Samsung Focus Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview of Samsung Focus

The Samsung Focus, introduced in 2010, marked a pivotal addition to the burgeoning smartphone market of the early 2010s. It was launched as part of the initial lineup of Windows Phone 7 devices, crafted to showcase Microsoft's reimagined mobile operating system and compete against dominant platforms like iOS and Android. By integrating a Super AMOLED display and a robust Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 processor, the Samsung Focus positioned itself as an appealing choice for tech enthusiasts and general consumers alike.

Design and Build

The design ethos of the Samsung Focus was centered around elegance and practicality, tailored for comfort and ease of use. It measured 124.7 x 64.3 x 9.9 mm, weighing a mere 119.4 g, making it one of the lighter devices of its time. The sleek frame held a Mini-SIM slot, and its dimensions offered a substantial yet comfortable grip, ideal for one-handed use. The understated black finish evoked a sense of modernity and sophistication.

Display

The Samsung Focus was among the first smartphones to sport a Super AMOLED display, a technology that Samsung continues to refine to this day. With a screen size of 4.0 inches and a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, the device offered vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making it suited not only for basic tasks but also for media consumption and gaming. The Super AMOLED display significantly contributed to the phone's appeal, providing a visibly superior visual experience compared to other devices in the same price range.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Samsung Focus was powered by the Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon S1 chipset, featuring a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and Adreno 200 GPU. Paired with 512MB RAM, the device ensured smooth running of the Windows Phone 7 OS and its suite of applications. Though modest by today's standards, this configuration allowed for efficient multitasking and provided enough power to run most of the available apps at a satisfactory speed.

Operating System

Samsung Focus ran on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, an operating system devised to rival the likes of Apple's iOS and Google's Android with its distinctive user interface and ecosystem. The OS featured Live Tiles, which provided users with real-time updates and information right from the home screen, a stark departure from the app icon-centric interfaces of its competitors. This was part of Microsoft's broader strategy to reinstate its relevance within the mobile technology space.

Camera

Equipped with a 5 MP autofocus rear camera with an LED flash, the Samsung Focus brought forth decent photographic capabilities. It could record videos at 720p resolution at 25fps, which was commendable at the time of its release. The absence of a front-facing camera did limit video calling options, which were just beginning to rise in popularity then. However, the primary camera's performance sufficed for casual photography needs, aligning with the multimedia consumption capability of the device.

Storage and Expandability

The device came with an internal storage capacity of 8GB, accompanied by a dedicated microSDHC slot for expansion, supporting up to additional capacity according to card availability. This flexibility in storage allowed users to accommodate more applications, media, and files without constantly worrying about running out of space.

Battery Life

The Samsung Focus housed a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, promising a talk time of up to 6 hours and 30 minutes and a standby time of up to 300 hours. This aspect gave it an edge over many competitors, as the removable battery offered users the option to carry spares for uninterrupted usage over extended periods, a feature gradually phased out in modern smartphones.

Connectivity

Connectivity features on the Samsung Focus included support for GSM / HSPA technologies, ensuring quality voice calls and mobile data usage through 3G bands 850, 1900, and 2100 enabled networks. It supported speeds up to HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps, providing satisfactory mobile internet browsing experiences.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the device featured Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP for pairing with a variety of devices and peripherals. Furthermore, GPS and A-GPS support enabled location-based services, while the stereo FM radio with RDS offered additional entertainment options.

Additional Features

Samsung Focus was fitted with essential sensors like an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, integral for enhancing user interaction and application performance. A standard HTML browser facilitated basic internet surfing needs. Despite its simplicity, the set of sensors equipped provided essential functionalities that users desired from a smartphone.

Market Impact and Reception

The release of the Samsung Focus aligned with Samsung's strategy to broaden its smartphone portfolio by offering devices across different platforms, presenting an alternative to Android and Bada OS. The device's integration with Windows Phone 7 was part of a collective effort by manufacturers and Microsoft to carve out space in the lucrative smartphone market.

While the phone had respectable sales numbers and received positive reviews for its display and design, it faced stiff competition from Android and iOS devices. The ecosystem limitations of Windows Phone 7, particularly its app availability, hindered the broader adoption of the device.

Conclusion

The Samsung Focus played a significant role during the evolution phase of smartphones, representing a collaboration between Samsung and Microsoft to establish a foothold in the smartphone OS arena. Despite being eventually overshadowed by Android and iOS advancements, the device is remembered for its design, display quality, and the unique Windows Phone experience it provided. As a piece of technological history, it exemplifies a period when diverse operating systems competed for dominance, contributing to the technological richness we witness today in the smartphone industry.