Review: Samsung Focus with Windows Phone 7
The differences between the Samsung Focus and Samsung's Android-based, Galaxy S phones, like the Samsung Captivate on AT&T, are subtle, and that's a very good thing. The phone is gorgeous. It's a thin slab of plastic, with a subdued metal accent creeping up the sides and around the top. The front of the phone is dominated by the 4-inch touchscreen. The back is slightly tapered, and though this doesn't make the phone easier to hold, it certainly looks cool.
Like all new Windows Phones, the Focus has three buttons up front: Back, Start and Search (always in that order). This mimics Android closely, and I would have liked to see a Menu button on the Focus as well, like Android phones use. Too often, I was searching for more options to help me with a task, and a Menu button would have answered my questions more quickly.
On the right side of the slim phone is a screen lock / power button up top, and a two stage camera button near the bottom. All Windows Phones will have a camera button, which is a great requirement by Microsoft. These buttons were a bit shallow for my taste, but the volume rocker on the left side protruded a bit more, which made it easy to adjust volume quickly during a call. Up top, there's a 3.5mm headphone port and a microUSB port with a sliding cover. I've never found port covers necessary, but Samsung's feels sturdy.
The Samsung Focus is very thin and light. You could easily slip it into a tight pair of pants or a jacket breast pocket without bulging. It feels good in the hand during calls, too. That 4-inch screen size produces a phone that isn't unwieldy, but still offers the benefits of a larger display.
Windows Phone 7: Hands-On
Samsung Focus
