Skip to main content

Samsung Focus S hands-on impressions

Samsung Focus S front
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s a year old, but the Samsung Focus remains one of our favorite smartphones on the market. Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus screens really show off the best qualities of Microsoft’s young smartphone operating system. Though Windows Phone hasn’t quite taken off yet for a number of reasons, its user interface is no longer one of them. The Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) update has put the OS on a more level playing field with iOS and Android and the new Focus S takes advantage. We got a chance to spend some time with both of Samsung’s Focus phones. Though they are single core, we couldn’t help but walk away impressed. 

While the shape of the Focus S is a lot more generic than its predecessor–a square frame with rounded edges–it manages to pack in a larger screen at 4.3 inches (Focus was 4.0 inches) and measures 8.5 mm thick–thin enough to start competing with the Droid Razr and that whole crowd. The processor clocks in at 1.4GHz and is noticeably faster than previous Windows Phones, but still hiccups a bit when performing complex tasks. The Windows Phone OS does seem a lot better at managing resources than Android and iOS though, so a single-core processor seems to go a bit further. When it comes to intense games, however, Android and iOS now have a leg up. 

Samsung Focus S side
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Focus S has an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 1.3MP front camera. Both appear to be a bit of an upgrade from the original Focus, but not by a ton. Luckily, the Focus had a pretty good camera to begin with. Pictures usually come out clear and vibrant. The shutter speed and autofocus aren’t quite as fast as some of the newest HTC phones, or the iPhone 4S, but the picture quality appears to be up there.  

Samsung Focus S back
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There is one other downside to the phone. It appears that it will only have 16GB of internal storage and the screen resolution is only 480×800. We could not verify either of these claims, but several outlets have reported on them. Also, it would be great if Windows Phone better adapted itself to larger screens. With 4.3 inches of space, it would be cool to have a third row of Live Tiles to work with, or maybe a slightly smaller keyboard that shows more of the screen you’re typing on. Hopefully Microsoft will improve WP7’s flexibility in time. And that includes LTE. This AT&T device supports HSPA+ 21, which is the best AT&T has to offer, but we hope Microsoft and Samsung will keep up with the times as AT&T upgrades its network.  

Recommended Videos

Overall, we like the phone a lot. At $200, it’s a bit pricey, but we’re growing more and more fond of Microsoft’s operating system. The only unfortunate trait of Windows Phone is that it takes a trial period to really start to appreciate the new type of UI Microsoft has introduced. If you are feeling adventurous, give it a go. We don’t think you’ll regret it. 

Jeffrey Van Camp
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
Gorgeous Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge unexpectedly appears in hands on video
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Dummy Video

We've seen a number of launches from Samsung already this year – its Galaxy S25 series arrived at the beginning of January, followed by the Galaxy A56 at the beginning of March, and we've seen some new home appliances too. There's a device we're all waiting to launch officially, however, after Samsung teased it in January and that's the Galaxy S25 Edge. 

There have been numerous reports surrounding the Galaxy S25 Edge since that tease, with us covering a leak of its rumoured specs only a few days ago. But the most recent report reveals a better look at what we might be able to expect. 

Read more
Eyes on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra? Take advantage of these deals
Prakhar Khanna holding the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Would you believe that the newly launched Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is already available with a discount from Samsung's phone deals?  The 512GB model, which has an original price of $1,420, is on sale for $1,300, which is what the 256GB model is going for, so you're technically getting a free storage upgrade, and you'll even receive $80 in Samsung Credit to spend on accessories. There's also up to $900 in credit up for grabs through an enhanced trade-in program for the device. With all of these offers, buying the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra could cost much less than you think, but you should hurry as they may disappear at any moment.

Buy Now

Read more
Samsung could reinvent the S Pen for its next foldable phone
Rear view of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.

Samsung is reportedly making a major stylus input change for its next book-style foldable device as it moves forward in pursuit of slimmer phones. According to a report from ET News, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will switch the stylus input to a format similar to that of the Apple Pencil.

Citing industry sources, the Korean outlet mentions that Samsung has decided to remove the digitizer element from the upcoming phone’s display assembly. The digitizer is a pressure-sensitive layer that converts the physical input from a stylus and converts those strokes into digital information.

Read more