Now August 1st seems more than likely as a release date Samsung Galaxy S8 Active. Yesterday, a render of an unannounced smartphone leaked online, and today we received a training manual for Samsung employees, which confirms the technical characteristics and design of the new product.
As you can see, the device shown has a protected case and a Bixby call button on the right side under the volume rocker. As stated in this textbook, the device is not only waterproof, but also certified to military standards, making it resistant to shock, pressure, strong vibrations and more.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Active will have a 5.99-inch Super AMOLED display and a 4000 mAh battery. The rest of the specifications are identical to the original Samsung Galaxy S8. The new product will have 4 GB on board random access memory, 64 gigabytes of storage, 12-megapixel main and 8-megapixel front camera. The role of the “heart” will be performed by the 8-core Snapdragon 835 processor, built using 10 nm technology.
Much to our disappointment, the Active version of the S8 will be exclusive to the American operator AT&T. That is, officially this phone will only be sold in the United States. The device will also appear in Russia, but only on the “gray” market. Another disappointment for potential users will be the fact that the Galaxy S8 Active will not support Samsung Pay in our country.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is the best in its price range. The smartphone has a durable and rubberized body, but that’s not the only thing that impresses. This high quality sound stereo speakers, many sensors and capacious battery(with the support fast charging). Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is one of the ideal devices that is easy to get used to.
Display and performance
Samsung Galaxy S8 Active comes with a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The smartphone is controlled by 8 nuclear processor(4x 2.35 GHz Kryo + 4x 1.9 GHz Kryo), 4 GB of RAM and GPU Adreno 540 installed on the Snapdragon 835 MSM8998 chipset. The phone operates under operating control Android systems v7.0 (Nougat).Peculiarities
Samsung Galaxy S8 Active has many sensors such as fingerprint scanner, control heart rate, IRIS scanner, proximity sensor, accelerometer, barometer, compass and gyroscope. The smartphone comes in a stylish design that is splashproof (IP68), dustproof, waterproof, shockproof, lightproof and vibrationproof.Camera and battery
The smartphone has a built-in 12-megapixel camera with support for recording with 4K resolution and an 8-megapixel selfie camera with Full HD resolution. The image and video quality of both cameras is excellent. Samsung Galaxy S8 Active runs on lithium ion battery capacity 4000 mAh. The smartphone supports fast and wireless charging.Memory and Connectivity
64 GB are allocated for physical memory and a slot for microSD cards up to 256 GB. The user will be able to use 53GB of the available 64GB of internal storage. On the connectivity front, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active offers options like single SIM slot, 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC and USB Type-C. You shouldn't think that Galaxy smartphone S8 Active is much better compared to , because it is not. A smartphone should be thought of as the best choice among devices with increased durability, while it does not sacrifice performance, screen, camera and other advantages. Significantly increased duration battery life, but for the sake of durability, it had to give up the design elements that made the S8 so attractive.Pros of the Galaxy S8 Active
- Full Galaxy S8
- High battery life
- Rugged housing
- Shockproof screen
- Some people prefer a flat screen to a curved one
Cons of the Galaxy S8 Active
- Too big and heavy for many
- Nothing different except the body
- More expensive than the standard model
- The screen is scratched
What we liked about the Galaxy S8 Active
The main advantage of the Galaxy S8 Active is that at its core it is still the same excellent S8 smartphone. Every specification, every feature and every component remains the same. This means you will get high performance, a wide range of software capabilities and one of best cameras. The case is protected from water and dust, and there are no fewer connectors. The traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack remains in its place without a plug. You also get a gorgeous Super AMOLED screen with excellent brightness that's easy to view even in direct sunlight.
There is also wireless charging, which is sometimes absent in such cases due to the thick case that does not transmit a signal. A similar set of characteristics is not available in other rugged smartphones.
One characteristic has changed noticeably, but for the better. Battery capacity has increased to 4000 mAh instead of 3000 mAh in S8 and 3500 mAh in . Naturally, the battery life has also increased. Most often, by the end of the day the charge remains at 20% -30%.
The developers also want to make this smartphone stand out with a shock-resistant screen. Presumably, you can drop it from a height of one and a half meters onto a hard surface and the screen will remain intact.
What you didn't like about the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active
When working with a smartphone every day, it does not cause any major complaints. The main disadvantage is the size. The smartphone is wider, longer, thicker and heavier than the standard version, and by a lot. It is 10 g heavier even in comparison with, in size it is between. This is a lot, especially considering that the screen size is the same as the standard S8.Due to its large size, the smartphone is harder to work with and uncomfortable to hold, even when compared to the slippery S8. Its appearance is not as beautiful as the sleek standard version.
There is another aspect, not so noticeable. The shock-resistant screen became so thanks to a special film on top of Gorilla Glass 5. As in the Moto Z2 Force smartphone, this coating is easily scratched. Thus, the scratches do not remain on the glass itself, but on the plastic on top, but they are still scratches.
