Picked up the Alpha - Anyone Else?

[Pat Pat2]

I just bought the Alpha. The phone just feels right in the hand. I started out with an s5. Although it is a super phone, for me it's just too damn big. I have found the alpha just as fast for my use and the reduced screen resolution is not an issue. Try one for yourself before you are misled by the spec junkies. I compared the alpha with a new moto x that my wife was trying out. I found that the signal performance on the alpha was superior. I could stand in a low signal spot in my home and make a call side by side with the moto x that would not connect to the cell network. Try the phone for yourself before you make a decision based on the reviews. You won't be sorry.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[zeewhiz]

I just bought the Alpha. The phone just feels right in the hand. I started out with an s5. Although it is a super phone, for me it's just too damn big. I have found the alpha just as fast for my use and the reduced screen resolution is not an issue. Try one for yourself before you are misled by the spec junkies. I compared the alpha with a new moto x that my wife was trying out. I found that the signal performance on the alpha was superior. I could stand in a low signal spot in my home and make a call side by side with the moto x that would not connect to the cell network. Try the phone for yourself before you make a decision based on the reviews. You won't be sorry.

Posted via Android Central App

I agree with everything said! The S5 sounded great until I discovered it would not fit in my shirt pocket with a flap. My wife has an iPhone 5 and I'll take this Alpha any day simply because of the ease of use. I like to personalize things in ways an Apple won't allow. And, the screen resolution is a non-issue to me because I'm an old guy I suppose. I don't sit around with my pals and show off who has the best looking screen wallpaper, neatest apps or loudest volume. :-\ I bought it to please ME and do the things I require very fast and without fuss.

The battery life is amazing. Where I had to charge my Skyrocket every evening, so far I'm still showing 60% or above at bedtime, even with all the fiddling I do with it. Yeah, try it......you'll like it!

 

[Pat Pat2]

I am pleased to see someone else enjoying this phone. The criticism of this phone on the net drives me nuts. They just dont get it. There are some folks that just dont like a big phone. And all the complaints about touch wiz. Whats that all about. Just install nova or tons of other launchers available. Enjoy.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Phillip Pugh]

I went into the AT&T store thinking I was going to walk out with the Alpha, even though the 32gb memory was kind of keeping me on the fence from switching from my 32gb iPhone 5 that was practically full. I liked it... But it didn't seem as fluid as I expected. Best Buy was a stones throw away so I thought I'd go see if they had it on display yet, they didn't so I picked up the S5 and messed with it for a bit. Even went as far as going to different flagship AT&T stores to mess with the phone (it takes me a long time to convince myself to make any purchase lol) and at the next two stores the Alpha wasn't working at one, and the third it actually felt rather snappy. But after playing with the S5, I kept finding myself going back to it. I started to appreciate the screen size and the fthe camera. And the expandable memory was a big deal for me, I keep thousands of songs and pictures/video on my phone and it's ever expanding so I didn't want to be limited by 32gb of memory.

It's a beautiful phone and I liked it a lot and the colors on the display were very vivid IMO. The big deal breaker was the lack of an SD though. I feel I made a good choice for my own personal needs by deciding to try the S5 instead

Glad you picked the galaxy s5 but you mentioned memory which the iPhone was never very good at and the alpha had the same amount so how did you live with the iPhone 5 so long but but you thought the alpha didn't have enough memory ?

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[dohlo]

Glad you picked the galaxy s5 but you mentioned memory which the iPhone was never very good at and the alpha had the same amount so how did you live with the iPhone 5 so long but but you thought the alpha didn't have enough memory ?

Posted via Android Central App

I was constantly deleting photos and such to keep my phone from becoming close to full, and while I had a couple gigs left before I switched I knew at some point my music collection etc would become larger so I decided better to be safe than sorry

I filled up a 16gb iPhone in no time, and I surprisingly filled up my 32 a lot faster than I'd anticipated too

 

[robertkoa]

Rikken as someone with Alpha and S 5 , I need the smaller form (want Note 4 Compact Alpha size but will never happen-lol)-
Are the Cameras very close in,Alpha vs,S5 ?

