Test – Alpha Galaxy: Samsung’s answer to the iPhone? – MetroNews

This is the tit for tat. With its 4.7-inch screen – like the iPhone 6 – and iPhone 5s look, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is indeed designed to hunt on Apple land. Its aluminum frame with beveled edges is a harbinger of the new direction taken by the Korea since the introduction of its latest Galaxy Note 4 which had opened these codes. Less plastic, more luxurious fabrics, fine, but that is the Galaxy Alpha everyday? MetroNews has been tested and gives you his opinion.

We liked

Design
Although Samsung has yet the same attention to detail as its California rival, evidenced strange unhooked from the frame to accommodate the headphone jack and the USB port, the brand grew in the right direction. The Galaxy Alpha and exudes a more sophisticated as the latest productions of Korean Galaxy S4 and S5 in the lead impression. When the high-end competition is adorned with glass (Sony Xperia) or aluminum (HTC One M8), it was time to raise the level.

The headphone jack breaks the line of the aluminum frame. Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

The compactness
While the iPhone and the Galaxy 6 Alpha have a screen of the same size, the latter includes a more compact chassis. Thus, the model of measuring 132.4 x 65.5 Samung x 6.7 mm against 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm for the iPhone 6 The same goes for weight: 115 grams for the Galaxy face 129 grams for the iPhone

With the same screen size, the Galaxy Alpha housing remains more compact than that of the iPhone 6 Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

The fingerprint reader At the
so the Galaxy S5, the main phone button, at the bottom of the front cover, is also a fingerprint reader. The system is significantly less ergonomic than the Touch Apple ID: must fully slide the fingertip to be authenticated, rather than just ask. In addition to the release of the device, the feature also allows to validate a payment via PayPal application, without having to enter their password. Practice

The home button incorporates a fingerprint reader. Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

You do not like

The definition of the
Samsung had accustomed us better. Producer of his own tiles, the manufacturer usually has its own in this area. If the viewing angles of this model AMOLED are excellent, however we remain disappointed with the definition of just 1280 x 720 pixels, 312 pixels per inch. A choice that is especially noticeable when web browsing. The texts are not as accurate as the iPhone 6, which remains yet also down compared to the high-end competition (1334 x 750 pixels, 326 dpi).

Photo and video quality
its 12-megapixel sensor and a strong performance in the field of Galaxy S5, we expected better from Samsung. Full brightness, the Galaxy Alpha is doing quite properly. However, as soon as difficulties arise, as a mixture of bright and shaded areas, Korean is far beyond, including the iPhone 6 Small consolation, against the light the Galaxy better than the iPhone, which has details tend to burn in the background. However, in the foreground, the details are more present

When the going gets tough, the Galaxy Alpha is struggling. Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

Same view of Central Park at the same time: the iPhone 6 comes out much better. Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

Even if the first plan is not very detailed, against the light is much more balanced in the Alpha Galaxy. Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

The iPhone 6 favors the exposure of the subject to the forefront. Résulat, the sky is reflected overexposed and therefore completely white. Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

In video, Alpha Galaxy is also struggling. Stabilized, the image has been degraded; and without stabilization, it is also overwhelmed by the iPhone 6 which appears mounted on rails traveling (Apple offers a software stabilization default). But here too, Samsung some consolation: unlike its competitor, it offers video Ultra HD (4K), for those who have a compatible TV

The build quality
Design is one thing, execution is another. If Samsung has made progress on the first, second striker in the domain part. The back of the device is thus even entirely of plastic, and a little too late for us. Opening the case for the first time to place the battery and SIM card, its bottom has not unclipped easily. It is then necessary to force slightly on the retention standoff

The studs at the bottom and inside of the shells are reluctant to open. Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

The plastic is very thin, it deforms and the fault is visible on the outside. Photo: JSZ / MetroNews

VERDICT

There is no doubt that the Galaxy Alpha is a great phone: compact, light, pretty and practical, it foreshadows the way that Samsung wants to take for its future as competition is increasingly fierce. However, it was difficult to understand the price positioning of the model. At 650 euros, it is only 60 euros cheaper than an iPhone 6 and 40 euros more expensive than iPhone 5s that directly targets. All without having the same arguments that they finish.

Worse, the Galaxy S5 own high-end manufacturer, which is waterproof and best picture, is now available at select retailers within 500 euros. Another competitor of choice: Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and its screen of 4.6 inches. Although more heavier and thicker, it is more efficient photo and video and also offers a much more battery pack (almost two days without load) than the Galaxy Alpha: 2600 mAh Sony 1860 mAh against Samsung. At that price, the Galaxy Alpha is above all a purchase heart stroke. Most reasonable wait for their few months the price is more in line with what it offers

More
-. Apple iPhone 6: what if it was the perfect smartphone
– Z3 Xperia, Sony enhances its flagship
– LG G3 transforms test
– All our high-tech tests

Features Technical

– Display Super AMOLED 720p 4 7-inch, 312 pixels per inch
– Processor Exynos 5 Octa
– 2 GB of RAM
– 32GB of internal storage nonextensible
– Battery: 1860 mAh
– photo sensor: 12 megapixel compliant 4K video
– Android 4.4.4 KitKat with TouchWiz overlay
– Thickness: 6.7 mm
– Weight: 115 grams