Kyle Wiggers/Digital TrendsSamsung’s Galaxy S8 Active, a rough-and-tumble version of the considerably more delicate Galaxy S8 smartphone, was initially available on AT&T only. Now the company is finally bringing it to other carriers — Sprint and T-Mobile. The Galaxy S8 Active is made especially for the butter-fingered, extreme-lifestyle-loving smartphone fan. Externally it’s a very different beast to the Galaxy S8, but inside it shares plenty of the same great technology.
The phone is available in meteor grey from AT&T and T-Mobile, or titanium gold from AT&T. On AT&T Next, it costs $28.34 per month for 30 months. AT&T also has a few tempting deals to go with the S8 Active, including trade-ins up to $200 off, and a Gear S3 smartwatch for $50 when you sign up for a two-year agreement.
At T-Mobile the phone will cost $30 each month over two years with $100 up front, on the Equipment Installment Plan, or $29 per month with $100 down on the Jump on Demand lease over 18 months. Online sales begin on November 17 and in stores on November 22. It’s compatible with T-Mobile’s 600MHz network for super high-speed LTE data connections, where available.
We don’t have a specific date or pricing for Sprint, though Samsung says that information will be coming in November.
All about the Galaxy S8 Active
There are two striking visual differences between the Galaxy S8 Active and the Galaxy S8. The first is the screen. The Galaxy S8 Active doesn’t have the Galaxy S8’s Infinity curved screen, making do with a considerably more traditional flat Super AMOLED panel. It does retain the same 18.5.9 aspect ratio and 2,960 x 1,440 pixel resolution. It measures a massive 5.8-inches, yet the body is surprisingly compact. It’s the first Active phone to not have physical buttons under the screen, which may be a cause for concern for those who wear thick gloves.
The second difference is the Galaxy S8 Active’s MIL-STD-810G rated, military-standard suit of armor. The tough exterior gives the S8 Active shock, shatter, water, and dust resistance. Samsung promises the phone can’t be twisted into submission, won’t succumb to scratches, and is less likely to slip through your fingers due to its textured body. The frame is made from metal, and a special bumper design keeps the screen safe from cracks. Treat the S8 Active badly, and it probably won’t mind.
Another difference exists between the Galaxy S8 Active and the Galaxy S8, but it’s not something you can see. The battery’s capacity has been increased to 4,000mAh for the S8 Active, up from the 3,000mAh cell inside the normal version. Samsung isn’t quoting any figures to show how much longer the phone will last, but expect it to beat the full day of regular use you get from the Galaxy S8 Plus.
Bixby, Samsung’s virtual assistant, is onboard and controls the Activity Zone, which displays information useful to the outdoorsy type, including a stopwatch, barometer, compass, and quick access to the flashlight app. The Galaxy S8 Active’s cameras are the same as the Galaxy S8, with a 12-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. A Snapdragon 835 processor powers the phone, and Android 7.0 Nougat is installed.
What is an eSIM? Here’s everything you need to know
If you've purchased a new cell phone in the past decade or so, you're probably already familiar with the SIM — a little thumbnail-sized card that needs to be inserted to connect your phone to your carrier's cellular network and plan. It's been a staple of cellular technology for nearly two decades, but in recent years smartphone makers and carriers have started moving to a new way of doing things: replacing the physical, removable SIM card with something called an eSIM.
In this case, the "e" stands for "embedded," which makes sense as this is a SIM card that stays inside your phone and can't be removed. It performs the same function as a traditional SIM card but has the potential to make things a lot simpler for most smartphone users.
What is a SIM card?
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Although the Galaxy S23 Ultra isn't my main Android phone these days, it is one that I love coming back to — and for one reason. The camera! The entire camera system on the Galaxy S23 Ultra has proven its worth time and time again, and over the course of this year, one aspect of it has stood out among every other phone I've used.
The telephoto camera is too good
