Samsung Focus 2 / Reviews

The Samsung Focus 2 is definitely a solid phone, one that offers performance a small step above what you would expect for $50. It's certainly a good deal for an entry-level phone (with the not-so-entry-level luxury of 4G LTE), but bearing that in mind, if you're willing to shell out another $50 you can get your hands on the flagship Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 900. The Lumia 900 is not without its flaws -- its awful camera springs to mind pretty quickly -- but for another $50, you can get a much, much better-quality screen, better battery life, more storage, and, depending on whether or not it's your thing, a more unique and larger build.

But if you're really just looking for the cheapest way to get your hands on a Mango-based smartphone, the Focus 2 is probably your best bet. The Lumia 710 is a close contender, also being an extremely affordable phone with 4G, but the Focus is more powerful under the hood and is connected to a better network, with 4G that is LTE, as opposed to HSPA+. Despite it being a phone that eschews premium, top-of-the line features in favor of a more appealing price tag, the Focus 2 will still serve you well, even if it doesn't blow you away.

Read original review at Brighthand.

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While the Samsung Focus 2 may appear to be just another mid-to-high level smartphone, it’s actually an impressive Windows Phone 7 handset that gives the pricier Nokia Lumia 900 a run for its money.

Don’t take that to mean it’s as good as the 900 - the 8GB of non-upgradeable storage is disappointing, the design is dull and the camera is distinctly average here - but if you want the Windows 7 OS alongside a great screen and speedy performance, the Focus 2 delivers.

LTE is a huge draw too - provided you live somewhere where it works! In short, we like what Samsung has done with the Focus 2, and it’s a worthy alternative to Nokia’s Windows smartphones.

Read original review at Pocket-lint.

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The Samsung Focus 2 is a very tidy device, and currently the cheapest phone on AT&T to combine LTE and Windows Phone 7. Anyone who purchases it won’t be disappointed, especially those who require long battery life. That said, if a great camera or a big, high-res screen are in your list of must-haves, look elsewhere.

Read original review at SlashGear.

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For $49, the Samsung Focus 2 is a pretty good deal, offering a slick interface, solid performance and 4G LTE speeds. The Focus 2 is a solid choice for shoppers looking for a compact smartphone that's easy to use, but there's nothing here that really stands out.

Read original review at Laptop Magazine.

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The Samsung Focus 2 gets you access to AT&T’s 4G LTE in a compact, appealing, and most importantly, cheap device. Don’t get me wrong, this definitely isn’t a better phone than the Nokia Lumia 900. It doesn’t have the same curb appeal and falls short in comparative specs like the onboard camera and available storage. But if you’re looking for an affordable, entry-level smartphone and are curious about the Windows Phone platform, the Samsung Focus 2 is a good choice.

Read original review at Wired.

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Whether or not current WP users will be able to upgrade to WP8 is still a mystery, but if we get the green light in assurance, picking up this device is a must for anyone looking to get into the smartphone game. With a a price point of $49.99, above average camera, and packing that oh so sexy 4g LTE, brushing off this device would be idiotic if you’re not a tech junkie like myself. I give the Samsung Focus 2 4g LTE the thumbs up folks!

Read original review at BWOne.

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Entry into the smartphone world can hardly get any easier than what you'll experience with the Samsung Focus 2. The smartphone offers a nicely looking, no frills, pocket friendly, and well built hardware package, bundled with a software platform which is well known for its elegant simplicity. The latter will surely appeal to many people who are switching from a feature phone. LTE radio on the other hand, future proofs the device quite neatly.

The 5MP snapper of the I667 turned out to be a surprisingly good performer in both still and video capture. The retail package is also great. Quite frankly, we can't recall the last time we saw a headset this good in the box of an entry-level smartphone. We surely hope it won't be a onetime occasion.

As far as limitations go, the lack of expandable memory is likely the biggest disadvantage of the handset. With only 6GB of user-available space, the Focus 2 is not for people with large music collections. Cloud storage is not a complete solution to this memory shortage. After all, you will still need to download the files to your handset before opening them. The aforementioned exercise, if repeated too often out of Wi-Fi connection, is certain to have an impact on your tiered data plan too.

The Samsung Focus 2 will not sell by the millions. It is not designed to do so. What Samsung have done with the I667 instead, is to create a well-balanced and cleverly priced device to keep the competition on its toes. Unsurprisingly, it is a task well executed.

Read original review at GSMArena.

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The Samsung Focus 2 won't appeal to everyone but that should not be a poor reflection on a very nice, baseline Windows Phone. The Samsung Focus 2 is currently being offered through AT&T for $49.99 under contract.

Read original review at WPCentral.

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The Samsung Focus 2 isn't perfect, but it's not far off the mark, either. My biggest gripe with the handset is its slippery plastic shell. Yes, it really is that easy to drop. Otherwise, it earns solid A's across the board.

The display looks great, the phone latches onto AT&T's network firmly, voice calls sound great, and the battery lasts all day under HSPA+ coverage. The user interface isn't perfect, but it performs speedily and without trouble. The camera and video camera are both impressive and the PhotoStudio software from Samsung really lets creative types enhance their content.

Not in the market for a $200 or $300 high-end super phone? Don't like massive displays and huge, heavy phones? For the price ($50 on contract), the real-deal Samsung Focus 2 is a steal.

Read original review at Phone Scoop.

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The Samsung Focus 2 ($49.99 with two-year contract) is Samsung's first Windows Phone with 4G LTE. It's a follow-up to the Samsung Focus S and smaller Focus Flash, two of the more popular cell phones to grace Microsoft's latest mobile platform. But rather than advance the design in any way, Samsung appears to have fused the two together, rounded the edges off, and called it a day. It's a fine choice, but there are certainly more tempting options.

Read original review at PC Magazine.

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