Samsung is planning to launch its first metal-cased Galaxy Alpha smartphone next week but the handset is already on a UK retail site for pre-orders
Samsung, the renowned smartphone brand, is going all-metal for its next Galaxy smartphone but the details on the release and specifications of the handset are conflicting. Several media reports suggest the rumored Galaxy Alpha will officially launch next week. But the British retailer MobileFun listed the handset as available for pre-orders on its website for $939 (£549) without a SIM card. The listing was later taken down by the retailer and the site now says "Page Not Found".
The retailer gave away more details than just the price; confirming the metallic design for the upcoming Galaxy Alpha. The listing also revealed the handset's specifications, which do not point towards a high-end flagship product. If the website's listing bears any authenticity, Galaxy Alpha will be powered by Samsung's own Octa-core Exynos processor. Other specs include a 12-megapixel rear camera with "super fast Autofocus" and LED flash, 2.1MP front shooter, fingerprint scanner and 32GB internal storage. Samsung limited the storage to 32GB in Alpha, making it the first Samsung smartphone to lack micro SD card support.
The handset will feature a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution and 320ppi, which isn't high-end compared to LG G3 or its own Galaxy S5. This could mean the handset will not carry a flagship label. The retailer also revealed the Galaxy Alpha will run on Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box along with support for 4G LTE and Bluetooth 4.0.
MobileFun did not release any pictures of the handset but Samsung's rumor site SamMobile recently leaked images depicting the early Alpha prototypes. The tech blog also corrected the release date from August 4 to August 13, which was echoed by AllAboutSamsung, last week.
So far, the handset also appeared in white and black variants but there is no info on gold colored Galaxy Alpha yet. Samsung hasn't confirmed any of the reports hinting toward Galaxy Alpha release but confirmed two new smartphones to arrive within the next six months.
