The Samsung ATIV S is a mystifying, different sort of Windows Phone gadget. It’s not because there’s something wrong with it. Indeed, it is truly outstanding when compared to the first bunch of Windows Phone 8 gizmos.

Both HTC and Nokia are striving to give their products a brighter appearance, but Samsung has opted for a business first look – the ATIV S resembles its erstwhile Windows Mobile appliances. But, can something business looking match Microsoft’s Windows 8 platform?

The ATIV S is different from the others of the WP8 world and has something more: a large 4.8” display that’s typically Samsung. Let’s have a look at this smartphone and see if it can replicate the huge success of the Android line.

Design

The ATIV S appears to be a mixture of 2 devices – the Omnia and the Galaxy S III. It has a metallic rear, along with a sturdy appearance and the front is a polished plastic that’s grayish which doesn’t really go with the back’s elegance. But the combination is pretty good and the back’s fine.
        
It’s a big phone – like the Galaxy S III. It’s also slightly higher which means it’s rather uncomfortable to operate, particularly if you wish to use only one hand. The device’s physical keys are well made, though the camera sticks out a bit.

Camera

The camera’s straightforward interface offers many neat options like anti-shake, white balance, focus modes, resolution as well as effects, among others.  Working and tinkering with this camera’s settings is fun. But the photos are somewhat of a let-down. The colors are quite natural, but one sees some overexposure in the areas that are brightly lit. The pics are not very sharp, too. But in the end it will depend on the user – if they like the photos or not. Some of them may dislike the softness, others may not. Video recording done on this app is great though. It’s generally smooth and falls in the upper categories in this respect.

Multimedia

Because the WP8 operates in a hub-oriented assembly, consumers can savor the various contents on the gadget. The Music plus Video centre looks after your entire line of music as well as your videos, and gives you entry to the music shop. The Photos app not just keeps your pics, it keeps you posted about new phots put up by friends on social media. The WP8’s huge storage facility allows you to upload and have fun.                   

Call quality

The Samsung ATIV S’s call quality is both okay and not-so-good.  The incoming voice feature is ordinary; it is loud but the clarity is mediocre. The ATIV S mic does not make the experience better but a second mic does well to eliminate the sounds that come from around.

Battery

Not much info is provided about the 2300 mAh battery. When tested it was found that the phone didn’t drain out fast, despite its large screen. Used moderately, a user should get some two days without recharging.

Interface

The Windows Phone 8 is very much like the Windows 7. Users may not notice the difference between the two, indeed. But Microsoft should have been more creative, one feels. Having the same UI in all Windows devices gets boring sooner or later. Besides, manufacturers need to have a more significant way to differentiate their goods.

The metallic, drab exterior is unlike the lively nature of the Modern UI. However, the user can attempt to alter the color scheme and look for an appropriate look. Is is found that this can be achieved, and so the phone’s look and that of the UI will blend. This shows that though there are not a lot of intense personalized alternatives in Windows Phone 8, the base allows the user to dramatically change its look to suit color tastes and preferences.

The Windows Phone 8 looks good and is enjoyable to use. It is stuffed with neat effects which make it a lively experience, like the Live Tiles that are a good idea. And Microsoft implemented them nearly flawlessly. It’s not fully flawless, though. The user has to constantly tap on a tiny Resize knob every time he wants to change a tile’s size. Apart from these issues, the Windows Phone 8 idea appears to work quite well.      

Multitasking

The multitasking in Windows Phone 8 is not very well implemented. It’s in fact quite a lot like the multitasking on an HTC Android smartphone. There is a horizontally-scrolling catalog of the applications you have opened and you get to see only one at a time. This is pretty inconvenient.

Messaging

The large screen gives one the idea that messaging will be convenient but that isn't quite the case. The QWERTY keyboard is planted in the middle, and there is a bit of space on its left. The menu options stands to the right. One hopes that Microsoft finds a way out in its newer versions. The layout takes some time to get used to, but a user should become comfortable pretty soon.

Conclusion

There's much to like in the ATIV S. Though it isn’t the ideal smartphone, it has a big and attractive Super AMOLED screen along with a good-looking exterior and steady performance. As far as WP8 products go, this one stands out.  Its camera quality is not the best and its call quality also falls short of expectations. But it’s fun to operate and heavy users will find its feature compelling. 

Samsung Unlock Service

You can now Unlock your Samsung Galaxy ATIV S with us and then you can start using it with any SIM Card worldwide!

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