For many of us, the original Samsung Focus (review) was our first foray into the Windows Phone world. And truth be told, it was an excellent experience. With it's 4" Super AMOLED screen, slick design, light body and decent (for the time) camera, the Samsung Focus set the precedent. Recent numbers also reflect that status with upwards of 90% of AT&Ts first generation Windows Phone being the Focus.
Today, AT&T and Samsung have released the Focus 2, a moderate update to the original design (check out today's unboxing video). Eschewing glossy black for the new hip white, dropping in a faster 1.4GHz CPU and adding 4G LTE are the most notable changes. Adding a more rounded design with some updated sensors and cameras are the more under-the-hood type differences.
So how does it stack up in the first few hours I've been toying with it? For $50 on contract or $399 off, the Focus 2 is a nimble little guy that has certainly caught my attention.
The feel of the device is really good in the hands albeit a touch slippery. The roundness of the device, while slick, makes it a joy to hold and at 4" for the screen size, it's a more natural fit. The chrome accent adds a touch of class and while the device is very plastic, it doesn't feel cheap. The buttons have an interesting layout with the volume keys to the left, power and camera to the right. While odd, it does make it less confusing than the Lumia 900's where they are all lumped together on the same side. Travel of the keys is good and they're tactile with no rattle.
The Super AMOLED screen is really brilliant but obviously not as good as the Lumia 900's. Still, it holds its own and it's great to look at while not getting to grimy.
Audio quality is moderate with very little distortion when maxed out. It's a touch tinny but not by much.
The camera is surprisingly good even at 5MP, in fact forgetting the loss of resolution, it's as good if not better than the Nokia Lumia 900's. While it doesn't really contain any advanced settings e.g. no anti-shake or panorama, photos are well detailed and pleasing to the eye. We do however recommend turning up sharpness and contrast a smidge more to make the most of it.
Any extras worth reporting on? No, not really. There are the advanced GPS settings (GLONASS) and Samsung's "extra settings" present but other than that it has the same wallpapers as other Samsung Windows Phones and their regular cheesy ringtones.
Overall though, we're impressed and like the Focus 2 a ton. It feels great in the hand, is fun to use and makes a solid addition to AT&T's lineup. I'm going to have little problem adding it to my repertoire of Windows Phones.
Check after the break for a few more pics of the device and a couple camera samples (compared to the Lumia 900)...
Out in the sun, both phones perform admirably well with the 900 slightly edging out the Focus 2
Camera sample - Focus 2 (Left) and Nokia Lumia 900 (Right)
Camera sample - Focus 2 (Left) and Nokia Lumia 900 (Right)
Macro camera sample - Focus 2 (Left) and Nokia Lumia 900 (Right)

This Fallout: New Vegas mod is basically a whole new game
After seven years of development, a team of modders has finally finished and released Fallout: The Frontier, a full game-sized project that takes the series to Portland, Oregon. Here's a look at what it has to offer.

Here are all the Xbox and PC games delayed through 2021
Thanks to the good old pandemic, 2021 could be the year known for game delays. Here's every major game delayed to 2021 and beyond so far.

Best Destiny 2 Exotic weapons and armor in 2021
Destiny 2's sandbox is filled with plenty of unique and powerful Exotic weapons and armor pieces. Here's a breakdown of which Exotics are the most effective in 2021.

Watch the Big Game in 4K for cheap!
Since 4K is slowly becoming the standard for televisions, there's never been a better time to buy inexpensive, gorgeous boob tubes. These are the best inexpensive TVs you can buy with 4K HDR support.