Samsung Focus S

“It seems hard to find a better player than the Samsung Focus S in the US Windows Phone game at the moment. The device’s hardware is as good as it gets for the platform, but its main selling point is certainly the Super AMOLED Plus screen – its ultra-deep blacks and Microsoft’s Metro UI are a match made in heaven.However Microsoft’s hardware limitations do not allow for better differentiation between budget and high-end Windows Phone devices and that may steer a lot of people clear from spending extra cash on the same user experience.”

“Samsung has definitely led the way with Windows Phones, from the original Samsung Focus to the loosely related Focus Flash and Focus S we see now. Any way you look at it, the Focus S, with its clean, attractive, powerful minimalism, is easy to use and lets Windows Phone shine. There are few overt flaws, and the device brings Microsoft's mobile platform the closest it's ever been to being in direct competition with Android and iOS superphones. However, as much as I recommend the device for day-to-day use, the analytical part of me can't help but feel like Samsung is cheating just a little bit by reusing the widespread Galaxy S II design that's become its Android flagship. As heartily as I approve of recycling, I'd love to see Samsung create a Windows Phone that introduces a style all its own. The device is about neck-and-neck with the huge HTC Titan, which does have a more polished, though hefty design, and it will still face competition when the U.S. version of the Nokia Lumia 800 lands on our shores. Yet, not everyone wants a screen as large as the Titan's, or a body as unwieldy, and I suspect that the phone will have an overall wider appeal. Until then, the Focus S and the Titan are battling it out for the Windows Phone crown.”

“Honestly, we don't have any major complaints about the Samsung Focus S, but there wasn't much that wowed us either. If you're a Windows Phone 7 fan you'll find plenty to like about the device. Mango hums along nicely and the Super AMOLED Plus display, despite its shortcomings in the pixel density department, perfectly highlights the stark beauty of Microsoft's mobile OS. There's also a very good camera with a dedicated dual-stage button and the battery life borders on epic. But, none of that changes the fact that we came away feeling underwhelmed. The build quality is mediocre at best and there just isn't anything distinguishing about the handset that would make us definitively say this is the Windows Phone to get. More than anything, though, our disappointment probably stems from the cost.”

“Unlike its Android counterpart, the Samsung Focus S lacks the prestige and notoriety of its close sibling, but more importantly, it’s clearly fashioning a foundational core to set it apart from other Windows Phones. Impressively, it’s the best Mango filled device to own right now, edging out the HTC Titan just by a tiny bit, mostly because it snaps the better photos and videos between the two. Add in that it’s able to pique our interests thanks to its Super AMOLED Plus display, fast performance, light weight feel, and thin profile construction, they all come together in greeting us with a lovable experience that showcases the beauty and wonders that are obtainable with Windows Phone Mango. To sum it all up, this is as good as it gets….for right now!”