With Apple making its preparations for the release of the iPhone 6, Samsung is similarly making two big mobile releases in the coming months. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha will be aimed at the smartphone market, while the latest iteration of the Galaxy note series, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, will be targeted at those wanting a phablet.
With the two devices considered to be very much flagship handsets for Samsung, the Korean manufacturer will be looking for excellent sales figures from both devices. But what decision should the consumer make with regard to what device to purchase? The Galaxy Alpha has specifications which mark it out to be very much a premium device, whereas the specs for the Galaxy Note 4 are still at the rumored stage. So here is a rundown of the background to the two devices, and a summary of what we know about them so far.
Galaxy Note 4 vs Galaxy Alpha – Screen Display
Naturally, the phablet-sized Galaxy Note 4 will have a significantly larger display than the smartphone market-oriented Galaxy Alpha. The Galaxy Note 4 is expected to be slightly larger than previous models of the device, and will consequently sport a 5.9-inch display. By contrast, the Galaxy Alpha is expected to be similar in size to the existing iPhone range, and the smaller model of the forthcoming iPhone 6, and will thus be based around a 4.7-inch display.
In terms of the quality of the displays, the Galaxy Note 4 is rumored to have a superior screen resolution. The Galaxy Note 4 is expected to offer quad HD resolution, which would amount to a pixel count of 2560 x 1440. Meanwhile, the Alpha will be armed with a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED screen display with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution. Of course, although the Galaxy Note 4 wins out significantly in this department, the extra resolution is undoubtedly required for the larger screen size.
Processor
The two forthcoming Samsung devices are also based around differing processor technology. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha runs off a Exynos 5430 chipset, and will also contain two quad-core processors, which have been clocked at 1.8 GHz and 1.3 GHz respectively. The Galaxy Note 4 will be the more powerful of the two devices, although the precise processor and chipset specifications have not been finalized at this point in time; at least not publicly.
However, the Galaxy Note 4 is expected to be based on octa-core technology, with the specific processor included in the device thought to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 CPU paired with 4GB of RAM. This will apparently differ in the United States, where the phablet will be powered by an Exynos chipset.
Internal Storage
This is one area of the two new devices which can be predicted with confidence. Samsung has already confirmed that the Alpha will feature 32 GB of storage. And it is unlikely that the Galaxy Note 4 will greatly differ from previous devices. This would mean that the latest Samsung phablet would retail in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models. There will also be a micro-SD slot which will enable the largest version of the device to have its memory effectively doubled in storage terms.
Operating System
We should not expect too much variation between the two devices in this department. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha runs off the Android 4.4.4 Kitkat operating system, and it is highly probable that the Galaxy Note 4 will also utilize this operating system.
Camera
The Galaxy Alpha will feature an extremely respectable camera within its armory, with the smartphone sporting a 12-megapixel camera on its back. Samsung has yet to confirm the precise specifications related to the camera in the Galaxy Note 4, but it is currently rumored that the phablet will be fitted with a 21-megapixel ISOCELL camera with 3D capture and LED flash. Both cameras will also have a front snapper capable of 2.1-megapixels in order to carry out certain identification and security functions.
Battery
Battery life has always been a strength of Samsung devices, and in line with this the Galaxy Note 4 is expected to include a very powerful battery capable of 4,000 mAh. The battery in the Galaxy Alpha will be significantly weaker than this, people to around 1,860 mAh.
Release Date and Price
Both of these mobile devices are expected to hit the stores in September, and the release date of the Galaxy Alpha is already confirmed to be in the second week of September. In terms of price, this has not been officially set yet, and thus retailers guidelines are the only indication that we have two go on. We can expect the Galaxy Alpha to retail for around $699, while the Galaxy doubtful will be slightly more expensive, and may retail for somewhere between $799 and $849.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the Galaxy Note 4 is the more powerful of these two devices, even if some of the specs related to it very much based on supposition. A lot of this is driven by necessity, with the larger size of the Galaxy Note 4 meaning that Samsung needs to pack it with power. What can be said about the Alpha is that it compares favorably with existing smartphones, and would certainly suit someone looking for a more compact device than the rather large Galaxy Note 4.
