AT&T Samsung ATIV S Neo Review

While the Nokia Lumia 1520 has made a huge splash over at AT&T, another new Windows Telephone, the Samsung ATIV S Neo, was released before this month in rather quiet way.

While some doubted it would always happen, we had the opportunity to spend a little time with Samsung ATIV South Neo review unit and plant it to be a decent mid-range Windows Phone but is not a device that will knock your socks off.

While the Samsung ATIV Due south Neo could use a little fine-tuning, it should be appealing to those looking for a budget, big screen Windows Phone.  Notwithstanding, with AT&T currently offering the Nokia Lumia 920 for $0.fifty (on contract) the ATIV S Neo may still face an uphill challenge.

Nice build quality, solid feel in the hands, a physical Windows Button, microSD bill of fare expansion

Uninspiring camera performance, odd reception problems, automobile-brightness is a little on the dim side

The AT&T Samsung ATIV S Neo comes beyond equally a solid, mid-level Windows Phone.  It offers consumers an economically priced, large screen Windows Phone with a classic design.  While the ATIV S Neo could utilize a little fine-tuning, none of the shortcomings are final in nature.  However, if Samsung extends the aforementioned low level of support and marketing to the Neo as it has previous Windows Phones the Neo may quickly fade into the shadows.

The Design

The Samsung ATIV S Neo pattern gives the Windows Phone a lilliputian bit of an old-schoolhouse feel to information technology.  At that place is a resemblance to several of Samsung'due south Android devices.  While this may not appeal to everyone, we will write that off every bit merely being Samsung'southward style.

The tale of the tape has the ATIV S Neo measuring 5.33 10 ii.72 x .36 inches and weighing in at 5.04 ounces.  The size and weight of the ATIV S Neo puts it in the same ballpark (just a smidgen larger) as the Nokia Lumia 920 or 925.

The layout of the ATIV Due south Neo has the power button centered on the right side of the telephone with the camera button resting slightly below information technology.  On the left side you will find the volume rocker with the micro-USB post located at the bottom of the device.  Up top is the 3.5mm headphone jack and an 8MP camera is to the rear.

The telephone has a solid feel to it and to help the Samsung stand out a footling, there is a physical Windows push button on the face of the phone that is capable of waking upwards the ATIV South Neo.  The back and search buttons are capacitive and remain hidden until touched.

The ATIV Due south Neo does have a removable backing that exposes the 2000 mAh battery, SIM Card slot and microSD card slot.  The battery cover is attached by a series of small plastic clips that reminds me of the battery cover on the Samsung Focus S.  Every bit with the Focus S, the Neo S's battery cover is thin about to the point of being flimsy.  I doubt it would suspension just I feel the more y'all take it on/off the plastic clips will weaken.

The Samsung ATIV S Neo does have a charging LED that will glow red while the battery is re-charging and greenish when the charge cycle is complete.  Information technology does non warning you lot of missed calls, new emails, new toast notifications, etc.  Which is a little disappointing but it is still a nice feature.

While having used a Nokia Windows Phone daily, the button layout on the Samsung ATIV South Neo did have a trivial time to go used to.  Overall, though, the Samsung ATIV S comes across every bit a decently built Windows Phone.  The phone had a little heft to it but did feel comfortable in the hand and was easily pocketable.

The Screen

The Neo is fitted with a 4.77" 1280 x 720 TFT display.  While receptive to the bear upon, the screen on the review unit was a lilliputian on the dim side indoors when the brightness was set to automatic, very reminiscent of other Samsung Windows Phones.  When the brightness was fix to medium or you viewed the ATIV S Neo in ample light the screen quality improved rather dramatically.

Outdoors, the Samsung ATIV S Neo's screen performed on par with like Windows Telephone screens; the harsher the sunlight, the more the screen is washed out.

The Neo's screen is nice but not at the level of the AMOLED screens we have seen on other Windows Phones.

Under the Hood

Nether the hood, the ATIV South Neo is fitted with a one.4GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and your typical Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi radios.  You as well take NFC back up with the ATIV S Neo.

The dual-core processor moves things along nicely, on par with other Windows Phones.  While some may squawk at the 16GB of retention, you do have microSD carte expansion bachelor to help ease the pain.

I could non replicate the GPS bug that Dan experienced with his easily-on fourth dimension with the Neo.  The GPS nailed my position with accurateness, non unlike other Windows Telephone location services.

I did experience similar reception bug with the Samsung ATIV S Neo though.  Poor signal reception cannot always remainder solely on the shoulders of the phone.  However, when compared to other Windows Phones on the AT&T network, the Neo'south reception was i-two bars weaker with drops from LTE speeds to HSPA+.

A 2000 mAh battery powers the ATIV Due south Neo's performance and performed rather nicely.  A fully charged battery made it through the 24-hour interval easily with heavy email use, a footling web surfing, a footling game time and some phone calls.

In many respects the under-the-hood aspects of the ATIV S Neo is not different any other Windows Phones.  While at that place is nothing wrong with average performance, it is difficult to say anything nether the hood makes the Neo stand out.  The poor bespeak reception is of business organization though.

The Photographic camera

Samsung fitted the ATIV Due south Neo with an 8MP rear camera and a i.2MP front photographic camera.  In that location is an LED light adjacent to the 8MP shooter that serves as a flash and focusing calorie-free.

Notwithstanding image resolution ranges from 640x480 to the total 3264x2448.  Video resolution includes 640x480, 1280x720 and 1920x1080 options.

