaxy Alpha shipped with a top-of-the-line camera, complete with a wonderful sensor and other smart features, a competitive price, and a danged micro-SD card slot, we'd be shouting from the rooftops about this handset. As it stands, we'll whistle politely about it.”

“Samsung launches a strong piece of hardware in the competitive high-end market with its Galaxy Alpha. Though it adheres to Samsung's own Galaxy S5, clear concessions have to be made in comparison. The refined manufacturing process of the new casing and the larger, 32 GB flash memory is likely the reason that Samsung demands 50 Euros more with a price of 649 Euros for its Galaxy Alpha. The exterior excites with a stable metal bezel and elegant design in return. The innards are also very respectable. A very economic and yet sufficiently powerful eight-core SoC developed by Samsung does a very good job in conjunction with the swift GPU and lush 2 GB of RAM – although the Galaxy S5 features considerably stronger equipment. On the other hand, barely any compromises have to be made with the 4.7-inch, Super AMOLED screen. Admittedly, the resolution of 720p does not seem appropriate because it is slightly too low, but it proved absolutely sufficient in routine use. The intuitive handling owing to the TouchWiz interface and the latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat alongside the multiple operation options really pleased us. The configuration generally proves very generous with high-speed Wi-Fi, NFC, and universal communication modules as well as a decent primary camera. The fact that the latter falters a bit in poor ambient light can be forgiven. In return, the long battery runtimes and a fingerprint sensor that provides security are appealing. The excellent voice quality is also commendable. The biggest point of criticism: Samsung axes the memory card slot in its Galaxy Alpha. Therefore, users who need more than roughly 25 GB (net), will have to use additional online storage.”