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Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
...


8.1/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active currently has an Informr score of 8.1 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 15 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

For the past few generations, the Active line of Samsung’s popular Galaxy S series has offered an interesting compromise of features for durability. For those looking for a rugged phone ready to life on the go, the new Galaxy S7 Active is here! But can it keep up with the current flagships or does surviving some falls mean giving up the S7 experience?

Turns out, that on the inside the S7 is largely the same! This is good news for anyone disappointed in the compromises of the previous Active releases.

However, there are a few key differences, so we hit the review sites to bring you an idea of what to expect from this rugged little powerhouse.

First thing you’re likely to notice is the design of the phone. This isn’t the super-slim, glass and metal job you’re used to seeing from Samsung. The phone has a permanent rubberized protective shell. While it adds a bit of size and heft to the handset, reviews are generally positive. Phone Arena notes, “The phone's bulky plastic exterior has the appearance of a rubberized bumper, though to the touch the material is much firmer; it feels like a smartphone bonded to a relatively high-end case.”

There is also a treatment on the front screen to help resist damage during falls. Combined with the protective shell, Samsung claims the phone can survive repeated falls from up to 5 feet. Tom’s Guide was one of the only reviewers to put this to the test, noting, “I tossed the device down a 12-step staircase multiple times, and the only real damage I noticed were a few scratches on the back.”

With IP68 water resistance, the phone is also good for full submersion in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Every reviewer with a fish tank or sink in the office had no problems taking their review model for a swim.

The last design difference is the button arrangement. In addition to the typical Galaxy S7 home button, the two Android buttons are hard buttons instead of capacitive. Reviewers noted no trouble in using them, though some wished they were back lit. There’s also the Active button on the side of the handset. You can program it to launch different apps depending on whether you short press, long press or double tap. This was a hit with all reviewers for its reliability and function.

Where many previous Active models resulted in downgrading certain parts of the hardware, this generation of Active nets you an upgrade in the battery department. Cramming in a 4000mAh cell, most reviews found the S7 Active near the top of their benchmarks with all noting that all-day use should be no issue. You’ll also find wireless charging and QuickCharge support for topping off if needed.

The only concern mentioned came from ZDNet, saying, “One thing to note is that the current Samsung Gear VR will not work with the S7 Active.”

As the rest of the specifications are identical, you can find information on performance, screen quality and camera in our summary on the Samsung Galaxy S7.


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.15 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.15 GHz
5.1"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.1"
12+ MP
Camera
Camera
12+ MP
4000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


BGR
BGR

The S7 Active feels like Samsung has finally delivered on the concept it laid out with the first Galaxy Active phone years back: a no-compromises high-end Android phone that doesn’t look out of place on your office desk. Provided you don’t go with the camo color, of course.

- Chris Mills, BGR
Tom's Guide
Tom's Guide

The Galaxy S7 Active crams the best features of Samsung's excellent flagship into an very durable design.

- Michael Andronico, Tom's Guide
Cnet
Cnet

AT&T customers looking for a durable and high-end smartphone can't go wrong with the Galaxy S7 Active.

- Dan Graziano, Cnet
Talk Android
Talk Android

The Galaxy S7 Active is a smartphone I’d recommend to any “active” person. The plastic shell is obviously the way to go for those in harsher environments, as any old regular Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge cannot hold up to those scenarios. The software is definitely disappointing, as it has...

- Brad Ward, Talk Android
Phandroid
Phandroid

The Galaxy S7 Active is a phone that tries to live in two worlds. Typical “rugged” phones are underpowered and offer poor user experiences. The Active tries to bridge the gap between rugged phones and flagship phones. It does a decent job of that. You’re not going to find another r...

- Joe Fedewa, Phandroid


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions



Samsung backs up the Galaxy S7 Active with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy S7 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 S7 Active's screen size is 5.1 inches with 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.15 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 Octa core 2.15 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 4000 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 1920 minutes.

Galaxy S7 Active Specs

Overview
Release Date June 10, 2016
Regions Available USA
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 Octa core 2.15 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 4 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.92 W/kg
Body: 0.75 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, 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
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Frames, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Exposure compensation, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
HDR
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1440 x 2560 pixels
Pixel Density 576 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 4000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1920 minutes
Standby Time Up to 16 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Sandy Gold, Titanium Gray, Camo Green
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.9 x 7.5 x 1 cm (5.9 x 3 x 0.4 in)
Weight 185 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design Yes
IP Rating IP 68
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
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Samsung SM-G891A

Additional Sensors: Fingerprint sensor
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
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