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Samsung Galaxy S5 Active review

8.7/10 AVG.
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Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
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8.7/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active currently has an Informr score of 8.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 11 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Additional plastic reinforcement for shock protection
  • Fast performance
  • Great screen with crisp and bright colors

What's bad

  • Slippery and difficult to grasp
  • Bulkier than standard smartphones

In order to appeal to the more outdoorsy crowd, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S5 Active. Although not certified to be a truly rugged phone, the S5 Active is water and dust resistant. For better protection, Samsung added reinforced plastic corners, which provides extra scuff-proofing. Critics note that the reinforcements are necessary as the phone case itself is very slippery and difficult to grasp, leading to several accidental drops. Replacing the capacitive buttons are physical home, recent apps and back buttons which, according to Android Central, have "a nice click and texture to them." An addition to the device is the Active key, which pulls up various meters like atmospheric pressure, elevation and even a compass.

Due to the additional protection, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is larger than the S5 at 5.72 x 2.89 x 0.35 inches and weighs more at 170.1 grams (6 oz). Besides these changes, the S5 Active is practically identical to the S5. It comes with a 5.1" 1080p AMOLED display that reviewers describe as crisp and colorful. Running the phone is a 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Diagnostic and real-world testing prove that it is more than capable of handling almost every task without lag. CNET calls the phone a "speed demon" though also mentions that it is not as fast as it could be due to Samsung's built-in throttling that lowers the clock speed when the CPU or GPU get too hot.

Overall, reviewers recommend the device for people looking for a little added protection and new features for their smartphone. The Verge says, "If you're looking for a smartphone to take on a construction site or up a mountain, this may be your best bet."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.5 GHz
5.1"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.1"
16+ MP
Camera
Camera
16+ MP
2800 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Tom's Guide
Tom's Guide

While the S5 Active is larger and heavier than the original Galaxy S5, what it lacks in lightness it more than makes up for with military-spec durability. The only Android phone tougher than the S5 Active is the 4.5-inch Kyocera Brigadier and its Sapphire Shield screen. But fitted with last-gen comp...

- Sam Rutherford, Tom's Guide
Greenbot
Greenbot

The Galaxy S5 Active is essentially the Galaxy S5 in a ruggedized package. It has a different design, an extra button, lacks a finger print sensor, and is shock-proof. That’s it. I’d personally love to catch a glimpse of the GS4 Active’s sales numbers, given it (apparently) did wel...

- Blake Stimac, Greenbot
Android Authority
Android Authority

Rugged phones usually carry a lot of compromises, but that’s not the case with the Galaxy S5 Active. The premium price can be justified here, because, at the end of the day, you’re getting a high-end flagship in a ruggedized body. This phone isn’t going to be for everyone, but it&r...

- Lanh Nguyen, Android Authority
GSMArena
GSMArena

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is everything we expected it to be and more. In terms of functionality and feature set, the handset is almost every bit as capable as the SM-G900 with the added benefit of higher durability and improved grip. The aforementioned two could very well make the model the pick...

- GSMArena team, GSMArena
Pocketnow
Pocketnow

Whatever the paint job, whether a Galaxy S5 Active belongs in your pocket depends on how much meat you really need on your smartphone’s bones. Remember, the stock S5 is already immersion-resistant, and while a MIL-STD-810G rating should mean the Active is much more durable, in our experience t...

- Michael Fisher, Pocketnow


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions



Samsung backs up the Galaxy S5 Active with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy S5 Active has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
5.1"

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active's screen size is 5.1 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Quad core 2.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat (Update Available: 6.0 Marshmallow) operating system (OS).

Camera
16+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 16+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2800mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2800 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 780 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy S5 Active Specs

Overview
Release Date May 30, 2014
Regions Available USA, Canada
Operating System Android 4.4 KitKat (Update Available: 6.0 Marshmallow)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Quad core 2.5 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.92 W/kg
Body: 1.48 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery, Headset, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared Yes
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN, OBEX
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
16+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, ISO, Panorama, Self-timer, Smile detection, Burst mode, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 432 pixels
Size 5.1 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2800 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 840 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 780 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Up to 20 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Camo Green, Titanium Gray, Ruby Red
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.5 x 7.3 x 0.9 cm (5.7 x 2.9 x 0.4 in)
Weight 170 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design Yes
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Samsung SM-G870A
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
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