Samsung Confirms Waterproof, Dustproof Galaxy S4 Active

We caught our first glimpse of the Galaxy S4 Active a couple of weeks ago, when GSM Arena obtained a few photos of the device. We haven't heard much about the device since then, with Samsung choosing to announce the Galaxy S4 mini before uttering a word about the ruggedized version of its flagship phone.

 

Today, amidst the Computex madness, Samsung confirmed the Galaxy S4 Active's existence. Though it's billed as an S4 for the outdoorsy types, the Active won't actually have the same specs as the regular Galaxy S4. Instead, you're looking at a 1.9 GHZ Quad-Core processor and a 5.0-inch full HD TFT LCD screen (443 PPI) working alongside an 8-megapixel camera. The regular S4 comes with a 13-megapixel camera and as much as an octa-core CPU in some regions.

As far as rugged features are concerned, the S4 Active has qualified protection from dust and water (IP67) and sports a full sealed design to keep dust particles out and protect against water damage for up to 30 minutes of submergence at a depth of one meter. There's also a water-resistant earphone jack and an 'Aqua Mode' for better quality underwater images and video.

The S4 Active will be available for purchase beginning this summer, with initial retail in the U.S. and Sweden. It will be offered in Urban Grey, Dive Blue and Orange Flare. Specific availability will vary depending on the market.

  • sundragon
    This is a game changer. If these guys pull this off (it actually does what they say) it will make a paradigm shift in the market.
    Hopefully, this will make every phone manufacturer come to the party with devices that don't die if dunked in water (the toilet)... Nothing like having to pay full price to replace your phone.
    Reply
  • dailo23
    all smartphone should be made with some level of water/dust proof as there are minimum amount of buttons now (normally power, vol+/-). this makes water/dust proof a lot easier. even a simple rubber seal will save majority of water damage.
    Reply
  • CKKwan
    Samsung please learn how to make a metal casing first....
    Reply
  • kensingtron
    Liquipel does void the warranty
    Reply
  • rrr1431
    How come Samsung had to change the specs? Essentially it's a different phone so just call it something else. Tsk tsk tsk... Marketing....
    Reply
  • Someone Somewhere
    SoC wise, it's the same as the north american one, isn't it? Dropped the AMOLED though.
    Why change the capacitive buttons? The home button, yes, but it's quite hard to find something more waterproof than Gorilla Glass.
    Now, let's see more phones like this, with no price premium.
    Reply
  • Someone Somewhere
    SoC wise, it's the same as the north american one, isn't it? Dropped the AMOLED though.
    Why change the capacitive buttons? The home button, yes, but it's quite hard to find something more waterproof than Gorilla Glass.
    Now, let's see more phones like this, with no price premium.
    Reply
  • immanuel_aj
    10920385 said:
    This is a game changer. If these guys pull this off (it actually does what they say) it will make a paradigm shift in the market.
    Hopefully, this will make every phone manufacturer come to the party with devices that don't die if dunked in water (the toilet)... Nothing like having to pay full price to replace your phone.

    What? Sony and Samsung have had waterproof smartphones for quite a while now. And they're not the only brands that make them.
    Reply
  • Someone Somewhere
    10922460 said:
    10920385 said:
    This is a game changer. If these guys pull this off (it actually does what they say) it will make a paradigm shift in the market.
    Hopefully, this will make every phone manufacturer come to the party with devices that don't die if dunked in water (the toilet)... Nothing like having to pay full price to replace your phone.

    What? Sony and Samsung have had waterproof smartphones for quite a while now. And they're not the only brands that make them.

    Nowhere near the performance of this though - they were compromise all the way.

    Plus this could be close to the price of the S4, hopefully.
    Reply
  • immanuel_aj
    10922513 said:
    10922460 said:
    10920385 said:
    This is a game changer. If these guys pull this off (it actually does what they say) it will make a paradigm shift in the market.
    Hopefully, this will make every phone manufacturer come to the party with devices that don't die if dunked in water (the toilet)... Nothing like having to pay full price to replace your phone.

    What? Sony and Samsung have had waterproof smartphones for quite a while now. And they're not the only brands that make them.

    Nowhere near the performance of this though - they were compromise all the way.

    Plus this could be close to the price of the S4, hopefully.

    The Xperia Z comes really close and that's been out since February.
    4x 1.5 Ghz, no removable battery and Android 4.1.2 - I think that's the only disadvantage it has against this phone. Well, the price as well. It's been four months now so it's going to be cheaper than the S4 Active.
    Reply