14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung’s first Windows Phone 8 device, the Ativ S is expected to go on sale in November. Although the South Korean handset maker has yet to announce a specific timeline for the phone’s availability, it looks like O2 UK will be among the first carriers to offer the device.
According to O2 UK, Samsung Ativ S is scheduled to hit shelves at some point in November, though we’re still waiting for more details on the phone’s exact release date and pricing options.
At first glance, Samsung Ativ S seems to feature superior hardware in comparison with other Windows Phone 8 devices that have been announced until now. However, it’s the technologies inside that will make it or break it.
The Ativ S will be powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon processor built on Krait architecture, which will be accompanied by an Adreno 225 graphics processing unit and 1 GB of RAM.
Furthermore, the smartphone will boast a pretty large 4.8-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display that supports HD (720 x 1280 pixels) resolution, and features Corning Gorilla Glass 2 coating for extra protection.
Ativ S’ display is 0.1-inch larger than Nokia Lumia 920’s, but the latter’s seems to be superior when it comes to technology which it is based upon. According to Nokia, Lumia 920’s PureMotion HD+ display is “the fastest and most sensitive” on the market.
On the inside, Samsung Ativ S will pack 16GB or 32GB storage, which can be further expanded up to 32GB via microSD memory card.
It’s likely that the phone will be shipped with the same 8-megapixel module camera that is embedded inside the Galaxy S III as well. The 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera enables users to make video calls.
Even though the Samsung Ativ S does not offer LTE support, it does come with HSPA+ (42Mbps) and HSUPA (5.76Mbps) connectivity. Stay tuned for more updates on the subject.