Samsung has added another interesting option to its lineup with the all-new Samsung Galaxy S6 active, and on paper it looks like a device that wants to be your daily driver. Announced in 2015, June. Released 2015, June, it arrives at a time when the competition is as tight as ever.
Design & Display
Up front there is a 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm 2 (~66.5% screen-to-body ratio) screen, pushing a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 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 White.
Performance & Software
Under the hood you will find the Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm), paired with 3GB of RAM, which means smooth scrolling, quick app switching and no real hiccups in normal use. It runs Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), TouchWiz UI out of the box, so the software experience feels current.
Camera
The camera setup is one of the talking points here, with a 16 MP sensor doing the heavy lifting. Point-and-shoot results are reliable, and that is exactly what most buyers want.
Battery
There is a Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable battery inside. With moderate use you can expect to end the day with charge to spare.
Our Opinion
After spending time with the spec sheet and what Samsung is promising, here is where we land. 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. For someone who simply wants a dependable daily driver that will not let them down halfway through the day, this ticks a lot of boxes. There are rivals that beat it in one area or another, as is always the case in this segment. But taken as a whole, the Samsung Galaxy S6 active 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.
