The Galaxy S7 Active is a souped-up Galaxy S7 with a huge battery

The latest Galaxy S7 Active is here and it’s just as polarizing as ever. On the one hand, you have that questionable camo design. On the other, the S7 Active is a bigger, stronger, tougher version of the already excellent Galaxy S7. It’s hard to top that.

Like its predecessors, AT&T will exclusively carry the Galaxy S7 Active, with in-store availability to begin later this week. We spent time with the device ahead of its official launch and we’re here to bring you all the key details.

Galaxy S7 Active specs

• Operating system: Android Marshmallow 6.0.1
• Dimensions: 148.8 X 75.0 X 9.9 mm; 185g
• Rugged build: IP68 certified, Military Grade Body (MIL STD-810G), Customizable Active Key, Shatter Resistant Screen
• Display: 5.1-inch, Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) AMOLED
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996), quad-core: 2 at 2.15 GHz and 2 at 1.6 GHz
• Memory & storage: 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, support for microSD up to 200GB
• Cameras: Rear – 12MP Dual-Pixel with LED Flash, AF, F/1.7; Front – 5MP with Selfie-flash, F/1.7
• Battery: 4000 mAh, Adaptive Fast Charging, Wireless Charging
• Connectivity: NFC, MST – Samsung Pay, FM Tuner; Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/r 2.4GHz, 5GHz; Bluetooth v4.2; Micro USB (USB 2.0), 3.5mm Headset Jack; Nano-SIM
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, HR, Proximity, RGB, Fingerprint; GPS, aGPS w/ SUPL, GLONASS
• Bands
  • LTE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, and 41
  • GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
  • 3G-UMTS 850/900/1900/2100MHz

Galaxy S7 Active features overview

The simplest way to describe the new Galaxy S7 Active is that it’s a Galaxy S7 in a jacked-up body. You have the same general specs you can get from the sleeker Galaxy S7, with enhancements meant to improve resistance to mechanical shocks and elements, as well as a much bigger battery.

The Galaxy S7 Active display is shatter-resistant, and, as you can see in our hands-on with the device, it can really take a beating. We dropped it a few times on concrete and other hard surfaces, without adverse effects on its operation. Even better, the display quality is still excellent, so the visibility and clarity are not sacrificed in the name of ruggedness.

In a first for the Active line, the Galaxy S7 Active features a fingerprint sensor. The sensor/home button is located in the same place as on the Galaxy S7, and it looks and works the same (Samsung Pay support included). While the home button is identical to the S7, the recents and back keys are replaced by textured physical buttons.

The Galaxy S7 Active is noticeably heavier and thicker than the Galaxy S7, at 9.9 mm thick and 185 grams vs 7.9 mm and 152 grams. The extra girth is necessary for the shatter resistant screen and overall rugged body, but it also enables a huge battery for a phone of this size: 4,000 mAh, a full 1,000 mAh more than the Galaxy S7 and 400 mAh more than the Galaxy S7 Edge. It’s also 500 mAh larger than the Galaxy S6 Active from last year. With a battery this size, coupled with fast charging and wireless charging, staying online while out and about will be easier than ever.

The Galaxy S7 Active is IP68-certified for dust protection and resistance to submersion in up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) of water. Its MIL STD-810G rating means that it was certified to resist multiple drops from 122 centimeters (roughly four feet) onto a sheet of plywood placed on concrete. For reference, that’s the same certification as the tough LG V10 boasts.

Software is pretty much the same as the Galaxy S7. We’ll only mention the “Activity Zone,” which you can bring up by pressing the dedicated key on the side and gives you quick access to weather, temperature, barometer, compass, flashlight, stopwatch, and S Health.

Galaxy S7 Active price and release date

It looks like Samsung will continue to offer its Galaxy Active exclusively to customers of AT&T, and that’s a shame, given what this phone brings to the table.

AT&T is selling the Galaxy S7 Active through its Next installment plans. You can get it for $26.50 per month through the 30-month plan, or for $33.13 per month through the 24-month Next Every Year plan. Either way, you’ll pay about $800 without taxes and additional fees, which is the same you should expect to pay if you want to buy it from AT&T downright.

The Galaxy S7 Active is around $100 more than the Galaxy S7 on AT&T, but the battery alone may justify some of the price increase.

The Galaxy S7 Active release date is set for Friday, June 10, when you’ll be able to check it out in stores and on att.com.

Further reading

Check out our other Galaxy S7 Active coverage:

• Galaxy S7 Active hands-on
• Galaxy S7 Active vs Galaxy S7 quick look – coming soon!

Hot or not?

So, what’s your take on the Galaxy S7 Active? Do you like what you see?