In the USA there are four large operators mobile communications and S8 Active is sold only by AT&T. This means there are a dozen generally unnecessary pre-installed apps, although they can be disabled or uninstalled. Changes have also been made to operating system. Fortunately, the smartphone should appear on other operators.
The device costs $849, which is $100 more than the standard S8 and the same as the S8+. This is a big difference for a smartphone that does not differ in terms of specifications and functionality.
Is it worth buying the Galaxy S8 Active?
Advanced users who are always looking to get their hands on a device with maximum battery life may want to get flagship smartphone like S8 with big battery capacity 4000 mAh. However, first we need to think about what made the standard S8 so attractive: its design.The Active model is larger and heavier and does not have the curved edges of the screen that are distinctive feature S8. On the other hand, for some, on the contrary, this will become an advantage, but the same cannot be said about gravity. Due to its thickness, the S8 Active does not look or feel like Galaxy flagship S8, and this is the feeling that most people pay for.
Thus, those wishing to buy the S8 can hardly recommend the S8 Active only because of the larger battery. This plus alone cannot outweigh the size, weight, shape and price. This smartphone can only be recommended to those who need it for work or because of their lifestyle.
Samsung's Galaxy Active line of smartphones and increasingly rugged wearables have made the South Korean manufacturer a top choice for the most active or most carefree mobile users. Starting with Galaxy S4 Active, Samsung offered IP67 water resistance, years before it became a flagship standard. The rugged case has since been enhanced with military-grade certifications for passing drop, extreme temperature, and water tests. IP68. Year after year, Active smartphones were released shortly after the flagship Samsung Galaxy models, sometimes differing in internal components to match appearance these devices. Perhaps the best one came out this year Galaxy Android smartphone S8, and after it the S8 Active appeared. However, in a world where protection IP68 is a usual advantage of flagship devices, and some also have shock-resistant screens, is the Galaxy Active line necessary? Let's try to understand.
Contents of delivery:
- Galaxy S8 Active smartphone
- USB A to USB C adapter
- Micro-USB adapter >
- Charging USB cable C>USB A
- Fast charging adapter
- Warranty and user manual
Design
Galaxy S8 Active became the first device in this series after Samsung flagships switched to frameless curved screens. IN Samsung smartphones no more Edge models or flat screen models, they are all now curved. It is not difficult to guess that the creators of the S8 Active did not wrap the screen on the sides, because the smartphone must survive a fall from a height of one and a half meters. Screen protected Gorilla glass Glass 5, which is covered with an impact-resistant layer. Unfortunately, early reviews say that this layer is easily scratched, just like the impact-resistant screen Moto Z2 Force. Dense metal covers the edges of the smartphone, the corners are reinforced with hard rubberized plastic. Virtual assistant Bixby still has a separate clicky button under the same volume button, while the power button makes a less distinct sound. There is no Home button, just like in the S8. It will be interesting to see how this plays out to users who typically want more durable buttons with a distinct tactile response on such devices.
The military standard MIL-STD-810G means protection from drops, extreme temperatures and other troubles, IP68 certification carries protection from water and dust. The thicker edges of the smartphone not only add to its durability, but also give room for a larger battery. The increase in thickness and weight makes the device more solid in the palm of your hand. It's 50g heavier than the S8, but only 20g heavier than the Galaxy S7 Active, while being the same thickness and width, just a couple of millimeters longer. Samsung was able to offer a durable device that still fits in your pocket.
Screen
The edge-to-edge Infinity Display isn't fully present here with its curved edges, but there are still rounded corners and a high screen-to-body ratio of 75% versus 84% in the S8. The screen diagonal is 5.8 inches, the same as on the standard S8.
With help voice command you can force the assistant to open the recorder and immediately start recording. The same is possible in some third party applications. You can navigate on your smartphone, you can give a command to make a call via Wi-Fi.
The main problem here is the assistant's hearing. Speech recognition cannot be called stable, although it is possible to train the assistant in case of errors. However, the corrected words are sent to Samsung for further analysis. Improved local learning and recognition would be very helpful.
The smartphone lacks the complex shortcut commands that the Note 8 has. These commands bring automation to new level due to activation various actions based on phrases. I would like to be able to say "Good night" to the assistant and see the activation of the Do Not Disturb feature and the blue light filter, as well as the alarm clock from previously given time. For now, you can only create one phrase for one action. Since the smartphone was installed latest version software, the thought arises that a virtual assistant may differ in different models smartphones.
There's a card in the Bixby panel called Active Zone. On it you can see the barometer and compass readings, there are switches for a flashlight and a stopwatch. Clicking on the card opens the Active Zone in full screen, and the weather and Samsung Health suite apps also appear. There is also a switch for the flashlight in the notification center. The Galaxy S7 Active had a physical button called Activity, but now there's a Bixby assistant button instead, so it makes sense that app data has moved here.
