We love leakers! Don’t you? Manufacturers and carriers probably hate them though …
Anyway, you guys remember the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active right? Among the mediocre (S4 Mini) or downright bizarre (S4 Zoom) Galaxy S4 spin-offs, the Galaxy S4 Active is, in our opinion, the only one worthy of its name.
Until 2013, most rugged devices have been a joke, as far as processing power goes. However, the S4 Active will handle anything you throw at it (apps, games, whatever) and still be able to take a beating in the meantime (or survive underwater).
It has already been announced that the smartphone will be an AT&T exclusive in the States. And if you were interested to see how it looks in some real life photos (no renders or anything of the sorts), we have just what you need.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active release date at AT&T is scheduled for June 21st and will set you back $199.99 on a two year contract.
As far as the differences between the Active and the original S4 go (other than those concerning build materials/quality), the rugged version sports a TFT capacitive touchscreen instead of a Super AMOLED panel (resolution and ppi are the same and it also features the “Glove Touch” technology), its camera has been downgraded from 13MP to 8MP (it comes with “Aqua Mode” though), and it’s a bit heavier and bulkier (not easily noticeable).
Well, what do you think about the Active? Are you planing on getting one? Did you already go with the already released Galaxy S4? Let us know in the comments section.
Ready to live life to the fullest, you jet-skiing, rock-climbing, skateboarding, heath food commercial stereotype? Then you need a phone that can take at least as many bumps and bruises as you can, and Samsung and AT&T are happy to oblige. The carrier-branded version of the ruggedized Galaxy S4 Active announced yesterday is now up for preorder on the AT&T website. It's being offered inDive Blue and Urban Gray colors. The phone will launch online and at retail stores on Tuesday, June 18th.
The S4 Active features most of the same specs as the regular S4, in a thicker, tougher package that's water-resistant at a depth of one meter for 30 minutes (IP67). The 5" screen is still a respectable 1080p resolution, though the panel itself is downgraded to TFT LCD, and since it's the LTE version, we're seeing the 1.9Ghz Snapdragon 600 CPU and 2GB of RAM rather than the 1.6GHz Exynos 5 Octa 5410.
The camera is downgraded to 8MP, though Samsung would like you to believe it's better at shooting underwater with the volume rocker serving as a dedicated camera button. The phone is a bit taller, wider, and thicker than the standard S4, with physical buttons instead of the capacitive control keys, and it keeps the removable battery and the MicroSD card slot. The S4 Active runs the same TouchWiz build of Android 4.2. At present, AT&T is only offering a 16GB model.
The price is $199.99 for a new contract signee, or $549.99 if you want it free and clear, both with free shipping. That's the same price as the standard Galaxy S4 on-contract, and ninety bucks cheaper without one - a nice bit of savings for anyone who's been looking for a nearly top-of-the-line model that can take a few punches. Considering the markedly lower specifications on the Galaxy S4 Mini and S4 Zoom, it's nice to see premium hardware offered in this way - we're sure quite a few of you who haven't been impressed with Samsung's thin, plastic design language as of late may be looking at the Galaxy S4 Active in a new light.
Unfortunately there's no indication that the S4 Active will be coming to other American carriers at the moment. The international unlocked version should be available soon.
With the introduction a new range of S4-linked devices to Samsung's lineup, consumers are likely to get lost. However, this isn't as bad as it sounds. For one, the chaebol is leveraging on its positive S4 branding, which may help it sell a lot more phones than it otherwise would.
More importantly, it shows that the electronics giant is capable of sticking to the same design aesthetics for its products. This come with the risk of everything looking too similar, which can be a problem. We wonder if Samsung employees themselves have trouble identifying the handsets without close examination if they were all placed together.
The launch of yesterday's S4 Zoom means Samsung now has five S4 handsets. Here's a quick cheat sheet showing the key differences of between them.
Phone
S4/Google Edition
S4 Active
S4 Mini
S4 Zoom
Display
5-inch full-HD (Super AMOLED)
5-inch full-HD (TFT)
4.3-inch qHD (Super AMOLED)
4.3-inch qHD (Super AMOLED)
Camera
13-megapixels
8-megapixels
8-megapixels
16-megapixels
Processor
1.9GHz quad-core
1.9GHz quad-core
1.7GHz dual-core
1.5GHz dual-core
Internal storage
16GB
16GB
8GB
8GB
RAM
2GB
2GB
1.5GB
1.5GB
Battery
2,600mAh
2,600mAh
1,900mAh
2,330mAh
Samsung Galaxy S4
(Credit: Samsung)
The flagship smartphone comes with all the bells and whistles expected of Samsung's top handset. We mentioned in our review that there are likely some software features you'll probably never use, but the hardware and build of the handset is top notch, despite its plastic chassis.
