Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Review: Wet ‘N’ Wild

Samsung’s decision to release several variants of its flagship Galaxy S4 has been a popular one. As well as the now customary mini handset , users have also been blessed with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, a device designed for the outdoor lifestyle.

Water resistant, dust resistant and still with an impressive list of specifications it seems like the perfect marriage of performance and protection, but will this prove to be the case? We put it through its paces to find out…

Key Features

• 5-inch TFT capacitive display
• 1.9GHz quad-core processor
• Android Jelly Bean operating system
• 8 megapixel camera
• 16GB internal storage
• Water/dust resistant

Design & Hardware

Despite supposedly being the Bear Grylls of mobile phones, there’s not a lot between the Galaxy S4 and S4 Active’s design to indicate so. Aesthetically that rounded pebble appearance remains the same, although the Active is slightly wider and heavier, and the polycarbonate rear cover has lost the shiny feel in favour of a more robust matte finish. Three physical buttons sit at the bottom as well for easy use out and about, but there’s little that immediately screams ‘outdoors’.

That said there’s certainly an active feel to it. The weight gain adds a robust element in-hand and those buttons feel pleasant despite being old school. Where the original handset was sleek and sophisticated this is a bruiser, and it’s easy to imagine checking your messages whilst climbing a mountain (well maybe not, but you get the picture). It won’t please everyone, but it’s certainly fit for purpose provided you abstain from lobbing it at rocks and such.

There have also been changes under the hood. Gone is the impressive 13 megapixel camera and Super AMOLED display, replaced by 8 megapixel and TFT efforts respectively. But, before the hysteria starts, the Active is still capable of excellent basic images and, with a ppi of 441, you lose nothing in sharpness from the screen. And, most importantly, you still get the monster 1.9GHz quad-core processor, so what’s there to complain about?

Nothing, especially when you can dunk it in water for up to half an hour. Even with an exposed audio jack the handset can sit up to a metre deep for 30 minutes, giving it a clear edge over its rivals. Throw in dust resistance, which translates to all kinds of muck and dirt, and there’s little to scoff at.
As a result the Active is still as solid and likeable as the original S4, and offers that premium Samsung feel despite the clear differences in terms of specifications, something that matters only on paper.

Software & Multimedia

When it comes to Android Jelly Bean it’s all pretty much standard fare – little has changed from the S4 and TouchWiz looks the same. This is good or bad depending on your opinion, and for our money there’s little to add or contest.

More important are the various exclusives to the Active, most notably Aqua mode camera function. Alongside solid basic images this stroke of genius allows for underwater snaps and filming with striking results. They may not be of the highest quality, but framed correctly and these images can really catch the eye. Video is a different story, though, and the high-quality movies prove one of the handset’s highlights.

Those that liked the S4’s innovation won’t be disappointed either. Smart Stay, Smart Pause and Smart Scroll all make the cut, as do the various air gestures. Again, this is another case of horses for courses – we saw very little point to the majority of these, but others may be impressed by their appearance.
The same can be said of S Health , although a raft of peripherals give the suite a boost and a more active feel. Stick on the heart monitor and you can track your exercise on-the-go, along with glucose readers and the basic calorie counter. For fitness freaks it’ll be a dream come true, but it won’t steal focus from the Active’s main shouts.

Performance & Verdict

The S4 Active houses the same 2600mAh battery as the original S4 and performs similarly. Conservative use will give you a day and bit without a juice up, a figure decreased by more frequent tinkering. But it’s the gestures that will really harm the charge time, and having them all on at once can eat away at your battery life, so turn them off if you’re not a fan.

Overall the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active performs as both an impressive variant and a stand-alone handset. Its S4 heritage offers top specs only slightly trimmed, whilst its Active pedigree opens the door to a handful of genuinely impressive features.

Some may question the point of water resistance and such like, but if you want more than your average from a handset without compromising on specifications, it’s really the only place to look. Samsung has trodden a fine line very well indeed.