After you have the engine running, the marginal cost of an A/B is probably smaller than a focus group test. So if you really believe in focus groups for the results and you are also ambitious enough - probably this means go for A/B.
It’s very common to think something is a good idea based on focus groups and internal feedback and then learn it’s a bad idea from launching it (or running an AB test).
Disclaimer: just thinking, not knowing the costs