If you must get Samsung's best, the S4 (available now) is really the smartphone of choice. But those seeking alternatives should look below.
Key features: It's the top end handset from Samsung, and you get all the software features Samsung has developed inside this handset.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
(Credit: Samsung)
Announced for a Q3 launch, the S4 Active seems aimed at those who lead sporty lifestyles (or really clumsy people). It's water- and dust-resistant, though not drop-proof. For those worried about accidental dunks, the phone can be submerged to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes.
Specs-wise, it's pretty similar to the S4, such as a quad-core 1.9GHz processor, but uses a TFT panel (rather than AMOLED) for its 5-inch full-HD display, and comes with an 8-megapixel shooter with software enhancements for taking better pictures underwater.
Key features: You never have to worry about getting your phone waterlogged, and you get almost all of the benefits of Samsung's flagship S4.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition
(Credit: Google)
Available only in the US and meant really for developers, the S4 Google Edition uses the same hardware as the original S4, but runs stock Android instead of Samsung's TouchWiz. This means OS updates will come much faster, but you lose out on the software enhancements that Samsung has put into its TouchWiz UI.
Key features: Fast Android updates.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
(Credit: Samsung)
Like the S3 Mini, the smaller version of the S4 is meant for markets in Asia and Europe. It is expected to debut at a much more affordable price and features a 4.3-inch display and packs a 1.7GHz dual-core processor instead.
Other downsized features include an 8-megapixel camera instead of the S4's 13 as well as a smaller 1,900mAh battery. It ships with Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and may come with LTE depending on the market.
Key features: You'll get the S4 design in a compact form factor at a cheaper price.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
(Credit: Samsung)
Remember last year's Samsung Galaxy Camera? it's now back in the form of the S4 Zoom--and this time, it can make phone calls. The LTE-capable S4 Zoom comes with 16-megapixel shooter with 10x optical zoom and built-in optical image stabilization (OIS), and runs on Android 4.2.
A dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz powers the Zoom, and you'll be able to view the shots you've taken with the 'phomera' on its 4.3-inch screen. Due in Q3, the phone isn't likely to be cheap, and we expect components such as the 10x optics and sensor will bump up the cost.
Key features: The 10x optical zoom and larger sensor should let you take much better pictures compared with normal smartphones. And you can make phone calls on this camera, too.
US mobile network provider AT&T will begin selling the Galaxy S4 Active, a new ruggedized version of Samsung’s latest flagship Android smartphone, on June 21.
Consumers will be able to pick up the device both in-store and online for $199.99 on a two-year agreement, although it’s unknown exactly how high the monthly instalments will be, as well as the data, texts and minutes included in the call plan.
AT&T will begin taking pre-orders for the device tomorrow in both ‘Urban Gray’ and ‘Dive Blue’. There’s no word yet on the ‘Orange Flare’ color variant, however.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a no-compromise smartphone that offers consumers high-end specs in a durable body. It boasts a 5-inch 1080p display at an impressive 443 pixels per inch, as well as a 1.9 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
It differs from the original Samsung Galaxy S4, however, because it’s also water-resistant for up to 30 minutes, at a depth of one meter. The device also features a new ‘Aqua Mode’ in the camera app, which increases the detail and clarity for both video and photographs shot underwater.
“It’s truly summer-proof,” Jeff Bradley, senior vice president for Devices and Developer Services at AT&T said.
Auto focus, Face detection, Smile detection, Exposure compensation, ISO control, White balance presets, Burst mode, Digital zoom, Geo tagging, Panorama, Scenes, Effects, Self-timer, Voice activation
Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy S4 Active, a dustproof and waterproof version of the company's latest flagship Android smartphone. Made for the adventurous types that need a phone that can weather the elements, the fully sealed Galaxy S4 Active can fend off water damage for up to 30 minutes at a depth of one meter, and even features a water-resistant headphone jack.
With a weight of 151g and a thickness of 9.1 mm, the Active is not drastically larger than the svelte, standard Galaxy S4, and instead of using capacitive Menu and Back buttons, Samsung has opted for more durable physical buttons with the new variant. The phone is equipped with a 1.9GHz quad-core processor and a 5-inch full HD display enhanced with "Glove Touch," which lets gloved users interact with the screen.
The Galaxy S4 Active uses an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera — as opposed to the 13-megapixel shooter found on the standard model — although it does have an "Aqua Mode" that can be activated to capture photos and video with increased clarity when underwater.
The phone will be available in Urban Grey, Dive Blue, and Orange Flare when it launches in the United States and Sweden this summer. Pricing has yet to be announced.
Until 2013, most rugged devices have been a joke, as far as processing power goes. However, the S4 Active will handle anything you throw at it (apps, games, whatever) and still be able to take a beating in the meantime (or survive underwater).
