Introduction and designWith the initial rush of Windows Phone 8 devices now out for a couple of months and entrenched in the minds of potential converts to Microsoft's mobile OS (or those upgrading from WP7 handsets), we're now seeing a second wave of options, notably on the lower end of the entry price landscape. Case in point: the Samsung Ativ Odyssey, available exclusively on Verizon.It's a budget option among Windows Phone 8 handsets, but the Ativ Odyssey isn't meek when it comes to performance. Samsung's device sports the same dual-core Snapdragon 1.5Ghz processor seen in other early WP8 devices, along with 1GB of RAM, allowing the vibrant OS to flow as fluidly as expected.Compared to its WP8 brethren, however, the lower price point â€" $50 with a two-year agreement â€" comes with some limitations, namely a middling display, lower-resolution camera, and an unremarkable build that's unfortunately highlighted by cheap-feeling plastic on the back and sides. Whether those sacrifices level out with the savings over another device depends on what you want from the handset.The Samsung Ativ Odyssey sports a fairly similar design as its flagship Galaxy line of Android devices, albeit on a smaller scale: it comes with a four-inch display, which runs at 480x800 and is covered by sturdy Gorilla Glass.In fact, the build of the phone, with its rounded back and sides, actually feels a lot like an iPhone 3G/3GS in the hand, recalling memories of Apple designs from years past
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