Samsung tries to one up Apple, unveils metal-framed Galaxy Alpha with 12MP camera & octa-core processor

After rumours about it doing the round for some time now, Samsung has finally taken the wraps off its next Galaxy smartphone. Christened Galaxy Alpha, the device sports a 4.7 inch display and runs on the Android operating system. It also features a compact body with a metal frame.

Interestingly, Samsung has chosen the exact screen size as that of the next rumoured iPhone that is scheduled to launch next month. In addition, the company has also decided to opt for chamfered edges that have become synonymous with Apple smartphones since iPhone 5.

"Galaxy Alpha was built and designed based on the specific desires of the consumer market. With an entirely new appearance, the smartphone combines a metal frame and slim, light weight design with the same hardware and features users expect from a flagship Galaxy mobile device," said JK Shin, CEO and head of IT and mobile communication at Samsung Electronics.

The smartphone has a metal frame, curved corners and a tactile soft back cover. At less than 7 mm thick, it is also one of the slimmest Galaxy devices ever.

Here is an introductory video of the device.

Specifications

Galaxy Alpha has a 4.7 inch HD Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display (1280x720 pixels resolution) and runs on the latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system. It is powered by an octa-core (1.8GHz quad + 1.3GHz quad) processor and has 2GB of RAM. The internal memory of the device is 32GB, but further memory expansion is not available.

It sports a 12 megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED Flash that can also record Ultra HD videos (2160p) at 30 frames per second, and a 2.1MP front facing camera for video calling. Additional features of the camera include beauty face, dual camera, High Dynamic Range (HDR), panorama, selective focus, and virtual tour, among others.

On the connectivity front, the smartphone has Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G LTE, as well as a microUSB port. The dimensions of the device are 132.4mm x 65.5mm x 6.7mm and its weight is 115gm. Samsung has provided a 1,860 mAh battery in the smartphone, which also comes with Near Field Communication (NFC).

Additional features include Ultra-Power Saving Mode, S Health, finger print scanner, and Private Mode, as well as connectivity with the latest Samsung Gear Fit, Gear Live and Gear 2 wearables.

While details on its exact pricing are not available as of now, Galaxy Alpha will be launched in select markets (including India) at the beginning of next month. It will be available in charcoal black, dazzling white, frosted gold, sleek silver, and scuba blue colours.