Samsung Ativ S review: A fresh start

30 October 2012
Their Ativ S was the first Windows Phone 8 flagship announced and, respectful of chronology, the first we're about to properly review. The Nokia Lumia 920, the HTC Windows Phone 8X and the Ativ S are often painted as allies - but that's mostly rhetoric...

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  • a
  • alexvr
  • ajU
  • 31 Oct 2012

TheAgent, 31 Oct 2012I wonder what phone you had before the Radar. I suspect it ... moreYep it was android and before that it was iphone and before that it was symbian and windos mobile. So u see....i tried them all and i ll stick to android. It s the best os i used so far.

    • D
    • AnonD-70150
    • uuK
    • 31 Oct 2012

    when android os launched it has many disadvantages but now Android is good..same with windows phone 8 it will definetly succeed... It will get more appreciation than all OS .. WP8 will definetly win match...

      • n
      • nager
      • v0q
      • 31 Oct 2012

      buying and selling windows 8 os of nokia this is more expensive than lumia 920 I think. no way to this phone. :)

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • 0Us
        • 31 Oct 2012

        OMG you WP fanboys! Can't you see that WP is a total mess in terms of UI? You simply can't understand anything from it. That many icons that you have the impression they will go on top of each other anytime. There's no sense of organization at all in WP. I understand a pc or a laptop with Win, but a small device like a smartphone? Never, that's why the only rivalry that exist on this market is between Android and iOS, and more important, between Android devices.

          • T
          • TheAgent
          • nuX
          • 31 Oct 2012

          alexvr, 31 Oct 2012I did! I used an htc radar, sold it and got myself a phone ... moreI wonder what phone you had before the Radar. I suspect it was yet another Android, and you didn't like the Radar because it was different.
          Can't be anything but that, when you call Android a "real" OS. When I say no one leaves Windows for Android, I am talking about unbiased users.

            • a
            • alexvr
            • ajT
            • 31 Oct 2012

            TheAgent, 31 Oct 2012Forgot to add: once you use a Windows Phone, you won't go b... moreI did! I used an htc radar, sold it and got myself a phone with a real os( android)

              • X
              • Xero
              • fq6
              • 31 Oct 2012

              acred, 31 Oct 2012How i wish someone tells us if wp8 allows use of wifi when ... moreGet S3 and rest... Android is so much better i don't know why Samsung made WP8 mobile its completely useless won't even sell 10% of what S3 has.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • tuf
                • 31 Oct 2012

                antinokiadude, 31 Oct 2012who listens to FM radio in 2012? Internet radio FTW! and g... moreThis is not totally useless.
                Some country is not like America have LTE yet and
                Internet streaming kill battery fast and not every
                radio station do provide streaming.
                FM give better Stereo quality where streaming cannot compete without good connection.

                If something emergency announcement/SOS. FM radio still a better choice of broadcast instead of internet streaming.


                  • y
                  • yeip
                  • N9x
                  • 31 Oct 2012

                  TheAgent, 31 Oct 2012Forgot to add: once you use a Windows Phone, you won't go b... moreI used WP and couldn't simply stand it. I know I'm falling in a cliché, but the OS is simply flat and boring. Limitations everywhere, dubious fixed aesthetics in the UI. Great live feeds, but that's pretty much it. I'd have to use WP8 to see if it makes me jump ship, but I doubt it will ever do.

                  After Android, WP feels subpar as does iOS. Even if they look great or are easier to use, the lack of functionality is devastating.

                    • a
                    • acred
                    • nh7
                    • 31 Oct 2012

                    How i wish someone tells us if wp8 allows use of wifi when screen is locked.What about ringer,media,games volume can it be set separately or its the same old wp7.5.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-53700
                      • Liw
                      • 31 Oct 2012

                      Sunspider is fishy. On an Anandtech review of the Surface table, the SunSpider scores were good but other java test not.
                      As you can see, browsermark test is just a disaster. Still, people are cheering for this before even they got a proper feedback about the performances and features.

                      Someone point me what is wrong in Jelly Bean and is so great in windows

                        • T
                        • TheAgent
                        • nuX
                        • 31 Oct 2012

                        Anonymous, 31 Oct 2012This is something many WP8 buyers will have to learn the ha... moreForgot to add: once you use a Windows Phone, you won't go back to the mess of an OS that is Android. You just can't tolerate that haphazard design.
                        Ciao.

                          • T
                          • TheAgent
                          • nuX
                          • 31 Oct 2012

                          Anonymous, 31 Oct 2012This is something many WP8 buyers will have to learn the ha... moreYou sound very confident. What other ground-breaking predictions have you made with that level of confidence?

                          What most Android fans don't comprehend is that Microsoft, like Apple, is selling not just a phone with features, buy an experience. Take the whole Windows ecosystem and look at the future.
                          Google has no ecosystem to speak of. No business would choose Android over a mobile OS that goes perfect with their arsenal of Windows PCs.

                          I'll see you when developers start developing for Windows, not just the phone. Look out for the boom of apps pushed by the name "Windows" which will also be accessible on the Windows Phone, because they will be one and the same.

                          Keep your lonely, single device for now my friend.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • vaN
                            • 31 Oct 2012

                            alexvr, 31 Oct 2012Yawn! Still a boring OS with nothing to offer, not to menti... moreThis is something many WP8 buyers will have to learn the hard way, no use explaining it to them, next time around they will buy android. Most people are not capable of learning from other peoples mistakes, thats a human trait, they have to do it themselves.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • vaN
                              • 31 Oct 2012

                              Anonymous, 31 Oct 2012they cannot produce enough metal for a flagship. they do... moreIts not metal, its an imitation. Anyway, i am sure this will outsell the Lumia 920, there is too many "carrier exclusive" deals with Nokia since Elop took over, he do business the american way and that doesnt work outside of the US. Nokia N9 had some similar stuff in some countries, by the time the exclusive deals with carriers expired so ordinary people could buy N9 then it was already old news and no1 was interested anymore. Same with Lumia 920, it will be outdated before its available sim free in many countries, in the meantime people will buy Ativ S and even get bigger display and a cardslot, for a lower price.

                              Congrats Samsung, you are crushing Nokia Once again on the high end.

                              Now lets see if Samsung can do the same for low and midrange WP8.

                                • H
                                • Hakim
                                • N7D
                                • 31 Oct 2012

                                Super specs!.... no fm radio,damn.

                                  • a
                                  • akshat
                                  • vwe
                                  • 31 Oct 2012

                                  this phone good but not..comapre to LG Optimus G it is best..forever...

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • PvY
                                    • 31 Oct 2012

                                    RejZoR, 31 Oct 2012What i don't get it is why the hell Samsung makes metallic ... morethey cannot produce enough metal for a flagship.

                                    they dont expect this to sell much.

                                      • B
                                      • Baga bhai
                                      • 95H
                                      • 31 Oct 2012

                                      Within 2yrs apple.inc will start selling fresh apples :D

                                        • B
                                        • Baga bhai
                                        • 959
                                        • 31 Oct 2012

                                        Iphone killer