Samsung Galaxy S4 Active

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.

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.

Pocket-lint | Chris Hall

Overall, a great fun smartphone that gives you a flagship experience, but loves a little water sports too.

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.

CNET UK | Andrew Hoyle

Unless you're desperate for a paper-thin phone, I'd recommend this over the S4.

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.

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.

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.

The Verge | Dan Seifert

There's really no reason not to get the S4 Active over the S4

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Which?

This is essentially a more solid version of the S4 [subscription required for full access to review].

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.