X

Check out the Samsung Galaxy Alpha's metal frame (pictures)

The Galaxy Alpha may be the best looking Galaxy phone ever built. Click through our hands-on pics to ogle its steely style for yourself.

Luke Westaway
Luke Westaway is a senior editor at CNET and writer/ presenter of Adventures in Tech, a thrilling gadget show produced in our London office. Luke's focus is on keeping you in the loop with a mix of video, features, expert opinion and analysis.
Luke Westaway
samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-6.jpg
1 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

The Galaxy Alpha is the first Galaxy phone to sport an external metal frame. It's a really good-looking phone -- click through to check it out.

samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-8.jpg
2 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

The Alpha is adorned with glinting metal, lovingly hewn and polished. The build quality felt very good during my hands-on time, and I thought the metal frame gave the phone a touch of class.

samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-2.jpg
3 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

Sadly only the frame around the outside of the phone is metal.

samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-3.jpg
4 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

The back of the Alpha remains the same flexible plastic that Samsung's been using for ages. On the plus side, that means the back cover is removable.

samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-4.jpg
5 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

The metal frame makes the Alpha very pleasing to hold. It feels a lot sturdier, but not heavy.

samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-5.jpg
6 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

Slightly cold to the touch, the Alpha is actually rather small for a Samsung Galaxy phone. Its screen is a mere 4.7 inches.

samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-7.jpg
7 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

The Alpha is powered by Android 4.4 KitKat.

samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-9.jpg
8 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

That's a 12-megapixel camera. There's a heart rate scanner and a fingerprint scanner on board too.

samsung-galaxy-alpha-hands-on-1.jpg
9 of 9 Luke Westaway/CNET

Its hardware and size mean the Galaxy Alpha isn't as high-tech as, say, the Galaxy S5. I think the pleasing look of the metal frame make up for a slight specs drop, however.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos