alpha?

[steelrain82]

So coming from a note 2 I went to check out the note 4. And while I really like it after playing with it for the 2nd time, I ran across the galaxy alpha. Is this essentially a smaller version of the note 2? Or would it be an upgrade?

Minus s pen functions and screen size. I don't use the s pen that much, I thought I would but really dont. And the alpha while definitely smaller still caught my eye.

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[thoots]

It's perhaps better considered to be a smaller version of the S5. Watch out for whiners moaning about the "low resolution" 720p screen -- all I can do is roll my eyes at comments like that. If you can live with 720p and the lack of a MicroSD card slot, it is otherwise a very high-end phone in a much smaller and lighter format than the big bruiser 5-inch-plus monsters.

 

[Social Distortion68]

It's perhaps better considered to be a smaller version of the S5. Watch out for whiners moaning about the "low resolution" 720p screen -- all I can do is roll my eyes at comments like that. If you can live with 720p and the lack of a MicroSD card slot, it is otherwise a very high-end phone in a much smaller and lighter format than the big bruiser 5-inch-plus monsters.

Amen!
Lack of a Micro SD card shouldn't be a problem unless you just got to have 1000 cd's and 15 movies with you at all time! LOL
Mine came with a tad over 25 gb available and is now at 23.2 gb with 12 albums on it now.

 

[Photon4glover]

I honestly love the screen and it wows me every time I pick it up in the store. And the form factor is what really excited me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[limitbreak09]

Picked this bad boy yesterday..and boy oh boy I own moto x, og pro, S3 and I think Alpha will be my fone for the next 2 years.. and the screen is great too! It s720p but it looks like a 1080p!

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[Haalcyon]

So it's been a few months since this thread got any love. I picked up an Alpha yesterday as an alternative to my huge Note 4. It's funny how quickly this smaller size has grown on me. The Note 4 seems absolutely monstrous compared to this nice compact Alpha. Overall, really liking the smaller size and responsiveness of this device, especially with Nova Prime.

 

[KoukiFC3S]

So it's been a few months since this thread got any love. I picked up an Alpha yesterday as an alternative to my huge Note 4. It's funny how quickly this smaller size has grown on me. The Note 4 seems absolutely monstrous compared to this nice compact Alpha. Overall, really liking the smaller size and responsiveness of this device, especially with Nova Prime.

I also went from a Note 4 on Verizon (2GB data) to the Alpha (Cricket 20GB data for the same price). Loving it.

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[Haalcyon]

In the end I didn't keep the Alpha (I went with a Note 3 instead) but it was a nice phone.

 

[cckgz4]

Just picked this phone up yesterday and I love it. It's so pocketable and light.

 

[Russell Crook]

Having owned an Alpha for over 5 months now.

I use it with a gear 2 neo constantly connected. This overall has pretty large impact on battery life because of the constant bluetooth connection....or so youd think, it actually had little to no affect on battery life because it I presume Samsung have done something to make the connection less demanding.

This phone impresses me every day, I recently bought the extended battery pack, not because I need it but to basically have to not think "I cant do that because it affect the battery" the 2500maH kit gives me great battery life. I also use the Lean droid app which allows me to turn Mobile data off which really adds hours onto the battery. It only adds minimal mm to the thickness of the phone itself so doesnt take away the look or feel of this quality handset.

People have complained no SD poor screen but I came from a G2 and its no different, its people looking to condemn any samsung phone but this isnt any samsung phone and the fact its now ceased production makes it a limited edition handset. The A3 A5 and A7 have sprang from its ashes but none carry the 8core processor and that is why the phone will always be better than either of theses 3 handsets.

When Lollipo arrives the battery with the 8 cores will really push other "high end" handsets as the new version really optimises the phones in the right way. Just look at the Nexus 4.

 

[foxbat121]

Having owned an Alpha for over 5 months now.

I use it with a gear 2 neo constantly connected. This overall has pretty large impact on battery life because of the constant bluetooth connection....or so youd think, it actually had little to no affect on battery life because it I presume Samsung have done something to make the connection less demanding.

Most modern smartphones and wearables use something called Bluetooth LE (low energy) that's part of BT 4.0. Bluetooth LE devices are designed to connect all day long without incur too much battery drain.

I just got my Alpha and think it is a superb phone as well compare to the much larger and plastic Galaxy S lines. The only problem with Alpha is the price, nothing else, IMO. The battery is fine for my usage pattern.

Luckily, I got it real cheap (< $300). For that price, it is a steal. Too bad Samsung positioned it wrong and gave it little or no marketing.

 

[Haalcyon]

Most modern smartphones and wearables use something called Bluetooth LE (low energy) that's part of BT 4.0. Bluetooth LE devices are designed to connect all day long without incur too much battery drain.

I just got my Alpha and think it is a superb phone as well compare to the much larger and plastic Galaxy S lines. The only problem with Alpha is the price, nothing else, IMO. The battery is fine for my usage pattern.

Luckily, I got it real cheap (< $300). For that price, it is a steal. Too bad Samsung positioned it wrong and gave it little or no marketing.

I had the Alpha for a few days. Certainly not a bad phone at all. Wish they could have given it a 1080p screen without murdering the battery.

 

[foxbat121]

1080p screens definitely will cause more battery drain for sure. At 4.7" the benefit of such high resolution is questionable. It is already 312 DPI which is considered as retina display according to Apple

 

[Haalcyon]

1080p screens definitely will cause more battery drain for sure. At 4.7" the benefit of such high resolution is questionable. It is already 312 DPI which is considered as retina display according to Apple

I think the 312 ppi doesn't quite equate in Apple's Retina thinggy because of the pentile matriix. The screen wasn't bad at all but I could see the difference between it and my Note 3 and Note 4.

from the cutting Note Edge

 

[foxbat121]

Yeah, the same reason they choose the pentile matrix is to save battery. If the phone has the Note 3/4 size battery, there is no need to make compromise like this. You really can't have both ways. AMOLED screen's power consumption is proportional to number of pxiels (and sub-pixels) it needs to drive.

 

[foxbat121]

The Galaxy Alpha reminds me of my first ever Samsung Smartphone: the original Samsung Black Jack. It was a very successful smartphone back in the days (before iPhone) that was well built using nice material and thin. But the battery life is a little bit short. So later Samsung released the extended battery with back cover to extend the battery life by sacrificing the slimness of the phone. Same story on Alpha

Unfortunately, the successors to the Black Jack, Black Jack II and Jack are all cheaply made plastic phones that neither durable, nor look as nice. Sounds like the story of Galaxy S lines.

 

[Haalcyon]

I didn't mind the looks S3-5 but they certainly weren't inspired designs either. I think with the introduction of the Alpha things have changed. Every phone Samsung has released since the Alpha has been very good looking and I think the S6 is gonna be very sexy.

Sometimes I take the case off my Note 4 and just look at her. She's hot in a Lucy Liu kinda way...which means smok'n.

EDIT: grammar

• from the i6+ •

 

[Jorgen Kragh]

Hi,
Finally I found a person who bought the extended battery pack for Galaxy Alpha. Please, if u see this, tell me about the back cover that comes with it. Is it the same "leather like" type / feel that comes with the standard phone?

If not - I'm out - and hope that Lollipop will do some of the work

thx... JK

 

[Jorgen Kragh]

oups... Not sure what I'm doing
Trying to reach Russell Crook....