ABOUT Samsung release The Galaxy S8 Active has not yet been officially announced, but we already know almost everything about it. The newest member of Samsung's Active smartphone lineup will get the majority Galaxy capabilities S8, but at the same time it will be clad in a particularly durable case. Famous tester Evan Blass (@evleaks) has published an official render of the Galaxy S8 Active.
The picture doesn't show us much that we didn't already know, but we can pick out a few small details. The smartphone will have a protruding frame for better protection display and metal bumpers on all four corners that appear to have Torx screws. It is possible that this indicates that the bumpers will be replaceable, but again, this may only be for cosmetic effect. But if these bumpers actually turn out to be removable, it could open up a whole new market for accessories. This will be a great way to differentiate the S8 Active from its glass brethren.
In terms of specs, the Galaxy S8 Active (likely an AT&T exclusive) will have a flat screen Super AMOLED with Gorilla Glass 5 size 5.8″ (2960×1440) and aspect ratio 18.5:9, Qualcomm processor Snapdragon 835, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB internal memory, extensible with microSD cards, 12-megapixel main camera + 8-megapixel front camera, 4000 mAh battery and fast wireless charging. The Galaxy S8 Active will support MIL-STD-810G and IP-68 with water and dust resistance. Intellectual Bixby assistant will also be on board and there will be someone to call him special button. The smartphone will be available in 2 colors: Meteor Gray and Titanium Gold.
Some sites quote a release date of August 1, 2017, based on screen protector product listings from Amazon, but this is obviously not a very reliable source. Regardless of whether this becomes true, we know for sure that we will see the Galaxy S8 Active soon. After all, the render has July 21st listed on screen, indicating a potential release date that has been delayed.
In August 2017 Samsung of the Year presented an updated Galaxy version S with increased protection class. The S8 Active is the company's latest flagship device to feature a screen without rounded edges. This design decision is a sacrifice of shock resistance and increased battery capacity.
About the device
Active series Samsung Galaxy S has been around for more than five years, and today the S8 Active is the latest member of the line. Interestingly, the first rugged smartphones of the South Korean corporation were inferior in performance and functionality to flagships: less RAM, last year's chipsets and far from top-end cameras were packaged in a massive case that protected the device from extreme environmental factors.
In the case of the eighth Galaxy, the situation looks different: from the point of view technical specifications, the device with an increased protection class is a clone of the regular S8. The difference between the active version and the standard G8 is the screen without rounded edges and increased battery capacity.
The absence of losses from internal competition between Samsung smartphones is due to AT&T's exclusive rights to sell a protected gadget: the modified S8 is purchased in advance by the American operator, due to which all possible risks associated with the sale of the device on the market are transferred to the supplier cellular communication, and the manufacturer is guaranteed to make a profit.
It is worth saying that only consumers suffer from the exclusivity of the Active smartphone. While the smartphone is freely available for American users, residents of other countries have to purchase an unlocked device on Amazon or eBay (“there is no global” version of the modification). Despite all the difficulties associated with the purchase, the gadget is very popular in the world.
Full specifications of the Galaxy S8 Active
Technical Samsung specification Galaxy S8 Active is contained in the table:
| operating system | Android 8.0 + Samsung Experience 9.0 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (4x2.3 GHz + 4x1.7 GHz) |
| RAM capacity | 4 GB |
| AnTuTu Benchmark | 201 000 |
| Volume of permanent memory | 64 GB |
| Memory card support | Up to 256 GB (MicroSD) |
| Display type | Super-AMOLED 5.8″ (Quad HD+ 2960×1440), Always-On and HDR10 support, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, additional protective layer |
| Display beep density | 570 ppi |
| Main camera | 12 MP (F/1.7), DualPixel, Multiframe, 4K 30 FPS |
| Front camera | 8 MP (F/1.7) |
| Supported Interfaces | Bluetooth 5.1; aptX; NFC; GPS; GLONASS; WiFi 802.11; USB-C |
| LTE support | cat.16 |
| Number of SIM cards | 1 NanoSIM |
| Protected from water and dust | IP68 |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh, fast charging |
| Audio jack | 3.5mm MiniJack |
| Dimensions (mm) | 152.2x74.9x9.9 |
| Weight | 208 g |
The main difference between the S8 Active and its predecessor is the elongated screen with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 and the absence of physical keys on the front surface.
