Customer reviews from Samsung US
Samsung - I917 Focus Mobile Phone (Unlocked) - Black
Average customer rating
4.4
(868 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 868 reviews
5 Stars
535
4 Stars
224
3 Stars
47
2 Stars
29
1 Star
33
87%of customers recommend this product.
(
686 out of
785)
Customer Reviews for Samsung - I917 Focus Mobile Phone (Unlocked) - Black
Customer Rating
4
Still needs some work, but I do Love this Phone
on January 12, 2011
Posted by: SuperSport
from California
Expertise:Expert
I've been a LONG time H*C phone user, but though I'd try another brand. After a LOT of research, I decided to try the Samsung Focus. Here are my findings.
PROS:
Phone is great to use
Call Quality is good
Screen is Incredible
Without SD Card, phone is fast
Fantastic OS
Social Networking works Very Well
Camera takes Nice Pictures/Video after settings have been adjusted
Well Built (Some people don't like the plastic feel, but it really is a solid well-built phone)
Gorilla Glass Screen - WooHoo! Nice addition
Phone is great to use
Call Quality is good
Screen is Incredible
Without SD Card, phone is fast
Fantastic OS
Social Networking works Very Well
Camera takes Nice Pictures/Video after settings have been adjusted
Well Built (Some people don't like the plastic feel, but it really is a solid well-built phone)
Gorilla Glass Screen - WooHoo! Nice addition
CONS:
Needs front facing camera
Apps load and switch SLOWLY
SD Card Support is NON existent so far
SD Cards cause a LOT of trouble (Reboots, Data Loss, etc)
Screen stops responding to touch at times
Camera settings need to be changed each time camera is started or you will have blurry photos
Needs front facing camera
Apps load and switch SLOWLY
SD Card Support is NON existent so far
SD Cards cause a LOT of trouble (Reboots, Data Loss, etc)
Screen stops responding to touch at times
Camera settings need to be changed each time camera is started or you will have blurry photos
Bottom Line:
I still love this phone and cannot wait for the Software Updates to roll in. They will be arriving in Feb. Copy/Paste will be nice. App Load speed increase will be nice. I hope they fix the Screen Touch Response Bug and Camera Settings. It's really well built and does everything a Smart Phone should do. The App Market is building quickly, so it should only head up! Other than missing a front facing camera, and the Dismal SD Card support, I'm still recommending this phone to others. It really is a joy to use. PS: I am using an SD Card Direct from Samsung that is supposed to be Focus Compatible, so I'm hoping the Lag and Reboot issues will be fixed with a software update.
I still love this phone and cannot wait for the Software Updates to roll in. They will be arriving in Feb. Copy/Paste will be nice. App Load speed increase will be nice. I hope they fix the Screen Touch Response Bug and Camera Settings. It's really well built and does everything a Smart Phone should do. The App Market is building quickly, so it should only head up! Other than missing a front facing camera, and the Dismal SD Card support, I'm still recommending this phone to others. It really is a joy to use. PS: I am using an SD Card Direct from Samsung that is supposed to be Focus Compatible, so I'm hoping the Lag and Reboot issues will be fixed with a software update.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight, nice os, perfect size for pocket and nice screen
Cons: sd card issues, os can lag sometimes
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
2
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Get it!
on November 8, 2010
Posted by: GeorgePBurdell
from Atlanta, GA
Let me start by saying that I work for Microsoft, but not in the Mobile division or sales. I picked up a Focus this morning for my wife and I am going to use it for a week or two until I receive my Focus. My first experience is very good. It was extremely easy to set up, configure my Hotmail and Zune accounts. The UI experience is great. No need for a keyboard even with my fat fingers. Was easily able to pair it with my Jabra Stone bluetooth headset. I'm still a little skeptical about the durability of the product since we've had other Samsungs phones in my family and they've had issues. But this one seems to be pretty good and like any smartphone, it needs protection. Overall, I'd buy this phone regardless of whether I work for Microsoft. It's the best I've owned since my first Audiovox bag phone back in 1991.
Pros: Bright display, Lightweight
Cons: body may be prone to breakage
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Limited PC Connectivity, but Awsome!
on November 13, 2010
Posted by: nethead72
from Cabot, AR
Expertise:Expert
*Very well designed and implemented hardware, but Windows Phone 7 is lacking in connectivity to PCs. Why in the freakin world dosen't this phone sync to Windows Device Center and/or ActiveSync? It only syncs with Zune, and there is no option to transfer files. AND, you MUST use Zune -or- WiFi to install most larger Apps.
*Setting up tethering is not terribly complicated but well beyond the average joe who would want this phone. IMO, tethering should be available as an option on the OS GUI. Techies, like moi, can handle it as is, but most need an ON/OFF switch for this kind of thing.
*Memory card implementation is plain bad. The OS integrates the MicroSDHC card into the system memory stack, thereby removing it effectivley bricks the phone. (only hardware complaint, you CAN NOT hardware reset the phone on your own if you wish to use a new memory card, this has to be done by Samsung or some wireless providers, as it requires external hardware to reflash the bios in order to start the phone without the originaly used memory card. reinserting the original card WILL correct the issue after a battery pull and restart. plain bad implementation, IMO)
*WIth some third party apps to handle various tasks that WP7 dosent let you handle (distressing lack of control over OS in WP7), this will be the best phone I have owned to date!
