Samsung Galaxy S8 Active review

18 November 2017
By now, we’ve come to expect an “Active” version of the latest Samsung SX device. Also by now, we’ve mostly come to terms with the fact that it still isn’t commercially available in other markets outside the US. That aside, the Galaxy S8 Active is a ruggedized version of the Samsung Galaxy S8. It also does not water down specs or skimp on features over the standard model.

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  • AnonD-632062
  • nCd
  • 19 Nov 2017

Finally, the review I have been waiting for. What a TANK! IMHO, the S Active is just as unique as the Note in the smartphone realm. And boy, do they impress us....

Next year they should do a worldwide simulatenous release of the S9 Active and the S9 Mini along with the vanilla S9 and S9+.

I love those thick corner bumpers and the screws which scream retro-cool! And the fact that it has much reduced bezels with no pronounced front buttons, probably boosts it's mass market appeal.

I think it's time we stop blaming Samsung for the position of the fingerprint scanner. More complaints, and they might feel complelled to remove it altogether, like the iPhone X.

Excellent screen as expected from Samsung, but where's the sunlight contrast ratio?

What a fantastic battery endurance! 111 hours! Beats that of the excellent S6 Active and I believe is the biggest for a smartphone with flagship specs. Superb! Imagine if a Note had 4000+ mAh.....

Super-customisable user interface, which adds all of Samsung's goodies on top of Android. Great! The Stocks icons look good.

Bixby is still meh,(as are all kinds of assistants....)
Activity Zone is much more useful!

Also, the camera is pretty great. I did a detailed comparison with the Pixel 2 and they both seem evenly matched. As for the pizza shot, the 2 camera's have slightly different focus point. That's why the lower half bread is clear on the Pixel 2, while the toppings near the upper half are clearer on the S8 Active. The front camera samples are among the best in class

Overall, a great phone and a great review, Ricky! The photos showing the S8+ are nicely done and so is the write-up itself.

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    • AnonD-632062
    • nCd
    • 19 Nov 2017

    nothing-, 19 Nov 2017Wait, I just noticed that the S6 active with 3,500 mah batt... moreNo, it's just that Exynos 7420 was super-efficient.

    Even the normal S6's with QHD display and around 2600 mAh battery got around 74 hours of endurance.

      Wait, I just noticed that the S6 active with 3,500 mah battery had a 109 endurance rating. Does this mean that the former soc was more battery efficient than the latest exynos chip? Or maybe Nougat is the culprit.

        I really like this phone, unfortunately this will never be offered in my country. Hey Samsung, why not offer this phone internationally and let your consumers decide which phone they will get. I believe there are more people like me who dislike your curve screen phone.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • F9r
          • 19 Nov 2017

          after reading the review the only question is why Samsung have made it a region exclusive, I know a lot of people who would jump at a chance to get there hands on this phone. Hikers, Mountain bikers, skateboarders, and just general people who want something that looks a bit different from the normal glass rectangle that every manufacturer is releasing.

            FYI: I contacted Verizon Wireless recently to find out whether the S8 Active could be activated on their network. The finding? I was told last week that the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active can be activated and used on the Verizon network.

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              • AnonD-493662
              • Kin
              • 19 Nov 2017

              Now this is a flagship with a BATTERY
              d4mn worth buying

                Please samsung release it world wide ASAP

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                  • AnonD-598916
                  • Iw0
                  • 19 Nov 2017

                  I'm not a big fan of Samsung devices, but if I could get my hands on one of these, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. This is what a proper phone should be like - fast, rugged and long lasting, and I'm getting sick of those glass toys you have to charged twice a day. I wish more companies would follow suit and start making their takes on this idea. It would be so interesting to see Pixel active, Xperia Active, Xioami Active, OnePlus Active!

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                    • AnonD-708115
                    • D0e
                    • 19 Nov 2017

                    Ok now i am become a hater of rounded corners

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                      • AnonD-3124
                      • sxs
                      • 19 Nov 2017

                      Now this is the perfect phone to demolish competition!
                      super beautiful screen
                      Super sturdy and rugged design( with no edge)
                      Super fast phone (this is a no-brainer)
                      Super good camera
                      Super expandable memory
                      Super super super battery life
                      Release this phone worldwide!

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • ut9
                        • 19 Nov 2017

                        Sami all our phones are active so make sure this becomes a standard feature and not some exotic variant.

                        Dual Sim is a must as an activity person will travel.

                        Battery access must be made easy without compromise the milt std



                          Now THIS is a flagship! Never was a real fan of the s series but damn this s8 active is the real hot stuff!

                            opt, 19 Nov 2017is it Samsung's decision for galaxy s active device to be e... moreIt's just a contract between manufacturer and carrier. Samsung had to get a nice chunk of money if they're willing to ignore the rest of the world. In my opinion that's stupid, cause many people won't choose the regular S8, or even Note 8, but would go with the Active (I know a few myself and they are scratching their heads when I mention the US exclusivity). So in the end Samsung is not getting the additional money they could get if there was worldwide availability.

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                              • MdN8
                              • mCq
                              • 19 Nov 2017

                              I'm just here to post another "Samsung, release this phone worldwide!!!" comment.

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                                • AnonD-580901
                                • gJX
                                • 19 Nov 2017

                                My last Samsung was a galaxy star with no android 8 years ago. I would rejoin Samsung for s8 active. Too bad its locked to USA and T mobile.. Wtf

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                                  • opt
                                  • P@Y
                                  • 19 Nov 2017

                                  Pabliell, 18 Nov 2017There's no other thing that makes me more mad than exclusiv... moreis it Samsung's decision for galaxy s active device to be exclusive under AT&T or the other way around?

                                    There's no other thing that makes me more mad than exclusives. I can understand carrier exclusives, but one country only exclusive? Pure stupidity. Seriously, this phone ticks every box on my expectations list: no glass back; durable, but still nice looking design; ingress protection; great performance and battery life. But you won't get it outside US, and if you even think you can import one, you'll have to deal with no warranty and tons of problems repairing it if anything goes wrong. I don't understand, why so many manufacturers ignore Europe and the rest of the world...

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                                      • opt
                                      • P@Y
                                      • 18 Nov 2017

                                      Pabliell, 18 Nov 2017And say goodbye to your warranty. It's unavailable outside ... moreyeah :'(

                                        A-llex, 18 Nov 2017Buy it unlocked.And say goodbye to your warranty. It's unavailable outside US, so your warranty outside US is not valid.

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