News
Marin Perez
19:26, Jun 27 2013
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active for AT&T is a rugged, powerful phone
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Typical Price:
$199.99
Pros:
Exceptional design that can take a beating, good camera, fantastic experience overall
Cons:
Some occasional software bugs
Verdict:
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a fantastic smartphone for those who want a great phone that can take a beating
We review the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active for AT&T and see if this variation of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is worth your time and money.
Hardware
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review
Think of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active as the Galaxy S4 with an Iron Man suit on. It retains most of the high-end specs of the Samsung Galaxy S4 but it has a tougher exterior which is dust-proof and water-resistant.
I actually prefer the heavier and bulkier body of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active compared to the normal Galaxy S4 because it feels more substantial. The trade off is that it's not as light as other devices but I don't find it to be too heavy by any means.
While it's not military-certified to be drop and shock proof, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active can take a pounding. Drop it, step on it, toss it around - the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active will take it and beg for more. This type of phone would be perfect for my Mom, who has already broken five iPhones in the span of three years.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has a gorgeous 5-inch 1080p HD screen. You get a fantastic 1920 x 1080 resolution with 441 pixels per inch. It's an amazing display which only really lets you down in direct, bright sunlight.
You get physical buttons underneath that great screen for the back, home and menu buttons. These work pretty well, are easy to access without having to look down at your device.
You'll find the microUSB slot on the bottom underneath a plastic flap. You have to put that in tightly because the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is water resistant. You can put it in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. While I doubt many of you will be using your phone underwater consistently, it's really nice to not have to worry about using your phone in the rain.
The back is two-toned and I love the color options you can get from AT&T. The tops and bottoms are a different color than the full back and it also has some large bolts. I love the look of these.
Inside, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a powerhouse. You get a 1.9GHz Qualcomm MDM9215 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage that can be expanded via a microSD slot, Wi-Fi, NFC, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and a wide variety of other sensors. The only area where they may have skimped is on the camera, which is only 8-megapixels compared to the 13-megapixel shooter on the Galaxy S4 (more on that below). You're getting a top-of-the-line phone here.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a well-design phone which can handle a rough and tumble lifestyle. Even if you're not underwater that often, you'll appreciate this handset if you know that you drop your phone a lot (it's okay, it happens).
Samsung has produced a winner here.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active comes with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and the custom Samsung interface and apps. If you've never used Android before, you should know it's a great way to make calls, browse the web, use app and more. It integrates well with Google services and the Google Play Store is swelling with apps to enhance your experience.
Quick note: When I first got the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, I experienced some weird software bugs. Pausing, resets, random reboots and one time, I couldn't get the screen to notice my touch inputs. An AT&T software update came shortly after I got the phone and I've seen none of those bugs since.
By now, you should be familiar with the Samsung suite of software and that's all on display with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active. You get the somewhat cheery interface on top of Android, as well as a plethora of Samsung apps. If you're not in love with the Samsung take on Android, you're not going to like the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active.
One great thing about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is that it comes with an IR blaster and the WatchOn software, so you can use it as a remote control. The set-up process is super simple and the TV software is actually pretty intelligent and intuitive. This makes the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active one of the best remotes around.
S Voice is the equivalent of Siri and you can double tap the home button launch this. You can then use your voice to launch apps, set alarms, browse the web and more. Also like Siri, I think it's not quite as useful as it could be but it does come in handy when you're driving.
You get a boatload of S XYZ apps including S Memo, S Health, S Translator and you also get the Samsung Apps, Samsung Hub, Samsung Link and some apps from AT&T, too. The quality of these apps vary wildly and I'm actually pretty set on which apps I use, so I generally avoided these.
If I had to be picky, I'd argue that some of the Samsung apps and services aren't really that necessary. You also get inconsistent designs between apps. Some of you may also think that Android itself is not quite as intuitive and easy to use as the iPhone but I doubt that will be an issue.
Overall though, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has some elegant and functional software which is simple to use. The great thing about Android is that you can really customize the heck out of it, so your Samsung Galaxy S4 Active will really become your device.
Camera, Call Quality and Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active doesn't have quite as good of a camera as the Galaxy S4 but it's still really good. The 8-megapixel camera can capture pictures quickly and the quality of these photos are generally pretty high. The auto-focus can be a bit wonky and the LED flash isn't the greatest but I think you'll enjoy the photos you take with the Galaxy S4 Active.
You get a ton of cool software features with the camera on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and it has an extremely intutive interface. To switch between the modes, you simply tap a button by the on-screen capture button and then swipe through a carousel of modes.
Drama Shot lets you string together a series of photos into one, Sound & Shot lets you add roughly 10 seconds of sound to a picture, Beauty Face will hide facial imperfections, Panorama gives you a panoramic mode, Eraser lets you cut out photo bombers, Best Photo takes multiple shots and lets you choose the best, Animated photo lets you keep one part of your photo moving, Sports mode is good for capturing fast-moving moments, and Rich Tone is your HDR option.
Some of these are more useful than others - I have no use for Sound & Shot - and even the super-cool Animated photo can be tough to share. Detail and clarity aren't also up to par with the upper echelon of the market but it's not a bad camera whatsoever.
A cool new feature of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active camera is the ability to shoot pictures under water. Since the touchscreen doesn't work when the handset is submerged, Aqua Mode lets you use the volume rocker to snap pictures. I didn't get to extensively test this in a wide variety of bodies of water but it's a neat thing to have. I doubt it will be used that often but if you have a pool, this can help capture some great backyard moments.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active uses AT&T's network and if you're in a good coverage area, it can be amazingly fast. In and around the San Francisco Bay Area, the 4G LTE network absolutely smokes and coverage is pretty great. In Detroit and it's surrounding suburbs, it was more of a mixed performance. Call quality was pretty good, although I experienced some hollow-sounding voices.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active does a good job of making sure that it will last a single day on a charge. It's not breaking any new ground though but the removable battery means that you can carry an extra battery around if you're really concerned about power. If it were my decision, I'd say just invest in a second charger to keep your office.
The Final Take
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a fantastic phone and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
It's packed with all the high-end specs you'd want, comes in an excellent form factor which is perfect for those who don't want to have to treat their handset like a delicate jewel. The Android software is good for first-time smartphone buyers and hard-core mobile fans alike.
The only down sides are the potential for some buggy software and a camera that's not quite as good as a handful of phones on the market. Still, this is a great device.
Specifications
Length
5.50 inches
Weight
5.29 ounces
Thickness
.36 inches
Width
2.81 inches
Screen Size
5-inch 1080p HD display
Network
AT&T
Internet
4G LTE
Operating System
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
High-speed Data
4G LTE
Battery Standby
2600mAh
Camera Resolution
8-megapixels
Samsung
Android
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active