Design and ergonomics
The design of the S8 Active complies with the military standard MIL-STD-810G (USA), which implies security electronic device from falls from heights and sudden temperature changes. The body of the smartphone is covered with rubberized plastic, and the display is covered with fifth-generation Corning Gorilla Glass and an additional protective layer. The degree of protection against water and dust complies with the international standard IP68.
It should be noted that the gadget has large dimensions (152.2x74.9x9.9 mm) and impressive weight (208 g), and not every user will be able to hide the modified S8 in their pocket.
Screen
The specifications and display capabilities of the Active version of the S8 are presented below:
- Super-AMOLED matrix with a diagonal of 5.8 inches and Quad HD+ resolution (2960×1440);
- Always-On mode support (low battery consumption by active display);
- Adaptive mode (automatically adjusts the brightness and color rendition of the display to the ambient lighting conditions);
- 45-degree polarizing filter position (picture saturation at any angle and in any lighting).
Interestingly, 1000 nits of maximum Super-AMOLED brightness is enough to use the display as a front-facing flash when taking selfies.
Performance
The American Snapdragon 835 with eight cores (4 energy-efficient and 4 high-performance) is responsible for the performance of the S8 Active, and the RAM capacity is 4 gigabytes. In the synthetic AnTuTu test, the G8 scores more than 200 thousand points and is ahead of most modern smartphones.
Platform
The current version of the smartphone operating system is Android 8.0 Oreo, which is hidden under Samsung Experience UI 9.0. It is worth noting that the “eights” do not participate in Project Treble, which is why the software update process for these devices will consist of two main stages: firmware development by Google and OS optimization by the manufacturer.
Although making edits by a vendor slows down the overall update speed, the SE UI shell brings to bare Android additional features: for example, the ability to clone instant messengers and simultaneous use one application with several accounts. Also, the Samsung Experience interface does not contain bright colors and retains the laconicism of the original OS.
Camera
The Galaxy S8 Active has a main photo module, the characteristics of which are identical to the camera of a regular G8. 12 megapixel sensor designed by Sony, support for Dual Pixel technology and Multiframe post-processing ensure high-quality photos in any lighting.
The front camera has a resolution of 8 MP and an F/1.7 aperture, which is a “classic” for three last generations Samsung Galaxy S smartphones.
Communications and sound
The communication capabilities of the S8 Active include support for:
- LTE-advanced. Thanks to working with advanced fourth-generation networks, the gadget is capable of transmitting data over cellular channels at speeds of up to 400 Mbit/s.
- NFC. NFC technology allows you to pay real purchases smartphone through services Samsung Pay and Android Pay.
- Bluetooth version 5 and aptX standard. “Eight” can work simultaneously with several wireless audio accessories, and also supports “air” sound playback in Lossless format.
- WiFi and WiFi Direct. Direct is a technology for broadcasting the contents of a smartphone display to external monitor with WiFi support.
- OTG connections. USB Type-C and OTG connection provide instant data transfer between mobile devices, synchronized by wire.
- GPS and GLONASS. Satellite systems Geolocation determinations do not require a connection to a cellular network, which allows you to use a secure smartphone as a navigator or GPS tracker.
It is worth noting that, despite the massive body of the Active smartphone, the multimedia mono speaker has a good resonator. The sound quality and volume will satisfy most users.
Memory and memory card
The internal storage capacity of the smartphone is 51 gigabytes (nominally stated 64) and can be supplemented with a card microSD memory up to 256 GB. You can install applications and write system cache files to a removable disk, so the user is unlikely to experience a lack of memory on the device.
Autonomy
Time battery life device with average display backlight intensity and moderate processor load is 7-9 hours, which is a high figure for modern smartphones.
It is worth saying that a 4000 mAh battery and four energy-saving processor cores with the battery saving mode activated can provide the modified S8 with two days of autonomy.
Peculiarities
The software feature of Samsung Active smartphones is a collection of Activity Zone applications designed to monitor a person’s health during physical activity, and also for quick access to information such as barometer readings or the direction of a person’s movement in space.
Thanks to synchronization with Bixby and S Health, utilities from the Activity Zone become part of the interface and are not lost in the catalog user installed programs.
