Samsung GALAXY Alpha review: metal frame feels great

In previous rumors, Samsung GALAXY Alpha has always been positioned as a metal flagship, which made the media have very high expectations for it. It was not until the official announcement of the 720P resolution screen configuration that people realized that it was originally positioned in the mid-to-high-end. However, it is indeed Samsung's first Android smartphone with a metal frame.

Will the feel and design of the phone be improved with a metal frame? What is the purpose of launching this phone? Taking advantage of the opportunity that the Chinese version of Samsung GALAXY Alpha has come to Sina Mobile, we will talk about this phone for you.

Design

GALAXY Alpha

If you only look at the official concept map, a few years ago, many people would definitely think it is the S2. The more right-angled angles and the iconic Home button look like a replica of the S2. Due to the family-style design, it also has a lot in common with Samsung's latest mobile phone Note 4.

The metal frame adopts different processes

I have to admit that metal frames are more pleasing to the eye than plastic frames. Stamping and polishing can give metal different shapes and lusters, and these elements combined on mobile phones create a kind of industrial design beauty.

Border details

In addition to using a bevel cutting process at the transition between the middle frame and the front and back, the GALAXY Alpha also recesses most of the middle frames on the left and right sides by about half a millimeter. In addition to highlighting the shape in design, it can also absorb the impact energy when the phone falls.

Top of phone

Samsung has made the middle frame of this phone frosted, which feels better and has greater friction with the palm. There are two notches on the top and bottom of the phone to ensure normal reception of mobile phone signals.

Phone bottom

Square texture under screen glass

Dot texture on the back

Although the GALAXY Alpha does not use a USB 3.0 interface, its bottom interface is slightly higher than the two ends, and the middle frame design has a certain streamlined look. The processing of details on this phone is quite good, such as the square texture under the front screen glass and the dot texture on the back, which are reminiscent of the S5. In addition, the area on the left side of the camera proves that this phone supports heart rate detection. ‍

What needs to be complained is that the Samsung Note 4 almost completely quoted the design of the GALAXY Alpha, whether it is the curvature of the four corners on the front, the treatment of the metal frame, or even the protruding camera. It can be said that this phone is an experimental product of the Note 4, and it is also to warm up for the release of the latter. ‍

Generally speaking, GALAXY Alpha is a very well-designed product among Samsung mobile phones. If the upper and lower areas of the screen can be fully utilized, that is, the screen-to-body ratio is larger, I believe it will be more beautiful.

Feel

Among the mobile phones released last year, Moto X and HTC One were not the main focus of hand feel, but they were highly praised for their hand feel. They both used 4.7-inch screens, and even the newly released iPhone 6 also used this size. It can be said that this is a size that is more convenient for one-handed operation and will not bring too much burden to carry.

GALAXY Alpha Back

Although the back cover of GALAXY Alpha is made of plastic, after processing, the friction is quite strong and it feels like leather. Coupled with the frosted metal middle frame, it can be said that the area where this phone contacts the hand not only feels good, but also does not slip easily.

Another aspect of the hand feel is the weight of the phone. The GALAXY Alpha weighs 115 grams. You should know that the 4-inch iPhone 5s weighs 112 grams, and the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 weighs 129 grams. It is not easy for the 4.7-inch GALAXY Alpha to have such a weight. Especially when you see it and have an idea of ​​the weight of a 4.7-inch phone in your mind, the actual feeling of holding it in your hand will exceed your expectations.

There is a metal ring around the Home button

However, since the metal frame around the screen is slightly higher than the screen itself, it is inevitable that it will feel scratchy. Fortunately, the back is designed with an arc transition, so there is no strange feeling. In addition, its Home button feels very bad, with a short key travel and insufficient feedback. In addition, the Home button itself is too low, so the overall feel is not very good.

Fingerprint recognition

Fingerprint settings interface

Since S5, Samsung's high-end mobile phones have been equipped with fingerprint recognition functions, but they are all sliding-type. For this unlocking method, users generally do not respond positively, after all, it requires sliding across the correct area with the correct posture and speed, which is not as good as the pressing-type experience.

Moreover, there is a circle of metal around the Home button that is higher than the button, which makes it difficult to slide over it and is easy to hide dirt. When holding it with one hand, it is difficult for your finger to face the Home button at a vertical angle, so in most cases, you need to use both hands to unlock it.

Heart rate monitoring

S Health Interface

Heart rate monitoring interface

To be fair, the heart rate detection function is more suitable for differentiated performance in the competition of mobile phones. In fact, most people will not open S Health frequently, let alone measure their heart rate every day. But it is always better to have it than not, especially when health is becoming more and more important.

Split screen function

Not many apps support split-screen

The split-screen function is not very rich

To be honest, I was not prepared to see the split-screen function on this phone. After all, a 4.7-inch phone is not considered a large-screen phone in the current market.

Moreover, the split screen function on this phone is quite limited, and can only display two applications, one above the other. The number of applications that support split screen is also quite limited.

Private Mode

Private mode settings screen

The private mode is more like a way to better distinguish between life and work. The images, audio, video, and files displayed in normal mode are less than those in private mode. In private mode, the user has obtained the highest authority and can view all files.

After entering private mode, a dedicated private folder will appear, which cannot be seen in normal mode.

If the other person knows that your phone has a private mode and has a close relationship with you, your "little secret" will basically be lost. So this is more like a solution for a better balance between life and work.

Toolbox options

In addition, the "Toolbox" option is similar to the AssistiveTouch floating button on the iPhone, which allows you to place the most commonly used applications in that area and open them at any time.

Camera function

Photo interface

The GALAXY Alpha uses a 12-megapixel main camera, which has a fast imaging speed, but the image quality is more like Samsung style, with bright high-contrast images, especially red and yellow. Such photos will be even uglier and appear unreal after being compressed on social networking sites such as Weibo.

But in most scenarios, it performs very well and can handle general scenarios.

Night shot scene

In terms of night scene imaging, the GALAXY Alpha is not as good as the Note 4. The image quality is not sharp enough and the noise control is average.

Photo proofs:

Daytime Samples

Cloudy day sample

Indoor proofs

Night scene sample

Night scene sample

Battery life and summary

It is equipped with a 1860 mAh removable battery

Although the 4.7-inch 720P screen is not a big power consumer, the 1860 mAh battery also limits its battery life. Under normal use, it is inevitable to charge it once a day. However, it did not heat up much during use.

GALAXY Alpha

But this does not negate the excellent feel and design of the GALAXY Alpha itself. The touch, color, suitable size, and thin body make it feel extremely good. If you are a user who cares about sensory experience, it is another target worth considering after MOTO X.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.