Samsung has a strong history of taking its flagships and spinning them off into different variants. The next one we're sure to see is the Galaxy S7 Active.
The company's past flagships have run the same recycling route. The Galaxy S5, for example, had no less than four variants birthed from the original: the S5 Neo, S5 Mini, S5 Active, and S5 Sport. Samsung, however, did trim down the fat when the Galaxy S6 was released and only offered the S6 Active.
What we're expecting next is the Galaxy S7 Active. Leaked by tried-and-true tipster Evan Blass, A.K.A. @evleaks, the Galaxy S7 Active codenamed "Poseidon" seems to be undergoing testing by AT&T.
"AT&T is testing a handset, Samsung SM-G891A. GS6 Active is G890A. Updated SKU, GS7 Active, or other?" Blass recently shared over his popular Twitter account.
Besides the "Active" badge, what should really set the upcoming device apart from the original S7 is military grade protection from the elements. Unlike the current crop of Galaxy S7s, which are just IP68 certified, meaning the S7s are dustproof and water resistant up to one meter of water for only 30 minutes, the Galaxy S7 Active is expected to offer even greater protection.
The next level of certification the Galaxy S7 Active will likely boast is known as MIL-STD-810G. This type of certification is one that the United States Department of Defense adopts on products it uses for military purposes. That's right. The Galaxy S7 Active will be built like a tank.
But the Galaxy S7 Active won't be the first Samsung device to have attained MIL-STD-810G certification. Last year's flagship, the Galaxy S6 Active, had it as well, and it proved to be one tough cookie to crack.
To be MIL-STD-810G certified, a product must undergo a number of laboratory test methods that include low pressure, high pressure, low temperature, high temperature, solar radiation, rain, humidity, fungus tests, and even all kinds of shock, such as pyroshock, gunfire shock and, of course, ballistic shock.
Companies putting their products through such kinds of extreme conditions actually don't have to pass all the tests to be MIL-STD-810G certified. They do, however, have to specify which tests a product actually passed. In the Galaxy S6 Active's case, the device passed through 20 different categories.
The Galaxy S7 Active then is expected to be on par with last year's S6 Active, and still hold its own (if not more) against Mother Nature. Of course, the S7 Active will probably be bigger than its predecessors and, as a result, offer a bigger battery for much longer battery life, too. Otherwise, it should come with roughly the same specs as the flagship Galaxy S7.
