The Galaxy S7 is one of Samsung's most durable Galaxy S flagships to date, but the Galaxy S Active lineup has always brought more to the table in terms of rugged durability. There are many consumers who love the idea of having a “naked” phone without a case, but few live that dream — and those who do usually cave in and get what we'd call sensible protection. A new drop test continues the tradition of the Galaxy S Active lineup, showing that it really does pay to have rugged protection.
The test, performed by tech site PhoneBuff, shows the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Active competing in four rounds: 1) back drop, 2) bottom drop, 3) side drop, and 4) face drop, and 5) a bonus round. In the back drop round, the Galaxy S7's back glass created fringe spiderwebs and cuts in other places, while the Galaxy S7 Active, save for a few scuffmarks on the back, emerges unscathed. The bottom drop was something of a tie between the two, but the side drop favored the Galaxy S7 Active due to its rubber bumpers that protect the side buttons.
The face drop confirmed the back drop round, as the Galaxy S7 Active emerged untouched (Samsung's claim that its device is shatter-resistant to drops as high as 5 feet is behind this feat). Things didn't turn out so hot for the Galaxy S7, however, as the fringe spiderwebs appeared on the right side of the display. Even the internal display shattered on the regular S7.
The bonus round is probably the most beloved part of this drop test battle, with the Galaxy S7 Active maintaining call capabilities for up to 50 drops. Apparently, the tech site in question got exhausted with trying to beat the phone up. Any phone that exhausts tech enthusiasts in a drop test deserves applause.
The Galaxy S7 Active, Samsung's latest handset, features a 5.1-inch, Quad HD (1440p) display, Qualcomm's quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 32GB of storage with a microSD for expandable storage, a 5MP front camera and 12MP back camera with f/1.7 apertures, and a 4,000mAh battery, along with IP68 water and dust resistance and MIL-STD 810G protection from bumps, falls, and drops. This latest rugged smartphone is available as an AT&T carrier exclusive for $795 outright (it can also be had on an AT&T Next plan) and comes in three colors: Titanium Gray, Camo Green, and Sandy Gold colors. If you're a non-AT&T customer, though, drooling over this device is a short-lived affair.
Take a look at the video below and see what the rugged hype is all about.
