Samsung Galaxy Alpha, Frosted Gold 32GB (AT&T)

Not quite a phablet but gets the job done!
I needed a phone that fit my life and was looking to purchase the Galaxy Note 4 when I came across the Alpha. From there, everything changed. I started comparing all the new releases from the last few months (Fall2014) to narrow down my decision. I was worried that a bulky device sticking out of my pocket would prohibit my mobility and after thoroughly testing the latest models (Nokia, Sony, LG, iphones 6/6+, HTC, etc…) I found that the samsung Galaxy Alpha had the most appealing combination of functionality, usability, speed, durability, portability, value, build quality, and style… Yes, style–I can’t say it enough. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is breath-tak-ing-ly beautiful.The biggest and most obvious difference when comparing the myriad of new phones is screen size. Yes, you do have to sacrifice an inch of diagonal screen real-estate (compared to a larger phablet) but when you use the phone regularly, you can’t notice the difference. The resolution on the Alpha is adequate, not superb. The resolution on the Note 4 is outstanding by comparison, however, I don’t use my phone as a my primary viewing device. It’s really a convenience to be able to watch a movie on a bus or park bench, not a necessity. Most everyone reading this has a 40″ or larger flatscreen at home nowadays, and i don’t need the absolute highest spec in this category to enjoy a movie or web browsing on my phone.Samsung phones have an advantage that most people overlook when shopping in this category: With the multi-window feature, you are able to open two apps side by side to increase productivity (or one atop the other depending on your viewing preference). You can watch a Youtube video while chatting or surfing the web, for example. For a business user, it means you can watch stock prices in one window while reading an article on the other. You can’t do this with other android or windows phones out-the-box and Apple doesn’t have an app for that.While the screen size may be at some marginal disadvantage when compared to the Note 4 or iphone 6+, it is a great benefit to be able to easily use the phone one-handed. I should also note that while the Alpha and the iphone 6 sport the same 4.7″ screen size, the Alpha is thinner, shorter, and lighter. The Alpha fits neatly into my hands and is almost too small for my liking. Those with medium and smaller hands will find it to be an ideal size.The Galaxy Alpha sports a speedy 2 GB’s of RAM. When comparing it to the Note 4, which has 3GB of RAM, I found both devices to perform equally fast (although the the Alpha is equipped with a 2.5 GHz 801 Sanpdragon processor versus the Galaxy Note 4’s 2.7Ghz 805 Snapdragon processor). Keep in mind that the Note 4 has to work harder to push that 5.7″ QHD display with 40% more pixels per inch. While the two devices were equally snappy and could handle everything I dished out, there was an occasional but rare lag on both devices which occurred at about the same frequency–this may be attributed to the TouchWiz interface which Samsung adds to Android KitKat OS and not the hardware itself. The Apple iphone 6, by comparison, presented a smoother interface with no noticeable lag whatsoever during my in-store testing although it only has 1GB of RAM.The Alpha is a well-built and surprising durable phone. This was Samsung’s first phone with an all-metal bezel (which looks stunning, in case I didn’t mention that enough already). No bending, cracking sounds, or wobbles. The back is a removable plastic which feels soft to the touch and allows for easy access to the replaceable battery. Some may find the lack of an SD card slot a turn off, but for me, the included 32GB of storage is more than enough. I hope that SD card slots will become a thing of the past looking forward and that phone makers will just provide us with larger high-capacity storage as a standard.–Think about it, the size of a 2GB SD card and a 128GB SD card is the same, and at these prices, the consumer should be treated better.The Alpha is the smallest, lightest, thinnest phone in the 4.7″ screen category which brings me to my next point. Shouldn’t a portable smartphone be portable? Shouldn’t it fit in your pocket without you having to worry about it dropping, popping out, or jabbing your side?–Form factor, was for me, the most compelling reason to choose the Alpha above all the latest devices available. When I’m not using my phone, I want to put it in my pocket and forget about it. when I’m out for a run, I don’t want to think of anything but reaching my next goal. the Galaxy Alpha does not have the bleeding edge specs that you’d expect in an expensive flagship device, but it comes darn close and with 99% of the usability of the larger Note 4. I think that this smaller phone comes out the winner. As mentioned before, it is simply gorgeous! …with it’s sleek flat lines and simple layout, in my opinion, it beats all the other phones–even the Note 4 (as the Note 4’s design is not at all compact and the S-pen is a bit of a detractor for me) and I’m not a fan of apple’s bubbly new look.At $612 ($655.90 with tax) this phone may not seem like a bargain, and that’s were amazon comes in:)– I initially bought this phone off contract thinking I would save a bundle by taking it to Straightalk ($45/month for 3GB of AT&T 4GLTE). So, after purchasing, I went back to the page just to see how much I saved. I was able to find a plan through Amazon.com which costs me only $45 a month with AT&T (1 GB data) compared to $65 a month on AT&T’s website for the same plan. I always knew that Amazon offerred great savings on their site but was surprised to learn that that extended to cellular plans as well.Keep in mind that I was prepared to purchase the phone for $655.90 and ended up paying just $99 plus tax– YES!!! I consider it a bargain if you are wise enough to purchase from Amazon.com and can qualify for the same or similar deal that i received for a two-year contract. At the time of this writing, the phone costs $199 on contract from att.com and is only available with AT&T as a carrier. One other advantage to buying on Amazon is that they have a 30 day return policy should you change your mind. Compare that to the usual 14 day return period offerred by Best Buy, Radio Shack. & AT&T. Just to name a few.It is a great time to shop for a phone. There are competitive choices from all the phone makers and their carriers. Honestly, I think it’s hard to go wrong. However, if you are an active person looking for a phone that offers versatility and functionality in a sturdy, well-built design while maintaining good looks, than look no further. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha sets a new standard for build quality and style in the smartphone category. Not quite a phablet, but it gets the job done. I highly encourage anyone looking for a do-it-all device in a compact size to give the Alpha some serious consideration.

Can’t use it as a phone!
I wanted to like this phone. I like the memory, the ease of use, and the design. I have a BIG problem with it though; I can’t use it to talk on the phone! I can hear whoever is on the other line, but they can’t hear me. Will have to return and find a better functioning phone.

Love except for the disasterous camera
When I hit the Note 2 I had to go back to S3 cause the Note 2 was just too large. Then to S4 which grew a bit, then S5 which grew further. At this point I abandoned the S line cause they are just too damn big. If I want big, I used a tablet. For a phone I want it to fit in my hand and occasionally slide in a pocket. I went back to this Alpha from the S5 and OTHER THAN THE CAMERA, it is great. I’m quite happy with it and like most everything but the camera which is the worst camera I’ve used in any Samsung phone of the last 5 years and the last 10 or so phones I’ve had. Nothing is worse than this camera. Nothing. Otherwise, if you want small this is a great Android phone. Running Lollipop after some pain getting there due to ATT but made it and it works well. Was concerned about the display which I used for viewing movies and TV on train but no problems here at all. Love the squared up sides so you can handle it well. I add a slim grippy case and I never drop it. Any of the other newer edition rounded edges phones are a non starter for me and hit the floor constantly without serious case. One other problem ? getting cases and docks and the like for an older Alpha is a challenge.