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
5
Nice Launch Device
on November 13, 2010
Posted by: BusinessMobileUser
I was a bit reluctant to get this phone as it was the launch device for the Windows Phone OS. I previously purchased several windows mobile devices (Palm Treo 700w and the Treo Pro 850) at launch date only to find that I had paid for the privilege of becoming an unpaid and inconvenienced beta tester for the hardware and phone OS.
Microsoft dropped the ball on mobile phones and support 3 years ago and in that span Apple, RIM and Android have claimed a huge market share in mobile devices. Having tried all of the above devices (Iphone 4, Blackberry Bold/Torch and the Droid Incredible), I have to say that the Windows Phone OS is a game changer and makes the other OS's seem obsolete (even the Iphone).
After 5 days with the Samsung Focus, I have been pleased thus far with the device's performance. No forced soft or hard resets yet. The device is beautiful, sleek and the horsepower is great. I have a 32GB SanDisk class 2 card installed at the store and so far I have uploaded about 900 songs, a few games and apps (took less than 5 minutes using Zune). No crashes or self-rebooting behavior as others have reported. My only gripe about this device is the fact that there were not many accesories made available at launch date (e.g., a wider selection of cases, spare batteries, etc.). Also, I lost some features from Windows Mobile 6.1 such as MS messenger live and Pandora. I am sure those apps are in development as I type this. Overall, an excellent launch device that sets the bar high for Windows Phones.
Lastly, I know there have been many Iphone "killers" before, and although the Focus may not "kill" Iphone's sales or market share, it slays it in specs, except the camera.
Pros: Bright display, Lightweight
Cons: sound could have been better, camera preferences are not saved
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
so much for so little money
on March 5, 2013
Posted by: marymary1
Expertise:Intermediate
came from using a samsung galaxy ace and my focus blows the ace out of the water in regards to call quality, camera, sound and speaker clarity, speed and ease of use. the windows phone just "flows". absolutely love this platform and will definitely upgrade to windows 8 when i can afford it.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Inexpensive, Realistic color, Lightweight, fluid transitions.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
4
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
I've never loved a phone before
on November 12, 2010
Posted by: WinMoFan
A phone has always been something I've had to carry around with me. This is a phone I WANT to carry around with me.
WP7 is a great operating system - the nits that the various reviewers have had do not effect me at all and the performance has been outstanding.
I did have to do a soft reset once when the Zune and Marketplace would not load but after the soft reset everything was fine again and I haven't had a problem since.
The device is slim, responsive, call quality is great, haptic feedback is great and watching Tron on it was fantastic.
WP7 is a great operating system - the nits that the various reviewers have had do not effect me at all and the performance has been outstanding.
I did have to do a soft reset once when the Zune and Marketplace would not load but after the soft reset everything was fine again and I haven't had a problem since.
The device is slim, responsive, call quality is great, haptic feedback is great and watching Tron on it was fantastic.
Pros: Bright display, 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
Smooth/Fast Interface w/ Great Functionality
on December 15, 2010
Posted by: ElectronicsFan
from Georgia
Expertise:Intermediate
I love this phone. It's fast, has a very smooth interface, and is extremely light. The screen is very responsive to user input, is super clear, and plenty bright. The battery life has been good. I charge it about once a day, but I'm always tinkering with it (checking my mail, watching Netflix movies, playing X-Box live games, etc...).
The speakers are loud and clear. I listen to podcasts while driving to/from work and can hear them perfectly fine in a convertible w/ the top up @ roughly 70mph. I could link it to my sound system, but that's just another cable to clutter my car.
The Windows 7 Phone OS is wonderful, but it does have a few quirks that can be annoying. The alarm sound is tied to the overall phone volume. If you turn the sound down while listening to music or playing a game, it turns the sound down for the alarm too. Cut and paste isn't currently available. Not sure how Microsoft missed that one. Finally, the app market is relatively small, but Microsoft has taken steps to encourage rapid growth. There's plenty available now though to keep me amused .
Anyway, I could keep spouting things I like about this phone but I'll stop here. Check it out for yourself; you won't be disappointed! I traded in a iPhone 3GS for it and haven't regretted it. Also, the current deals on Windows 7 phones at AT&T make this a very economical buy.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, 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
Suggestions to make a good phone better...
on October 13, 2011
Posted by: Sustainovation
from Bainbridge Island, WA
Expertise:Expert
I have a LONG list of things I like about this phone (which I won't bore you with - I see LOTS of fine compliments already!), and a short list of desired improvements/disappointments that I hope you'll address in future upgrades and/or next gen devices, a few of which are listed here:
1) No forward-facing camera for vid chatting
2) Skype not available (yet)
3) No Flash support
4) Incomplete Bluetooth stack (no HID)
5) No FM antenna (to listen to Zune via car radio)
6) SD card support: Should be able to use larger (64Gb) and/or swap cards.
1) No forward-facing camera for vid chatting
2) Skype not available (yet)
3) No Flash support
4) Incomplete Bluetooth stack (no HID)
5) No FM antenna (to listen to Zune via car radio)
6) SD card support: Should be able to use larger (64Gb) and/or swap cards.
