Samsung Galaxy S4 Active deals and reviews

Identical in almost every way to the Galaxy S4, Samsung tweak their flagship handset to make it water and dust resistant. Its Aqua Mode allows you to capture underwater shots by pushing a physical key instead of using the touchscreen. Apart from a slight drop in camera quality (the main camera is 8 megapixels instead of 13), Samsung have made sure that the S4 Active mirrors the performance of the original S4 in virtually every way.

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100	The Gadget Show f you spend a lot of time outdoors but desire a handset which looks fantastic and performs brilliantly, then this is your ideal choice. Read full review
90	Eurogamer | Damien McFerran If you're in the market for the best Android handset currently available, this is a solid choice, especially when you consider the added benefit of IP67 certification and a more distinctive case design. Read full review
90	Pocket-lint | Chris Hall Overall, a great fun smartphone that gives you a flagship experience, but loves a little water sports too. Read full review
90	Know Your Mobile | Damien McFerran The increased resilience to the elements might seem like a gimmick, but not having to worry about getting your phone wet when you're waiting for the bus on a raining evening is actually more of a blessing than you might think. It's also hard not to prefer the rugged appearance of the S4 Active - the revised casing and physical buttons below the screen are sure to strike a chord with many who considered the standard S4 to be too similar to the S3. Read full review
90	CNET UK | Andrew Hoyle Unless you're desperate for a paper-thin phone, I'd recommend this over the S4. Read full review
90	Mobile Choice The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active packs almost all of the original's excellent features into a robust waterproof frame. A scaled-back camera is the only casualty. Read full review
87	NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt We can warmly recommend the Galaxy S4 Active to anyone who likes to be outdoors a lot. You'll get a robust smartphone with up-to-date technology. Read full review
85	phoneArena | Nick T No matter how we look at it, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a pretty awesome smartphone. It is one of the very few devices that are tough enough to resist some serious dust and water damage, yet good-looking and extremely capable at the same time. Read full review
81	The Verge | Dan Seifert There's really no reason not to get the S4 Active over the S4 Read full review
80	Australian PC World | Ross Catanzariti The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active makes some small sacrifices in display resolution, camera, and weight, but its water resistance factor and a sturdier feeling build make it more appealing than the regular Galaxy S4 in many ways. Read full review
80	The Boxed (UK) | Editorial Team It's marketed as a phone for active people, but we think it's actually a better fit for moderately active users - everyday users like you and I who might get outdoorsy once in a while. It's not robust by far, but it will take away any day-to-day worries about things like dust and raindrops that threaten a normal, delicate smartphone. Read full review
80	MSN Tech | Dan Sung We definitely like the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active. Of that, there is no doubt. The build is solid, if unsexy, the performance is top notch, the underwater camera is excellent and the screen is both sensitive and packed with Full HD detail. The only issue we'd have, aside a touch-and-go battery life and a set of fun features that don't always work, is over how active it really is. Read full review
80	Engadget | Sarah Silbert Should you pick the Galaxy S4 Active over the Galaxy S 4? Ultimately it comes down to what you need your phone to do. Enjoy texting from the bathtub, or simply prone to spilling the occasional glass of water? The Active is probably the better choice. Want the absolute highest-end specs, from camera to display to battery life? The original Galaxy S 4 is definitely the better bet. Read full review
80	V3 | Alastair Stevenson The Active is one of the best smartphones made by Samsung in recent years, offering users all the key strengths of the Galaxy S4, but coming with a beefed-up, more robust design. Read full review
80	T3 | Max Parker If you're looking for a Galaxy device with less reliance on plastic, yet that still has a bit of oomph in terms of power, this is a great pick. Read full review
80	Wired UK | Dave Oliver The Galaxy S4 Active isn't quite as rugged as its name suggests -- despite the water and dust proofing, and the Corning Gorilla Glass covering the display, there's not a lot of protection against dropping it. Still, it could certainly take the original S4 in a fight, and with some fairly minor economies on the screen and camera, it offers a similarly high spec to the original S4. Read full review
80	Trusted Reviews | Andrew Williams The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a powerful, feature-heavy Android phone, and one that has most of the benefits of a Galaxy S4 with added waterproofing. However, calling it a true rugged phone is pushing it, and the camera isn't a match for the S4's. Read full review
79	Which? This is essentially a more solid version of the S4 [subscription required for full access to review]. Read full review
77	What Mobile | Jordan O'Brien The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active brings the power of the Galaxy S4 into a more ruggedised body, and it's fantastic. Read full review

Compare Samsung Galaxy S4 Active specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

Dimensions & Form	Form factor: Touchscreen Bar Dimensions 139.7 x 71.3 x 9.1 mm (5.5 x 2.81 x 0.36 in) Weight: 153 g (5.4 oz)
Screen	Size: 5 inches diagonal Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels Screen Density: 441 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 69.2 % Display Type: TFT
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 CPU: Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 GPU: Adreno 320 RAM: 2GB
Camera	Main Camera: 8MP with LED flash Secondary Camera: 2MP
Storage	Built-in Storage: 16GB Expandable Storage: Micro SD
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 2600 mAh Removable Battery: No Wireless Charging: No Quick Charge: None
SIM standard	Micro SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	Not Available
Fingerprint Reader	None
References & More info	Official website GSMArena specs page