Since the year 2013, the AT&T-exclusive Galaxy S7 Active provides Samsung's flagship phone in a rugged, water-resistant body, with rubberized rear, shatter-resistant screen, beefier battery and enhanced metal frame than the regular Galaxy S7.
According to Engadget, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active provides excellent performance, display and cameras. The Active version is bulkier than the regular S7, yet still surprisingly slim for a rugged device.
The Galaxy S7 Active comes in a svelte 0.38-inch profile that makes it comfortable to handle and a good fit in most pockets. The boxy Active features reinforced corners in order to make it a better fit for outdoor enthusiasts and field workers. The smartphone comes in more case options, including a classy black case, a "Camo Green" or a "Sandy Gold."
While on the S7 the Home and All Apps buttons are capacitive, the Active has physical navigation keys. Another difference between the regular S7 and the Active consists in the so-called Active key that sits above the volume rocker on the device's left edge.
The Active key launches by default Samsung's fitness tracking dashboard, called the Activity Zone. However, users can program the key to open any of their favorite app. The Emergency Zone is opening by double pressing the Active key. This is a feature that allows users to quickly send a preset SOS message or call 911.
This year's model of the Galaxy S7 Active comes also with a fingerprint sensor built into the home button and a microSD slot. The fingerprint sensor is a convenient way to use the Samsung Pay app.
In terms of ruggedness, the S7 Active has IP68 rating for water resistance, same as the S7 and S7 Edge. This means that the device can withstand up to five feet and 30 minutes of water immersion. However, according to Forbes, consumer reports show that the device is not actually waterproof. In two tests, water caused ruined cameras and blinking screens.
The S7 Active has in addition a stronger metal body, shatterproof screen and a rubberized back. The device comes with a 4,000 mAh battery and can survive falls from up to five feet.
