News & Reviews:   Samsung Galaxy Alpha

The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have already arrived in the US and other select markets. While there are no Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet, many are expecting the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to reach us in November 2014, so we still have time to decide which Apple iPhone to get. Following the iPhone lineup in the US, we estimate that for Malaysia there will be the Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. For this comparison we'll see which Apple iPhone you should get as we compare the Apple iPhone 6 vs the Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs the Apple iPhone 5S vs the Apple iPhone 5C. Check out our detailed analysis in this article.

U Mobile is now offering the Samsung Galaxy Alpha from RM709 which is a good thing considering that it retails at RM1899. The Galaxy Alpha will be available on a 24 month contract with no upfront payment required. Of course, there is a catch for the No Upfront payment as you have to buy the device via credit card and subscribe auto debit for the monthly access fee. You can however, choose to sign up with the U58, U88 or U Plus postpaid plans. Check out the table and links in this article for more details.

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha was just launched today in Malaysia for RM1899. The super thin metal frame smartphone from Samsung is currently available in authorized Samsung Experience Stores and other retail outlets but is limited to just black or white for now. The gold and silver colours will be coming later. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha tech specs and features are as follows:

• Octa-core Samsung Exynos processor (1.8GHz quad-core + 1.3GHz quad-core)
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 4.7-inch display (Super AMOLED, 1280 x 720 pixel resolution)
• 12MP rear camera (ISOCELL, LED flash, 4K video record) + 2.1MP front camera
• features LTE Cat.6, WiFi 802.11 ac, MIMO(2x2), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, Hall Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Heartrate sensor
• 132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7mm | 115g
• 1860 mAh battery
• available in charcoal black, dazzling white, frosted gold, sleek silver and scuba blue
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Direct from Samsung Malaysia, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha smartphone will be coming on 19 September 2014 and will also be available with a FREE Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch. The offer is for the first 100 buyers of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha smartphone at the Samsung Experience Store in The Gardens KL, Gurney Paragon Penang and the Maxis Centre at KLCC. No confirmed Malaysia pricing yet but some retailers are offering the Samsung Galaxy Alpha from RM1899. The metal-frame Samsung Galaxy Alpha offers tech specs and features that includes:

• Octa-core Samsung Exynos processor (1.8GHz quad-core + 1.3GHz quad-core)
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 4.7-inch display (Super AMOLED, 1280 x 720 pixel resolution)
• 12MP rear camera (ISOCELL, LED flash, 4K video record) + 2.1MP front camera
• features LTE Cat.6, WiFi 802.11 ac, MIMO(2x2), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, Hall Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Heartrate sensor
• 132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7mm | 115g
• 1860 mAh battery
• available in charcoal black, dazzling white, frosted gold, sleek silver and scuba blue
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Samsung Malaysia recently teased an image showing off the metal  frame of their Samsung Galaxy Alpha smartphone. After years of putting out mostly plastic smartphones the Galaxy Alpha is the first Android smartphone from Samsung to offer a full metal frame. The teaser image says to go check out a Samsung Experience Store like the one in Mid Valley this 19 September 2014. While the frame is premium metal, tech specs for the Galaxy Alpha include the following:

• Octa-core Samsung Exynos processor (1.8GHz quad-core + 1.3GHz quad-core)
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 4.7-inch display (Super AMOLED, 1280 x 720 pixel resolution)
• 12MP rear camera (ISOCELL, LED flash, 4K video record) + 2.1MP front camera
• features LTE Cat.6, WiFi 802.11 ac, MIMO(2x2), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, Hall Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Heartrate sensor
• 132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7mm | 115g
• 1860 mAh battery
• available in charcoal black, dazzling white, frosted gold, sleek silver and scuba blue
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat

According to Samsung, the metal-body Samsung Galaxy Alpha was originally based on the Samsung Card Phone or SGH-P310 partly for it's thinness and partly for it's grip. The curved corners on the Galaxy Alpha were actually designed that way to minimize shock from a drop as smartphones usually fall on the corners when dropped. To further enhance the grip a thin coating was placed near the sides, making it less likely to slip. For a closer look at the overall design, do check out the video of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha below:

The just announced metal frame Samsung Galaxy Alpha could well be on the way to Malaysia in record time. This comes from a listing of the SM-G850F, which is the model number for the Galaxy Alpha, at the SIRIM database. The listing shows a number of tech specs and also confirms that the model we will be getting here in Malaysia will have 4G LTE connectivity. Other recently confirmed tech specs include the fact that the 12MP rear camera uses a Samsung ISOCELL camera sensor, and therefore, should be able to deliver similar performance with the 16MP ISOCELL sensor on the Samsung Galaxy S5. We still don't have any details on the exact Malaysia release date or pricing but we expect the Malaysia release of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha to be within a month from this date based on the previous release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and Galaxy Tab S 8.4.

Samsung fans have waited a long time for a semi-premium smartphone made from metal, and Samsung have finally given in by officially announcing the Samsung Galaxy Alpha. Rumoured to be the Samsung smartphone with the brushed metal backside, this appears to be still a rumour as only the frame is solid metal, but it does a lot to making the phone feel more premium. The Galaxy Alpha should now have less flex and feel a lot more sturdy compared to the larger and thicker yet more plastic build of the Samsung Galaxy S5. The perforated design on the back casing remains the same though just as the back material is also still plastic. Ironically, the Galaxy Alpha is much lighter at 115g and super thin at just 6.7mm. Check out the full tech specs and feature list for the Samsung Galaxy Alpha below:

• Octa-core Samsung Exynos processor (1.8GHz quad-core + 1.3GHz quad-core)
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 4.7-inch display (Super AMOLED, 1280 x 720 pixel resolution)
• 12MP rear camera (LED flash, 4K video record) + 2.1MP front camera
• features LTE Cat.6, WiFi 802.11 ac, MIMO(2x2), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, Hall Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Heartrate sensor
• 132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7mm | 115g
• 1860 mAh battery
• available in charcoal black, dazzling white, frosted gold, sleek silver and scuba blue
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat

More pictures of the metal body Samsung Galaxy Alpha have appeared and this time they are quite clear. The pictures reveal a fairly standard design with a matte white backside. No sign of any brushed metal back cover as shown in previous press renders but the sides reveal a flat and thin design very similar to an Apple iPhone 5s. Tech specs and features have yet to be confirmed but rumours indicate that they will be midrange. Further tech spec details include an octa-core Samsung Exynos 5433 processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 4.8-inch display with 720p pixel resolution, 12MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and Android 4.4.4. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details just yet, but it could likely be unveiled at the upcoming Samsung UNPACKED 2014 event alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on 3 September 2014. Check out the pictures for yourself below.

Confirming earlier rumours, Samsung has just sent out invites for an UNPACKED 2014 event right before IFA 2014 where they will unveil the new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phablet. Tech specs still have not been confirmed for the Galaxy Note 4 but many are thinking it may offer a Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB RAM, 5.7-inch display with 1440 x 2560 pixel resolution, 16MP camera with OIS, an ultraviolet sensor and Andoid 4.4 KitKat. We're still hoping that the RAM could get an increase to 4GB but this seems unlikely now. Other devices are also expected including the metal-body Samsung Galaxy Alpha and more (including some new wearable devices). No news on Malaysia release dates or pricing yet but we should find out in another month so stay tuned for more developments.