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
3
Win Phone 7 is the real problem, not Samsung
on January 4, 2011
Posted by: TechSavvybutLiveOffline
from Stockton, CA
Expertise:Expert
My last phone was a 4-year-old Cingular 8525 running Win Mobile 6 -- I loved it! It had a memory utility (like Window's Task Manager) that allowed me to turn off unwanted apps running in background, so I could control my data usage (I had NO data plan on that phone); I used Wi-Fi for all data transfers, and that phone would allow it, meaning no paid data plan was needed. Its touch screen with stylus allowed hand-writing recognition to text -- great for Office Mobile and for note taking in my phone's Bible app. The File Explorer allowed me to find, copy, paste and transfer files of ALL types (not just pics and docs) from one folder to another, or from mobile phone to PC. And the microSD card was removable, so files could be transfered between the phone and a PC even when the PC didn't have Active Sync installed. With Windows Phone 7, all of those features are GONE! The Samsung may be great for texting, music, gaming (XBox live) and facebook updates, but I don't use my phone for those things! I use it for carrying contacts with extra detailed info, a calendar w/ lots of appts in it, Excel files with tax expense reports, and many notes to myself (called "tasks" in Win Mobile 6), plus my Bible. The Samsung Focus is pretty neat, IF I wanted to live on-line all day playing games and updating my status. My only actual gripes for Samsung are (1) the Focus is the only Windows Phone 7-based moblie phone that can't remove the microSD once it's inserted (this is a BIG negative), and (2) its shape is too thin and too symmetrical: I sometimes have trouble telling the top from the bottom when I'm doing something else and I need to grab the phone in a hurry to answer an incoming call.
Pros: Bright display, Inexpensive, good battery life
Cons: Did not meet expectations, hard to hold orient
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
1
Performance
4
Design
3
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
2
Beware: Screen breaks easily
on March 12, 2011
Posted by: DuneII
from Seattle, WA
Expertise:Expert
Pros: The screen is simply brilliant. Works great in sunlight and indoors. Colors look exceptional.
Phone is light and buttons are in the right location.
Windows Phone and Xbox Live Games on the phone work great.
Phone is light and buttons are in the right location.
Windows Phone and Xbox Live Games on the phone work great.
Cons: The battery life could be better. Of the 2 Samsung Focus phones I bought, one had a screen crack. Phone is not as durable as my previous phones.
Wished the screen resolution was as good as competitor's product.
Wished the screen resolution was as good as competitor's product.
Pros: Realistic color, Lightweight
Cons: Not high def, screen cracks
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
1
Value
2
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
1
A good phone with lot of missing features and limitations
on March 21, 2011
Posted by: akpmehta
from Edison, NJ
Expertise:Expert
At first this phone is excellent in terms of touch screen experience, voice quality with speaker phone and user interface perspective. But this phone is lacking lot of basic features as well as having limitations. Some of them are as below:
1. No flash support in browser. Cant play flash video.
2. No file explorer. Can manage files and folder.
3. No capability to connect wifi with hidden SSID. So, cannot connect with ATTWIFI at hotspots. Also, no thehering capability.
4. No copy-paste (though promised to be provided with software upgrade, still awaiting)
5. No sharing/uploading of Video to youtube or facebook.
6. Not possible to share youtube video on facebook or other social networking site.
7. No front camera for video calling or chatting
8. Poor management of Applications through Zune. IF you had to do master reset of device then you lose all apps on phone. And the only way to re-install is one by one by searching and installing on device. And if there are some apps removed from Marketplace then no way you can get those, though you have installed it before. For example, DioDict which was an excellent dictionary from Samsung but not available now on Marketplace.
9. This list can go on and on..so be aware of limitations before buying this phone.
2. No file explorer. Can manage files and folder.
3. No capability to connect wifi with hidden SSID. So, cannot connect with ATTWIFI at hotspots. Also, no thehering capability.