I took a few shots in Mall with Demo Alpha and,S5 and they were very close in detail, sharpness.
My friend's Note 4 was better than both.

Alpha versus S5 Camera, much difference on well lit interior shots ?

 

[robertkoa]

Good info.I have read that the call quality is excellent on Alpha, also read OK, lol.

Will buy unlocked Canadian Alpha to use on TMobile, or unlocked
Xperia Z3Compact but Z3C is fragile, kind of scary to carry around.

 

[srome]

I've just come from a Z1 Compact and I've just ordered the Samsun Galaxy Alpha as its the perfect size phone/screen for me, I can't stand the stupidly large phones (Just my opinion) I did consider the Z3 Compact for about 1 second and said Nah, to many issues with the Z1 Compact and the reports of the Z3 compact back glass being very fragile to say the least there was only one winner for my cash.

 

[anon4935932]

Just got an Alpha yesterday. Coming from an s4 Mini, but I'm basically still new to Android (after 5 years with webOS). I like the s4 Mini's size and shape better, but the Alpha seems better in every other aspect.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[carldc]

Not sure how I got logged in to the account I posted to above, but that's me. Anyway, following up on the above post...
I'm a fan of smaller phones and the s4 Mini felt good. The Alpha seems huge by comparison. It's as big as I'm willing to go. I also liked the s4 Mini's more rounded shape. The Alpha is too rectangular.
The Alpha feels much more solid and less 'plasticky' though. It's faster and the display is nicer.
I'm only on day two so we'll see how it goes.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[David Tomilson]

Get over yourself. The Alpha is great for people that don't care for 1080p on their phone.

I switched from my Note 3 to the Alpha and have no regrets. **** you cell phone Jesus.

 

[robertkoa]

The only time I notice the screen res is when I'm looking at it next to my G3 (and it's ridiculous resolution). I don't read books on my phone normally so I can't really say how good it is for that, but if you're used to the giant screens on something like the Note, I can't imagine you'll be happy with a 4.7.

So far the battery life has been so so. Like I said tho, gotta do a few discharge cycles before I can completely comment on that. If I can get 18 hours with around 2.5 hours of screen on time for the day, I'll be stoked. That's my threshold usually...gotta be able to go from 7am to midnight without hitting up a charger. That's my only concern at this point, as my G3 is fantastic in that regard.

 

[robertkoa]

Picked one up yesterday and it is truly a great device. So fast and responsive througout the whole UI. The camera and gallery opens faster than on my S5. I love its premium feel, size and weight. The screen is the best 720p I have seen ☺ and need no more pixels imo.

Have been reviewing both Z3 Compact and Alpha- quick Test of photos in Store seemed like Alpha is very close to S5 Camera.

Have you found this to be true ?

Also in low light have you ever usedTimer and set the Alpha down to avoid shake on long exposures ?

Speaker-is yours as loud as S 5 , able to hear Internet Sports shows in quiet room 10 feet away ?

 

[robertkoa]

The only time I notice the screen res is when I'm looking at it next to my G3 (and it's ridiculous resolution). I don't read books on my phone normally so I can't really say how good it is for that, but if you're used to the giant screens on something like the Note, I can't imagine you'll be happy with a 4.7.

So far the battery life has been so so. Like I said tho, gotta do a few discharge cycles before I can completely comment on that. If I can get 18 hours with around 2.5 hours of screen on time for the day, I'll be stoked. That's my threshold usually...gotta be able to go from 7am to midnight without hitting up a charger. That's my only concern at this point, as my G3 is fantastic in that regard.

 

[alam18305]

Galaxy alpha is good at least better than iPhone 4s

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Aneres11]

I picked up an Alpha 2 days ago.

Long story (sorry!) but I've been through that many phones the last coupe of months it's taken me so long to find one that works for me.

Well, I've finally found it.

Started with me being an iPhone user for years. Always had them, always liked them.
Had a 5c and then decided I wanted a change. Went over to BlackBerry and picked up a Q10 having wanted a keyboard again due to me doing nothing but texting, whats-apping emailing etc.
Loved it, had it a while and then started to miss the apps that came with iOS. I'd never used Android at this point just because I'd never needed to with Apple catering to my needs.

