http://www.sammobile.com/2014/08/13/samsung-galaxy-alpha-officially-announced/
As usual, the phone is ugly, and considering the fact it's here to battle the iPhone 6, that's understandable.
The interesting part is that it has LTE Advanced baked in, but the SoC is Exynos. Could it be finally the 5433?
Share your outrage/admiration here (unless I just did something stupid and broke forum rules and the mods intend to blast the thread into oblivion ).
It's like a "iSamsung".. I really don't like when they get to battle the phone of another brand and they get used to "copy" the design for it's own device. It has more the look of an iPhone than a Samsung.. I'm not sure if I like it..
The metal construction might emulate iPhones, but the thin, flimsy plastic back cover is all Samsung. At least the (dinky) battery is replaceable though.
Obviously this phone is meant to compete with the iPhone 6. I have no idea if it'll actually sway iPhone owners into the Android world. But it's clearly a vanity device, and should succeed in at least some small way with people who like Android but wish their phone could look more like an iPhone. Somehow I doubt the Alpha will get much love in the way of development and modding. High price, moderate specs, small battery..."power" users such as us won't bother much with this phone.
I think this phone is designed as a midranged one and for people who like the compact iPhone style. Sadly the form factor would be perfect for one handed use but the screen is really underwhelming and not allowing mdcards is a huge mistake. I like the octacore cup bit Samsung is really starting to behave like Apple and that's not a good thing. Removing features and then releasing overpriced underwhelming products
The alpha with full HD, mdcards support and without Knox would have been awesome, disappointed. Instead of targeting iPhone users they should have targeted the Android crowd looking for high powered compact phones!
If benchmarks are to be believed, the thing smashed the Note 3... the octa-core version Note 3. If the Alpha has the Exynos 5433 and they finally went "true" octa-core, it might be worth a look.
But, having a big ol' ugly Nope 3, I'm more hyped for the ugly Note 4, which is bound to be a monster we might like.
I wonder if it's gonna have any IP certification. Probably not though as I didn't see any gaskets.
sirobelec said:
If benchmarks are to be believed, the thing smashed the Note 3... the octa-core version Note 3. If the Alpha has the Exynos 5433 and they finally went "true" octa-core, it might be worth a look.
But, having a big ol' ugly Nope 3, I'm more hyped for the ugly Note 4, which is bound to be a monster we might like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.phonandroid.com/galaxy-alpha-samsung-devoile-officiellement-iphone-6-killer-metal.html
I was really tempted for this device unless i found out the battery was jz 1800mah..
Only if had 2500 or 3000mah i would have readily exchanged my nexus 5 which also has a pathetic battery life
The thing looks like an updated S2, actually. I have one at work which is with a Chinese copy battery and CM11 on it. 2 days on standby so far, battery is at 80%-ish.
The Nexus carries a 5 inch full HD screen and has no battery saving modes at all.
I won't be surprised if the Alpha thing manages to last longer.
doctor_droid said:
I was really tempted for this device unless i found out the battery was jz 1800mah..
Only if had 2500 or 3000mah i would have readily exchanged my nexus 5 which also has a pathetic battery life
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I shouldn't be too bad... should good battery life... considering it's like 25% more efficient than a 801-805 snapdragon chip (20nm) Should be interesting to see it's performance though. the chips built for 1440p so with that being said the chip is made to be energy efficient at 1440p. 720p is going to have good battery life considering the chip is pushing exactly 4x times less pixels than it was made to.
Doesn't look as good as the S5? No SD card slot, no USB 3, still only 2Gb of Ram? No real reason to upgrade IMO
the things why i didnt buy samsung is... because its sparepart is quite expensive
and (the center shop) quite far from my house
Live photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/virgile-fontaine/with/14920579955/
RS050377 said:
Live photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/virgile-fontaine/with/14920579955/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn ?, it's sexy!
I think it looks fine haha, but the 1860mAh battery :S
jwchen17 said:
I think it looks fine haha, but the 1860mAh battery :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's frustrating because as I keep complaining if it was 3 mm thicker it could have the Isocell Camera from Note 4, a 2500 Mah Battery,
and an SD Card, and a more powerful speaker or TWO - in this pocket sized phone !
So I am hoping and lobbying Samsung for Alpha Pro with above features
and some Note 4 Specs - but NOT more Pixels in Screen because that will slow the phone down.
Alpha Pro would be priced like Note 4 people will cry about price - but I would pay $700-750. for Pro version.
Would you ?
Hello,
the firmwares of the Alpha are out.
Now I wanted to take a look into the firmware, but somehow I can't unpack it. Tried the method with sgs2toext4 and ext4_unpacker but always failed. The system.img seems to be ok, it's 1.908.047 KB big.
Someone knows a way to unpack this KitKat Firmware of the Alpha?
TheWayOfTheAce said:
Hello,
the firmwares of the Alpha are out.
Now I wanted to take a look into the firmware, but somehow I can't unpack it. Tried the method with sgs2toext4 and ext4_unpacker but always failed. The system.img seems to be ok, it's 1.908.047 KB big.
Someone knows a way to unpack this KitKat Firmware of the Alpha?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you post a link? I'm more interested in the Kernel sources ...
@modpunk
Sure. Here you go.
wth does . this. always. happen. I wanted a smaller phone , I was waiting. I kinda of enjoyed the blackberry z10 I had at work but had to give it up. I was hoping the z10 got a refresh, at anyrate I ordered one thursday. I go to the at&t store to pick out a phone for my wife..and I see the alpha..!!!!!!!! damn it.
Related
I'm patiently waiting for the c6806 but now that the galaxy note 3 is being announced and will be out early October , i might just jump ship and buy the note .Waiting for the LTE version is just painfully slow!
Build quality & the display is too small.
In the end the hardware pro's (ram, slightly higher clocking, cam) of the SGN3 are not compensating this for my requirements, as the performance of the XZU is still astonishing and i'm using my phone only for snapshots.
