Samsung Galaxy S4 Active LTE-A is one of those devices that tries to pack a lot into one package. Let us see if Samsung has managed to put together a phone that is actually worth your money. Announced in 2013, December. Released 2013, December, it arrives at a time when the competition is as tight as ever.
Design & Display
Up front there is a 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm 2 (~69.2% screen-to-body ratio) screen, pushing a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density), which is more than sharp enough for everyday use, streaming and a bit of gaming. The build feels well put together, and Samsung has clearly paid attention to the in-hand feel. You can pick it up in a few finishes, including Dive Blue.
Performance & Software
At the heart of it sits the Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm), paired with 2GB of RAM. For the kind of tasks most of us throw at a phone, there is plenty of muscle here. It runs Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI out of the box, so the software experience feels current.
Camera
On the camera side, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active LTE-A is led by a 13 MP main sensor. Point-and-shoot results are reliable, and that is exactly what most buyers want.
Battery
Battery duties are handled by a Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable unit. With moderate use you can expect to end the day with charge to spare.
Our Opinion
Coming to the important bit, our opinion on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active LTE-A. Samsung has clearly gone for substance over gimmicks here, and we respect that approach. It gets the basics right, offering a dependable main camera, a crisp display, which is exactly what most buyers are really after. In day-to-day use it feels like the kind of device you can rely on, whether you are replying to messages, scrolling through social media, watching videos or taking the odd photo. Is it perfect? No phone is, and you will always find a sharper camera or a faster chip somewhere else for a little more money. But taken as a whole, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active LTE-A is a sensible, well-judged choice that should keep most users happy for a good while. If you have used this device or are planning to pick one up, do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
