Those looking for a tough smartphone now have a new option, at least if they're on AT&T.
AT&T and Samsung have once again partnered to create a more durable version of the latest Galaxy, announcing the Galaxy S7 Active on Monday. The companies have been working on tougher Galaxy S devices since the Galaxy S4 Active released in 2013.
Similar to the new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, S7 Active is IP68-certified (a mark of water and dust resistance) and can be submerged in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Unlike its siblings, the Active — with glass only on the front — is also built to withstand dirt, sand and drops from up to five feet. In some early tests, the phone did not fare well when dropped on concrete, though AT&T says this was an anomaly due to a faulty unit. A new device has thus far fared much better after USA TODAY dropped it on a variety of surfaces..
The Galaxy S7 Active retains many of the latest features found in Samsung's newest Galaxy smartphones, including a high resolution 5.1-inch display, 12-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera and speedy Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM. This year's Active also packs a fingerprint sensor, a first for the line, and a larger 4,000 mAh battery that AT&T says will provide over 32 hours of talk time and can fully charge in under two hours through fast charging.
Unlike other recent Galaxy S devices, the more rugged design means that the S7 Active will not work with Samsung's Gear VR virtual reality headset.
The Galaxy S7 Active is exclusive to AT&T and will be available on June 10 for $26.50 for 30 months when purchased on AT&T's Next payment plan, or $33.13 a month for 24 months when bought on the company's Next Every Year plan. You can buy outright for $749.99.
Follow Eli Blumenthal on Twitter @eliblumenthal