But your case is exactly showing the becalming situation Samsung has - people love to buy it anyway.
i almost bought the c6802 and live with the 3g connection but im pretty sure i'll be banging my head if the LTE version comes out,blaming myself that i should have waited .
LTE to me is the now technology and 3G is just not acceptable in my vocabulary .
jacktherapper00 said:
Build quality & the display is too small.
In the end the hardware pro's (ram, slightly higher clocking, cam) of the SGN3 are not compensating this for my requirements, as the performance of the XZU is still astonishing and i'm using my phone only for snapshots.
But your case is exactly showing the becalming situation Samsung has - people love to buy it anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% agree with you in every aspects. I even if was waiting for the LTE version would never go for a Note 3. Those phone only can be compared on the performances. Size and build quality are really different.
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
Absolutely not.
I've seen the conferences yesterday, and both Sony and Samsung haven't entertained me.
I mean, Sony has great products but tends to lay them out without any heart at all.
On the other end, Samsung has no innovation at all, but from their point of view it seems they're presenting the Holy Grail to the public year after year.
I have an S3, which is a great device, but on the right and on the bottom the "metal" bezel cut itself for no reason at all. It is 1 year old. And I paid FULL PRICE for this. And by full I mean that it costed me almost as much as a 6833.
I don't want Samsung to fill me with bs telling me the SPen is excellent, that the battery is interchangeable, that this, that that. I already know all that.
And i don't give a damn anymore.
ZU is progression, SW2 too, hell even the SBH52 impressed me more than the N3.
I'm gonna get on board with Sony, and whenever I'll see a guy with his Note 3 I'll say "Hey man, nice phone, I hope you're happy with what you got", not feeling envious, not feeling sorry for not buying it.
Because in the end, what YOU feel with your phone matters, not that extra 0.1ghz or that 1gb of ram.
Let's face it, about 1 out of 1000 Note3 or S4 users will root or even use their device to the fullest. The rest of them will simply feel happy that they can update their Facebook status saying 'I have a Note 3! Sweet! ", until they're not happy again when their friends buy something more powerful/stylish/popular.
I prefer being a 1 percenter, with a device that makes me smile, than being a 99 one, with the regret that I could have bought something more.
But hey, that's just my 2 cents.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
If you love development.. Samsung is really awful.. Sony is another level man
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
androidindian said:
If you love development.. Samsung is really awful.. Sony is another level man
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are 2 face on that medal you know...
On one face, Samsung hasn't always been keen with developers, not releasing sources and all, BUT thousands of people buy those, and as a result a lot of developers choose the device they develop on based on popularity, and on the fact that developing there would be more of a challenge.
On the other face, Sony has always been open with the developer community, but their popularity has started to grow big not that long ago, so we might have on the ZU the same level of devs there are on the Z.
As a matter of fact, some of them already started (just take a look on the Android development section), and that is even before the LTE version launched.
Let's wait for UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain etc. all have this device on their shelves, I have big expectations.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
well, after viewing the Note 3 "coming out" party yesterday, I decided I am not interested in it...
I had a note 1, and a Note 2, which was a major upgrade to the note 1.
Fantastic phone, and I was hoping the Note 3 would be a major "upgrade" as well; but, the only upgrades, CPU speed, 3 gigs of Ram, and 13 MP camera isnt going to make the experience on the Note 3 that much better than the note 2.
I've been watching the Xperia Z Ultra since it came out, and, it looks like a fantastic phone; I am a big guy, so the size doesnt scare me, but I am waiting to see which US carriers will be carrying it.
I have owned at least 50 cell phones in my life, but mysteriously, NONE of them have been Sony phones, but I think this will change in the next 30 days.
It doesnt seem like there is alot of development on this phone yet, but, since many note 2 owners feel similiar to me, I am certain that there will be a large groupl that will move to this phone, once some US carriers are announced.
The quality of this phone seems fantastic; not sure if no flash for the camera will affect picture quality, and, hopefully, easy root/bootloader unlocking is just around the corner, since the sound from that tiny speaker appears to be lousy as well, but nothing that ViperMod or a different kernel wont fix!
The main problem SGN2 had and SGN3 as per first hands on, pics and vids also seems to have is, that - even if it is already to small for me as an Note 2 user - they're not making proper use of the screen size with view to UI on stock ROM.
In the end the Note 2 was and is just a sized up Galaxy.
And 2nd market (custom roms) is not a criterion on this topic for me, because if i have to customize the the product from day 1 to meet my needs, then there's something wrong and i'll better wait for the right deal.
wase4711 said:
well, after viewing the Note 3 "coming out" party yesterday, I decided I am not interested in it...
I had a note 1, and a Note 2, which was a major upgrade to the note 1.
Fantastic phone, and I was hoping the Note 3 would be a major "upgrade" as well; but, the only upgrades, CPU speed, 3 gigs of Ram, and 13 MP camera isnt going to make the experience on the Note 3 that much better than the note 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another user on another forum posted that maybe a real change will be seen when all S3s end their contract.
That's true for the S4 (they sold a lot less than what they were expecting), I was expecting it and I didn't fall for that.
That's true for the N3 too, as is a specced up S4 with SPen functions.
It will sell regardless of all this thoughts, but I could bet 1 out of 5 previous N2 owners will buy this N3, and the other 4 will scout around for a better choice or wait for the N4.
That's what I was planning to do skipping the iPhone 4 for the 5 (having the 3G), but Samsung stunned me with the S3 and I jumped ship.
I waited for a big change from the S3 to the S4, but I was ready to wait for the N3 this time.
Sony stunned me since they presented the ZU, I fell in love and that's it.
The only thing that would make me love even more this device would be having a stock-Google Play Edition.
That would be AWESOME.
Last but not least for the fact that we won't need implementation for the SPen, because the screen accept pens and pencils on its own...
