Samsung Ativ S

“Anyone familiar with Windows Phone 7.x will feel right at home from the first time they swipe the lockscreen out of the way. There'll be no learning curve but the performance boost will be instantly felt - the dual Krait cores combined with Microsoft's optimizations have made an already snappy OS even snappier. A job well done. Some may frown at the lack of visual changes to the interface, barring the new tile sizes. It's an OS however that defies eye-candy, betting on iOS simplicity and stylishly distinct design. And by the way, Windows Phone may look flat and empty at first, but it's a highly streamlined and adaptable OS. Just connect your Live and Xbox accounts, then set Facebook, Twitter and email, sync your phonebook, arrange your live tiles and prepare to be impressed with the beautiful simplicity. All the more beautiful when it happens on an AMOLED screen.”

“Admittedly I was expecting a lot worse from Samsung’s Ativ S going into this review and I am pleasantly surprised by the handset. Although it’s plasticy and has a cheesy faux aluminum effect, it works well in practice. The device is very comfortable thanks to the lightweight and slim build, despite the large display. I don’t typically like large screens on a smartphone, but Samsung has the right mix here that makes me want to use this as my daily smartphone. I honestly wasn’t expecting to say that given that I switch between an 8X and iPhone 5 for my daily smartphone use.There’s some drawbacks to Samsung’s offering, some of which are out of the company’s control. Microsoft still needs to address notification support in Windows Phone 8 and perhaps add some additional customization features. However, Samsung needs to pay more attention to its Windows Phone apps. They’re basic and there’s a clear opportunity to do a whole lot more here, especially given the API and app model improvements in Windows Phone 8.I’d happily recommend the Ativ S over the Lumia 920 if it had the same level of commitment as Nokia’s device. The software on Nokia’s Lumia range of Windows Phones is a lot more impressive than what HTC or Samsung offer, with apps like Nokia Maps, Cinemagraph, and Nokia Drive. However, the Finnish firm is relying on Windows Phone to pull it through tough times and you can hardly blame Samsung and other OEMs if they’re a little hesitant to invest time in building software for Windows Phone. I’m still searching for my perfect Windows Phone and I’m still waiting for the software improvements, games, and apps that will allow me to switch and truly feel like I’m getting an experience that rivals iOS or Android. Microsoft is balancing out the controlled ecosystem of iOS against the customization of Android and it’s doing it slowly.”

“There's a lot to love in the ATIV S. It's not the perfect smartphone, but it has a large and eye-catching Super AMOLED screen, as well as decent exterior and stable performance. It may not be particularly pretty, but it sure does stand out from the rest of the WP8 offerings.Where it falls a bit short is the camera and call quality departments, but if this isn't such a big issue for you, we believe you won't regret investing in the ATIV S.Overall, it's clear that there's still a lot of work to be done on Windows Phone 8, but the platform is beginning to assume a quite competitive stance. Using it is definitely a joy, and the ATIV S is only contributing to this compelling experience. It's a feature-packed smartphone for heavy users, which can easily go toe-to-toe with other top-shelf smartphones in almost all areas, except for the app catalog.”

“The Samsung ATIV S is a good phone. It’s an appropriate device to sum up the year, its consummate performance, build quality and design feel very much a product of 2012, whereas the Lumia 920 and Windows Phone 8X embody forward-facing designs and next-year technology. Available on Rogers, TELUS and Bell, the ATIV S isn’t quite what it should have been, but maintains Samsung’s position as a competitive and reliable smartphone maker.”