Samsung brings new rugged Galaxy XCover7 smartphone and Tab Active5 tablet

10 January 2024

As all eyes are on Samsung's Galaxy S24 flagships coming later this month, the company surprised everyone with two new rugged devices. Say hello to the Galaxy XCover7 smartphone and the Galaxy Tab Active5 tablet.

The duo comes with Android 14 out of the box, 5G connectivity, NFC for cashless payments, Samsung Knox Vault for data protection and a programmable button for quick access in rough conditions.

Samsung Galaxy XCover7

The Samsung Galaxy XCover7 comes with a 6.6” LCD with Full HD+ resolution that has increased touch sensitivity for work with gloves up to 2 mm thick and in wet environments. Samsung generally does not say what chipset powers their phones, and we only know the Galaxy XCover7 has a SoC built on a 6nm process with an octa-core CPU.

The only camera on the back has a 50 MP sensor, while the one at the front does 5 MP stills. Memory is 6 GB RAM, storage is 128 GB, and the phone takes microSD cards. Other highlights include a 3.5 mm audio jack and Dolby Atmos sound.

The Galaxy XCover7's key selling point is that it's built to last, complying with the IP68 and MIL-STD-810H standards. The screen is protected by a Gorilla Glass Victus+, while the 4,050 mAh battery is removable.

The phone has a No Battery Mode, allowing it to run without a battery when plugged into the USB-C port - this is extremely convenient to be used in kiosks, cars, and all other scenarios where the device is constantly connected to a charger. That way, the cell is preserved, and the phone does not emit extra heat.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5

The tablet has an 8” LCD with up to 120 Hz refresh rate, and just like the smartphone, has increased touch sensitivity. There's a 13 MP camera on the back and a 5 MP one at the front. It packs an unnamed 5 nm chipset.

Memory combinations are two - 6/128 GB or 8/256 GB, both with a microSD slot for up to 1 TB more. The IP68-certified tablet supports an S Pen, but that comes in a separate protective case as it does not go into the actual body of the slate.

The Tab Active5 is also MIL-STD-810H0 rated for withstanding extreme altitude, humidity, immersion, salt fog, dust, vibrations, and drops. However, the panel here has the slightly dated Gorilla Glass 5 on top.

There are physical keys in the bottom bezel, and the home key has a built-in fingerprint scanner. The battery has a 5,050 mAh capacity and can also be removed, allowing the tablet to work without the cell.

The Samsung Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5 will be available starting this month. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.

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