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
My friend and i were avid samsung users. We both had NOTE 1 then i sold it bought htc one x then sold it again and he too sold note and we both bought Note 2. Note 2 was a great device but design was my only grudge against it. Then in april i bought sony xperia z and now have htc one. And i swore that i wont fall in samsung bad design good performance trap. Currently trying to sell HTC ONE and i will buy Z ULTRA. and my friend too will buy z ultra no more shameSuck for us we had it enough
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
nope
dont like amoled, never preffered samsung as a name brand, and i am happy with ZU
although they did a good job of providing 3GB.. i guess they got more crap to add running in backgrounds
corrado85 said:
nope
dont like amoled, never preffered samsung as a name brand, and i am happy with ZU
although they did a good job of providing 3GB.. i guess they got more crap to add running in backgrounds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree.....
corrado85 said:
although they did a good job of providing 3GB.. i guess they got more crap to add running in backgrounds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This
My friend's S4 has no more than 250 free Mb all time...
You clean the memory, exit, return to manage the ram, it has even less memory left... :what:
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Leaving Samsung behind. Time to move on. I love my new z ultra.. build quality is awesome. Note 3 is great, but same old same old except for specs. Each their own.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
Pretty much agree with most posts. I've had the Note & Note 2 (using HTC One now) & the Note 3 doesn't do it for me. I really hate Touchwiz. Everything about it annoys me so I've run custom roms on all my Samsung phones. I don't use the s pen at all either so it just sits there.
I like the direction Sony are heading. I would prefer a smaller bezel but I really like the waterproof design & the minimal additions to Android.
I really don't see why Samsung are the Android leaders...
Nuwidol said:
Pretty much agree with most posts. I've had the Note & Note 2 (using HTC One now) & the Note 3 doesn't do it for me. I really hate Touchwiz. Everything about it annoys me so I've run custom roms on all my Samsung phones. I don't use the s pen at all either so it just sits there.
I like the direction Sony are heading. I would prefer a smaller bezel but I really like the waterproof design & the minimal additions to Android.
I really don't see why Samsung are the Android leaders...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Advertising, advertising, and advertising. Oh, I forgot about advertising.
They could sell a smart ring for your toe advertising it as the next companion for the summer for getting rid of fungus because it has a 5mpx camera that scans the pavement before you set your foot on it.
Everybody would simply love it.
Inviato dal mio Nexus 7 con Tapatalk 2
Nuwidol said:
Pretty much agree with most posts. I've had the Note & Note 2 (using HTC One now) & the Note 3 doesn't do it for me. I really hate Touchwiz. Everything about it annoys me so I've run custom roms on all my Samsung phones. I don't use the s pen at all either so it just sits there.
I like the direction Sony are heading. I would prefer a smaller bezel but I really like the waterproof design & the minimal additions to Android.
I really don't see why Samsung are the Android leaders...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually really like the bezels on my Ultra. Helps to hold when watching a movie etc
Sent from my C6802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Hell yes...
More portable format, better camera, camera flash, SD card, removable battery, stylus built in, pressure sensitive wacom touchscreen, better hardware and software.
Basically, N3 is everything the Z wants to be...
FinancialWar said:
Hell yes...
More portable format, better camera, camera flash, SD card, removable battery, stylus built in, pressure sensitive wacom touchscreen, better hardware and software.
Basically, N3 is everything the Z wants to be...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah... remind me again why you're browsing the Z Ultra forum...?
You see, you're everything Samsung wants.
Go for it my friend, you deserve it.
Samsung wants to be the next Apple. Good for money at first, but look at the iPhone crowd now... oh yeah, these is no crowd.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Hi guys, I just sold my S3 LTE , as I cracked the screen and didn't want to repair it. I was looking for upgrade before that, so now the time has come.
I need a device that is a bit more rugged, not necessarily waterproof and so on... I read that the S4 is even more fragile though.
Anyway. I'd really love a high end device, so I don't have to upgrade it for the next 2 years.
I don't play games but do a lot of browsing, emailing and other work related stuff. I have good cameras so the camera on the phone just needs to be OK, but It should bebetter than the S3. I'm now using an iphone 5 and while it's a marelously well build and fast, I'm not quite sure I could deal with it's quirks. I've been on Android for almost 6 years, so you get what I mean.
I'm looking at :
LG G2 16GB
LG Nexus 5 16GB
Galaxy S4
Huaiwei Ascend P6
HTC ONE
Anything else you might recommend, except for Sony...
axlastro said:
Hi guys, I just sold my S3 LTE , as I cracked the screen and didn't want to repair it. I was looking for upgrade before that, so now the time has come.
I need a device that is a bit more rugged, not necessarily waterproof and so on... I read that the S4 is even more fragile though.
Anyway. I'd really love a high end device, so I don't have to upgrade it for the next 2 years.
I don't play games but do a lot of browsing, emailing and other work related stuff. I have good cameras so the camera on the phone just needs to be OK, but It should bebetter than the S3. I'm now using an iphone 5 and while it's a marelously well build and fast, I'm not quite sure I could deal with it's quirks. I've been on Android for almost 6 years, so you get what I mean.
I'm looking at :
LG G2 16GB
LG Nexus 5 16GB
Galaxy S4
Huaiwei Ascend P6
HTC ONE
Anything else you might recommend, except for Sony...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LG G2 - Very Good Choice
Nexus 5 - Awesome (but not the best camera)
S4 - Sucks
P6 - Friend has it, not bad, but battery life is terrible
HTC One - Awesome.
Also, look into the Xperia Z2, another good option for you.
Personally, i'd go with the new HTC one.
Havoc-X said:
LG G2 - Very Good Choice
Nexus 5 - Awesome (but not the best camera)
S4 - Sucks
P6 - Friend has it, not bad, but battery life is terrible
HTC One - Awesome.
Also, look into the Xperia Z2, another good option for you.
