Samsung ATIV Odyssey Pro Reviews

The Odyssey is far from perfect but, like its forebear the Focus 2, this budget Windows Phone is not without its charms. Granted, a good chunk of that comes from the beautiful OS, but the handset itself has a lot going for it -- namely, its top-notch performance. Unlike other companies, Samsung isn't skimping on horsepower to keep the cost down. The 1.5GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM are not only capable; they're the same basic components inside flagship Windows Phone 8 devices. This is not just a huge boon for the Odyssey in benchmarks; its prowess is immediately apparent during regular use. Even when we fired up some demanding games, the phone barely skipped a beat. Obviously, corners had to be cut somewhere, and the low-res camera and screen are where Samsung ultimately decided to compromise. These choices are hardly enough to ruin the experience of using the phone, but the older technology on display is certainly showing its age.

The Odyssey is a good illustration of what your money buys you in a new Windows Phone. As we’ve seen, it’s not so much performance — Windows Phone 8 does just as well with inexpensive hardware as it does with the premium goods — but fit and finish, build quality, and the quality of the phone’s display. For a little bit more money than the Odyssey, you can get the Windows Phone 8X, which has a much nicer display, better camera, and much nicer hardware. Or, in an ironic twist of fate, you can get the Lumia 822, which offers everything that the Odyssey has, but also adds a better camera, bigger screen, more internal storage, and more software features for less than you would spend on Samsung’s phone. Either way, the evidence shows that you should probably shop around rather than committing two years of your life to the Ativ Odyssey.

That’s the real question: whether to get serious about the ATIV Odyssey. At first glance, there’s positively nothing remarkable about this device. To stretch the automotive analogy a bit: it’s got a fine engine under the hood, but it’s built like a mid-90s family sedan – one with an old-style cassette deck, at that. This ain’t a phone that’s built to impress. And it’s not like you don’t have any other choices. If you’re a (current or prospective) Verizon customer yearning for a better-looking Windows Phone with a larger, higher-resolution display, you’re probably going to want to drop the extra $50 on an HTC 8X. If you’re really hard-up for cash, or super-invested in Nokia’s batch of exclusive apps -and assuming you don’t care about your phone looking like a cross between a WWI battleship and a bar of soap- you’d be best served by the Nokia Lumia 822. Both are solid phones in their own right. But if you’re somewhere in between, with no need to turn heads at the club but no allergy to aesthetics, and you’re looking for a solid, middle-of-the-road feature set paired with an above-average camera, the Samsung ATIV Odyssey might just be your chariot of choice. It may not be the inaugural American Samsung WP8 device we were hoping for, but for a certain type of buyer, it’ll fit the bill quite nicely.

The Samsung ATIV Odyssey is about as plain as plain gets. On the whole, it's not a terrible phone (though there are some bad aspects, like the camera and display) it's just uninspired and safe. This is one case where you can judge a book by its cover; the unremarkable design tells you everything you need to know about this phone. But, like most mid-tier phones, the price is its strongest point. The Odyssey can only be faulted so much for its shortcomings and modest features when $50 price tag is factored in. Still, there are better options than this one out there for just a little more cash, like the Nokia Lumia 810/820/822 carrier variants (if you're looking to stick with Verizon, the Lumia 822 is the one you're looking for). Given that there are so few Windows Phone 8 handsets out there for US customers -- the Lumia 820 variants, the Lumia 920, and the HTC 8X are your only other options -- it would have been nice to see something a little more head-turning than the ATIV Odyssey.

Budget buyers are usually trying to get the best bang for their buck, and the Odyssey is one of 14 smartphones that Verizon offers for $50 or less for new or upgrade-eligible customers. A spec-to-spec comparison against LG's Spectrum 2, for example, does not leave many reasons to choose the Odyssey. For the Windows Phone enthusiast in the market for a new budget phone on Verizon's network, the Lumia 822 is the direct competitor. Nokia's handset offers a slightly larger display in a similarly sized housing, along with twice as much memory and a better camera, all for free with a two-year contract. The Ativ Odyssey is not a terrible phone, but like the entire Windows Phone platform, it seems to come across as too little, too late.

I have mixed feelings about the Samsung ATIV Odyssey. The hardware functions fine, even if the design is a bit boring. The signal performance and call quality are quite good, as is battery life. The Microsoft operating system is fine, and the apps all work as they should. The crummy display, questionable processor performance, and so-so camera concern me, though. The display alone would make me avoid the Odyssey. I couldn't stand to look at it for several days. The thought of being stuck with it for two years is flat-out depressing. The Odyssey is also the first Windows Phone I've seen stutter and stall. That can't be a good sign. At just $50, there's no question the Odyssey offers a good value, but the Nokia Lumia 822 costs the same and performs better across the board. In the end, I'd only recommend the ATIV Odyssey to die-hard Samsung fans who prefer form over function.