Thanks!
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
Samsung Focus is the best, but's true big brother the Samsung Ativ S is a masterful true upgrade hope it goes to AT&T
on November 3, 2012
Posted by: Desean00
from Bronx, N.Y
Expertise:Expert
I love the Samsung Focus cause it just works and I've had since it first came out after researching can comparing to the top phones and I realized I was in love with this phone. Everything about it just screams me I'm a unique person not stuck in the same hype or crowd as the Isheep and the Android who can't think for themselves . . . . Sadly shaking my head at them. I'm now waiting for the next update which will be 7.8 to continue to bring my beloved phone to life again cause mango 7.5 showed how truly powerful it was against the competition the Samsung Focus stood it's ground regardless of what was thrown at it.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight, perfect
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
2
Windows Phone 7 vs Windows Mobile 6, 6.5
on December 9, 2010
Posted by: RJReview
Expertise:Expert
I have been a windows mobile 6 user for many years. I had the imate Jam then HTC tilt and as soon as windows 7 phone arrived in November I got the Samsung focus. The phone (hardware) itself is good but the new software (windows phone 7) has a lot of problems and microsoft needs to make an update ASAP or they are going to lose their last chance to make their phone right. At least they will lose me as their biggest fan but enough is enough! Here I will mention 7 BIG problems with Windows Phone 7. There are many smaller problems that I will make another review for. I will also suggest solutions to these problems to Microsoft whom I had no way to provide my feedback on their many websites including the phone7 website. I hope Samsung will listen as well and put pressure on Microsoft to fix those problems.
1. Problem: There is no CUT & PASTE anymore. I am shocked! I can’t believe they removed this function. It’s taking me forever to do things without this feature.
Solution: Return cut and paste.
Solution: Return cut and paste.
2. Problem: They got rid of FILE EXPLORER from mobile 6 and replaced it with hubs (office hub, photos hub. etc.) BIG mistake. I want to see all my folders in one place and deal with them.
Solution: Fine you can keep your hubs but make an app called file explorer where we can see all our folders and files that we want to create.
Solution: Fine you can keep your hubs but make an app called file explorer where we can see all our folders and files that we want to create.
3. Problem: We can not create new FOLDERS. Again because of this new hub system. So now in OFFICE HUB I have a long long long list of files that I cannot organize them because I can not create a folder !
Solution: Let us create folders again.
Solution: Let us create folders again.
4. Problem: The files in OFFICE HUB are not sorted by alphabetical order. Actually you can not sort them in anyway (date, name..etc.) Once you open a file it goes up to the top of the list! And without folders it just make the problem worse!
Solution: Bring the logic back. Allow to sort files by alphabetical order at least. Consider date of creation, date of last access…
Solution: Bring the logic back. Allow to sort files by alphabetical order at least. Consider date of creation, date of last access…
5. Problem: It is not possible anymore to explore the phone with Active Sync so that you can easily transfer any file you want from your PC to your phone and vice versa. You have to use Zune which does not have the explore phone function and copy and paste.
Solution: Make an app like Active Sync 4.5 call it PHONE EXPLORER so that we can can transfer files between the PC and our phone. I don’t want to upload them to SKYDRIVE and then download them on my phone. I want to keep things local not in the CLOUD.
Solution: Make an app like Active Sync 4.5 call it PHONE EXPLORER so that we can can transfer files between the PC and our phone. I don’t want to upload them to SKYDRIVE and then download them on my phone. I want to keep things local not in the CLOUD.
6. Problem: If you associate your phone with your windows live ID for some cool features, BUT all your contacts automatically upload to the online contact list. NO WAY to change that from settings. This is a big privacy problem and also a problem when we want our hotmail contacts to be different from our phone contact list.
Solution: please create a setting that allows us to override automatic sync with the online contacts.
Solution: please create a setting that allows us to override automatic sync with the online contacts.
7. Problem: No Apps for professionals. I’m a doctor and don’t have a single app for medicine. Epocrates, skyscape, unbound medicine, Lexi…all their apps are still for windows mobile 6 !!!!!!!! Don’t work on Windows phone 7.
Solution: Give incentives for your partners to support your new product.
Solution: Give incentives for your partners to support your new product.
Pros: Bright display, Lightweight
Cons: Did not meet expectations, missing essential features, phone not durable
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
1
Performance
3
Design
3
Value
2
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
3
Freezing Issues
on February 25, 2011
Posted by: Goddy
from NY
Expertise:Intermediate
I want to love this phone so bad, but the annoying freezing issues left a bad taste in my mouth. The freezing occurs mostly when your texting or typing and the freeze can last up 5 to 6 seconds. Sometimes the screen would not function, restricting you access to parts of the phone, again I believe this is due to the freezing issues. Am I the only one experiencing this? I'm hoping it's only my bad luck and it's this particular phone I have and not a problem that all the phones suffer, because I really love the new windows mobile 7 experience. Your feedback is very much appreciated. In the mean time I will return my current model for a new one.
Pros: Bright display, Inexpensive, windows mobile 7 expirience by far the best.
Cons: Did not meet expectations, the constant freezing killed it for me.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
3
Performance
2
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US