Personally, i'd go with the new HTC one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really like the One too, but can you give some more details why would you choose it. And with the new model just around the corner - I'm no sure. I'm interested in the N5 too, bu tI'm put off by the small-ish battery
Friend of mine has the current One, played with it quite a bit. Its just everything i would want in a phone. Its really well made, fits very comfortably in your hand. I'm a fan of IPS LCD over AMOLED. Operations are much smoother and faster than Samsung. Blinkfeed is awesome (for me personally) and you have all the freedom of Android with a very good display incased in a very good body. Also i dont really need crap like airwave and air gesture, in fact, since 4.3 my smart stay barely works.
The One is just my personal choice, i think its the most balance between design, UI and performance. LG G2 isnt far behind. If you going to go with the One, u might as well wait for the new one. If you dont plan to get the new one, i'd probably go the G2 over the Old 1. The Snapdragon 800 will last u much longer than the 600 in the One (2013 edition) The G2 has IPS LCD as well and is very very fast. Only thing lacking is the aluminum body and blinkfeed. Also LG has a pretty good multi-tasking interface, it opens small windows of apps. I suggest you Check out YouTube for the G2.
Depending on how much you want to wait, you should definitely also consider the oppo find 7. This phone's a beauty in my eyes. Specs are great too.
Another interesting phone is the oneplus one with cm. Its going to be 5.5inch with the size of a 5 inch sony z1, qualcomm s800 and its supposed to cost less than 400$. Too bad that there arent any real pics yet and the release is going to be somewhere in Q2 of 2014. So, it can be 1 month or almost 3 :<
I would suggest you go for the All New HTC One or the Xperia Z2 ...both of the devices r going to hit the shelves with in weeks !!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
techno-np said:
I would suggest you go for the All New HTC One or the Xperia Z2 ...both of the devices r going to hit the shelves with in weeks !!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not buying a Sony, that's for sure. The htc one is another thing, but I'm afraid it will be quite expensive at launch, at least that's the way it is where I live. The way I see things is I have two options - get the G2 now or wait for the M8, hoping it won't be THAT expensive
Check out the oppo find 7! Big, cheap, blows everything away
Havoc-X said:
LG G2 - Very Good Choice
Nexus 5 - Awesome (but not the best camera)
S4 - Sucks
P6 - Friend has it, not bad, but battery life is terrible
HTC One - Awesome.
Also, look into the Xperia Z2, another good option for you.
Personally, i'd go with the new HTC one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why does galaxy s4 sucks ? Although I do agree the design is same and somewhat boring especially when upgrading from s3 but its a practical design. For me, its best choice among the given choices, especially if you can get the qualcomm version, as its google play device so you have option to seamlessly put aosp roms. That negates the N5 advantage as it is..
For LG G2 and Nexus 5, you have limitation of fixed storage, do remember on 16GB devices you get only about 11GB of usable space. Also camera and battery on nexus 5 will be a downgrade for you coming from s3. HTC one although awesome design but has ultrapixel camera which didn't do very well and again a restricted memory.
gsw5700 said:
Check out the oppo find 7! Big, cheap, blows everything away
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not an option. I'm getting a device from a local carrier, and they don't have oppo.
gsw5700 said:
Check out the oppo find 7! Big, cheap, blows everything away
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mafioso said:
Why does galaxy s4 sucks ? Although I do agree the design is same and somewhat boring especially when upgrading from s3 but its a practical design. For me, its best choice among the given choices, especially if you can get the qualcomm version, as its google play device so you have option to seamlessly put aosp roms. That negates the N5 advantage as it is..
For LG G2 and Nexus 5, you have limitation of fixed storage, do remember on 16GB devices you get only about 11GB of usable space. Also camera and battery on nexus 5 will be a downgrade for you coming from s3. HTC one although awesome design but has ultrapixel camera which didn't do very well and again a restricted memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only reason I'm not sure I want the S4 is that it's deemed even more fragile than the S3. It's slower chipset is also a bit of a disadvantage.
I can get the qualcomm version, so yes - vanilla OS is possible.
As for the G2 - it's awesome and I don't think storage will be that much of an issue. The HTC one is also an option, but the same as S4 - slower chiset and I hera the camera just sucks, but I have a DSLR and a mirrorless camera so I'm not going to expect much from a phone camera anyway. I'm using the iphone 5 now and while typing on it is a real pain, the size is really nice refresh fromthe huge slate the S3 was. I really miss the huge screen though.
The whole thing is quite complicated, as my wife has the RAZR I, but wants an Iphone, so I got one to test it out while waiting for my next android, and I actually like it a lot but the battery is basically on par with the S3, but the screen.... it's so small. It's superior when it comes to actally using it as a phone.
Which one of these handsets is most durable when dropped? I think the g2 would have a bad time due to edge to edge design.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
axlastro said:
Which one of these handsets is most durable when dropped? I think the g2 would have a bad time due to edge to edge design.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iphone 5s for durability.
For me:
1-Note 3
2-Sony Z2
3-Iphone 5s
4-S4
This year I am leaving my S3 also and this is the list of devices I am targeting of buying from !!
I will get one of these bad boys --->
1. Note 3 (appealing in every aspect)
2. HTC ONE 2014 (has microSD card support)
3. Xperia Z2 (Sony really stepping up their game)
4. iPhone 6 (a really good phone for basic telephony)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
I recommend nexus & S4 from the point of view of a good battery and high specs and features, Also the nexus 5 has good feature which is wireless charging, The S4 has higher features than the nexus as usual samsung strikes with stunning technology.
-Mina
I am getting a new phone in two months. Got an S3 now. This is my top choices :
1. Note 3
2. Xperia Z2
3 HTC one (2014)
4. S5
Very difficult to choose
I'm between n5 s4 and g2 for now...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mafioso said:
Why does galaxy s4 sucks ? Although I do agree the design is same and somewhat boring especially when upgrading from s3 but its a practical design. For me, its best choice among the given choices, especially if you can get the qualcomm version, as its google play device so you have option to seamlessly put aosp roms. That negates the N5 advantage as it is..
