Stylish, high-quality smartphone - At last, Samsung!

Stylish, high-quality smartphone - At last, Samsung!

Samsung Galaxy Alpha Smartphone (11.90 cm (4.7 inch) Super AMOLED display, octa-core processor, 12-megapixel camera, Android 4.4) Black (Wireless Phone)

Customer Review

Hello! As it is now, the first smartphone from Samsung with aluminum frame. At the presentation I was first disappointed that the back is not made of aluminum, however, have me send the ultra-thin design and the total package but then convinced, so I had to pre-order and try the device.

First of all: Why should you buy a unit in this price range, the more of a step backwards in terms of hardware compared to top models like Galaxy S5 or HTC One (M8), now ask many. The Alpha easy to operate a completely different audience than these top models. With the Alpha Samsung will now for the first time reach buyers in the audience, the more emphasis on small size and elegant, sleek design with high-quality materials create a high-end hardware, huge display, or SD card slot. And this target group to which I also count, should not be just low. Many iPhone owners are likely to belong to this group. Personally, I could not make friends with the successors after me S4 ​​and One (M7), because my equipment is simply too clunky. Am therefore far from the One (M7) remained, which I now see the Alpha. 4.7 inch display with minimum external dimensions are ideal for my taste, but still to have yet to ensure a certain handiness a large enough display. Who absolute high-end performance for multimedia applications will correspondingly large display and a huge battery that will obviously not be able to inspire the Alpha. Such customers will not respond Samsung with the Alpha.

Below I would like once evaluate me the important points of the device, compared to the HTC One (M7).

Display:
========
For me the most important thing on a smartphone. Samsung uses a 4.7 AMOLED display here with 1280x720 pixels (720p). So no full HD (1080p) resolution, which was criticized by some in advance. The lower resolution is Samsung here presumably in order to keep power consumption low (more pixels require more computing power) and certainly for cost reasons. In many test reports is mentioned repeatedly that 720p for this display size is perfectly adequate and I can only confirm this. The display is absolutely crisp sharp. In direct comparison with the display of my HTC One (M7), which indeed the same size but has 1080p resolution, because I can find only slight differences. But of course there are differences. Individual pixels can be difficult to detect, but large bright areas can be looked at closely minimally perceive the pixel grid (especially in very dark places), due to the Pentile matrix (arrangement of subpixels). Where the Pentile matrix also stands out for. B. is in very fine writing on gaudy colored background. Since then the font looks slightly ragged, unlike the One. But that really falls on only in certain circumstances. Normally you do not notice because hardly any difference in sharpness between the displays, at least, without you go up close and the differences investigated specifically. Checking Photos small, fine details in the background on the 1080p screen of course a bit sharper. But as I said, to have to look for the differences you specifically.

But what stands out much more, is the difference between the AMOLED and LCD technology. The display of the Alpha has, typical for AMOLED, extremely high contrast, an incredible black level (a black background image is indistinguishable from an off screen even in complete darkness!), Rich (almost gaudy) colors and an extremely high viewing angles, while an LCD display like the one the more natural (paler in direct comparison) colors and whiter whites has, but lower contrast and not a true black. The viewing angles of the M7 displays are also visible worse than the Alpha. I personally like the display of alpha despite the lower resolution in sum better since such a display in direct comparison simply rich and powerful works. The first is a real wow factor when you hold the AMOLED display to the LCD of the One, as the LCD looks almost pale and low-contrast (depending on the imagery that you look). But that is of course a matter of taste. In Internet browser (where you know a lot of the background is), the LCD display looks a bit brighter due to the better white value. Overall, however, the brightness of the display Alpha is absolutely top for a AMOLED. With 100% brightness the screen One slightly brighter (but only in image content with a lot of white), at 75% brightness affects both devices on the other hand affects the display of Alpha visibly brighter and clearer. The display of the Alpha is really absolutely sufficient bright, even in bright outdoor daylight.

In sum one can surely say that Alpha has a top display on the art that is has to hide equipment in spite of only 720p resolution before any high-end.

Processing / optics / haptics:
==============================
Look and feel of the device are really the hammer. It just looks chic and classy and feels like that. The back feels smooth and slightly soft, almost velvety. Absolutely not cheap as in S5, the new material is extremely fine texture, a real flatterer. Particularly stylish is the extremely thin design of the appliance and the overall very compact size for a device with 4.7 display. Even the owner of the One (M7), which undoubtedly probably one of the finest smartphones, I have to say that the Alpha is one of the finest and highest quality smartphone for me, I've ever had in my hand. Although it is not completely out of aluminum. The rubberised back, it is great in the hand, despite the edgy aluminum frame and the flat, thin design. When super smooth one you always feel that it misses out a hand, which is not so in Alpha. The flat back of the Alpha is also better on the table without wobbling. What stands out as well, is the fairly low weight of the unit.

At the processing, there is also nothing to complain about. No uneven gaps and all budge. Nothing creaks and not bend. Overall a really very nice and high quality phone that is simply an eye-catcher. Who would have thought, Samsung has finally learned to.