*Setting up tethering is not terribly complicated but well beyond the average joe who would want this phone. IMO, tethering should be available as an option on the OS GUI. Techies, like moi, can handle it as is, but most need an ON/OFF switch for this kind of thing.
*Memory card implementation is plain bad. The OS integrates the MicroSDHC card into the system memory stack, thereby removing it effectivley bricks the phone. (only hardware complaint, you CAN NOT hardware reset the phone on your own if you wish to use a new memory card, this has to be done by Samsung or some wireless providers, as it requires external hardware to reflash the bios in order to start the phone without the originaly used memory card. reinserting the original card WILL correct the issue after a battery pull and restart. plain bad implementation, IMO)
*WIth some third party apps to handle various tasks that WP7 dosent let you handle (distressing lack of control over OS in WP7), this will be the best phone I have owned to date!
CUDOS
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight, very responsive interface 1ghz cpu ftw!, powerful antena versus my other devices., attractive and intuitive gui., great bluetooth implementation., device is stylish and shiny (oooo shiny!), therm-o-touch touchscreen (iphone type) cudos., amoled display. nuff-said. cudos., very fast restart and os startup., 5mp camera /w flash & auto-focus & anti-shake., xbox live. nuf-said.
Cons: dosen't use windows device center, quite pricey on par with iphone, tethering (smartphone staple) not factory set up., zune is not my first choice in sync software., no drivers out yet in .msi format., big cpu drains battery fast when in use. (~3 hrs), slow to charge on pc use the wall adapter., needs more sound options audio drivers are meh., can not function as a hard drive with windows., not yet a large selection of apps... yet.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
3
Performance
5
Design
3
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Great phone
on November 10, 2010
Posted by: sfdhoser
Expertise:Beginner
I bought this phone the first day it was available. I knew I was taking a risk but with all of the tech reviews of this phone I figured I'd give it a shot. The focus is a solid, elegant and responsive smart phone. Easily the best yet of the WP7 class. As a phone, calls are clear, network signal is strong, and has a loud speaker. The OS is excellent. Two negatives for this phone... First, the expandable micro sd is unreliable because of the way the OS uses the card. Microsoft is supposed to fix that very soon in an update. Second, the camera settings always reset to default when you exit the camera app. Very frustrating to have to reset the settings (ie: anti-shake) every time. In all, the focus is a great phone, best in class for WP7 and once these small issues are resolved, it will be flawless.
Pros: Bright display, Lightweight
Cons: camera settings reset to default
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Incredible phone
on November 8, 2010
Posted by: HotRodW
from South Carolina
Expertise:Expert
First, the screen is superb. Bright with excellent contrast. Second, performance is fast, fluid and smooth. It's super light and thin, fiting in my pocket very nicely.
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Windows Phone 7 Is Something Better
on November 11, 2010
Posted by: hsvisor
In the world of mobile devices, this phone running Windows Phone 7 is different. That is a good thing. If you have a Mac at home and just bought an iPad, then your iPhone is a no brainer. If you have an XBox and a Windows 7 PC at home, this is an excellent device.
Pros: Inexpensive, Realistic color, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Best Phone I Have Ever Owned
on November 10, 2010
Posted by: Marduk
from Hoboken, NJ
Expertise:Expert
So far this phone has exceeded all my expectations. The screen is the best looking mobile screen I have ever seen and the OS is amazingly smooth and the battery life is a huge improvement over my old Android device. Phone calling features are great and the microSDHC slot is working fine with a SanDisk 32GB Class 2 card.
Pros: Bright display, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Good Phone
on November 9, 2010
Posted by: SouthernBelle
from Louisiana
Expertise:Intermediate
I'm an original blackjack owner, this is my 1st upgrade since 2005. For one of the 1st Windows phone 7 devices this is a good attempt. Here are my redesign wishes:
A metal back like the zune hd devices,
Longer battery life (6.5 hours goes fast as you will use this more than your other phones do to increased functionality)
1 inch shorter in height, (doesn't fit in all of my purse pockets)
the three navigational "buttons" on the bottom should be made virtual where you have to swipe up for them to appear to avoid accidental key presses
Ringer volume not related to phone volume (currently you increaser ringer volume by increasing phone speaker volume)
The touchscreen is very responsive, one of the best I have tried. I wish I could use a stylus with it though. Just remember not to swipe below the Samsung logo or else you will accidently put yourself back on the home screen. I also like the weight, by eliminating an additional keyboard they keep the weight light about 1.5 ounces or so heavier than the original blackjack. Having said that I love the AMOLED screen. The colors are beautiful and rival those on my LCD tv.
So I guess it comes down to how important screen is to you. For me the beauty of the display outweigh the other minor issues so I'm keeping the phone. Windows phone 7 OS is awesome! You will love it regardless of device. Focus II or next gen will probably address these small design quirks if you can wait that long, I couldn't! LOL.
Once you watch your first netflix movie on this device you will be in love, awesome display and no stutter or dropped frames!
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight, beautiful display, optimized for netflix video etc
Cons: about 1/2 inch too tall, plastic like back panel
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
4
Design
3
Value
3
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US