Comparison with competitors
The only serious competitor to the S8 Active is the previous generation of rugged smartphone - the Galaxy S7 Active. Below is a comparative analysis of these devices:
| Galaxy S8 Active | Galaxy S7 Active | |
| operating system | Android 7.0 (8.0) | Android 6.0 (8.0) |
| AnTuTu | 200 000 | 100 000 |
| RAM capacity | 4 Gb | |
| ROM volume | 64 Gb + microSD support up to 256 Gb | 32 Gb + microSD support up to 256 Gb |
| Display | 5.8″, SuperAMOLED, Always-On, QHD (2560x1440), 506 ppi, Gorilla Glass 5, additional coating for durability | 5.1″, SuperAMOLED, Always-On, QHD (2560x1440), 576 ppi, Gorilla Glass 4, additional shock protection |
| Main camera | 12 MP (F/1.7), Dual Pixel | |
| Front camera | 8 MP (F/1.7) | 5 MP (F/1.7) |
| Video recording | 4K, SloMo 240 FPS | 4K, SloMo 120 FPS |
| Number of SIM cards | 1 NanoSIM | |
| Water and dust protection | IP68 | |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh | |
| Dimensions (mm) | 152.15x74.93x9.9 | 142.4x69.6x7.9 |
| Additional information | Fast charging, fingerprint scanner, 18.5:9 display aspect ratio | Fast charging, fingerprint sensor, physical navigation keys |
| Price | 30,000 rubles | 20,000 rubles |
If the camera characteristics and the degree of protection of the case of smartphones are identical, then the performance of the G8 is twice as high as that of its predecessor. On the other hand, the S7 costs significantly less, and the buyer will have to make a choice between the power of the device and saving money.
Prices
You can purchase the S8 Active either from American online sellers or from domestic resellers. A purchase from the former will cost the user approximately 30 thousand rubles, and from the latter - 33-35 thousand. When ordering a smartphone from the USA, you should make sure that it is unlinked from a mobile operator.
Samsung's Galaxy Active line of smartphones and increasingly rugged wearables have made the South Korean manufacturer a top choice for the most active or most carefree mobile users. Starting with the Galaxy S4 Active, it offered IP67 water resistance, years before it became a flagship standard. The rugged case has since been upgraded with military-grade certifications for passing drop, extreme temperature, and water resistance tests. Year after year, Active smartphones came out shortly after their introduction flagship models Samsung Galaxy, sometimes differing in internal components to match the appearance of these devices. Perhaps this year it came out best Android smartphone Galaxy S8, and after it came the S8 Active. However, in a world where protection is a common feature of flagship devices, and some also have shock-resistant screens, is the Galaxy Active line really necessary? Let's try to understand.
Scope of delivery:
- Galaxy S8 Active smartphone
- USB A to USB C adapter
- Micro-USB adapter >
- Charging USB cable C>USB A
- Fast charging adapter
- Warranty and user manual
Design
The Galaxy S8 Active became the first device in this series after Samsung switched to frameless curved screens. IN Samsung smartphones no more Edge models or flat screen models, they are all now curved. It is not difficult to guess that the creators of the S8 Active did not wrap the screen on the sides, because the smartphone must survive a fall from a height of one and a half meters. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, which is covered with an impact-resistant layer. Unfortunately, early reviews say that this layer is easily scratched, just like the impact-resistant screen. Dense metal covers the edges of the smartphone, the corners are reinforced with hard rubberized plastic. The virtual assistant still has a separate clicky button underneath the same volume button, while the power button makes a less distinct sound. There is no Home button, just like in the S8. It will be interesting to see how this plays out to users who typically want more durable buttons with a distinct tactile response on such devices.
The military standard MIL-STD-810G means protection from drops, extreme temperatures and other troubles, IP68 certification carries protection from water and dust. The thicker edges of the smartphone not only add to its durability, but also give room for a larger battery. The increase in thickness and weight makes the device more solid in the palm of your hand. It's 50g heavier than the S8, but only 20g heavier than the Galaxy S7 Active, while being the same thickness and width, just a couple of millimeters longer. Samsung was able to offer a durable device that still fits in your pocket.
Screen
The edge-to-edge Infinity Display isn't fully present here with its curved edges, but there are still rounded corners and a high screen-to-body ratio of 75% versus 84% in the S8. The screen diagonal is 5.8 inches, the same as on the standard S8.
With the help voice command you can force the assistant to open the recorder and immediately start recording. The same is possible in some third party applications. You can navigate on your smartphone, you can give a command to make a call via Wi-Fi.
The main problem here is the assistant's hearing. Speech recognition cannot be called stable, although it is possible to train the assistant in case of errors. However, the corrected words are sent to Samsung for further analysis. Improved local learning and recognition would be very helpful.
