Samsung Galaxy Alpha

[JelleVandeVelde]

So apparently there were some leaks last week showing the new Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The photos show a decidedly grooved metal design — an iPhone trademark — not shared by past Galaxy models.

The leaked images are unverified, and Samsung has so far been silent on the existence of a new Galaxy. A metallic exterior would be a departure from previous Galaxy phones, which have typically brandished plastic backsides, sometimes textured to give the feel of leather or metal.

The same Weibo page that leaked the photos claims that Alpha will come in both 4.7- and 6.7-inch (?) sizes. The Galaxy Alpha is expected to run Android 4.4 "KitKat" and start at 32GB of storage. The Alpha's fingerprint scanner and a 12-megapixel camera, would put it in the same league as the Galaxy S5.

While Samsung itself has not confirmed a release date, SamMobile originally reported that the phone would be announced on Aug. 4. However, the site is now saying the date to watch is Aug. 13.


I'm asking myself what the problem is with Samsung and smartphone designs… If they design one completely themselves, it looks just hideous. When they make a quite good looking device, they take small (major) cues from other manufacturers. So why is that? They definitely have enough money to pay decent and creative designers and in other markets (e.g. household items, televisions, home entertainment) they are doing just fine imo.

Also: if true, other law suits coming up?

Sources: Weibo, SamMobile, Mashable

 

[Shuri]

Wow, only Samsung can make a metallic phone look cheap.. :roll eyes:

I like certain things that Samsung does (e.g. A non-biased implementation of a stylus), but design is definitely none of them..

 

[Klyster]

I'm asking myself what the problem is with Samsung and smartphone designs… If they design one completely themselves, it looks just hideous. When they make a quite good looking device, they take small (major) cues from other manufacturers.

Examples?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

If they are using metal now and have perhaps taken this approach from Apple, so what? I'm an iPhone user and am not going to get touchy about it. If it improves the appeal I am all for it!

 

[Shuri]

Examples?

Did you see the recent faux leather designs? Yuck! Especially the "gold" S5..

(Warning: This post contains personal opinion and does not attempt to provide any general knowledge)

 

[JaySoul]

There is an existing thread for this by the way

 

[MRU]

720p screen ....

in Q3 2014 ....


Nuff said ....

 

[Shuri]

720p screen ....

in Q3 2014 ....


Nuff said ....

It it wouldn't be pentile it would be a more than decent screen.

 

[jamezr]

720p screen ....

in Q3 2014 ....


Nuff said ....

yep...then it still has a removable backplate. It is metal but they should have made it all one piece. This phone won't make me not tryout an iPhone 6.

 

[iosuser]

Wow, only Samsung can make a metallic phone look cheap.. :roll eyes:

I like certain things that Samsung does (e.g. A non-biased implementation of a stylus), but design is definitely none of them..

I have to agree with you there.

And now I know why those hardware buttons are hated so much. I have a Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, and I'm constantly pressing the two touch sensitive buttons by mistake when holding it landscape. I didn't understand the hate before since it frees up a good portion of the screen. Now I do.

 

[jamezr]

I have to agree with you there.

And now I know why those hardware buttons are hated so much. I have a Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, and I'm constantly pressing the two touch sensitive buttons by mistake when holding it landscape. I didn't understand the hate before since it frees up a good portion of the screen. Now I do.

Its funny but the best selling smartphones phones in the world all have hardware buttons. iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S and Note series. I never hit the buttons on my S5....i just point the camera and say "shoot" and it does just that no need to touch anything.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Not sure why I'd get this over a Note 4.

 

[iosuser]

Its funny but the best selling smartphones phones in the world all have hardware buttons. iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S and Note series. I never hit the buttons on my S5....i just point the camera and say "shoot" and it does just that no need to touch anything.

Not the home button, which is fine, it's the two touch sensitive buttons. On a phone I imagine it's less of an issue where you don't normally hold it sideways. On a tablet it's an issue, my palm is constantly touching those buttons, at least for me.

And nothing can beat a hardware button for the camera, like on the current Sony phones with the two stage dedicated shutter button. You can half-press, recompose and shoot, just like a camera.

 

[adder7712]

Sony Ericsson (the camera specific models) phones had always have dedicated camera buttons. Just continuing tradition I suppose.

 

[skratch77]

Looks more like a galaxy s2 to me.I would be all over this if it was super amoled plus and 1080p it would be the best size galaxy phone

 

[Sensamic]

My biggest concern with this phone: updates.

Will Samsung treat this phone as a flagship? Or maybe as those variation models like the Active, Note Neo, etc?

If it gets at least two big Android updates then it would be a serious option, but I just believe this is one of those many phones that Samsung releases and forgets about it a year later.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Wow how sad that Samesung copied the leaked iPhone 6 prototypes.

I'm an Android fan, but this new Samsung phone is just cheesy bad iPhone wannabe. Why the big top and bottom bezels ? The squared off design is more iPhone than Galaxy type. Samsung usually likes to keep the bezels small and to a minimum, not huge and ugly like the iPhone.

And stupid low res 720p, just like Apple, using low resolution on their smartphones.

 

[Cnasty]

Will Samsung ever get the back of a phone correct?

Their cameras and placement are always so aesthetically ugly let alone the location and bulge they normally have.

Samsung is true garbage lately with its design especially after the S5 dimple rubbish.

 

[skratch77]

Wow how sad that Samesung copied the leaked iPhone 6 prototypes.

I'm an Android fan, but this new Samsung phone is just cheesy bad iPhone wannabe. Why the big top and bottom bezels ? The squared off design is more iPhone than Galaxy type. Samsung usually likes to keep the bezels small and to a minimum, not huge and ugly like the iPhone.

And stupid low res 720p, just like Apple, using low resolution on their smartphones.

This phone looks exactly like a gs2 plus that was out 43 years ago

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http://www.gems4mmines.com/Samsung/Samsung%20Galaxy%20S%20II%20Plus%20i9105%20White-1.jpg

 

[skratch77]

Like this one

 

[Mechayoshi]

All of these designs are looking dated and ugly. Tell me it isn't so.

 

[MRU]

All of these designs are looking dated and ugly. Tell me it isn't so.

Personally I think it's quite attractive, don't mind the design at all ... indeed many of us said we just wished they replaced the plastic chrome bezel with a real metal one and we would see it as an improvement, and indeed the alpha does appear to do that.

I wish spec wise it matched up with the GS5 proper - a 4.7" 1080p screen and same 801 chipset & 16mp camera, would have been great. Indeed I may have dropped my S5 for it despite the slightly smaller screen.

But 720p and less specs internally - lesser camera = a missed opportunity for me and I suspect others.

1) if i was determined to pick up an IP6 - this wouldn't persuade me not too
2) if i wanted a flagship Samsung phone i'd still go with the standard S5 as it is so freely available 'free' on contracts and the better specs.

So where does this leave the Alpha ?