Samsung Raises the Bar with the Galaxy Alpha

From the very first time you pick up Samsung’s Galaxy Alpha it feels completely different than any other phone in the Galaxy line—it’s made of metal. Gone is the plastic that defined early models as it has been replaced by aluminum. Don’t jump to conclusions though, this is no heavy metal. The phone is remarkably light just like the rest of the Galaxy line, but there is something about that cold feel of aluminum that makes the phone feel sturdier than ever before.

Another thing that separates the Alpha from the rest of the Galaxy line is the smaller size. The Alpha still has a large and fantastic screen, a 4.7″ HD Super AMOLED screen to be exact, but the phone now takes up a little less room in your pocket. The images on the screen are ultra-sharp, especially the pictures taken with the two cameras. The phone’s primary camera is the powerful 12 megapixel camera in the rear of the phone, but the front facing 2.1MP camera is no slouch. Pictures, video, and the ever difficult to shoot properly panoramic photos are look fantastic.

With a full 2GB of RAM the hardware powering the Alpha is quite powerful. Browsing the internet and running apps (available through the Google Play Store) is a breeze with hardly any lag time whatsoever. The phone also comes with the very popular S-Health application built in. If you’re worried about people taking horrible selfies when you leave your phone unattended breathe easy, a fingerprint scanner allows the Alpha to only be unlocked by the appropriate person.

The Alpha is available exclusively through AT&T. Samsung fans in New York were able to get a sneak peak at the new phone earlier this week when it was unveiled at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in SoHo. In addition to getting a look at the new phone lucky fans were treated to an acoustic performance by Jhené Aiko. After performing some of her hits Jhené let fans experience the power of the new phone by taking selfies with them.

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha was released on Sept. 26 and is now available throughout the United States.