The smartphone lacks the complex shortcut commands that the Note 8 has. These commands bring automation to new level by activating various actions based on phrases. I would like to be able to say “Good night” to the assistant and see the activation of the Do Not Disturb feature and the blue light filter, as well as an alarm with a previously set time. For now, you can only create one phrase for one action. Since the smartphone was installed latest version software, the thought arises that a virtual assistant may differ in different models smartphones.
There's a card in the Bixby panel called Active Zone. On it you can see the barometer and compass readings, there are switches for a flashlight and a stopwatch. Clicking on the card opens the Active Zone in full screen, and the weather and Samsung Health suite apps also appear. There is also a switch for the flashlight in the notification center. The Galaxy S7 Active had physical button called Activity, but now there is a Bixby assistant button instead, so it’s logical that the application data has been moved here.
Processor and memory
For now, this smartphone is exclusive to the American operator mobile communications AT&T and works only on processors, while the usual S8 variants in other countries are based on the Exynos 8895 processor. The difference in performance between them, if any, is subtle. 4 GB of RAM also helps high speed work. Navigation is fast and smooth, and applications launch just as quickly, no matter how many of them are already open. Stuttering and forced closing were observed only when setting up Bixby for the first time, but then the assistant began to work as expected. This is not surprising since the specifications are the same as the regular Galaxy S8, so the speed is the same.
Connection
LTE-A Pro Category 16 is supported, which means gigabit LTE will be possible in the coming years. There is also Bluetooth 5.1, NFC/MST for mobile payments and wireless charging.
Cameras
This smartphone uses the same optics as the standard S8. The rear camera has a resolution of 12 megapixels. Front camera 8 MP. The usual ones are available according to the latest Samsung models shooting modes including depth effect on both sensors. Although the effect can be edited after shooting, this ability is limited to three modes. Near Focus displays a normal bokeh effect, Far Focus applies blur to foreground objects and shows the background clearly, and Pan Focus shows everything clearly without blur. There's no slider to adjust blur like the Galaxy Note 8's Live Focus feature.
Regular photos on the front camera come out with good exposure and detail. Selective focus works fine, although there are no problems with focus and exposure throughout the photo.
The rear camera performs well in low light, with levels of detail on par with the best smartphones and superior color accuracy and richness in the shadows. Although this camera is not a champion at managing contrast between bright and dark areas, and in this case the iPhone 7 is better, low-light colors and clarity are minimal. digital noise close to maximum parameters. In any case, it is better to have a couple of bright areas than to have colorless darkness throughout the photo.
The tendency to produce colors well in low light may be due to the sensor's tendency to favor a warmer yellowish tint while producing more accurate colors. It's a matter of taste and may look different to different people's eyes, but it seems like Samsung is once again the leader in low-light photography in terms of color accuracy.
Macro shots provide excellent foreground clarity and a nice blur effect, and the photos are taken quickly thanks to focus technology.
Video quality
The Pixel also performs well when shooting video. Objects come into focus almost instantly, which contributes to video quality optical stabilization. In general, the quality of the video is not inferior to the quality of the photos, the detail is high, the movements look natural, and the color rendition is normal.
Multimedia
This year, users managed to get acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of frameless long screens. They have problems with video formatting due to the unusual aspect ratio. As a result, the video is cropped or stretched to fit such screens. In this case, the ratio is 18.5:9, just like the original S8. Originally shot in 2:1 format, the video is the best option For of this smartphone, but even then there are black stripes at the bottom and top. Already found on YouTube automatic filling screen for 2:1 format, but such content is rare.
Listening to music here is more enjoyable than on many other smartphones. The speaker produces loud and quite rich sound compared to other flagships. Samsung has once again succeeded in this area.
Call quality
Nothing special in terms of quality telephone conversations You can't tell on the S8 Active. There are no complaints, you can hear your interlocutors normally, and they also hear you clearly. The sound in the ear is a little quieter than we would like, but the speakerphone is loud.
Autonomous operation
Compared to the standard S8, the battery capacity has increased by 1000 mAh and is 4000 mAh. This means 32 hours of talk time versus 30 hours. This also means use throughout the day, with a moderate load of one and a half days even with the Always On Display active. In standby mode, the developers promise three to four days on the S8 and five days on the S8 Active. In tests with the screen turned off, the device lasted almost 11 hours, two and a half hours more than the S8 and almost the same as the Galaxy S7 Active. The fast charging time was not too fast and amounted to two hours.