I moved back to BB when the Passport came out. Love that phone and will always defend it even though ultimately it was just too wide for me and again, the lack of native apps was a problem. Decided to look into Android devices as I was thoroughly bored and fed up of Apple. Plus the new 6 phones did nothing for me design wise at all.

After doing extensive research, I ended up with a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.
I liked it, had it a week but just could not get into texting on it. I downloaded different keypads, but the screen was just a little small and everything felt cramped. I also hated the feel of the phone. It was too light and felt very cheap with the plastic / glass body.
Returned it.
On the look out for something else so ended up going for the obscure choice and picked up a Windows phone. Lumia 930,
Again great phone. I've learend a lesson in all of this as I've had these phones by the way. It's that everyone (as in every phone manufacturer) is offering something very good. It's great that there is so much choice and there is so much good choice out there.
Windows OS is very very good indeed and I think it's one of my favourites. The downside however, like BB, is app selection. Whilst it's a much much healthier situation than BB it still left me lacking and it was frustrating that I just couldn't find a phone i 'knew' was for me.
It also didn't help the Lumia overheated all the time and ultimately got returned because of this.

So then I was left wondering again. Where to go now? I'd experienced all the OS' that are readily available to me in UK (well, the big ones) and liked them all to a degree. But I didn't want a BB, nor an iPhone. Lumia 930 is renowned as the best Windows phone and that has issues with the overheating, plus I was left feeling like I needed more from it. The apps were there that I needed, but they were like very old versions compared to iOS and Android. Seems the updates are very few and far between and it showed. Give it time though, could be a definite winner!

When I bought the Z3 compact I was toying between that and the Alpha. As the Alpha was nearly £200 more, it was a no brainer. Plus it offered slightly more in the way of camera quality, waterproof and external storage.
However, this weekend I noticed that the Alpha was reduced at my phone shop and was now available at £429, same as Samsung website. I decided to snap it up.

Well. Having taken most of Saturday setting it up, getting my music on it, photos etc (Kies is amazing btw), I love it.
I know this is the phone I've bee searching for. It has all the apps I need. It has a great camera. It's funny, as it is lighter than the Z3 Compact and doesn't have a much bigger screen, yet it feels so much sturdier. That metal frame is gorgeous.
Also, the pre-built keyboard is brilliant. Million times better than Sony's.

I went for it in white and it looks so good. I upgrade my contract in April time (bought this outright), so hoping the S6 will be out then and praying it has a form factor like the Alpha. That'd be perfect!
To those complaining about the screen, I've had all these phones recently and some of them have had fantastic screens. The Passport in particular, and Lumia 930. However, moaning about this one is a little redundant as unless they're side by side you're not gonna notice any reduction in quality. Just enjoy the device! It's perfect as it is (for me)!

Sorry for the long story, just glad I finally found a phone that's right for me!

 

[Nisse Tuta]

Got one

 

[Haalcyon]

Got one too. Traded my S5 in for it (I already have a big phone in the Note4). The Alpha is nice and tiny for when I want something smaller than the Note 4. ...and it works well! It's no flagship but it's nice...and little.

 

[cckgz4]

I just bought the Alpha. The phone just feels right in the hand. I started out with an s5. Although it is a super phone, for me it's just too damn big. I have found the alpha just as fast for my use and the reduced screen resolution is not an issue. Try one for yourself before you are misled by the spec junkies. I compared the alpha with a new moto x that my wife was trying out. I found that the signal performance on the alpha was superior. I could stand in a low signal spot in my home and make a call side by side with the moto x that would not connect to the cell network. Try the phone for yourself before you make a decision based on the reviews. You won't be sorry.

Posted via Android Central App

Im having the opposite with my signal. I get disconnected calls constantly. and Ive never had a problem with any other AT&T phones as far as signal strength goes


Sent from the first device I'm able to pick up

 

[mike20036]

I just got mine last Sunday after upgrading my phone and renew my contract with EE. The phone Is just amazing It's light small and compact. I like the bulit In storage which Is plenty to play my games on. And I like the design of the phone as well.