Samsung has responded to the two failed water resistance tests of the Galaxy S7 active, promising replacements for units that don't live up to the IP68 rating.
Consumer Reports was behind the discovery, more or less revealing that the rugged handset isn't all it's cracked up to be. Back then, the South Korean smartphone maker implied that there's a chance that the devices used in the tests were defective, and as a result, they weren't as "watertight" as they should've been.
This time around, the company is aiming to make things right, offering compensation to consumers who are unlucky enough to come across the issue.
"The Galaxy S7 active passed rigorous tests to ensure IP68 certification for water resistance. Samsung stands behind this water resistance certification, and will replace any Galaxy S7 active under its standard limited warranty, should water damage occur," Samsung says.
This move appears to not only give the customers who got a defective unit their due but also benefit the firm financially.
As a little refresher, the Galaxy S7 active is exclusively available at AT&T, and it's touted to sport the same IP68 certification as the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. With that rating, it's designed to resist dust and water and last 30 minutes submerged in 5 feet of water, but some of the units apparently aren't capable of surviving through such a situation.
For the record, the devices used in the test didn't function properly even after they were dried off.
To put things into perspective, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge passed similar tests with flying colors, proving that a smartphone doesn't exactly have to be "active" to withstand unfavorable conditions.
As everyone probably knows already, the Galaxy S7 active is supposed to be the more durable sibling among the trio, but it apparently can't handle water all that well.
In Samsung's defense, there's a reasonable possibility that the devices sent out to Consumer Reports were really defective, but to stay on the safe side, it's recommended to not go for a swim just yet with the "rugged" smartphone.
Are you one of the unfortunate customers who got ahold of a Galaxy S7 active that isn't up to code? If so, feel free to pay a visit to our comments section below and let us know.