Ergonomics / operation (buttons, connectors etc):
==============================================
Buttons: The power button and volume rocker are like the frame of aluminum and thus fit perfectly into quality design a. The keys feel great and have a crisp pressure point, top handles. The same applies to the home button. A small point of criticism here would be that the home button is to achieve a bit awkward with one-handed operation and the legal hard pressure point makes it any easier. But that is bleating at a high level and of course matter of habit.
Otherwise, there are, Samsung typical, two capacitive buttons (back and open applications) and will be omitted on-screen buttons! The latter is unfortunately not self-evident, most manufacturers are now using on-screen buttons and Decrease thereby effectively usable screen size. When Alpha has the full 4.7 at leisure. Very commendable is at Samsung devices that the power botton is on the side so you can reach it easily, without the hand to dislocate itself as the One.

Speaker: The speaker on the bottom of the device is absolutely sufficient loud and also has a reasonable sound. Of course it does not come close to the stereo front speaker of the HTC One, but I have never actually used this even if I am erhlich. The speaker of the Alpha's enough for me just fine. However, here's a small point of criticism: If you hold the device horizontally, one concealed the speaker easily with the right index finger and then you hear almost nothing. To avoid this, is a bit fiddly.

Well, what else is there to say. 3.5mm jack connection on top, normal Micro USB 2.0 connector on the bottom (lucky I like this chunky USB 3 ports not). An SD card slot can be found at the appliance, but 32 GB of internal memory. In addition, the device is not waterproof.

Performance:
=============
In brief: Super! Holds the octa-core processor delivers what it promises. The interface runs absolutely smoothly, noticeably smoother than on my One (M7), where it trundles here and there but sometimes light in comparison (although the device already quite a brisk 1.7 GHz Quad Core has). That is on the one hand be due to the higher power and the other to the lower resolution. On both devices I use the GoLauncher EX, instead of the standard user interface. The Standard TochWiz surface of Alpha is just as liquid. Whether home screens, menus, Internet, everything runs smooth pleasant. The 8 cores make Also noticeable extent that you then barely gets the device itself to its knees if you download in the background z. B. app updates or something installed.
In AnTuTu benchmark I have with the Galaxy Alpha 48,293 points, with the HTC One (M7) 28,538 points. The 3D animations run on the Alpha beautiful liquid while slightly jerking on the One. In particular, in the disciplines RAM speed and 3D Graphics the Alpha has more than twice as high values.
In another review someone reported that the device under heavy loads to be hot and then clocked down. I can not confirm. Even after 30 minutes gamble or after several benchmark tests the device was only lukewarm. The reviewer must have had a defective device probably.

Camera:
========
The camera is really great, has absolutely convinced me. One of the best smartphone cameras I've ever used. Compared to the HTC One (M7) are as worlds apart, especially with images in the dark. Here are the pictures of the One (which supposedly so great and bright images makes the dark) in direct comparison very milky, colored and washed out, while the images of the Alpha even in dim lighting in the interior still be relatively sharp and colorful. Top! Even the HDR mode is super. Several, taken with those various exposure images are superimposed in order to mitigate over / underexposed areas.

Also, the wide-angle (/ focal length) convinced. At the Galaxy S4 (which I had before the One) the wide angle was pretty bad compared to the One, so you have much less on the picture get (high focal length). This is the Alpha no longer so fortunately. When One of the angle a bit, although still higher than the Alpha, but the difference is negligible. The camera of the Alpha is in almost all disciplines really convincing. The only me be incurred criticism of the camera is the flash, the colors can seem a little unnatural. With Lightning's is in the dark, of course, sharper, more natural-looking images but can be reached then but without flash.

Battery:
======
What for many is first very important: The battery is replaceable! The plastic rear panel can be removed to access the battery easily.
A delicate point when Alpha is the battery life, because Samsung built only a 1,860 mAh battery here. This is certainly the ultra thin design of the device due. Many now fear, of course, that the Alpha therefore has a low battery life. However, Samsung has done everything possible to keep the power consumption as low as possible (eg, the processor is. The most advanced and most energy-efficient of its kind) and it shows. On the web there are already detailed battery tests to the device and the battery life is in the upper midfield. For example GSMArena. Gets the device endurance rating of 52h (which does not mean that the battery holds 52h, but is a sum of the measured values ​​of different disciplines). That's about the same level of iPhone 5 / 5S (endurance rating 51-54h). The device gets there, the average 1-2 days of battery life certifies (depending on use) that one has with most other devices.

EDIT (11:10:14): Well, since I have the unit for nearly 2 weeks in everyday use, I can not give a final verdict on battery life. In my everyday normal use of the device (emails every 30 minutes called, morning and evening on the train a little surfing on the net, evening occasionally stinkin 'round gamble my favorite game, send a few Whatsapp messages daily and very little telephony) , the battery lasts loud battery statistics 30-40 hours on average to get about 1.5 days ago. If I use the little smartphone, I land even usually at 2-2.5 days of battery life (approximately 2.5 hours Display On Time). At very low usage, I have already achieved over 72 hours. Overnight without wireless device consumes 2-3% battery.

