Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Announced: Beach Party Rival Ready Against Sony Xperia ZR [Spec Comparison]

Meet Samsung Galaxy S4 Active- the most adventurous phone launched by the South Korean giant rcently. The Galaxy S4 Active is a water and dustproof handset. Samsung says the S4 Active is designed for those who want to live Active life. Yes, it is the same rugged handset which was touted to be Sony Xperia ZR killer.

"Samsung has taken the innovative features of the GALAXY S4 and added breakthrough protective design elements to create a device that thrives in an active environment and is built for a lifestyle of travel and exploration.", as per JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

The Galaxy S4 Active comes with IP67 mark meaning it is water and dustproof. It can record videos in the water (1 meter deep) for up to 30 minutes. That's pretty amazing. That said the main highlight of the device -its rugged quality which makes it different from Galaxy S4. Talking about the specifications so there isn't much difference except Samsung went for 8-mega pixel camera. This handset is heavy at 151 grams in comparison to Galaxy S4. There is additional software called "Aqua Mode" which is specifically designed to increase visual quality and clarity for enhanced underwater images and video.

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Few days back, Sony had come up with a similar kind of device with same water and dustproof capability. GizBot compare the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active with Sony Xperia S4 Active in brief just to give you an overview. Stay tuned to GizBot.

Water Resistant, Dust proof and Glove Touch

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active comes with IP67 mark that means you can take this device under water - shoot videos, click pictures up to 30 minutes. It is recommended not to go beyond 1 meter at a depth otherwise there are chances of damage. The Galaxy S4 Active is sealed from all sides so take this handset far away, for instance - Thar Desert. Another cool feature of this handset is that you can operate the touch screen in cold weather also.

On the other hand, the Sony Xperia ZR comes with IP55 and IP58 ratings. You can submerge this device not beyond 1.5 meters. Duration wise - both Galaxy S4 Active and the Xperia ZR can run up to 30 minutes not beyond that. Sony clearly says that you can use Xperia ZR in the most extreme weather conditions*

*When it's snowing or raining, or when humidity levels are high.

Portability factor

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active stands at 151 grams, and measures 9.1mm thick. Of course it is heavy, when compared to original Samsung Galaxy S4. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia ZR weighs at 140 grams, and measures 10.4 mm thick. The Galaxy S4 Active typically represents Samsung design. Sony must have taken cues from Xperia Z while designing the Xperia ZR.

Camera

Samsung chose an 8-mega pixel sensor over 13-mega pixel one. The original Samsung Galaxy S4 packs a 13-mega pixel rear facing camera. The Galaxy S4 Active comes with a unique software addition - Aqua Mode, which actually enhances visual quality of images/videos shot in underwater. Sony went for 13-mega pixel camera with 16x optical zoom facility. The Xperia ZR comes with HDR to video feature that actually help in recording videos in high contrast situations.

Specifications

Samsung tried to make Galaxy S4 Active as powerful as the original S4. The internal specifications remain untouched: a 5-inch display with 1080p Full HD TFT display, 1.9 GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, 2GB of RAM, LTE, 16GB of ROM( expandable up to 64GB via microSD cards), Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, DLNA, Bluetooth , and a 2,600mAh battery fitted inside. Well, the original Samsung Galaxy S4 uses Super AMOLED display.

In comparison to Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, the folks over at Sony compromised on the internal specifications. Here are the highlighted specifications: a 4.55-inch display with 720p HD display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of ROM ( expandable up to 32GB via microSD cards), 3G, Wi-Fi, and a 2,300mAh battery.

So which is the best?

The Sony Xperia ZR is coming to India this month only. It will cost above Rs 25,000. Samsung has to announce Indian release date of Galaxy S4 Active. Going by the specifications, the Samsung surely has an edge over Sony Xperia ZR. But the Japanese giant has proved mettle with Xperia Z, a water resistant handset. So, it is up to you which smartphone suits your budget.