Samsung Focus Flash Review

Introduction:

When the platform officially launched over a year ago, all Windows Phones at the time were deemed as high class smartphones, partly because of Microsoft’s stringent hardware requirements. Now that Microsoft’s mobile platform has a solid year under its belt, it’s primed to explode even further with the latest class of Windows Phone 7.5 Mango devices. The Samsung Focus Flash is right there to get the party started for AT&T. Flaunting a fabulous $49.99 on-contract price, it’s sure to get some attention with its affordable cost, but let’s hope that it’ll shine just as magnificently as some of the juggernauts in the Windows Phone camp.

The package contains:

Design:

For its price, we’re amazed to tell you the truth that Samsung is able to construct a device that resonates with some quality traits to make the Focus Flash such an appreciable little guy. Compact and lightweight  (4.1 oz) in form, the handset employs an understated design thanks to its hard lines and angular cutouts, which all combine together to offer an easy on the hand feel. Moreover, despite the fact that its comprised out of plastic, it has a metal battery cover.



You can compare the Samsung Focus Flash with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

Rather than retaining the same screen size found on the original Focus, we find a smaller 3.7” WVGA (480 x 800) Super AMOLED (not Plus) display on the Focus Flash. Obviously, it’s smaller in footprint, but thanks to WVGA resolution, it results in producing sharper details and clarity to make faint text easily distinguishable. On top of that, its Super AMOLED panel is such an attractive thing to behold as its pops with rich colors, wide viewing angles, and a high brightness output to make it very visible.


Being a Windows Phone and all, we find the usual trio of buttons beneath its display, however, it boasts a physical start button – with the back and search keys maintaining their capacitive form. Meanwhile, a front facing VGA camera is perched above the display, but its purpose is shoot self-portraits as video chat has yet to establish itself with the platform.

Around its sides, the Samsung Focus Flash features a two-level shutter key, power button, volume rocker, 3.5mm headset jack, microphone, noise cancellation microphone, and microUSB port.

Lastly, there’s a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash and speakerphone grill located in the rear.