Therefore, I can say for myself that the battery in my use almost as long as holding the devices that I have used previously as (HTC One (M7) or Galaxy S4). When I'm mostly got there even as 1.5-2 days on a single charge. And whether a battery will last 1.5 or 1.8 days should make no difference for most, since then anyway every night is charged. If you, like me, has already everywhere rumfliegen microUSB charging cable, whether at home, in the office or in the car, it does anyway even less a role.

In sum it can be said that the device is not endurance king, but in this discipline not flop. Most users are likely to end up with one charge estimated at a battery life of 1.5 days and even frequent users should absolutely problem over an entire day (ie from getting up to going to bed) come. The problem arises only in very extreme power users who have 3 hours or more display-on time per day, because the battery does not then through the day.

EDIT (09:02:15): There are now from Samsung a 2,500mAh battery extension! This slightly increases the thickness of the device (about 2 mm), so that the camera on the back is no longer produced, but is flush with the battery cover. Thus even power users should have enough battery life. I personally do not need it, hand me the 1.5-2 days of battery life in my usage of loose and then I prefer a very thin smartphone. But you now have a choice.

Software and additional features:
=============================
The device comes with Android 4.4.4, which as already written also runs super performant. Of the 32 GB of internal memory about 6 GB are supported by the system. When surface is Samsung's TouchWiz used, which as I said nice runs smoothly and offers many useful settings. It has up to 7 homescreens and if you all scrolls to the left, the News App My Magazine opens (based on Flipboard). The Samsung has Copied from HTC Blink Feed. I am really looking forward to the update to Android 5 (Lollipop), which is yet to be performant. The update should come in the first quarter 2015.

Of course, as you know it from Samsung, again unwanted apps with on board (Zalando, Hotel something, kaufDA etc.). The but you can remove easily and is good. Otherwise, I do not unpleasant Bloatware noticed because so far, which runs in the background without asking etc. Anyone who bothers app at any Samsung, such. As the Samsung's App Store, which can also easily disable. Otherwise, there really little trash on the device.
The S Health app is certainly a nice gimmick for people who want to use their smartphones to sport. The part can be taken for. B. for jogging, hiking, walking or cycling, and it then records route, steps, calories burned and other data. With the pulse sensor on the rear panel can be also his pulse needs messenwers.
The S-Finder is quite useful. It is a search function that searches the entire device (mail, photos, calendars, etc.) for a search term entered. That works pretty well and fast.

Otherwise, the unit multi-window offers some features that you already know from other Samsung devices, such as Smart Stay (display remains on as long as you look on it), (two applications simultaneously on the screen) or AirView (finger over the display hold for z. B. Preview). All very nice gimmicks but I need personally and do not use all these things.
What I did not at first tried, is the fingerprint sensor. For me as unnecessary. But who wants to use the so z can. B. unlock his device or paying with PayPal.

Conclusion:
======
What can I say I am delighted with the device. I try always to evaluate the device as objectively as possible and if there is something to complain about, then I do that also. But Alpha is actually the first Samsung smartphone, in whom I am to complain about much of anything. Look, feel and finish are top notch. A real eye-catcher and the hand. Performance and camera: Top! When the display there are minimal deductions in the field, but for bright, high contrast and colorful. Viewing angle and black value perfectly.

The battery capacity is a point which neither positive nor negative stands at the machine. Samsung has actually manage to make the device so efficiently that in ordinary usage of 1,860 mAh battery (see above) should reach 1.5 days for most users on average and even frequent users come loose over an entire day. Those looking for a device that keeps loose by 2 full days even with heavy use, for so an extremely thin "designer" device such as the Alpha but nothing that should one be clear.
EDIT: With the now available 2,500mAh expansion battery of Samsung even power users should get a satisfactory battery life. Through the expansion battery, the device is minimal (about 2 mm) thick. Thus, everyone can decide for himself whether he wants to have an extremely thin smartphone and prefer him sufficient battery life, or whether he prefers to have more battery life and for a slightly thicker body. Top!

If you want to complain about something, then you could call it the missing SD card slot, or the position of the speaker, which can easily concealed in horizontal mode with your finger. Clear, full HD resolution would have been nice, but the display is already so great.

In sum really a great device for which Samsung (finally) has a great deal done right and that I can in good conscience recommend for people who are primarily seeking a stylish, high-quality smartphone that has a sufficiently large display, while remaining manageable and at the same time provides more than enough power for all everyday tasks and games. The minimum criticisms are not enough to deduct a five-star rating (I would give the device 90%), so full 5 stars!

Very good shell but ... Rank: 3/5
September 23
Too heavy 3 1 Rank: 2/5
January 25
A real bomb !!! Rank: 5/5
May 20
Very nice toy 2 1 Rank: 4/5
June 19
Received very quickly. 2 Rank: 4/5
June 6
Best value for money 33 Rank: 5/5
December 6

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