We are left with the exact same feelings towards the Samsung Ativ Odyssey as we had towards the last year's Samsung Focus 2 for AT&T. The handset looks hastily designed and executed in order to be able to play along with its rivals without grabbing too much attention. Samsung is doing great in the Android field and looks like it doesn't really want to bother with taking the spotlight away from its Google OS equipped offerings. What sets the handset apart from the crowd is its compact size - it is smaller than any of its rivals, thus easier to operate single handedly. The massive, user-replaceable battery is another strong feature of the smartphone - it offers the best longevity from any WP8 device we've tested. Performance and user experience are on par with the best in the WP8 realm. The device's camera is surprisingly capable despite being with a somewhat low megapixel count. Plus, it offers smooth 1080p video recording.

As a lower-priced entry model into the world of Windows Phone 8, Samsung's Ativ Odyssey does a solid job of delivering the slick OS experience without lag, and Verizon's 4G LTE coverage ensures quality calls and data usage. However, a low on-contract price isn't such a remarkable feat here; the Nokia Lumia 822 is free on Verizon with an agreement, and delivers more internal storage and a better camera, while the HTC Windows Phone 8X packs in a dramatically improved screen and a stylish build for $100 with contract. And that doesn't take into consideration the WP8 options on other carriers. Considering Samsung's continued Android success, we hoped a bit of that gusto would feed into its Windows Phone 8 efforts in the United States, but the Ativ Odyssey won't turn any heads – certainly not with that middling display and uninspiring design. It excels in some areas, sure, but not enough to tie you down for two years just to save a few bucks now.

The Samsung ATIV Odyssey was my first experience with the Windows Phone 8 platform, and it was certainly a good one. The Samsung ATIV Odyssey is an overall great phone, and at only $49.99 it wont cost you an arm and a leg!

Are you strapped for cash and still yearn for some kind of sweet smartphone, but don’t want to settle on a typical entry-level device? Well, you’re in luck because the Pantech Discover is going to be the right fit for you – albeit, it’s still without its own set of flaws. Overall, it doesn’t outperform the class leading contenders in the space, but rather, the Discover has that nice balance between price point and feature set. Not only does it sport one stylish design that’s surprising amongst other things, but at $50 on-contract, there’s plenty of value for the money you’re dishing out – like the software enhancements made with the experience and large high-resolution display. At no point is it going to magically triumph over things like the Samsung Galaxy S III or HTC One X+, but at least there’s hope for those on a tight budget.

Samsung is no doubt embarking on an odyssey with this venture, which should be a refreshing thing to see for Big Red’s customers. Attached with a very easy-on-the-wallet price point of $49.99 with a 2-year agreement, there’s plenty of things to like about the Samsung ATIV Odyssey – especially when it performs rather well in pretty much all categories. Despite that, though, we have to say that it doesn’t quite pack the same level of value seen with the Nokia Lumia 822’s set of exclusive apps. Knowing that, the compromise made here with the ATIV Odyssey is the fact that it’s not benefitting in any way with the platform experience over its main rival in the Nokia Lumia 822 – even more when they’re both priced the same.

Choosing a great smartphone on Verizon for just $50 used to be a daunting challenge. The arrival of the $49.99 Samsung Ativ Odyssey, which serves up all the modern mobile features Microsoft can muster, certainly makes the task easier. It's affordable, handles its software with agility, and connects to a large Xbox games and music library. Unfortunately the Ativ Odyssey's other attributes don't have as much allure. The phone's cheap plastic construction and staid oval-shaped design don't get the blood pumping, even for die-hard Samsung fans. If you really are wedded to the idea of a Windows Phone handset on Verizon and have just $50 in your pocket, then the Ativ is no-brainer. Otherwise I suggest going with the $49.99 Motorola Droid Razr M which runs Android (now updated to Jelly Bean) in a more attractive and compact chassis and at the same price. If you're willing to spend $50 more, the HTC 8X provides Windows Phone 8 but with a much better camera that's packed into a premium, more attractive body.

Samsung might not be Microsoft’s favorite son in the Windows Phone 8 realm, but it’s managed to slide in on the budget level with a phone that is desirable without draining the wallet, just like Nokia. Design-wise, the ATIV Odyssey is more streamlined and attractive than the budget 800 series Lumias. Specs-wise, the Lumias have a few more powerful elements. But, when taken as a whole, they’re about on the same level. What does that mean for you WP8-loving Verizon Wireless customers out there trying to decide between the Odyssey and the Nokia Lumia 822 (nearly identical to the 820)? It means the choice will come down to some little things: how each phone feels in the hand, whether you prefer Nokia’s included apps more, if a 0.3-inch difference in screen size is a big deal, and price. Ah, price. The ATIV Odyssey costs $50 with a two-year contract (the mail-in rebate is automatically deducted online), the same price as the Lumia 822 at launch. However, the Lumia is now free with a contract, which is sure to entice many. And the higher-end HTC 8X, which still costs $100 on contract via Verizon’s website, is available for $50 on Amazon Wireless. Prices are bound to change even more over the next few weeks and months, and there will likely come a time when the Odyssey is free on contract, too. Of the WP8 phones on Verizon, the HTC 8X is still our top choice. The Odyssey and the Lumia 822 run neck and neck. The bottom line is that the Samsung ATIV Odyssey is a well-designed, snappy phone that belies its budget nature and is well worth the asking price.

As Samsung's first Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the Ativ Odyssey for Verizon Wireless is a surprisingly underwhelming showing.