Galaxy S8 Active: Samsung launches rugged version of its flagship, with a bigger battery

Samsung on Monday introduced the Galaxy S8 Active, a rugged version of its flagship smartphone. According to the company, the new iteration of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ is made of 'military-grade material' and is shatter, dust and water-resistant. It features a metal frame and bumper that provide protection against tilting, abrasion and shock. The smartphone also has a textured polycarbonate back panel for better grip.

Currently exclusive to the US market, the phone goes up for pre-order starting today while the sale will begin from August 11. The Galaxy S8 Active is exclusively available via AT&T with a price tag of $28.34 (₹1,800 approximately) for 30 months. The smartphone will be available in Meteor Gray and Titanium Gold colour options.

The Galaxy S8 Active comes with a "shatter-resistant screen" on top of the 5.8-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display. The aspect ratio of the screen is at 18.5:9. In order to keep the rugged look, the smartphone has a relatively flatter design than the Galaxy S8.

Other than the design changes, it comes with a bigger battery than the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+: It is powered by a 4,000mAh battery whereas the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ come with 3,000mAh and 3,500mAh batteries respectively.

According to Samsung, the S8 Active also comes with better camera capabilities than the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. "The advanced 12MP F1.7 Dual Pixel rear camera and 8MP F1.7 Smart autofocus front camera deliver bright, sharp photos, even in low-light conditions," Samsung says on its website.

The phone comes preloaded Samsung Knox, which the company describes as the "defence-grade mobile security platform." Just like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, the Galaxy S8 Active comes with Bixby digital assistant.