Samsung released their first metallic smartphone, the Galaxy Alpha, which competes Apple’s newest iPhone 6. They offer the same screen size, but how do they compare against one another? So let us dive into how they differ to see which one is better for you.
Sizes and Displays
Both smartphones boast displays of 4.7 inches, but what separates them is the technology and resolution you get from each. The Galaxy Alpha 4.7 inch display uses Super AMOLED technology that brings a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixel and pixel density of 312ppi. The iPhone 6 4.7inch displays is IPS LCD with LED-backlit that has 750 x 1334 pixels that give a higher displays and pixel density of 326ppi. The rumor has long been that the glass is shattered proof, but tests prove otherwise. They use the Corning Gorilla Glass technology treated with oleophobic coating, which is still good for protecting against scratches. With their integrated finger sensor in the home button, you are able to make payments using the Apple Pay System. The Galaxy Alpha also uses a certified Apple fingerprint sensor integrated with their home button.
Compared to the iPhone 6, the Galaxy Alpha is shorter and thinner with 132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7 mm dimensions, and weighing on 115 grams. 14 grams heavier, the iPhone 6 has 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm dimensions.
OS and Hardware
Samsung uses a octa core processor for its Galaxy Alpha, but alternates between using the quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU that is clocked at 1.3GHz or the Cortex-A15 octa core clocked at 1.8GHz. It also uses the Mali-T628 MP6 GPU combined with an Exynos 5 Octa 5430 chipset. The phone is very fast with 2GB of RAM and a great investment. Unlike most Samsung devices, it offers no options for expandable memory, with an internal memory capacity of 32GB. While some users will be disappointed in not being able to store lots of photos and videos, or applications, it provides a good amount of storage space.
The iPhone 6 uses a dual-core Cyclone that clocks at 1.4GHz; that is combined with a PowerVR GX6450 GPU. It also runs on Apple’s A8 chipset which provides a 64-bit architecture, making it faster than its predecessor by 25 percent. Offering 1GB of RAM it provides three variants that also have no expandable options with internal memory capacities of 128GB, 64GB, and 16GB.
The iPhone 6 of course runs on the iOS 8, which can already be upgraded to the iOS 8.0.2. While the Samsung runs on the Android KitKat v4.4.4.
Cameras
The Galaxy Alpha offers a good 12MP rear camera featuring a f/2.2 aperture lens, touch focus, HDR, panorama, dual shot, autofocus, LED flash, and other options. It also offers video recording of 4K UHD and slow motion option at resolution at 720p@30fps. The front camera is 2.1MP, which is better than the iPhone 6 1.2MP front camera.
Apple’s iPhone 6 8MP rear camera isn’t much to brag about, but it does make it up for it with optics enhancements. With the iSight camera you have a f/2.2 aperture, 5-element lens, which features dual-LED flash, among several more features, and slow-mo mode at a resolution of 720p@240fps.
Batteries
iPhone 6 battery offers the non-removable 1810mAH battery with an okay battery life, while the Galaxy Alpha offers a similar 1860mAH battery that is removable, but offers around the same capacity.
Price
The prices are for the high-end market, with both being found on Amazon.com. The iPhone 6 is available in several ranges with the highest being at $849, but cheaper with a contract. While the Galaxy Alpha can be found for around $675.