Processor and memory
For now, this smartphone is exclusive to the American mobile operator AT&T and runs only on processors Snapdragon 835, while the regular S8 variants in other countries are based on the Exynos 8895 processor. The performance difference between them, if any, is subtle. 4 GB of RAM also helps high speed work. Navigation is fast and smooth, applications launch just as quickly, no matter how many of them are already open. Stuttering and forced closing were observed only when setting up Bixby for the first time, but then the assistant began to work as expected. This is not surprising since the specifications are the same as the regular Galaxy S8, so the speed is the same.
Connection
Standard supported LTE-A communications Pro category 16, which means the ability to use gigabit LTE in the coming years. There is also Bluetooth 5.1, NFC/MST for mobile payments and wireless charging.
Cameras
This smartphone uses the same optics as the standard S8. The rear camera has a resolution of 12 megapixels, optical stabilization Images. Front camera 8 MP. The shooting modes familiar to the latest Samsung models are available, including the depth effect on both sensors. Although the effect can be edited after shooting, this ability is limited to three modes. Near Focus displays a normal bokeh effect, Far Focus applies blur to foreground objects and shows the background clearly, and Pan Focus shows everything clearly without blur. There is no slider to adjust blur like there is in the Live Focus feature on Galaxy Note 8.
Regular photos on the front camera come out with good exposure and detail. Selective focus works fine, although there are no problems with focus and exposure throughout the photo.
The rear camera performs well in low light, with levels of detail on par best smartphones, and the accuracy and saturation of colors in the shadows are superior. While this camera isn't a champion at managing contrast between bright and dark areas, and in this case the iPhone 7 is better, low-light colors and clarity with minimal digital noise are close to the maximum parameters. In any case, it is better to have a couple of bright areas than to have colorless darkness throughout the photo.
The tendency to produce colors well in low light may be due to the sensor's preference for a warmer yellowish tint, whereas iPhone produces more accurate colors. It's a matter of taste and may look different to different people's eyes, but it seems like Samsung is once again the leader in low-light photography in terms of color accuracy.
Macro shots provide excellent foreground clarity and a nice blur effect, while the photos are taken quickly due to the focus technology Dual Pixel.
Video quality
When shooting video, the Pixel also performs well. Objects come into focus almost instantly, and optical stabilization contributes to video quality. In general, the quality of the video is not inferior to the quality of the photos, the detail is high, the movements look natural, and the color rendition is normal.
Multimedia
This year, users managed to get acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of frameless long screens. They have problems with video formatting due to the unusual aspect ratio. As a result, the video is cropped or stretched to fit such screens. In this case, the ratio is 18.5:9, just like the original S8. Originally shot in 2:1 format, the video is the best option For of this smartphone, but even then there are black stripes at the bottom and top. YouTube already has automatic screen filling for 2:1 format, but such content is rare.
Listening to music here is more enjoyable than on many other smartphones. The speaker produces loud and quite rich sound compared to other flagships. Samsung has once again succeeded in this area.
Call quality
Nothing special in terms of quality telephone conversations You can't tell on the S8 Active. There are no complaints, you can hear your interlocutors normally, and they also hear you clearly. The sound in the ear is a little quieter than we would like, but the speakerphone is loud.
Autonomous operation
Compared to the standard S8, the battery capacity has increased by 1000 mAh and is 4000 mAh. This means 32 hours of talk time versus 30 hours. This also means use throughout the day, with a moderate load of one and a half days even with the Always On Display active. In standby mode, the developers promise three to four days on the S8 and five days on the S8 Active. In tests with the screen turned off, the device lasted almost 11 hours, two and a half hours more than the S8 and almost the same as the Galaxy S7 Active. The fast charging time was not too fast and amounted to two hours.
Is it possible to buy Samsung Galaxy S8 Active in Russia
Currently, the device is not sold in Russia and Samsung does not say whether it will appear in major stores in the future. retail networks. Perhaps the device can be purchased in small online stores.
Conclusion
S8 Active managed to do what is not done modern smartphones. It's taken cutting-edge technology and packaged it into a rugged design that fits easily into your pocket. It would seem that it needs to be done metal case thicker, add rubber corners and impact-resistant glass and you're done. In fact, the process is not so simple and the South Korean manufacturer managed to cope with it. Apart from the usual protection from water and dust on other smartphones, this model has increased protection against falls and extreme temperatures.
The device still has normal size and weight. Although it is heavier than the standard S8, its battery capacity has increased, and with it the battery life. They continue to arrive on the market frameless smartphones, which tend to be more fragile, but Samsung still offers an option for those who want a more durable device.
pros
- Military standards for protection, durability and strength
- Great camera with fast focus
- Increased battery capacity
- Improved Bixby assistant
Minuses
- Heavier than standard S8
- The camera shoots with a yellowish tint
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