The largest screen and last of the three Windows Phone 8 handsets arrives in Canada
Samsung ATIV S
Bell Mobility announced pricing but not availability of the 4.8″ Samsung ATIV S.
This completes releases from Nokia, HTC and Samsung of Windows Phone 8 handsets.
Bell pricing is $99.99 on a 3-year contract, versus $0 for the HTC 8X. Rogers Wireless are offering the phone for $79.99.
The ATIV S name for this Samsung phone is weird. What does the acronym stand for? At least HTC were cute enough to put 8, as in Windows Phone 8, in their HTC 8X.
I also got an email from Costo offering a $150 store cash card for the phone, so I’m going to check that out this afternoon.
What’s so hot about this Samsung phone? It is the largest – 4.8″ – Windows Phone 8 handset but it’s also the thinnest and a close near-tie with the HTC 8X on weight.
Instead of bright colors like Nokia and HTC, it is a sleek business grey. You can upgrade the memory to 32 GB with a microSD card. The Nokia 920 comes with 32GB.
The Samsung ATIV S has NFC. The HTC 8X and Nokia Lumia 920 also have NFC.
None of reviews so far are reliable so I won’t repeat them.
The ATIV S also comes from Samsung who are not the largest supplier of smartphones in the world. They must be doing something right other than making great commercials.
Samsung’s official preview video.
Specifications Nokia Lumia 920 versus HTC 8X versus Samsung ATIV S
Specifications aren’t much if you don’t like the phone or Windows Phone 8 but here they are.
| Nokia | HTC | Samsung | ||
| Lumia 920 | 8X | ATIV S | ||
| Communications | LTE/4G/NFC | LTE/4G/NFC | LTE/4G | |
| Screen size | 4.5″ | 4.3″ | 4.8″ | |
| Resolution | 1280 x 768 | 1280 x 720 | 1280 x 720 | |
| Weight, Thickness | 6.5 ozs, .42″ | 4.4 oz, .39″ | 4.7 oz, .34″ | |
| Processor Speed | 1.5GHz | 1.5 GHz | 1.5GHz | |
| Storage | 32GB | 16 GB | 16GB/32GB | |
| Back Camera | 8.7MP PureView | 8MP | 8MP | |
| Front Camera | 1.2MP | 2.1MP | 1.9MP | |
| Battery | 2000mAh | 1800mAh | 2300mAh | |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | No | No | |
| Audio | Dolby | Beats |
Stephen Pate
Here’s a quick update – Rogers (AML) has the best initial pricing for the Samsung ATIV S – free phone, no activation fee, 1 month free, up to 12 months of free video streaming. Bell wants $89 for the phone. Telus wants $79.
Rogers, Telus and Bell have the ATIV S handsets at their dealers in limited quantities – 2 to 3 sets per dealer. I have one and will review it shortly.
Where you buy can make a difference. Best Buy will match the Rogers deal, saving you $50. Costco don’t match the free phone but still have the $150 cash card with any new phone until December 31st. You will have to negotiate with Best Buy to price match.