For LG G2 and Nexus 5, you have limitation of fixed storage, do remember on 16GB devices you get only about 11GB of usable space. Also camera and battery on nexus 5 will be a downgrade for you coming from s3. HTC one although awesome design but has ultrapixel camera which didn't do very well and again a restricted memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i know a few people with S4's, both versions. They both completely suck. In all honesty, the design isnt that bad, it looks very similar to the s3 but the feeling is alot better. However, Samsungs OS skin just down right fails. The ui is laggy, and please dont say theres no lag. i dont know how people dont notice this crap. The UI lags. Maybe the galaxy s4 google play edition, is a viable option.
There is literally nothing that the S4 has over its competitors. If you compare it to the HTC one (2013), then really, the One beats it hands down. You really dont need crap like the air wave.
SGH-m819n galaxy mega running the megafire v5 rom. Ive had two people literally sell their note3 after seeing how big and fast my phone is. 60 dollar truly unlimited unthrottled LTE data on tmobiles network though metro is a pretty nice perk, too.
like the title says
mostly iPhone user, but love the alpha design and feel.
Was wondering if I should jump shipps
The only downside from my own experience is that the reception is a lot worse than other phones. Mine often gets no signal in places where other phones can still get by with a few bars. After all, it is Samsung's first phone with metal frame.
foxbat121 said:
The only downside from my own experience is that the reception is a lot worse than other phones. Mine often gets no signal in places where other phones can still get by with a few bars. After all, it is Samsung's first phone with metal frame.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that! That's actually a big deal breaker.
I've never had issues with signal. ialso switched from 5s to alpha. honestly the only downside is the software updates. i still haven't received the lollipop update.
but still an amazing and beautifull phone
Thanks. I thought lollipop has been out for a while now....
s5 sukssss alpha is the king
Care to elaborate?
benyben123 said:
Thanks. I thought lollipop has been out for a while now....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as design and functionality. The Alpha and the 5S is very similar. The alpha has a bigger screen (4.7 inches) and battery (1850 mah) but it "feels" the same as a 5S.
Some could care less about the lollipop update because of some lag issues and battery drainage. So if you have an international version kit kat 4.4.4 will be the latest OS for you until Samsung releases the lollipop update. The att version "may" update automatically upon boot but you can always skip the download part and stick with kit kat until you're ready.
If the alpha is your first Android phone there will be a learning curve going from ios to Android. Specially with the Samsung touchwiz skin. Some playing with the phone should remedy that.
Good luck!!
Sent from a Locked Bootloader
Thanks for that informative response!
I like small phones, can't understand the monsters which people use these days... Held the alpha was amazed by is portability.
Also, ergonomics is really under-rated these days. Surprised the alpha didn't get more traction.
Moving to galaxy alpha is a good decision.
Compact phone + better performance + better camera (better than iP6)
Regarding the battery.. I already countered it just bought spare battery and spare battery charger from online store.
The good thing about having a spare battery and spare battery charger is avoiding charging thru phone which is resulting to being a wall hugger and limited movements of course you can't just move anywhere while having usb cord connected to ac to your phone.
Charging thru spare battery charger is approximately 2 hours but you can use the battery for 12 hours or more, just plug it and forget it well atleast for 2 hours
Or If you have a power bank just put it in your bag.
According to gsmarena.com the galaxy alpha's battery test
click
52hours, so having 2 batteries then just doble the result
Really good looking phone, extremly economic battery saver electronic, better camera than most of the phones, really fast cpu and gpu.
Sent from my SM-G850F
Thank you all, this has been helpful.
Anyone knows where I can pick one of these (must be the international F model) online for a good price (any condition, any color)?
Thanks!
benyben123 said:
Thank you all, this has been helpful.
Anyone knows where I can pick one of these (must be the international F model) online for a good price (any condition, any color)?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon has them but still expensive (around $400) you can try
Ebay or even swappa.
Word of warning, if youre planning to use the g850f, it does not support 4g lte on att or t-mobile only 3g or h+ I believe double Check the specs to be sure.
Sent from a Locked Bootloader
I have both alpha and 5s. 5s still more smooth & responsive than alpha. I dont think there are any android phones that are as responsive as ios devices yet considering the alpha is one of quickest android phone ive tried.
Sent from my SM-G850L using XDA Free mobile app
mykeldg said:
I have both alpha and 5s. 5s still more smooth & responsive than alpha. I dont think there are any android phones that are as responsive as ios devices yet considering the alpha is one of quickest android phone ive tried.
Sent from my SM-G850L using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Thanks for that! I can imagine. Honestly, iOS is faultless. I don't think I have ever seen a piece of software so honed together like iOS.
That being said, I am tired of the small display, not willing to shed 500 on the 6, and so the Alpha came to mind.
Yup. I'd still pick the alpha over the 5s anyday. Youll love the versatility of android and possibly also the amoled screen. The screen size of the alpha is perfect. I came from lg g2 and did not like the 5" at all.
On antutu the alpha scores higher(53k) than the 5s(40k). But real world usage iphone still flawless.
For aesthetics i prefer the alpha as well. I think it looks better than the s6.
Sent from my SM-G850L using XDA Free mobile app
If you can find the Exynos International Version it is faster with better Audio.
Alpha is excellent, rugged little Phone.
I use 850M International on Metro PCS/ Tmobile and I notice low signal often but call quality and stability is good even with low signal in Stores and even elevators.
Your carrier may differ.
Solid performance on Android 4.4.
You should be able to get new Factory Unlocked at $250 to $300. now.
Make sure the Bands are correct for your Carrier.
Like most on here, Im a phone junkie ?
I usually have 2 main devices that I use daily and it's been since launch that I've had a Nexus 6p.
When the 6p came out I bought one brand new (but from someone who upgraded third contract) so it kind of worried me as I didn't wanna get stuck with a blacklisted phone. Ended up selling the 6p for a decent profit, told said person to get a hold of me if any problems occurred (ie the phone getting blacklisted) , never heard back from the buyer.
