If you are a Verizon customer or soon to be customer, what do you do if you love the design. resolution, camera of the 8x but want the app exclusives, wide screen, battery life of the 822 yet are enticed by the high end features of Samsung odyssey coming at the end of the year?
Do you buy now? If so, which one? Or do you wait?
It is a problem as, the 8x/822 both have some great strengths but also great weaknesses...
i.e.
8X
+looks hot, overall well balanced device, on the outside looks like it could be a flagship device, wireless charging ready
-BUT, stuck with maximum 16gb storage which isn't enough for many. And no gyro is disappointing for a $199 phone.
822
+16GB internal plus microSD storage, nokia exclusives, solid build, flashy AMOLED screen
-BUT boring design (looks like an improved HTC Trophy), unfortunately flashy screen is a low-res leftover from last-gen, wireless charging cover a $40 extra addon.
?We don't know enough about the Samsung ATIV Odyssey yet, as all we have officially announced specs for is the ATIV S. Going by rumors about the ATIV Odyssey, first it was a 4.65" device by the court docs, then it was a 4.8" device based on the ATIV S release, then it was only a 4" device because of leaked promo materials about an unnamed Samsung VZW WP, now no one knows what to believe. The design and features have went on the same rollercoaster. VZW was supposed to get two Samsungs, the Marco and Odyssey, but the Odyssey was the only one announced by Microsoft yet what appears to be the Marco was the only designs we've seen leaked.
+Assuming the best - that the ATIV Odyssey is similar to the ATIV S - overall a very solid device specwise. Great balance of big quality AMOLED screen (arguably better than the 920's both in size and overall quality), expandable memory, nice camera, stylish businesslike design, overall the most balanced phone that would be on Verizon this winter.
-If the Nokia 920 did not exist there would be no real negatives. But since it does and is priced even lower, comparisons would be drawn. Nokia's camera w/ OIS and high db mic for concert videos & high quality photos frankly destroys the samples we've seen from the ATIV S. Also while the Samsung looks classy, the abundance of super thin plastic on the Samsung does not inspire build quality confidence compared to the hearty plastic of the 920. Finally, the physical home button on the Samsung could either by a pro or a con (it's a con for me).
--If the ATIV Odyssey turns out to actually be the 4" Samsung device leaked and that is NOT the Marco, then obviously the Samsung is out of the running entirely.
??Really, we don't know enough about this device to make an informed judgment at this point.
Bottom line, *if* the Samsung ATIV Odyssey is similar to the ATIV S and not the 4" device that leaked, then in my opinion the ATIV Odyssey is the only real choice this year if you are looking for a flagship.
On the other hand, with CES and MWC within just about a month from the launch of the ATIV Odyssey, it might be worth just waiting that month to see if Nokia announces the 922 for Verizon or if HTC announces the Zenith - as it is possible either of those devices could leapfrog the ATIV Odyssey with a higher end GPU, better CPU, better camera, and/or more stylish design.
Also, if you care at all about business ethics, it is kind of hard to like Samsung with their FRAND abuse legal strategy in order to try to get out of paying for all of the Android patent infringements. While not as deplorable as Motorola's it comes in at a close 2nd. This may not come into play for you as it is not a spec per se, but remember your money does end up paying Samsung and thus you support their behavior with your purchase. Nokia's unmatched customer support would also come into play here for a similar reason.