Your typical Windows Phone software with options (for both even so and video) drives the camera to control:

• Focus Mode (Macro or Normal)
• White Residue
• Exposure Metering
• ISO
• Effects (Mono, Negative, Sepia, Solarize, Posterize, Vintage Common cold, Vintage Warm, Signal Blue, Signal Greenish, Indicate Red-Yellow)
• Contrast
• Saturation
• Sharpness
• Exposure Compensation

As far as image quality is concerned, the 8MP shooter does a decent task of things but is not a tipping signal for the ATIV Due south.  Customers will not exist breaking down the doors to become their hands on the Neo solely for the camera nor volition they exist running for the hills considering of the camera.

As long as the light was sufficient, the camera performance was acceptable.  Images were sharp just seemed a little nether saturated and could utilize a heave in contrast.

Low low-cal photos were a flake of a mixed pocketbook, ofttimes producing motion blur due to the slower shutter speeds and lack of prototype stabilization.  A steady hand is a must for taking low light photos with the ATIV South Neo.  I likewise noticed a slight haze on some of the photos and discovered the (what feels like) plastic lens cover was decumbent to smudges.  Yous'll need to wipe the camera lens make clean often to avoid soft, hazy images.

Video quality follows suit with decent operation, not unlike other 8MP Windows Phone cameras.

Overall, the ATIV S Neo's camera reminds me of the older Windows Phone cameras.  It does a decent job of things but pales in comparison to the more current crop of Windows Telephone cameras.  If Samsung has invested in smartphone camera development, it is not axiomatic with the ATIV S Neo.

The Software

The Samsung ATIV Due south Neo is loaded with Windows Telephone 8, Bone version viii.0.10512.142 (Update 3).  The Neo also comes with the customary AT&T software (Navigator, Radio, Locker, FamilyMap, etc.) and the Bing suite of apps (Weather condition, News, Finance, and Sports).

You also have a few Samsung apps that include:

• ATIV Axle that lets you share files through NFC that is compatible with all Samsung Android and Windows Telephone devices.
• Photo Editor that lets yous edit newly captured and existing images in your Pictures Hub.  Editing tools include cropping, color adjustment, effects filters and stickers.
• Samsung Link is an app that lets you share and play content beyond Samsung smart devices.  Samsung Now is a weather, news and stock app.
• Mini-Diary, as the championship suggests, is a diary app where you can add notes, photos and record where you lot are.

The Samsung Collection is also available in the Windows Phone Store where you can option up a few boosted apps such every bit App Folder that allows y'all to group apps in folders, ChatON a messenger app, and several photograph furnishings apps.  In that location are several gems in the collection merely unfortunately, at that place are a few duds as well.

The Samsung ATIV Due south Neo's settings are standard for a Windows Phone.  You practise have additional call settings such equally call forwarding and call waiting, call/sms blocker, contacts import, and SoundAlive.  SoundAlive is a set of equalizer settings that applies to music and video players and only works through headsets.

You will not find any large surprises, or disappointments for that matter, with the software aspects of the Samsung ATIV S Neo.  Annihilation that is missing should be available over in the Windows Telephone Store and thankfully, anything that you may not need can be uninstalled.

The Telephone

The Samsung ATIV Southward Neo's operation as a telephone was commensurate with other Windows Phones.  Call quality was good, every bit was the speakerphone performance.  However, you exercise have the odd reception issues though.

Overall Impression

The Samsung ATIV Southward Neo comes beyond as a nicely built, modestly capable Windows Telephone.  The Neo feels comfy in the hand, has a decent screen, expert call quality but has a lackluster camera.  I do remember the positives out-weigh the negatives as long equally you are not looking for stellar photographic camera functioning.

I volition admit the hardware Windows button took a piddling time to get used to but it grows on you.  It is a handy choice to wake up the ATIV S Neo.  It does look a little out of identify though with the Dorsum and Search buttons subconscious but that besides grows on you.

I am still on the fence with having the volume rocker existence on the left side of the phone.  Fortunately, the volume rocker placement is not a detrimental pattern flaw for the ATIV S Neo.  Its placement takes a little time to get used to only y'all tin become used to it.

Screen performance was overall good, but I wish Samsung would get the automatic brightness setting better tuned.  The 4.77" screen is respectable merely the dimness holds it back.

While the hardware aspects and performance of the Samsung ATIV S Neo has appeal, information technology likely will be plagued past the same downside other Windows Telephone manufacturers create; the lack of product back up.

The Lumia Windows Phone hardware is impressive but it is the product support that Nokia brings to the tabular array that makes them successful.  From marketing to software to device evolution, Nokia has done a commendable job of information technology.

The Samsung ATIV South Neo has appeal but with abysmal product back up by Samsung information technology will relegate the Neo to those with brand loyalty and more than likely to the clearance rack.  Bottom line, Samsung (also as other Windows Phone manufacturers) needs to step information technology up to encounter any success in the Windows Phone market.

In a nutshell, the Samsung ATIV Due south Neo is a well-built Windows Phone for those looking for a mid-level performer.  I would non expect much beyond average performance out of the camera but can see the phone appealing to those looking for a budget, large screen Windows Phone.  The kicker is whether the ATIV S Neo can attract customers abroad from the older, $.l Nokia Lumia 920?

AT&T is currently offer the ATIV Due south Neo for $49.99 after contractual discounts.  The Windows Phone will run you $419.99 off-contract and you can observe all the ordering details here at AT&T's website.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/att-samsung-ativ-s-neo-review

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