Is it possible to buy Samsung Galaxy S8 Active in Russia
The device is currently not sold in Russia and Samsung has not announced whether it will appear in large retail chains in the future. Perhaps the device can be purchased in small online stores.
Conclusion
S8 Active managed to do what is not done modern smartphones. It's taken cutting-edge technology and packaged it into a rugged design that fits easily into your pocket. It would seem that you need to make it thicker, add rubber corners and impact-resistant glass and everything is ready. In fact, the process is not so simple and South Korean manufacturer managed to cope with it. Apart from the usual protection from water and dust on other smartphones, this model has increased protection against falls and extreme temperatures.
The device still has normal size and weight. Although it is heavier than the standard S8, its battery capacity has increased, and with it the battery life. There are still more phones on the market that tend to be more fragile, but Samsung still offers an option for those who want a more durable device.
Pros
- Military standards for protection, durability and strength
- Great camera with fast focus
- Increased battery capacity
- Improved Bixby assistant
Cons
- Heavier than standard S8
- The camera shoots with a yellowish tint
Pros of the Galaxy S8 Active
- Full Galaxy S8
- High battery life
- Rugged housing
- Impact resistant screen
- Some people prefer a flat screen to a curved one.
Cons of the Galaxy S8 Active
- Too big and heavy for many
- Nothing different except the body
- More expensive than the standard model
- The screen is scratched
What we liked about the Galaxy S8 Active
The main advantage of the Galaxy S8 Active is that at its core it is still the same excellent S8 smartphone. Every specification, every feature and every component remains the same. This means you will receive high performance, a wide range of software capabilities and one of best cameras. The case is protected from water and dust, and there are no fewer connectors. The traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack remains in its place without a plug. You also get a gorgeous Super AMOLED screen with excellent brightness that's easy to view even in direct sunlight.
There is also wireless charging, which is sometimes absent in such cases due to the thick case that does not transmit a signal. A similar set of characteristics is not available in other rugged smartphones.
One characteristic has changed noticeably, but in better side. Battery capacity has increased to 4000 mAh instead of 3000 mAh in S8 and 3500 mAh in . Naturally, the battery life has also increased. Most often, by the end of the day the charge remains at 20% -30%.
The developers also want to make this smartphone stand out with a shock-resistant screen. Presumably, you can drop it from a height of one and a half meters onto a hard surface and the screen will remain intact.
What you didn't like about the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active
When working with a smartphone every day, it does not cause any major complaints. The main disadvantage is the size. The smartphone is wider, longer, thicker and heavier than the standard version, and by a lot. It is 10 g heavier even in comparison with, in size it is between. This is a lot, especially considering that the screen size is the same as the standard S8.Due to its large size, the smartphone is harder to work with and uncomfortable to hold, even when compared to the slippery S8. Appearance It's not as pretty as the sleek standard version.
There is another aspect, not so noticeable. The impact-resistant screen became so thanks to a special film on top of Gorilla Glass 5. As in Moto smartphone Z2 Force this coating scratches easily. Thus, the scratches do not remain on the glass itself, but on the plastic on top, but they are still scratches.
There are four major mobile operators in the US and the S8 Active is sold only by AT&T. This means there are a dozen generally unnecessary pre-installed apps, although they can be disabled or uninstalled. Changes have also been made to operating system. Fortunately, the smartphone should appear on other operators.
The device costs $849, which is $100 more than the standard S8 and the same as the S8+. This is a big difference for a smartphone that does not differ in terms of specifications and functionality.
Is it worth buying the Galaxy S8 Active?
Advanced users who are always looking to get a device with maximum battery, may want to receive flagship smartphone like S8 with big battery capacity 4000 mAh. However, first we need to think about what made the standard S8 so attractive: its design.The Active model is larger and heavier and does not have the curved edges of the screen that are distinctive feature S8. On the other hand, for some, on the contrary, this will become an advantage, but the same cannot be said about gravity. Due to its thickness, the S8 Active doesn't look or feel like Galaxy flagship S8, and this is the feeling that most people pay for.
Thus, those wishing to buy the S8 can hardly recommend the S8 Active only because of the larger battery. This plus alone cannot outweigh the size, weight, shape and price. This smartphone can only be recommended to those who need it for work or because of their lifestyle.
