AT&T has announced that it will exclusively offer the Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The carrier has priced the ultrathin and metal-framed 4.7-inch smartphone at $199 with a new 2-year contract.
Apple just announced that it has shattered previous iPhone launch weekend sales with its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The company sold over 10 million units over the weekend and many analysts are claiming the larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays are already attracting Android smartphone switchers. Apple has even created a special area on its support site for Android users switching to a new iPhone. It provides tips for moving music, photos, documents, and more from your current Android phone.
Analysts believe that Samsung is expected to take the biggest blow of all Android smartphone manufacturers, but the company isn't about to let analysts predict its future -- it has three highly anticipated smartphones that should help soften the blow.
Samsung's flagship Galaxy Note 4 phablet will be released by Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in October. Its curved display Galaxy Note Edge has already been confirmed to be offered by all four major U.S. carriers, and now AT&T has announced it will be the exclusive carrier of the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Alpha. AT&T will begin selling Samsung's first metal-framed smartphone on Sept. 26 through its online and retail stores and has priced the smartphone at $199.99 when signing a new 2-year contract or $612.99 off-contract.
"We are excited to offer you yet another industry-leading smartphone with the announcement of the Galaxy Alpha on the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network, covering more than 300 million Americans," said Jeff Bradley, AT&T senior vice president, devices. "The Samsung Galaxy Alpha marries sleek, premium design with all of the great features and Samsung technology that you have come to expect from a Galaxy product."
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha features a premium feel thanks to its metal frame, which surrounds the smartphone, complete with chamfered edges just like Apple's iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s. The Galaxy Alpha boasts a 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED display with a pixel density of 312 pixels per inch (ppi) and runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat. It's powered by a 2.5 GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM.
The AT&T Samsung Galaxy Alpha's camera capabilities consist of a 12-megapixel rear camera and 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat and selfies. It ships with 32 GB of internal storage, includes a fingerprint scanner to unlock the handset and authorize PayPal purchases, heart rate sensor, and 1,860 mAh battery. AT&T will release the Samsung Galaxy Alpha on Sept. 26 and will offer it in three color options; Charcoal Black, Dazzling White, and Frosted Gold.
Are you considering purchasing the Galaxy Alpha and do you think its metal frame will attract users looking for a premium feel? Let us know in the comments below and check out AT&T's Samsung Galaxy Alpha highlights video below.
