Exploring Samsung's Rugged Flagships: A Deep Dive into the Galaxy S Active Series

A look back at Samsung's rugged flagships in the Galaxy S Active series

Samsung's Galaxy S Active series served as the company's rugged lineup, offering durability alongside premium features. Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the notable devices in this series.

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The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active

The Galaxy S4 Active, introduced in 2013, was Samsung's first S-phone to feature IP67 dust and water resistance. It was capable of "dust tight" protection and could be immersed in water up to 1m/3.3ft for 30 minutes. Notable differences from the regular S4 included an LCD display instead of Super AMOLED, Gorilla Glass 2 for protection, and a downgraded main camera.

The Galaxy S4 Active used a Snapdragon 600 chipset, deviating from the usual Exynos 5410 Octa. Samsung later released an Advanced version with a more powerful Snapdragon 800 and an Active version of that model as well.

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The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active

In 2014, despite the Galaxy S5 already featuring dust and water resistance, Samsung launched the Galaxy S5 Active exclusively for AT&T. The S5 Active added MIL-STD-810F testing to its rugged credentials and featured grippy textures on the back panel with exposed screws. Unlike its predecessor, it closely resembled the regular S5 in terms of display, camera, and chipset.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active

Following the release of the Galaxy S6 without any dust and water resistance, the Galaxy S6 Active became a more necessary addition to the lineup. While it faced criticism for its non-removable battery, it came with a significant boost in capacity compared to the regular S6 and retained wireless charging. The S6 Active maintained its IP68 rating for water resistance.

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The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active

The Galaxy S7 reintroduced IP68 rating, and the Galaxy S7 Active added MIL-STD-810G compliance. It featured a plastic back for improved durability and a larger battery compared to the regular S7. The S7 Active also introduced a fingerprint reader in the physical Home button and a customizable Activity button for quick actions.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Active

The Galaxy S8 Active arrived with a design reminiscent of the regular S8, featuring a flat screen but without the curved edges. It abandoned the physical buttons on the front, relocating the fingerprint reader to the back. Despite these changes, it offered the same chipset and a larger battery for extended endurance.

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Moving towards tactical editions

Following the Galaxy S8 Active, Samsung shifted its focus to military-targeted devices. The Galaxy S9 Tactical Edition and Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition offered special tactical radios and apps, along with dual-layer encryption. These devices catered to military needs with features like ATAK and BATDOK.

The latest additions to Samsung's lineup are the Samsung Galaxy S23 Tactical Edition and XCover6 Pro Tactical Edition, which continue to offer DualDAR protection and military-grade features like ATAK and DeX.

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Is there still a market for rugged flagships?

With other manufacturers also dwindling their focus on rugged phones, it raises the question of whether there is still a demand for rugged flagships. While companies like the Bullitt Group and Doogee continue to offer rugged devices, the future of rugged flagships remains uncertain.

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