If you thought Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is just a rugged version of the S7, well, there is more to think about.
The new phone was finally unveiled to the world following months of speculations, but enthusiasts will have to wait until June 10 in order to grab one. Being an AT&T exclusive, you can get it without a contract at a fee of $749.99. As for the contract-based customers, a 30-month contract will attract a fee of $26.50 per month while getting it on a 24-month contract will attract a fee of $33.13 per month.
For this amount, you will be getting a phone that is more durable as well as more shatter-resistant than the Galaxy S6 Active. In addition to this, the phone packs the largest battery of any current Samsung Galaxy handset and it adds a customizable Active button. Of course, the S7 Active is bulkier than the standard S7, but you will still be getting the same specs under the hood, in addition to the same display size and quality, performance and camera as the S7.
Design and display
The entire line of rugged smartphones released by Samsung usually sacrifices design for sturdiness. This is not different from what you get from the Galaxy S7 Active with respect to the standard Galaxy S7. There is no doubt that this phone is eye-catching, but it is not the S7 you know of. There is nothing to do with glass and metal and instead, we have a matte green metal frame with rubberized edges and a back that features a textured camouflage. But this is only for the Camo Green color variant. If this is not your color, there are two more offerings that come in Gold and Gray.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is 0.39 inches thick and weighs about 6.53 ounces. This means the phone is thicker and heavier than the Galaxy S7, which measures 0.31 inches and weighs 5.36 ounces. The S7 Active is also taller at 5.86 inches compared to the 5.61 inches you get on the S7. However, this doesn’t mean you get a larger display panel on the rugged version, rather, the two have the same 5.1-inch QHD panel. Just below the display screen are three physical buttons that include the Home button where the phone’s fingerprint sensor has been embedded.
Even though the phone is a year older than the S6 Active, you will be getting the same IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. But this is the same certification you get with the standard Samsung Galaxy S7. To make the tough and rough variant a better fit for those who love camping, hiking and doing any other outdoor activities, the Korean company went back to the S6 Active’s MIL-STD-810G certification that ensures the phone can withstand intense temperature environments, shock, pressure, vibration, altitude and a vast range of extreme conditions.
The design of the phone sees a power button placed on the side (right) alongside a SIM and microSD card slot that can accommodate up to 200GB of storage. On the left, you get a customizable Active button and a volume rocker. The phone comes with microUSB charging port and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
Performance specs, camera, and battery life
As pointed out earlier, you won’t find much difference in the performance specs on offer here. Samsung Galaxy S7 Active packs the same specs under the hood as what is offered in the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Unlike the standard variant which comes with two chipset options, you only get a Snapdragon 820-powered S7 Active. The RAM remains the same at 4GB and so are onboard storage (32GB) and camera specs (12MP main and 5MP secondary). You will also be getting Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box with the new Active phone.
Like last year’s Galaxy S6 Active that came in with a larger battery than the standard S7, you get a humongous 4000mAh battery on Samsung Galaxy S7 Active.
When compared to the standard S7, the Galaxy S7 Active is a much better and enhanced version, especially for those who are willing to trade looks for sturdiness.