In general, phone just aren’t made for water or dusty environments, but Samsung is hoping to correct that with a new version of its popular Galaxy S4 that can be taken for a swim.
The Galaxy S4 Active is a variant on Samsung’s already popular Galaxy S4 smartphone, differing in camera technology, weight, and durability from its sibling.
In fact, pretty much everything that makes the Galaxy S4 what it is in Australia is in the S4 Active, including the quad-core 1.9GHz processor, Adreno 320 graphics chip, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, microSD expansion, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Near-Field Communication (NFC), Infrared for controlling TVs, 4G LTE, and even that big 5 inch Full HD capable screen.
Even the battery is the same, with both rated for 2600mAh, essentially meaning that we’ll see similar – if not identical – battery life.
The camera has dropped to an 8 megapixel on the back, but the most important changes from from the resistance Samsung has made to the phone, with IP67 certification, making it able to survive up to one metre of water for up to 30 minutes, or live in a dusty environment without, well, dying.
“Australians lead very adventurous lifestyles, with many of us spending time in a range of environments throughout our work and social lives that aren’t always appropriate for most mobile devices,” said Tyler McGee, Vice President of Telecommunications at Samsung Electronics Australia.
“With the launch of the Galaxy S4 Active, Samsung is offering Australians a smartphone that is both dust and water resistant as well as packed full of features.”
The phone is heading to Samsung Experience stores and other retailers now, available outright for $699, with Vodafone grabbing the handset on contract, too.
