Samsung ATIV SE

Samsung ATIV SE

Everyone has been waiting for a long time for Samsung to release a smartphone that features Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 operating system since this new system outperforms nearly anything else that has been released in the past. While the Windows Phone 8 operating system is impressive, the phones that have featured this operating system are not. The Nokia hardware where it has most commonly been found has failed to meet expectations. In particular, the Nokia Luma 920 weighed too much, it would heat up after long periods of use and you couldn't swap out the batter despite it being quick to drain.

It seems as though Samsung has plotted against the United States until now. They released the Samsung ATIV S that featured Windows Phone 7, but it was released everywhere except for the US. However, Samsung is now shipping the ATIV SE, which is the phone that so many people have been waiting for for a long time.

It's Not a Galaxy S4

While the ATIV SE may appear to be a Galaxy S4, users are going to have to explain to their iPhone using friends that this phone is not exactly a Galaxy S4. However, the misunderstanding is understandable since it's just a slight difference. While it is similar to a Galaxy S4, the ATIV SE runs Windows instead of Android.

There is one other slight difference between the ATIV SE and the Galaxy S4. Although Verizon is the only company that is offering the ATIV SE, many users are finding that they are having to special order their phones since many of the physical stores are not yet carrying this phone. The Galaxy S4 is much easier to find since it is offered by six networks: AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Cricket, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.

The ATIV SE measures in at at 5.42 x 2.75 x .33 inches, which is about .25 inches longer than the Galaxy S4. This has been one of the bigger complaints for customers since none of the cases that were designed for the Galaxy S4 will fit the ATIV SE. This means that users will have to purchase a case specifically designed for the ATIV. There is seemingly no good reason for Samsung to have changed the dimensions by this much other than to sell more phone cases.

Despite the difference in length, the ATIV does exhibit features similar to the S4 that so many people love. The screen is a five inch active-matrix organic light-emitting diode touchscreen that was made by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. This screen is capable of displaying an impressive 16 millions colors, and the 1920x1080 resolutions will leave users more than happy.

The Differences are More Than Just the Outside

While the ATIV SE and Galaxy S4 are similar in many regards, there are also differences internally in addition to the cosmetic differences. The ATIV SE is based on Qualcomm’s fairly new Snapdragon 800 SoC (system-on-a-chip), which includes a quad-core 2.3GHz Krait 400 CPU and an Adreno 330 GPU. This is similar to the Nokia Lumia Icon, but it runs even faster at a 100 MHz higher clip. If you have used the Nokia Lumia before, you will also find similarities in the display resolution and pixel density.

While the Nokia Lumia does feature double the storage capacity of the ATIV SE, the Nokia does not feature a MicroSD slot like the Samsung device does. The Nokia is also an ounce heavier than the Samsung, which is a big concern for people who like to carry their mobile devices around in their pockets. Users will also be more satisfied with the battery that runs the Samsung. It can be removed and replaced, and the batter is stronger than its Nokia counterpart.

In tests that have been run, the ATIV SE appears to hold its own against both the S4 and the Lumia Icon. The ATIV SE features the best Sunspider and Canvasmark scores, which indicates higher performing JavaScript and HTML5 rendering performance. However, the differences between its scores and those of the Lumia Icon are small.

The Android phone features better Peacekeeper scores. This is due in part to the fact that it uses Google Chrome, while the Windows Phone 8 devices run Internet Explorer. The S4 beats both Android phones in the other benchmarks, but the differences in AnTuTu scores are fairly small.

Camera

The Galaxy S4 and the ATIV SE both have a 13-megapixel auto-focus camera with a resolution of 4128x3096 pixels. With that said, the camera on the S4 does have a few features that the ATIV SE does not. The camera on the S4 is capable of taking pictures with both the front and the back cameras at the same time, features simultaneous HD video and image recording, face and smile detection, and image stabilization.

The ATIV also does not have a button on the actual phone to take photos, which may be annoying for people who don't always like to use the touch screen. Aside from these differences, the cameras take photos that are essentially of the same quality. The camera likely won't be a determining factor in someone's choice of which phone to buy.

What This All Means

Now that all the features have been discussed, the question that everyone wants answered is the one about whether the phone is actually worth buying. People who buy this phone are going to be happy about the advantages that it has over the competition in the Lumia Icon. The ATIV runs very similar to the Nokia, but it is lighter and has a few features that the Nokia does not.

Many are also going to be concerned about the change in size from the Galaxy S4. It is a bit confusing as to why the engineers made this decision since it proves to be a hassle more than anything. It is also a bit inconvenient that only one carrier is offering this phone for purchase.

When it comes down to it, the ATIV SE is the best Windows phone so far, and nobody who buys this phone will be disappointed. It outperforms its competition, and it goes above and beyond what users expect out of a Windows smartphone.