Fast forward a couple years and after going threw 6 different phones just this year (25 last year) I always seem to want to flash a stock rom (when I can)
The problem is, there is always something wrong (bugs) and the phone never seems as smooth as it should be.
Right now I have a LG G5 , Microsoft 950 and Samsung Note 4 .
As I'm walking threw a local store and couple days ago, I see that they are selling brand new 6p for $299 (cdn) for the 32gb model. How could I pass this up??? Simple answer, I couldn't
So with them already being unlocked it really was a no brainier for me (especially since they are selling for around $350-400 on the used market here)
I was a tad concerned about the SD810 and 3gb of ram as those are mid-range specs these days and I'm used to the proformance of no lag and what not (iPhones have spoiled me)
Well being a Nexus and having stock software makes a HUGE difference as opposed to bloated software from OEMs.
My 6p is snappy and fast as hell and is faster than my G5 in everyday use, kills my Note 4 (which is no surprise) and crushes my 950.
To make a long post short, specs aren't always everything. If the software is optimized properly, backed with good hardware, you will have a smooth experience.
And also that the 6p is still a beast of a device almost 2 years after it's release.
Makes me not miss my iPhone as much
mistamikel said:
Like most on here, Im a phone junkie ?
I usually have 2 main devices that I use daily and it's been since launch that I've had a Nexus 6p.
When the 6p came out I bought one brand new (but from someone who upgraded third contract) so it kind of worried me as I didn't wanna get stuck with a blacklisted phone. Ended up selling the 6p for a decent profit, told said person to get a hold of me if any problems occurred (ie the phone getting blacklisted) , never heard back from the buyer.
Fast forward a couple years and after going threw 6 different phones just this year (25 last year) I always seem to want to flash a stock rom (when I can)
The problem is, there is always something wrong (bugs) and the phone never seems as smooth as it should be.
Right now I have a LG G5 , Microsoft 950 and Samsung Note 4 .
As I'm walking threw a local store and couple days ago, I see that they are selling brand new 6p for $299 (cdn) for the 32gb model. How could I pass this up??? Simple answer, I couldn't
So with them already being unlocked it really was a no brainier for me (especially since they are selling for around $350-400 on the used market here)
I was a tad concerned about the SD810 and 3gb of ram as those are mid-range specs these days and I'm used to the proformance of no lag and what not (iPhones have spoiled me)
Well being a Nexus and having stock software makes a HUGE difference as opposed to bloated software from OEMs.
My 6p is snappy and fast as hell and is faster than my G5 in everyday use, kills my Note 4 (which is no surprise) and crushes my 950.
To make a long post short, specs aren't always everything. If the software is optimized properly, backed with good hardware, you will have a smooth experience.
Makes me not miss my iPhone as much
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Click to collapse
God dam, iPhones suck ass. Haha What was the purpose of your post btw? Just to let people know you switched back to the Nexus 6p or something?
Lol iPhone are excellent!! But I will always perfer Android over ios.
The purpose was to basically say, specs don't mean ****, lol. And that the 6p is still a hell of a phone in 2017
mistamikel said:
Lol iPhone are excellent!! But I will always perfer Android over ios.
The purpose was to basically say, specs don't mean ****, lol. And that the 6p is still a hell of a phone in 2017
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still think iPhones are overpriced overhyped trash and do prefer android but that's a letter of opinion. I agree that specs do t always matter because it depends how resources are used and the version of software and all. However, specs still are important and do meant **** because you Can't say that phones like the oneplus 5 aren't more powerful and faster with better battery than the 6p so specs are important but at the same time it depends how the software is used by the phone maker.
mistamikel said:
Lol iPhone are excellent!! But I will always perfer Android over ios.
The purpose was to basically say, specs don't mean ****, lol. And that the 6p is still a hell of a phone in 2017
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more. As time marches on, I'm always on the lookout for a new phone. But there's always something missing, whether it's front facing speakers, beautiful screen, a great camera or snappy response. Stock Android is the best but it's also thanks to developers for their amazing work that makes this phone great, like elemental kernel and viper arise with Dolby atmos.
DEVILOPS 007 said:
I still think iPhones are overpriced overhyped trash and do prefer android but that's a letter of opinion. I agree that specs do t always matter because it depends how resources are used and the version of software and all. However, specs still are important and do meant **** because you Can't say that phones like the oneplus 5 aren't more powerful and faster with better battery than the 6p so specs are important but at the same time it depends how the software is used by the phone maker.
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Click to collapse
It's funny that you mention One plus.
Yes new phones today come speced out (flagships) but just how much of that is a gimmick ?
Look at OnePlus, a phone with 6gb or 8gb of ram, seems crazy right? But what's the point when Android only can utilize 4gb MAX.
Processors are absolutely killer these days, no doubt. But the more intense ones with wicked gpu are just so they can play games.
I don't game on my phone, so having the most powerful SoC isn't really important to myself.
Let's look at optimized software on top as well.
When I had my Axon7 (sd 820) and S7 edge (exynos 8890) both their companies flashships at the time, I would run benchmarks and different tests to see which one was the more powerful.
On paper the Exynos would always score higher in any test I ran, but when it came to day to day use, the Axon would less laggy and feel smoother.
And all this came down to proper software optimization and less bloat.
I'm getting the same results with this 6p vs my LG G5.
The G5 is superior on paper, but the Nexus preforms better over all due to software.
Another prime example of specs not meaning much (to me anymore) is with my laptop (convertible) vs my tablet.
I use a Acer Alpha Switch 12 for my Windows option when I'm on the go, it's got 8gb of ram, core i5 (6th gen) ect. I use it to edit vids and what not.
Now I also have the 2017 iPad (the cheapest one) which has 2gb of ram and the A10 processor (the ones used in the iPhone 6s). The crazy thing? I can edit 4k video faster and smoother on my iPad than I can on my Windows machine. Crazy right?
I used to be all about specs and would always want the latest and greatest just for the sake of having it.
