Samsung sells a lot of smartphones – more than anybody in the industry – yet they are constantly being criticized for using so much plastic and so little metal. Critics have pleaded over and over in Tweets, Forums and in the Comments section, but it all seemed to fall on deaf ears. When Samsung unleashed their flagship, the Galaxy S5, we were hoping and praying for some real design change, yet nothing really happened. There was enough disappointment to go around for all of the Samsung hopefuls and a lot of “I told you so” from Samsung haters – both groups had that right to voice their opinions.
Maybe Samsung heard after all – enter the Samsung Galaxy Alpha. Is it all metal…no, but it is a great start in a new design. With the Galaxy Alpha, Samsung has finally taken a new approach in three key areas – Metal Frame, Curved Corners, and the Finish on the Metal. People talk as though Samsung never used metal before in their designs, but that is simply not true if you go back to their early history. It seems in their quest for thinner and lighter phones they turned to polycarbonates – a fancy word for high-grade plastic. Metal is known for two things: its style and grip, especially around the edges of the phone. It offers the user a place to firmly grasp the device and to hold on to it.
The curved corners offer several advantages, two of which are design or looks; however, a more important feature is durability and protection from falls. Samsung claims that the “silhouette and cutting” of the Galaxy Alpha represents a significant breakthrough – the curvature and cut of the corner tie in to the sides, giving it a more refined and premium look; “it is rhythmical.” The corners are also the weakest part of a smartphone and generally when they fall, the impact will be on the corners – the curved design increases the impact area and that increases the amount of area to improve the shock resistance. This gives the design a beautiful look while at the same time offering better protection.
The best way to prevent damage is to prevent dropping the smartphone in the first place – here is where the special finish is applied. A thin coating has been placed around the areas where you hold your phone, creating an “enhanced grip.” Metal also has a naturally cold feeling, so Samsung designed the back with a “calm matte finish” for a smooth, warm touch and easy to grasp. Samsung even picked the colors for the Galaxy Alpha based on the shine and frost of the metal frame for a more visual depth. The final colors are: Charcoal Black, Dazzling White, Frosted Gold, Sleek Silver and Scuba Blue. A new metal frame, a solid finish, and to continuingly upgrade its design – this is what Samsung promises us. Please hook up with us on our Google+ Page and let us know if you think Samsung is headed in the right direction…as always, we would love to hear from you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_I4Ab_LdxQ