Samsung has partnered exclusively with AT&T for the Galaxy S7 Active, which is the rugged variant of the company's current flagship smartphone. The device, which was highly anticipated as an upgrade to the Galaxy S6 Active released last year, will be available to customers on June 10.
There are now various reviews and first impressions online on the Galaxy S7 Active. Is the hype for the smartphone real? Or does the device fall short on expectations?
According to Michael Crider of Android Police, the Galaxy S7 Active feels more or less like having the Galaxy S7 fitted with a hard case. It is heavier and clunkier than the Galaxy S7, but its size and weight are not unreasonable. It should be noted that the Galaxy S7 Active features almost the same specifications as the Galaxy S7, with a 5.1-inch super AMOLED display, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB of RAM and expandable 32 GB or 64 GB storage.
Malarie Gokey of Digital Trends had an even more positive attitude toward the device, as the smartphone features the power of a flagship device but with the added perk of toughness compared to the fragility of the Galaxy S7. The device features a plastic-heavy frame with big gripping edges, while maintaining dust and water resistance seen in the Galaxy S7. The display also has an extra layer of polycarbonate to protect it from scratches.
In addition to the rugged design of the Galaxy S7 Active, the other major upgrade that the smartphone packs over the Galaxy S7 is its 4,000 mAh battery, compared to the Galaxy S7's 3,000 mAh pack. The battery life of the Galaxy is already considered to be impressive, but an even larger battery will allow the smartphone to cater to users who love going on outdoor adventures.
The Galaxy S7 Active also features the Active Key, which is not found in the Galaxy S7. The feature is an extra button at the smartphone's side that can be set to activate a total of three apps. The first app can be launched by tapping once, the second app can be launched by tapping twice and the third app can be launched by tapping and then holding.
According to Gokey, however, the biggest downside of the smartphone is its limited availability and price. With AT&T being the exclusive partner for the smartphone, customers will be forced to switch networks if they would like to have the Galaxy S7 Active in their hand. The smartphone also does not come cheap, carrying a price tag of $795 for the 32 GB version, which is $100 more expensive compared to the regular Galaxy S7.
There is also the fact that, despite paying $795 for the device, Tech Insider's Jeff Dunn claims that it is not as aesthetically pleasing as Samsung's previous offerings. Users are indeed trading in form for function with the Galaxy S7 Active.
All that said, the Galaxy S7 Active can arguably be considered as the best rugged smartphone in the market due to its combination of flagship specifications and protection. For AT&T customers who are looking for a high-end smartphone with amazing durability, CNET's Dan Graziano states that they could not go wrong with the Galaxy S7 Active.