4. No copy-paste (though promised to be provided with software upgrade, still awaiting)
5. No sharing/uploading of Video to youtube or facebook.
6. Not possible to share youtube video on facebook or other social networking site.
7. No front camera for video calling or chatting
8. Poor management of Applications through Zune. IF you had to do master reset of device then you lose all apps on phone. And the only way to re-install is one by one by searching and installing on device. And if there are some apps removed from Marketplace then no way you can get those, though you have installed it before. For example, DioDict which was an excellent dictionary from Samsung but not available now on Marketplace.
9. This list can go on and on..so be aware of limitations before buying this phone.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Lightweight
Cons: Poor quality, Did not meet expectations, lot of limitations, missing many basic features
Features
1
Performance
4
Design
3
Value
2
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
this product is awesome
on September 10, 2011
Posted by: deathadder24
from India
Expertise:Intermediate
i have been using samsung wave s8500 ..
well that phone made me hate samsung...
stupid software, bad battery backup etc etc...
well that phone made me hate samsung...
stupid software, bad battery backup etc etc...
bt. after watching so many reviews abt. the focus .. took risk and bought it...
and TADA.. !! this phone changed my opinion..
AWESOME is the word for it ..
best phone ever used.. :D :D
and TADA.. !! this phone changed my opinion..
AWESOME is the word for it ..
best phone ever used.. :D :D
Pros: Bright display, Inexpensive, Realistic color, Lightweight, great ui
Cons: cheap plastic built
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
1
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
2
An ok first smartphone
on September 23, 2011
Posted by: Izzy87
from Cleveland, OH
Expertise:Intermediate
This was my first smartphone, and I wasn't very knowledgeable about it's competitors. It isn't so much the phone and it's functionality that I don't like, but more so the very limited app market of Windows. Everyone knows it's the market that makes the phone. Not being able to use songs as your ringtone is a bummer too. The alarm volume isn't that great if you are a heavy sleeper like me, and you can't edit the snooze time. The speaker phone volume isn't that great either.
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight
Cons: Did not meet expectations, no songs as ringtones
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
3
Performance
5
Design
2
Value
2
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
on March 14, 2012
Posted by: MegaHalo
Expertise:Intermediate
It's the best phone i have ever owned. The feature and screen are amazing.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Durable, Lightweight
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
5
Technologically Savvy.
on February 7, 2013
Posted by: SlamberedAll
from Harrisburg, PA
Expertise:Intermediate
Great phone, good screen display, insane camera quality, loud, speedy, easy on the eyes, so many apps.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
3
Great Features-Lacking Design
on November 15, 2010
Posted by: KUPONO
from HOUSTON(CLEAR-LAKE/NASA AREA), TX
Expertise:Beginner
The Phone is great in every way......EXCEPT: the overuse of plastic components.
If the SamSung Focus and all others used less plastic and used the camera look closer to the Galaxy Tab(PERFECT).
If the SamSung Focus and all others used less plastic and used the camera look closer to the Galaxy Tab(PERFECT).
There is a OVERUSE OF plastic components. the battery door is trash... it sounds like you are open up a present every time you remove it.... The chrome look around top and the sides is amazing, but it stops have way down the sides, more plastic.
I love the look and design of the phone: I have to keep a phone cover on it now because of the plastic....
My Advice: use the designs you already have as a blue print to reduce cost of manufacturing and patents: 1. CONVERT SAMSUNG SMARTPHONE EXTERNAL REAR CAMERAS TO CLEAN CUT SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB LOOK,
2. MAKE THE CROME AROUND THE SIDE AND FRONTS OF THE THE DEVICE THE SIGNATURE "SAMSUNG" LOOK- the same way class is the signature of APPLE.
3. MAKE ALL BATTERY DOORS THE SAME OR SIMILAR TO THE CAPTIVATE GALAXY S PHONE. Being here on the ground with customers and being one myself. WE WILL AGREE........ THE CAPTIVATE GALAXY S HAS THE BEST QUALITY, AND COOLEST BATTERY DOOR ON THE MARKET.
MAKE THAT SIGNATURE SAMSUNG. THE WAY NO DOOR IS SIGNATURE IPHONE.........
APPLE=NO ACCESS
SAMSUNG= ALL ACCESS
SAMSUNG= ALL ACCESS
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Realistic color
Cons: Poor quality, plastic weak battery door and 1960's cheap camera
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
3
Value
3
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US