But once I started to use an iPhone..... Well, spces really don't mean all that much anymore
PS Hell yes iPhones are wayyyy over priced hahahaha
You just wait until Android O is dropped, I was running O DP4 for a couple weeks and I can tell it's going to make the 6p feel new again, other than the graphical lag, which is expected for a beta, it felt smooth and refined. I'm pretty excited myself for Android O
DEVILOPS 007 said:
I still think iPhones are overpriced overhyped trash and do prefer android but that's a letter of opinion. I agree that specs do t always matter because it depends how resources are used and the version of software and all. However, specs still are important and do meant **** because you Can't say that phones like the oneplus 5 aren't more powerful and faster with better battery than the 6p so specs are important but at the same time it depends how the software is used by the phone maker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah best cpu, gpu, one of the best screens.. Total trash. Aren't pixels the same price?
crixley said:
Yeah best cpu, gpu, one of the best screens.. Total trash. Aren't pixels the same price?
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Click to collapse
Best what?! Where are you getting this false information from? Lol
DEVILOPS 007 said:
Best what?! Where are you getting this false information from? Lol
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Click to collapse
Look at benchmarks... It is technically a dual core, doubles pretty much everything else in single core performance (which most apps run in) and matches octocore processors in multicore. Runs pretty much everything at 60fps. I sold mine because iOS was boring but no matter how much of a fanboy you are you can't deny they perform extremely well.
I grew up and realized i didn't need to be on either side, I'm not like one of those ford vs dodge morons. That's just pathetic imo
My 6P is still a great phone. Just wish Huawei used better battery and focused more on build quality. iPhone can also be great for certain people. My Dad has the iPhone SE. I'd get bored using a iPhone but he loves it because it's less complex than Android, gets very good battery life without any tweaking and has great build quality.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Honestly if you don't really use your phone for vr apps, the iPhone 6s+ , to me, is an absolute beast. No iPhone 7 because of the nonexistent headphone jack (such a silly move).
Would I take it over my 6p? If both were unlocked ,and brand new, I could go either way and be happy with A or B.
But the fact that I picked up a brand new 6p (from a retailer) for $300 cdn ($240usd) is one hell of a deal.
The 6p will most likely be sticking with me for a year as nothing that's come out / coming out really seems all that exciting to me.
Using an old note 4.
2 new batteries and it still just conks out when it feels like it. Does the reboot loop until i plug it in...desided to give up the ghost and get a new phone.
I know the New note 9 will be available around end of Aug..but i wondered if i just bought a 9s+ would i see much of a difference?? Will there likely be a big jump in processing power and Ram...and would i actually notice? Thing is 9S+ is here now..plenty cases and extras out there etc...tempting..any suggestions?? Thxs
Note 9 is rumoured to have a 4000mah battery. I am not fully satisfied with the battery life of my s9+. The processing speed should be similar as they will use the same SOC. I suggest you to wait till note 9 announcement and then decide.
thepubguy said:
Using an old note 4.
2 new batteries and it still just conks out when it feels like it. Does the reboot loop until i plug it in...desided to give up the ghost and get a new phone.
I know the New note 9 will be available around end of Aug..but i wondered if i just bought a 9s+ would i see much of a difference?? Will there likely be a big jump in processing power and Ram...and would i actually notice? Thing is 9S+ is here now..plenty cases and extras out there etc...tempting..any suggestions?? Thxs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is the real question, would you rather have an S Series or a Note Series?
If you prefer the S Series then get the s9+ now. If you prefer the Note series I would wait.
I used to be a big Note fan but when they started making the S Series with curved glass I have stuck with them and skipped the note series.
AS the guy above me said, Memory and CPU / GPU are going to be the same ones as in the S9+ so you will not loose anything there.
So yeah, I was in the same dilemma recently and choose the S9+. The Note has a lot of features that I will never use them. Starting with the S-Pen.
I'd wait even if you decide on the s9+, the S9+ may drop in price once the Note9 comes out and the s9/s9+ isn't the "latest and greatest" anymore.
I bought note 8 and it is too big for me and too heavy. The battery was too small but the pen was fantastic. I decided to sell it for buy s9+ and I'm very happy. The battery isn't fantastic but allows you to get to the end of the day. I recommend you s9 + now, you save money and you have a great phone
thepubguy said:
Using an old note 4.
2 new batteries and it still just conks out when it feels like it. Does the reboot loop until i plug it in...desided to give up the ghost and get a new phone.
I know the New note 9 will be available around end of Aug..but i wondered if i just bought a 9s+ would i see much of a difference?? Will there likely be a big jump in processing power and Ram...and would i actually notice? Thing is 9S+ is here now..plenty cases and extras out there etc...tempting..any suggestions?? Thxs
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Click to collapse
As @vishnu8058 mentioned, Im too not so happy with the batterylife . Though its acceptable , i've experienced superior batterylife in several other flagships in recent times. Keeping that in mind alone, I would simply wait till August end if I were you.
..
There will be no big jump in processor or such as it would come with the same SD845/Exynos 9810 SoC, but an 8 GB RAM/512 GB storage- region specific Note 9 may show up that may not interest you. Rest deciding factor should be the size, S-pen usability, weight , your taste on samsung environment and ofcourse the price :fingers-crossed:
I did a similar jump but from Note 4 to S8+ last year, contemplating the same dilemma as to whether to wait for Note 8 or not. In the end, I had the Note 3 and Note 4 and with either I almost never used the pen, which is really the main selling point over the S series, so I went with the S8+ (with the S8+ and later the physical screen size difference is much less than it used to be between the S and Note series).
Heres the thing...
I lost my pen from the note 4 soon after i got it...and desided i wasnt going to replace it as i didnt need it. Thats how i feel about note 9. Im not interested about the pen. All im interested in is:
(Not in any order)
Storage
Ram
Chip speed/ gpu
Battery
Screen quality/size
Sound
This is really why i posted...perhaps i should have started out with this email...apologies for the waffle..lol
thepubguy said:
Using an old note 4.
