Samsung outs waterproof, armour-clad Galaxy S6 Active

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The Galaxy S6 is a properly gorgeous device, and our current pick for the top smartphone in the world (with the Galaxy S6 Edge right behind) – but Samsung clearly traded some level of durability and versatility for those stunning looks.

So here comes the Galaxy S6 Active to take things far into the opposite direction. We’ve seen leaks in the wild and rumours of its specs, but now we have an official support page and the full manual posted by none other than Samsung, which share a lot more about the upcoming handset.

The official images – of the version for U.S. carrier AT&T – match up perfectly with the leaked photos, so all is well there. The Galaxy S6 Active ditches the backing glass and adds raised physical buttons below the display, plus it has all manner of added contours and rugged grips to stay in your hand while hiking, biking, or whichever other extreme activity you prefer.

Naturally, that means it’s a far cry from the minimal beauty of the standard Galaxy S6: the Active looks chunkier, and seems more like a military-issue device. But the trade-off benefits the Active when it comes to waterproofing, as its IP68 rating is best in its class, and even a notch better than the IP67 rating of last year’s Galaxy S5 Active. It’s built to survive in the elements.

However, earlier reports that claimed a bigger battery for the Active don’t appear to be true, unless the support listing just used placeholder specs from the Galaxy S6. In fact, the S6 Active seems to be identically specced, with the same Exynos proessor, 3GB RAM, 16MP camera, stunning QHD display, and yes – the 2,550mAh battery pack.

That’s understandably disappointing to anyone who hoped the device would provide a longer-lasting charge for epic outdoor trips, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Still, the Galaxy S6 is a phenomenal smartphone, so if you want the best of the best with a greater emphasis on durability than sleekness, the Galaxy S6 Active should be debuting soon.

[Source: Samsung via SlashGear]

Read More › Samsung Galaxy S6 review

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Andrew writes features, news stories, reviews, and other pieces, often when the UK home team is off-duty or asleep. I'm based in Chicago with my lovely wife, amazing son, and silly cats, and my writing about games, gadgets, esports, apps, and plenty more has appeared in more than 75 publications since 2006.