Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“The S 4 Active is mostly additive. It's a little larger and heavier, but in exchange you get a phone that feels sturdier and a bit less plasticky in your hand. PenTile AMOLED detractors can get a high-end Samsung phone with an LCD display, and the dust-and-water-resistance is a nice extra feature. If you don't mind TouchWiz but dislike Samsung's hardware, this is probably the phone to get. For the trade-off, you get a slightly worse camera, slightly worse battery life, and the inability to buy the phone from anyone who isn't AT&T. All this means it's not the perfect alternative to the vanilla S 4, but AT&T customers looking to upgrade should at least give this one a look before going with the standard version.”
“The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is not the best smartphone in the Samsung lineup, but if you add that I can put in water, things definitely change. It's a very good 2013 flagship aimed at people who until recently had very few options - as you can see there aren't many high-end smartphones with water resistance.Sure not everyone needs to have an IP57 certified handset, but if it doesn't cost anything in terms of overall smartphone performance than it certainly doesn't hurt having it. Initially it may just give you peace of mind, knowing that you won't ruing your vacation by dropping your expensive smartphone in the water, but at some point you'll inevitably want to explore the opportunities that an element-defying handset gives you.”
“The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active finds itself a little in no mans land, and it's a difficult one for us to recommend outright. If you're in the market for a super powerful smartphone which you can take on extreme activities, swimming and in the bath then sure the Galaxy S4 Active is the best around, but that's a pretty limited market.”
“Some may say the Galaxy S 4 Active is a gimmick, an attempt to squeeze as much momentum out of the GS4 brand as possible. True, it's more rugged lite than military-grade, and its display literally pales in comparison to its predecessor's. But water resistance aside, this handset still has quite a few things going for it. We actually prefer this design, and it runs well as a daily driver. And even though the camera has fewer megapixels than the GS 4's, it delivers clear, detailed shots and 1080p video.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
Like the name suggests, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is designed with the active outdoor users in mind. As with the Sony Xperia Z, the S4 Active is IP67 certified, which means that it is water-resistant up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes and also dust resistant. Tech Hive tests back up the water-resistant claim, though they go on to mention that micro-USB flap port felt flimsy and “seems like it’d be way too easy to damage through regular use.”
To complement the water-resistant feature, the S4 Active has made one notable design change. Instead of the standard navigation buttons on the touch screen, Samsung opted for physical buttons. Critics explain the design choice by noting that physical buttons work better than capacitive buttons when wet. In addition, most critics enjoyed the tactical feedback from pressing the buttons. Android Central states that they had “just enough click to them, as well as just the right amount of texture.”
Besides the buttons, the S4 Active has also added a new Aqua camera mode. As the name suggests, Aqua mode is for underwater picture taking. When active, the shutter controls move to the volume rocker and users can choose whether they want to take pictures or videos. While most reviewers enjoyed the mode, they also noticed two main drawbacks: lack of auto focus and poor screen visibility underwater. CNET felt that these issues lead to quite a bit of guesswork and “hit or miss” image quality.
Specs-wise, the S4 Active packs many of the same features as the Samsung Galaxy S4. It comes with a 1.9GHz quad-core process, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. Its smooth performance scrolling between pages as well as playing graphically intensive games impressed reviewers. T3 calls the phone a power-house.
Unlike the Galaxy S4, the S4 Active sports a 5″, 1080 LCD display. When reviewers directly compared the two phones, they noticed that colors on the S4 active were not nearly as vibrant and had a magenta cast on the panel. Still, Engadget states that the screen still offers excellent viewing angles, crisp text and good bright light legibility.
Despite the Active in its name most reviewers discovered that the phone itself isn’t much more rugged than other top smartphones. The plastic finish made it difficult for many to get a good grip on the device, making drops more likely. Unfortunately, most realized its not made to withstand drops. While the top and bottom edges of the phone are rubberized, Trusted Review warns that it will not soak up an impact, though they go on to say that it will help avoid light scratches.
Regardless of its actual durability, consensus amoung critics is that the Samsung Galaxy Active 4 is a solid phone with an interesting design. Android Central concludes, “the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a fun, robust Android smartphone.”
What people actually want to know
When was the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active released?
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active was released on June 15, 2013.
How long does the battery last on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active?
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has a 2,600 mAh battery.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active support wireless charging?
No, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active does not support wireless charging.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active have NFC?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I get support for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active?
Visit Samsung's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active manual?
You can view and download the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
Have a question about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active? Ask it here and we'll email you as soon as someone answers. Readers have answered 5,000 questions across PhoneCompass.
Finish the security check above to post your question.
Your name shows with your question.
✓ Question submitted. We'll notify you when someone answers.
We sent a verification link to . Click it to publish your question.
Can't find it? Check your spam folder.
How it compares
New phones, honest scores.
One email when something worth knowing changes. No deal spam, no filler.