2 new batteries and it still just conks out when it feels like it. Does the reboot loop until i plug it in...desided to give up the ghost and get a new phone.
I know the New note 9 will be available around end of Aug..but i wondered if i just bought a 9s+ would i see much of a difference?? Will there likely be a big jump in processing power and Ram...and would i actually notice? Thing is 9S+ is here now..plenty cases and extras out there etc...tempting..any suggestions?? Thxs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thepubguy said:
Heres the thing...
I lost my pen from the note 4 soon after i got it...and desided i wasnt going to replace it as i didnt need it. Thats how i feel about note 9. Im not interested about the pen. All im interested in is:
(Not in any order)
Storage
Ram
Chip speed/ gpu
Battery
Screen quality/size
Sound
This is really why i posted...perhaps i should have started out with this email...apologies for the waffle..lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's clear that you don't need a Note device, BUT still the jump in battery is something that I think many people would appreciate, BUT we need to remember what happened last time Samsung tried to put a decent battery size in a Note phone.
Size is another to keep in mind, because Note series are usually bigger, and trust me when I say that the S9+ is already a big phone; yes, is still manageable, but for me S9+ is in the limits of what you can handle or you can carry in your pocket without problems.
Price will also be another factor, because you will be paying a huge difference (~30%) just for an upgrade in battery, because you won't be using all those features that justify the price of the Note 9, and currently you can grab sweet deals with the S9+, and when the Note 9 comes out, price will slightly decrease as well.
Overall S9+ is a really nice phone and as long as you spend time setting it, you would get enough juice for a day.
thepubguy said:
Heres the thing...
I lost my pen from the note 4 soon after i got it...and desided i wasnt going to replace it as i didnt need it. Thats how i feel about note 9. Im not interested about the pen. All im interested in is:
(Not in any order)
Storage
Ram
Chip speed/ gpu
Battery
Screen quality/size
Sound
This is really why i posted...perhaps i should have started out with this email...apologies for the waffle..lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All checked. Bruh if high batterytime matters to you thn it's not the GS9+.GN8 is the one I went back from s9+ aftr quite smtime <pen rarely useful to me> but I'm OK with it and excited to upgrade to GN9
Im genuinly tempted to go for the g9s+.
Reasons..
1. Its out now
2. Plenty reviews..seems pretty solid.
3. Been out long enough..plenty good cases / access.
4. Getting cheaper/better deals
5. Gs series seems to now be the flagship phone. Note series just fills in the gaps between iphone/competitors hardware release.
Wot else should be on this list?
Also do u think the upgraded hardware on the n9 with outperform the 9s+?? Is it a new chip or the same..as there will be an upgrade in ram to 8gb..surely thats going to make a huge difference??
thepubguy said:
Also do u think the upgraded hardware on the n9 with outperform the 9s+?? Is it a new chip or the same..as there will be an upgrade in ram to 8gb..surely thats going to make a huge difference??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the performance is going to be very similar, if not identical. There almost certainly won't be a hardware upgrade for the Note 9 (excepting the reported RAM increase), the chipset is likely to be the same as the S9 and S9+ (like the Note 8 vs S8/S8+ last year). It seems to be confirmed now that the design of Note 9 won't change much since the Note 8, just like the S9 and S9+ this year, so they should also all look almost the same.
The Galaxy S series have always been Samsung's flagship phone -- the Note series have been considered 'phablets' due to the size of the device, although the line got a little blurred with the 'plus' editions of the S series - S6 Edge+ (Note 5 was the same size), S7 Edge (the Note 7 was 0.2" larger), S8+ (the Note 8 was 0.1" larger) and S9+ (seems like the Note 9 will be 0.2" larger).
I think you need to decide between the following criteria (you've stated the pen isn't important to you so, so that's not on the list):
Price (S9+ will be cheaper, probably by quite a bit, than the Note 9 at launch and for some time after). This is probably going to be the single biggest difference between the two.
Battery (Note 9 is suggested to have a 4000mAh battery vs the 3500mAh on the S9+).
RAM (I don't think the 8GB is going to make a any noticeable difference over 6GB in normal day-to-day use, and bear in mind more RAM means a little bit more power usage - haven't got any hard numbers about that, mind, so I don't know actual practicalities on it).
Storage (It seems the Note 9 may have a 512GB version on top of the others, though it will be pricey).
I am perhaps biased given I have the S9+, but personally I would've gone for the S9+ and gotten the phone now rather than wait - but that's me
Either will be a great choice, and neither will be a mistake - particularly coming from a Note 4.
Any advantage to buying an international sim free compared to a locked phone say with o2 or voda?
thepubguy said:
Any advantage to buying an international sim free compared to a locked phone say with o2 or voda?
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Click to collapse
Not in terms of specs or anything. All comes down to the deal, and buying an operator-locked phone obviously requires you to unlock if you want to switch operator (something they are obliged to do by law on request, so it's not an issue, just a consideration to make). Usually you end up paying more for the phone over the term of the contract under which you purchase it, but obviously the upside is you pay monthly until the end of the contract and don't have to splurge out the money up front.
I got the galaxy s9+ from samsung store 4 days back and I am absolutely loving it. Got a total discount of 14k INR which is good in my opinion. The battery is hit or miss but aparat from that I am loving every bit of it.
I feel the Note is too large to carry around and with bigger screen size + additional note functions its going to suck the 4000mah battery at same rate as galaxy s9+
Incarniac said:
and bear in mind more RAM means a little bit more power usage - haven't got any hard numbers about that, mind, so I don't know actual practicalities on it).
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Click to collapse
Fun fact : For the same type of RAM, more RAM consumes more power negligibly in comparison to less RAM of the same type. In fact , more RAM variant of the phone takes overall less power than a lesser RAM variant of the same phone if the user is quite a multitasker as more RAM helps in multitasking by keeping more apps & tasks opened giving less stress to the CPU as it doesn't have to work on re-opening them. :fingers-crossed: