I had this phone for about a year and I loved it and I recently upgraded to a Samsung Galaxy S7 active. I miss this phone tbh, I loved it a lot. Especially the removable battery unlike the one I use now. life goes on, lol.
Almost everyone i know told me how ugly the phone looked. It is my favorite phone of all times. I loved it. I used it so rough, for entire 2 years, I threw it at people to or hit to defend myself, stick it to a rod and take a video of a water tank inside. I had 3 batteries and 1 external charger at home and another at work. Almost NEVER ran out of battery, Id game, video call, listen to music, use google maps all day, everywhere. I took it to many states in the US, to Germany, to Netherlands, Turkey. at the beaches Id bury it in the sand to hide it from being stolen XD or just keep it in my pocket while swimming. Make calls in the sea. But it finally succumb to my abuse. It was like a bad break up.
I love the galaxy line up. I bought the active and I have never been happier with a phone. The fact that I don't have to be so careful put me at ease. It's the same price as the s5 and it's a littlw.more durable. It's rubber corners help with drops. Only complaint that when dropped the battery cover comes off easier than I had anticipated. There should be a twist lock or something on the battery cover since it's "everything proof". But that's my only complaint and every other phones battery case comes off when dropped too so. Your phone < My phone
I went from the S5 to the S5 active and I must say I love my active.. The dropping, yeah it happens. I had a bulky case on my S5 and I took it underwater many times.. The S5 Active and its durability is good.. and I also did put a Casemate Bumper case on it for that added protection. it also does not hinder the phones good looks.. I like Mil type things being ex military.. this was the phone I have been waiting for.
wow, surprised about the negative reviews. I'm STILL using this phone after over 2 years. the battery is starting to die now, hanging on until the s8 active. this phone has been under water, dropped probably over 500 times, usually on concrete and asphalt. it survived 2 years in the army, been through every environment possible. packed with mud, grit, been submerged... never used a screen protector, and the screen has never scratched or chipped. best phone I've ever had, and has lasted longer. I'm afraid of the new active, hopefully they fixed the easily scratched screen of the s7 active
I got my case free from costco because It was my birthday and I told the girl at the phone desk that this was my 18th birthday present show she through in a free otter box case the nice one. also didn't know about the active at the time. I am a construction worker but honestly no matter what case or smartphone i got I don't think i am gonna take it out on the job site simply because there's simply no need for it out on the jobsite and during the job the only reason you should be on the phone is because the boss or a coworker is calling you to tell you something about the job. I do really enjoy this video man =)
Though, not normally a fan of Samsung's idea of industrial design, I gotta say I like the way this phone looks. Reminds me of starship troopers, or something.
The two physical buttons beside the home-button are the culprits for activating the screen in your pocket. I had the same problem with my S4 Active. If rooted, you can change that behaviour.
I have had my Galaxy S5 Active for 18 months. I have dropped it a couple of times and it has been rained on at least once. The problems that I am experiencing are the battery/phone gets crazy hot with use. I have had the battery replaced twice -- but still the same problem. Also, the screen is more often than not unresponsive and many times I am unable to answer phone calls, check e-mails etc. While ATT&T have been extremely gracious and helpful, I'm afraid that a new phone is in order in just 18 months.
I think the active looks better but if I had to chose between them I would take the regular one. for the trip to the mountains I would use a durable case but for everyday life I prefer the lighter and buttonless one. This of course only relevant to my life style not everyone's.
Pretty sure there's a setting in the galaxy setting that can turn that makes the screen less sensitive to things other then your hands I am not 100% sure if that's on the s5 active
As you more than likely notice, the home button wakes up the phone just like the wake-up/power button. That is why on both phones you accidentally woke up the phone while in your pocket. I had my phone for less than a week and I don't find this feature useful. I am hoping i can find a setting where I can deactivate the Wakeup via the Home button. I am assuming they added this feature for the regular S5 where it would be easier to wakeup, and unlock the phone with one single button, assuming you are using the fingerprint scanner to unlock your regular S5. Since the Active does not have the fingerprint scanner, I would like to see this feature deactivated by default. The power button is much more conveniently placed for wakeup functions than the home button anyways.
The stock s5 doesnt wake up in your pocket? Really? I havent been outside ONCE when my s5 didnt wake up and stop playing music because i leg touched the pause button.
I had this problem too, it kept waking up in my pocket, but it's an easy fix just turn off the air wake up setting by going to accessibility then dexterity and interaction
Joshua Schutz thanks for the edvice , my english i BAAAD BRO , but i just wanted to say thanx :D i just have beay my self a s5 active ,and this is very expensive , but i just wonderin what u think ???? is this S5 active a good phone ???? :D
Some Dude Same thing happens to my S4 Active. The home button is too sensitive. Now I don't even bother to put my phone in my jeans pocket because.. Well.. It will eventually turn on as I walk or sit.
Construction worker/farmer/outdoors person here. Would the Active be a better option than a standard S5 or even a Note 4 with an Otterbox Defender? Even with the ratings of the Active, I'd feel a whole lot more comfortable with my phone in a case, and I've had trouble finding an Otterbox for it. My old phone, an S3 with a Defender case, has survived all kinds of abuse, notably a 20' drop onto concrete while building a pole barn. As a matter of fact, most of the "rugged" things the Active is built for are tasks I do every week, so I might just be pushing the limits of an otherwise unprotected phone. Will the Active be as tough, or should I look for another phone and put a Defender around it?
Who the fuck would pay $60 for a case? It boggles my mind that people actually pay the absurd retail store prices for a case when they could easily find it online for up to 75% cheaper.
TheRealConcertKing ok ,i need a case very bad , can u help me where i can finde a good webside and finde it online ??????? thanx sooooo much and sory my bad english :/ :D
Please answer; On my Active S4 I have the most annoying feature that I can access the shutdown panel even when the phone is locked. And then shut it down. In other words. It shuts down randomly in my pocket thanks to this. Does the S5 have that same stupid feature? Other than that this have been my most durable phone of them all. (Not counting my old NOKIA 3310)
Maybe adding silica gel packs or using a Bheestie bag might have saved that GS5A from water damage since rice isn't really that water adsorbent until you cook it. Anyway, good review as always. Always remember people, water resistant doesn't equate waterproof. I may as well spend on a Lifeproof case or from Otterbox.
how about getting an xperia z3 (compact is better for backpacking IMO) with a simple silicon case for absorbing the force generated on impact when dropped?
Phone is slightly water proof. I always buy an otter box defender serious case dropped it from a 5 story building onto concrete and it survived just fine....i ALWAYS GO OTTERBOX!
I have the galaxy s5 Active becuz i do contruction ,and the harrash environment conditions, it unclipped from pocket im short ,it fell 2 ft with a protective case on it and the screen cracked, why do they do all these tests supposedly, !?? And claim all kinda stuff to sell it. Well if ATT /samsung claims this then they should back up replacement of part ect. But they want me to use my insurance . Which i would have to decuctible ,not right is it
Anyone with some personal experience with this phone? I currently have the Rugby Pro (two years old now), and I want to know how tough it really is. In my experience with my Rugby Pro, I'm not sure if it can be beaten. I know its performence is a bit out dated, but in my line of work I need something reliable. In the past two years my Pro has worked in -40 to +40C (even baked at 350F for a few minutes (was drunk making pizza)), submrerged in fresh water, salt water, mud and urine (again, drunk, don't ask), dropped, ran over, thrown, and withstood the impact of a .308 (not the bullet itself, the force of the impact over 100 metres), not to mention dust. Lots of dust. Humidity and high altitude.
Patrik Hunter Adendum. Some of the features of the Pro are the same as the S5 Active, like the almost useless "activity button", but the Pro is lacking in screen visability in bright background and it's sllloooow when launching more than one app at a time so you have to be careful as to how many apps you have running in the background and if you happen to be sending a text at the same time you recieve one or you have a bunch of notifications at once the only way to get it working again is to pull the battery.
jamen brooks how can you say this phone is amazing if you don't even have one? i had an iphone 4s when i got the galaxy s5 active, and i regretted the purchase almost immediatly. now after a year of hating my phone, and days after the warrenty expired, it finnally kicked the bucket after i tried to take some pics in a pool. it was never submerged more than 2 ft or for more than 5 min. i'm going back to an iPhone.
You do a very good job Michael. Raise very good relevant points and explore then. I think it is cool you show it is a very resilient phone, yet indeed diferent then Samsung pitch, it isnt a "tank".
ive had this phone for almost half a year and it was great it nly had on tiny little crack in the screen up until a week ago when i put it on the ground by a lake and the water rushed over it and it does not charge and the home screen button does not work anymore even after i cleaned it out and put it in rice it shocked me because i had made sure the back was n tight and the cahrger port was closed but water still g0t in the phone but yes, it was my fault for leaving it near water int he first place, but i not the company who is advertising the phone as everything proof
i like how every phone review just assumes that you will get the phone in a contract. i've been using cell phones for 11 years now an have not had a single contract. isn't pre-paid a thing at all in the US?
I'm in the US and I haven't had a contract in years! I almost signed a 2 year contract so that I could get this phone a lot cheaper... after doing the math I realized I would save about 500 dollars in 2 years if I just pay for the phone outright and stick with my pre-paid deal.
Kelly Sunseri-Adams T-Mobile now considers this and does something called installments it saves a lot than that and plans cheaper than everyone else great coverage too
The logic behind americans using so much contract phones with a carrier, is that it's less expensive for them to keep a cellular data plan, instead of hypothetically buying a phone off contract and then using a carrier's data plan. So much for the land of the free huh. And they are pretty much locked to a carrier once they choose it, which in America it's basically either At and T, Verizon, Sprint or T mobile, and depending on which region of the U.S you are a certain carrier is better because they have more antennas and coverage in that area, among other factors to considere when choosing... That doesn't sound very optimal to me.. Where I live most people buy and use phones off contract, here Wi-fi is free and in most cities there are numerous open Wi-fi points for the population, kinda like the logic behind Pokemon go, so most people don't use cellular data for other than making calls In my country they're trying to promote free internet for the population, they call it Frei internet für Alles (or "free internet for all"), through putting state owned antennas accross the state, and also promoting research in Satellite internet, soon people will have their own antennas in their homes to transmit internet from satellite in space
I have the Kyocera Torque and this phone is truly ruggedized. Its not the thinnest or the fastest, its a beater. There's a eighth of an inch raised lip around the gorilla glass screen. I can't wait for the next gen of the torque!
Great review, Michael. With all of these supposed upgrades, it boggles the mind as to why the Active series falls prey to build quality issues. The materials used for the phone makes it look better and give it a more solid feel and substantial grip in the hand. But some of the compromises made are inexcusable. USB 3.0 is the new standard and the one thing this device should have is fast charging and data transfer. The people this phone is intended for probably don't have a lot of time to wait to transfer data or stay tied to a wall charger. USB 3.0 does serve a practical need and should've been included. Also the shock absorption is a joke. I sense a deja vu recall like last year's S4 Active...
The durability of this phone and any other rugged phone is peace of mind in case you drop it. It does not mean hey throw it up in the air throw it here throw it there and push it. You wouldn't do that with anything even if it was ruggedized. This is a tough phone and it's everything that you needed to be. Now Samsung is doing great things but they need smarter people more out of the box thinking people they not only make phones they make a lot of different stuff. Now all these cameras with all their functions are absolutely terrific all they need now is to come out with some mounting accessories and that would really put it up to the next level.
It flunked the drop test. Therefore don't buy it, and don't buy a screen protector. A rugged phone should not need it. This phone is a piece of crap for outdoor use.
xfigbearx It has a glass screen. Glass shatters. I don't car how rugged a phone is supposed to be. If it has a glass screen, it's going to break. Just get a tempered glass screen protector, and the problem is solved. The screen protector will shatter instead of the screen, and it will have free replacements for life.
Weavemaster Tam Yes, but glass is glass, and it's guaranteed to eventually crack. That's just what glass does. All it takes is it hitting at just the right angle, and it's a gonner.
Still the phone I'm seriously thinking about getting to replace my Note 2 with. The other being a Note4 with its rumored 805 processor and putting that in an Otter Box Defender case. I need a ruggedized, all weather phone I can take with me on kayak, cycling trips. Also shove in my field hockey bag.
I can watch it on the phone i took it with... I know its not going to be true 4k, but there will be a noticeable difference between 4k and 1080p video. You didn't think about that, didn't you?
Personally I love the Galaxy S5 Active looks and features especially with the that sweet sexy CAMO GREEN paint job but the 'peel off' battery cover is a big let down for me as highlighted in the this or a couple other video reviews. Its my humble opinion that if you are gonna make a "rugged," "water-resistant" or "water-proof" phone, please give it a very secure battery compartment. I love seeing water-resistant devices that require you to either use a coin to turn a screw lock or switch lock to get the battery out as is the case with my NEC Terrain. I feel a sense of confidence dropping it in a puddle (as a demo to friends) or pool without worrying the back will fly open as was the case with the super expensive S5 Active.
I bought one in titanium over the S5 most because I like the feel and look more. It has a lip around the rim and what looks to me like a screen protector on top of the display. I think the screen will be much more protected from drops than the S5. Anyone who has owned an S model knows that if it's dropped on a hard surface the back will come off. So throwing it in shallow water onto a hard surface was a definite killer and it should be something Samsung should concentrate on. But even if I'm wrong it being more tough I like the looks more over the S5.
To be honest I am very dissapopinted with Samsung overall. I had so many devices and they all tend to dissapoint. My S4 had sp man problems and I have been twice in the service. I don't get the point of the active, even though I like how it looks more than the S5 it seems to be LESS durable than the original. So WTF?
I bought the galaxy S4 active because with the S4, only the Active was water resistant, which is awesome. I have kids, i do a lot of outdoor stuff for work and recreation. It was a no brainer. But I have always had a more limited selection of cases (waterproof or not, i'm still putting a case on my $650 phone) and other accessories (extended batteries). WIth the S5, both the standard and the active version are water resistant. Like it says, the active is not everything proof. I still would not carry it without a case. I'm super happy that the s5 is now standard water resistant, as I think all super portable computers (smart phones) should be. Buying an S5 active will only make it harder to buy accessories. Those military standards don't measure what happens when a 2 year old throws your phone down the steps. With a phone that millions have purchased like that standard S5, I'll have the otterbox, ballistic, seidio, trident and any number of high quality impact cases to choose from. . . probably in lots of colors for when I get bored after having a certain look on my phone for a year.
Why didn't you test USEFUL drops? Your clip of dropping it onto a "hard" surface was on dirt. Your clip dropping it on wet stone was face up. I want to know what happens when I drop it on the sidewalk and it hits the screen! The phone is only as strong as its weakest part, which, if it's anything like any other phone I've had, is the screen.
I'm glad they didn't give the active button the ability to wake your phone because they had done that with the camera button on the memoir and it had allowed the phone to be woken up too easily was it
Yeah I have one, watching this on it right now. Everytime I drop it without the case on it, the back cover falls off and the battery comes out. It's not dust proof either, battery life sucks, the screen has a twitch, and if you punch it hard enough it reboots and doesn't read the Sim card. Talk about false advertising
can you please give me the link of the store you buy it?at my country galaxy s5 active cost 500 euros...please if someone knows this site post it below..thanks :)
One of my kids dropped my Galaxy S5 Active in the dirty dishwater, and it sat there for like 15 minutes before anyone realized. It works fine, no hiccups. I would say that's a pretty tough phone!
Sounds like to me that if you want an everything proof Samsung Galaxy S5....just buy an Otter box case!!!! Plus it's stupid to keep the S5 Active exclusive to AT&T just like Amazon keeping there Kindle Fire phone with AT&T also.🙍 Great review Mike.👍
***** I own an s3. I hated touchwiz (now i have cm11). Never going with samsung again. I might get a oneplus one, nexus 5, or even a g3 for my next phone.
I'm not a fanboy. The very fact you'd describe me as a fanboy based off the internet makes you a fool. Labelling another from a comment couldn't be more judgemental and stupid. Find other resorts to relieve your self from your arrogance rather than stating who I am. I am not everything and I am not nothing. I am not God but I am whom I am. I am defo not a fanboy
Water resistant is not the same thing as waterproof. Just find a waterproof housing for actually going underwater, but it should stand up to rain; my Note 2 was in a driving rainstorm, but I need to take pictures, so I threw caution to the wind. It was fine; maybe I got lucky. Use common sense. There are other reasons people might prefer this, especially those hard buttons on the bottom instead of the capacitive touch buttons. A lot of people don't like those touch buttons on the bottom, especially when taking pictures. I just got this for someone as a gift. It's just perfect for his needs.
A disappointment about this release is that, unlike the s4 Active, there is no "Active Case" available from Samsung. Yes, I understand that there is a point to this edition and not necessarily needing a case, but the S4 Active is tough to give up mostly due to that durable and cheap case (12 Euros!). It truly is the best one available and adds pretty incredible protection for the screen. I mountain bike and snowboard and do a lot of extreme sports and it's been great. I do chuckle that my old N8 has been through worse without a single problem for five years, without being a "rugged" edition, but it is what it is. I will be getting an S5 Active, though as an import from the US (I'm in Germany) and I will hack it so it allows all Euro LTE bands, but when I go back home to the US, I'll still have LTE, unlke with my Euro edition S4 Active. And the cam in the S4 Active is really bad, which is why I'm looking at the S5 Active. I also just loaded the Activity Zone from the S5 A onto the S4A. All works except the barometer, with one reason being that it's not available in my country (Germany).
Christian Vega Honestly not a whole lot, The internals are the exact same, it's all on the exterior, it looks more rugged and is somewhat but still isn't a whole lot tougher. However the actives sell for way less then the regular S5 if you're looking to buy!
i like amoled technology, but i hate samsung phone...i have razr hd. but this phone is just something i need...i hope there will be international version of this phone
apparently, people are buying these water proof smartphones because they thought they would need it at the first instance when they saw the phone and considered it as a needed option or feature to have on smartphones while they rarely go out, or work in construction sites and is a waste of the product. These water proof, shock proof phones are made for a purpose and obviously to provide the capability of getting them wet dirty and place where they could possibly drop their phones a meter high(definitely not made to withstand dropping down the cliff!). From my own view, my opinion is that these phones are made for people who are going to use them in the way they should be, for example going through tough situations and so on and not for people who think they need it while they actually don't coz they would just be staying at home all day and not gonna risk getting their phones damaged or wet.
"for those who need the rating, just don't believe it's everything proof!" why would you be buying the device in the first place? If you really need that extra durability, and you're buying a device specifically made for that, you would think it can handle a lot more.
If you're going to make an "active" phone, go all the way. Samsung REALLY didn't do that. Make it unibody for better water resistance. Make it thicker and genuinely tougher. Add a lip around the screen (like an otterbox) to protect the screen better. Even reduce camera and screen resolution to keep the price down. (chances are the people who need this phone won't care, and Samsung can make lower resolution screens still look good.)
I had this phone for about a year and I loved it and I recently upgraded to a Samsung Galaxy S7 active. I miss this phone tbh, I loved it a lot. Especially the removable battery unlike the one I use now. life goes on, lol.
Almost everyone i know told me how ugly the phone looked.
It is my favorite phone of all times. I loved it. I used it so rough, for entire 2 years, I threw it at people to or hit to defend myself, stick it to a rod and take a video of a water tank inside.
I had 3 batteries and 1 external charger at home and another at work. Almost NEVER ran out of battery, Id game, video call, listen to music, use google maps all day, everywhere. I took it to many states in the US, to Germany, to Netherlands, Turkey. at the beaches Id bury it in the sand to hide it from being stolen XD or just keep it in my pocket while swimming. Make calls in the sea. But it finally succumb to my abuse. It was like a bad break up.
I love the galaxy line up. I bought the active and I have never been happier with a phone. The fact that I don't have to be so careful put me at ease. It's the same price as the s5 and it's a littlw.more durable. It's rubber corners help with drops. Only complaint that when dropped the battery cover comes off easier than I had anticipated. There should be a twist lock or something on the battery cover since it's "everything proof". But that's my only complaint and every other phones battery case comes off when dropped too so.
Your phone < My phone
I went from the S5 to the S5 active and I must say I love my active.. The dropping, yeah it happens. I had a bulky case on my S5 and I took it underwater many times.. The S5 Active and its durability is good.. and I also did put a Casemate Bumper case on it for that added protection. it also does not hinder the phones good looks.. I like Mil type things being ex military.. this was the phone I have been waiting for.
i want to know how to fix the unlocking in the pocket. it does this to me everyday day after day. any advise?
wow, surprised about the negative reviews. I'm STILL using this phone after over 2 years. the battery is starting to die now, hanging on until the s8 active. this phone has been under water, dropped probably over 500 times, usually on concrete and asphalt. it survived 2 years in the army, been through every environment possible. packed with mud, grit, been submerged... never used a screen protector, and the screen has never scratched or chipped. best phone I've ever had, and has lasted longer. I'm afraid of the new active, hopefully they fixed the easily scratched screen of the s7 active
I got my case free from costco because It was my birthday and I told the girl at the phone desk that this was my 18th birthday present show she through in a free otter box case the nice one. also didn't know about the active at the time. I am a construction worker but honestly no matter what case or smartphone i got I don't think i am gonna take it out on the job site simply because there's simply no need for it out on the jobsite and during the job the only reason you should be on the phone is because the boss or a coworker is calling you to tell you something about the job. I do really enjoy this video man =)
Though, not normally a fan of Samsung's idea of industrial design, I gotta say I like the way this phone looks. Reminds me of starship troopers, or something.
The two physical buttons beside the home-button are the culprits for activating the screen in your pocket. I had the same problem with my S4 Active. If rooted, you can change that behaviour.
That really was a great review Michael!
I have had my Galaxy S5 Active for 18 months. I have dropped it a couple of times and it has been rained on at least once. The problems that I am experiencing are the battery/phone gets crazy hot with use. I have had the battery replaced twice -- but still the same problem. Also, the screen is more often than not unresponsive and many times I am unable to answer phone calls, check e-mails etc. While ATT&T have been extremely gracious and helpful, I'm afraid that a new phone is in order in just 18 months.
One of my first smartphones 😅
I think the active looks better but if I had to chose between them I would take the regular one. for the trip to the mountains I would use a durable case but for everyday life I prefer the lighter and buttonless one.
This of course only relevant to my life style not everyone's.
Pretty sure there's a setting in the galaxy setting that can turn that makes the screen less sensitive to things other then your hands I am not 100% sure if that's on the s5 active
Is that the United Federation of Planets symbol at :19 ?
As you more than likely notice, the home button wakes up the phone just like the wake-up/power button. That is why on both phones you accidentally woke up the phone while in your pocket. I had my phone for less than a week and I don't find this feature useful. I am hoping i can find a setting where I can deactivate the Wakeup via the Home button.
I am assuming they added this feature for the regular S5 where it would be easier to wakeup, and unlock the phone with one single button, assuming you are using the fingerprint scanner to unlock your regular S5. Since the Active does not have the fingerprint scanner, I would like to see this feature deactivated by default. The power button is much more conveniently placed for wakeup functions than the home button anyways.
The stock s5 doesnt wake up in your pocket? Really? I havent been outside ONCE when my s5 didnt wake up and stop playing music because i leg touched the pause button.
I had this problem too, it kept waking up in my pocket, but it's an easy fix just turn off the air wake up setting by going to accessibility then dexterity and interaction
Joshua Schutz Doesn't have anything to do with airwake. I disabled that long time ago. The standby button is just way too sensetive
Joshua Schutz thanks for the edvice , my english i BAAAD BRO , but i just wanted to say thanx :D i just have beay my self a s5 active ,and this is very expensive , but i just wonderin what u think ???? is this S5 active a good phone ???? :D
Some Dude Same thing happens to my S4 Active. The home button is too sensitive. Now I don't even bother to put my phone in my jeans pocket because.. Well.. It will eventually turn on as I walk or sit.
Very Nice & Informative Review, Thanks
Construction worker/farmer/outdoors person here. Would the Active be a better option than a standard S5 or even a Note 4 with an Otterbox Defender? Even with the ratings of the Active, I'd feel a whole lot more comfortable with my phone in a case, and I've had trouble finding an Otterbox for it. My old phone, an S3 with a Defender case, has survived all kinds of abuse, notably a 20' drop onto concrete while building a pole barn. As a matter of fact, most of the "rugged" things the Active is built for are tasks I do every week, so I might just be pushing the limits of an otherwise unprotected phone. Will the Active be as tough, or should I look for another phone and put a Defender around it?
Judah Chadwick the s5 active will definitely hold up with your everyday activity's.
Who the fuck would pay $60 for a case? It boggles my mind that people actually pay the absurd retail store prices for a case when they could easily find it online for up to 75% cheaper.
Because branding that's why
Lycanthropus Rex You can get the same brand case for cheaper. Just take Otterbox for example.
TheRealConcertKing ok ,i need a case very bad , can u help me where i can finde a good webside and finde it online ??????? thanx sooooo much and sory my bad english :/ :D
Please answer;
On my Active S4 I have the most annoying feature that I can access the shutdown panel even when the phone is locked. And then shut it down. In other words. It shuts down randomly in my pocket thanks to this.
Does the S5 have that same stupid feature? Other than that this have been my most durable phone of them all. (Not counting my old NOKIA 3310)
what is the game at 5:54?
Maybe adding silica gel packs or using a Bheestie bag might have saved that GS5A from water damage since rice isn't really that water adsorbent until you cook it. Anyway, good review as always. Always remember people, water resistant doesn't equate waterproof. I may as well spend on a Lifeproof case or from Otterbox.
how about getting an xperia z3 (compact is better for backpacking IMO) with a simple silicon case for absorbing the force generated on impact when dropped?
Phone is slightly water proof. I always buy an otter box defender serious case dropped it from a 5 story building onto concrete and it survived just fine....i ALWAYS GO OTTERBOX!
Why would anyone drop their phone from a 5 story building? Just curious.
Diaper_Sniper484 testing out the otterbox
That's a pretty drastic test O_o
Diaper_Sniper484 It Survived :)
:D
Whats the backgroud music near the end of the Video? PLEASE!
I have the galaxy s5 Active becuz i do contruction ,and the harrash environment conditions, it unclipped from pocket im short ,it fell 2 ft with a protective case on it and the screen cracked, why do they do all these tests supposedly, !?? And claim all kinda stuff to sell it. Well if ATT /samsung claims this then they should back up replacement of part ect. But they want me to use my insurance . Which i would have to decuctible ,not right is it
Anyone with some personal experience with this phone? I currently have the Rugby Pro (two years old now), and I want to know how tough it really is. In my experience with my Rugby Pro, I'm not sure if it can be beaten. I know its performence is a bit out dated, but in my line of work I need something reliable. In the past two years my Pro has worked in -40 to +40C (even baked at 350F for a few minutes (was drunk making pizza)), submrerged in fresh water, salt water, mud and urine (again, drunk, don't ask), dropped, ran over, thrown, and withstood the impact of a .308 (not the bullet itself, the force of the impact over 100 metres), not to mention dust. Lots of dust. Humidity and high altitude.
Patrik Hunter Adendum. Some of the features of the Pro are the same as the S5 Active, like the almost useless "activity button", but the Pro is lacking in screen visability in bright background and it's sllloooow when launching more than one app at a time so you have to be careful as to how many apps you have running in the background and if you happen to be sending a text at the same time you recieve one or you have a bunch of notifications at once the only way to get it working again is to pull the battery.
I'm currently on a iPhone 5s, and I have to say this phone is AMAZING! Thinking about buying one in September 😄
Hi
jamen brooks how can you say this phone is amazing if you don't even have one? i had an iphone 4s when i got the galaxy s5 active, and i regretted the purchase almost immediatly. now after a year of hating my phone, and days after the warrenty expired, it finnally kicked the bucket after i tried to take some pics in a pool. it was never submerged more than 2 ft or for more than 5 min. i'm going back to an iPhone.
jordan wolfley Well then it's your loss if you return to iPhone. By doing some research you easily find an android that fits your needs perfectly
Did it support qi wireless charging with add on qi attached pad ?
What is the game fighter pilot game being played? Thank you.
Sooo, can it be used for something like snorkelin?
My s4 randomly calls 911 is that just my phone or do other people encounter this on the s4
Thank you for this awesome review!
You do a very good job Michael.
Raise very good relevant points and explore then.
I think it is cool you show it is a very resilient phone, yet indeed diferent then Samsung pitch, it isnt a "tank".
what was the wallpaper you used on the active
Does anyone know where I can buy an otter box for this phone
where can you download the clock widget ?
ive had this phone for almost half a year and it was great it nly had on tiny little crack in the screen up until a week ago when i put it on the ground by a lake and the water rushed over it and it does not charge and the home screen button does not work anymore even after i cleaned it out and put it in rice
it shocked me because i had made sure the back was n tight and the cahrger port was closed but water still g0t in the phone
but yes, it was my fault for leaving it near water int he first place, but i not the company who is advertising the phone as everything proof
Where to buy? I checked their site not Available
thanks for the review guys.. what was the game shown at 5:54 ?
i like how every phone review just assumes that you will get the phone in a contract. i've been using cell phones for 11 years now an have not had a single contract. isn't pre-paid a thing at all in the US?
I'm the same way. I don't use contract phones. I like to buy them and make small payments for unlimited everything for about 40 doll hairs.
I'm in the US and I haven't had a contract in years! I almost signed a 2 year contract so that I could get this phone a lot cheaper... after doing the math I realized I would save about 500 dollars in 2 years if I just pay for the phone outright and stick with my pre-paid deal.
Kelly Sunseri-Adams T-Mobile now considers this and does something called installments it saves a lot than that and plans cheaper than everyone else great coverage too
The logic behind americans using so much contract phones with a carrier, is that it's less expensive for them to keep a cellular data plan, instead of hypothetically buying a phone off contract and then using a carrier's data plan. So much for the land of the free huh. And they are pretty much locked to a carrier once they choose it, which in America it's basically either At and T, Verizon, Sprint or T mobile, and depending on which region of the U.S you are a certain carrier is better because they have more antennas and coverage in that area, among other factors to considere when choosing... That doesn't sound very optimal to me..
Where I live most people buy and use phones off contract, here Wi-fi is free and in most cities there are numerous open Wi-fi points for the population, kinda like the logic behind Pokemon go, so most people don't use cellular data for other than making calls
In my country they're trying to promote free internet for the population, they call it Frei internet für Alles (or "free internet for all"), through putting state owned antennas accross the state, and also promoting research in Satellite internet, soon people will have their own antennas in their homes to transmit internet from satellite in space
I have the Kyocera Torque and this phone is truly ruggedized. Its not the thinnest or the fastest, its a beater. There's a eighth of an inch raised lip around the gorilla glass screen. I can't wait for the next gen of the torque!
Great review, Michael. With all of these supposed upgrades, it boggles the mind as to why the Active series falls prey to build quality issues. The materials used for the phone makes it look better and give it a more solid feel and substantial grip in the hand. But some of the compromises made are inexcusable. USB 3.0 is the new standard and the one thing this device should have is fast charging and data transfer. The people this phone is intended for probably don't have a lot of time to wait to transfer data or stay tied to a wall charger. USB 3.0 does serve a practical need and should've been included. Also the shock absorption is a joke. I sense a deja vu recall like last year's S4 Active...
Hey what's the wallpaper or background on these phones?
To Somebody who has a galaxy 5s active... Is the galaxy 5s active actually like legit waterproof?
So true, I owe one right now the battery sucks buts not bad
The durability of this phone and any other rugged phone is peace of mind in case you drop it. It does not mean hey throw it up in the air throw it here throw it there and push it. You wouldn't do that with anything even if it was ruggedized. This is a tough phone and it's everything that you needed to be. Now Samsung is doing great things but they need smarter people more out of the box thinking people they not only make phones they make a lot of different stuff. Now all these cameras with all their functions are absolutely terrific all they need now is to come out with some mounting accessories and that would really put it up to the next level.
What screen protector would someone recommend for this phone? If any.
It flunked the drop test. Therefore don't buy it, and don't buy a screen protector. A rugged phone should not need it. This phone is a piece of crap for outdoor use.
xfigbearx It has a glass screen. Glass shatters. I don't car how rugged a phone is supposed to be. If it has a glass screen, it's going to break.
Just get a tempered glass screen protector, and the problem is solved.
The screen protector will shatter instead of the screen, and it will have free replacements for life.
Kelsie LeCrone I'm pretty sure xfigbearx is just an iPhone user. That's why he put his 'negative' opinions in this case. Bye, for now.
Kelsie LeCrone it has Gorilla Glass, which is a tougher glass than other smartphones.
Weavemaster Tam Yes, but glass is glass, and it's guaranteed to eventually crack. That's just what glass does. All it takes is it hitting at just the right angle, and it's a gonner.
I have a galaxy s5 active. I've had it for a little over a year and the plastic covering around the sides is breaking off piece by piece
Still the phone I'm seriously thinking about getting to replace my Note 2 with. The other being a Note4 with its rumored 805 processor and putting that in an Otter Box Defender case. I need a ruggedized, all weather phone I can take with me on kayak, cycling trips. Also shove in my field hockey bag.
Buy a Nokia 3310
can nokia shoot 4k video? Yeah, didn't think so...
*****
just replying to a silly comment by equally silly comment
Nikita Tetyukhin Can you view 4k video on any of your monitors? Yeah, didnt think so
I can watch it on the phone i took it with...
I know its not going to be true 4k, but there will be a noticeable difference between 4k and 1080p video. You didn't think about that, didn't you?
Nikita Tetyukhin Then get the bullet stopping Lumia 520. No 4K video but it's still a smartphone
Personally I love the Galaxy S5 Active looks and features especially with the that sweet sexy CAMO GREEN paint job but the 'peel off' battery cover is a big let down for me as highlighted in the this or a couple other video reviews. Its my humble opinion that if you are gonna make a "rugged," "water-resistant" or "water-proof" phone, please give it a very secure battery compartment. I love seeing water-resistant devices that require you to either use a coin to turn a screw lock or switch lock to get the battery out as is the case with my NEC Terrain. I feel a sense of confidence dropping it in a puddle (as a demo to friends) or pool without worrying the back will fly open as was the case with the super expensive S5 Active.
I bought one in titanium over the S5 most because I like the feel and look more. It has a lip around the rim and what looks to me like a screen protector on top of the display. I think the screen will be much more protected from drops than the S5. Anyone who has owned an S model knows that if it's dropped on a hard surface the back will come off. So throwing it in shallow water onto a hard surface was a definite killer and it should be something Samsung should concentrate on. But even if I'm wrong it being more tough I like the looks more over the S5.
To be honest I am very dissapopinted with Samsung overall. I had so many devices and they all tend to dissapoint. My S4 had sp man problems and I have been twice in the service. I don't get the point of the active, even though I like how it looks more than the S5 it seems to be LESS durable than the original. So WTF?
I was atving the other day and my s5 active and it fell in the mud face down and still works awsome
I bought the galaxy S4 active because with the S4, only the Active was water resistant, which is awesome. I have kids, i do a lot of outdoor stuff for work and recreation. It was a no brainer. But I have always had a more limited selection of cases (waterproof or not, i'm still putting a case on my $650 phone) and other accessories (extended batteries).
WIth the S5, both the standard and the active version are water resistant. Like it says, the active is not everything proof. I still would not carry it without a case. I'm super happy that the s5 is now standard water resistant, as I think all super portable computers (smart phones) should be. Buying an S5 active will only make it harder to buy accessories. Those military standards don't measure what happens when a 2 year old throws your phone down the steps. With a phone that millions have purchased like that standard S5, I'll have the otterbox, ballistic, seidio, trident and any number of high quality impact cases to choose from. . . probably in lots of colors for when I get bored after having a certain look on my phone for a year.
Why didn't you test USEFUL drops? Your clip of dropping it onto a "hard" surface was on dirt. Your clip dropping it on wet stone was face up. I want to know what happens when I drop it on the sidewalk and it hits the screen! The phone is only as strong as its weakest part, which, if it's anything like any other phone I've had, is the screen.
I still have a s 5 active and it's awesome
Me too
So its exclusive for only AT&T?
I'm glad they didn't give the active button the ability to wake your phone because they had done that with the camera button on the memoir and it had allowed the phone to be woken up too easily was it
is this avaible in australia?
Kind of like it. If I got one, it wouldn't stay water proof/resistant. I would have quickly replace the battery for a big extended battery.
Yeah I have one, watching this on it right now. Everytime I drop it without the case on it, the back cover falls off and the battery comes out. It's not dust proof either, battery life sucks, the screen has a twitch, and if you punch it hard enough it reboots and doesn't read the Sim card. Talk about false advertising
05:53 Ohh Ohh Ohh What kind is it? PLEASE SOMEONE ANSWER ME
I missed the word game before KIND SORRY
Vacula Dumitru if you look they have a text above the phone
it says "Sky Gamblers - Air Supremacy"
👍👍👍Good & honest review! 😘Thank you.
Can you take pics underwater?
Don't ask why...
Didn't watch the video, huh? ^M
No I was just joking XD I wanted to see how many people think I'm stupid
Blue Shell everyone :P
office_guy I have no idea why the hell you even commented
office_guy ur saying I'm the dumb one when you have no evidence of im a crack head or not.
it waking up in your pocket is part of a special feature that can be disabled in your settings
I'm currently looking for a secondary phone, but this might just replace it
can this phone be used with other carriers like 3 or anything other than at and t?
No, Sprint has the S5 sport, but At&t is the only carrier for this phone.
that screen on thing can be fixed in settings in hand motions over the front sensor
can you please give me the link of the store you buy it?at my country galaxy s5 active cost 500 euros...please if someone knows this site post it below..thanks :)
ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΔΑΣΚΑΛΑΚΗΣ You do notice that this price was with an contract or?
The Gold Standard of reviews
What game was that?
Someone knows the game's name that is showed?
i dropped my s5 active one time and it shatterd the screen and ruptured the lcd, i cant use my device at all now and have to pay 199 for a fix.
I have an s5 active and I put it in water and I open the case afterwords and there's always water in it just a little bit but should I be worried??
I'm pretty sure something's wrong, make sure the back is completely sealed
Try turning air wake up off to fix the screen problem
Michael Fisher is the awesomest reviewer of all time!
:D
One of my kids dropped my Galaxy S5 Active in the dirty dishwater, and it sat there for like 15 minutes before anyone realized. It works fine, no hiccups. I would say that's a pretty tough phone!
what game was playing?
Sounds like to me that if you want an everything proof Samsung Galaxy S5....just buy an Otter box case!!!! Plus it's stupid to keep the S5 Active exclusive to AT&T just like Amazon keeping there Kindle Fire phone with AT&T also.🙍 Great review Mike.👍
How would this phone fare if it dropped screen down onto concrete? I'm guessing it would crack?
I'd rather stick with the regular Galaxy S5.
Me to And um don't drop ur phone
***** I own an s3. I hated touchwiz (now i have cm11). Never going with samsung again. I might get a oneplus one, nexus 5, or even a g3 for my next phone.
BambooSandwich What? No Sony love?
kapil busawah
Fan boy, my Xperia z2, couldn't take a drop from 3 feet on to sand... My old S5 could do that...
I'm not a fanboy. The very fact you'd describe me as a fanboy based off the internet makes you a fool. Labelling another from a comment couldn't be more judgemental and stupid. Find other resorts to relieve your self from your arrogance rather than stating who I am. I am not everything and I am not nothing. I am not God but I am whom I am. I am defo not a fanboy
Water resistant is not the same thing as waterproof. Just find a waterproof housing for actually going underwater, but it should stand up to rain; my Note 2 was in a driving rainstorm, but I need to take pictures, so I threw caution to the wind. It was fine; maybe I got lucky. Use common sense.
There are other reasons people might prefer this, especially those hard buttons on the bottom instead of the capacitive touch buttons. A lot of people don't like those touch buttons on the bottom, especially when taking pictures. I just got this for someone as a gift. It's just perfect for his needs.
if i buy it unlocked will it work the same on other carriers?
Yep. I'm using mine on Metro PCS right now.
A disappointment about this release is that, unlike the s4 Active, there is no "Active Case" available from Samsung. Yes, I understand that there is a point to this edition and not necessarily needing a case, but the S4 Active is tough to give up mostly due to that durable and cheap case (12 Euros!). It truly is the best one available and adds pretty incredible protection for the screen. I mountain bike and snowboard and do a lot of extreme sports and it's been great. I do chuckle that my old N8 has been through worse without a single problem for five years, without being a "rugged" edition, but it is what it is.
I will be getting an S5 Active, though as an import from the US (I'm in Germany) and I will hack it so it allows all Euro LTE bands, but when I go back home to the US, I'll still have LTE, unlke with my Euro edition S4 Active. And the cam in the S4 Active is really bad, which is why I'm looking at the S5 Active. I also just loaded the Activity Zone from the S5 A onto the S4A. All works except the barometer, with one reason being that it's not available in my country (Germany).
So, S5 Active or S5 with an Otterbox?
so whats the difference between this n normal galaxy 5s?
Christian Vega Honestly not a whole lot, The internals are the exact same, it's all on the exterior, it looks more rugged and is somewhat but still isn't a whole lot tougher. However the actives sell for way less then the regular S5 if you're looking to buy!
I just bought a galaxy s5 active so is it waterproof
what is this buttons?
i like amoled technology, but i hate samsung phone...i have razr hd. but this phone is just something i need...i hope there will be international version of this phone
I can't find the finger print scanner on my active my Co worker has an s5 what gives
active does not have it, only s5
Did you even watch the video?
Airsoftking253 most of it ha ha probably finish it
active doesnt have it :P
You don't have an this phone you're just here to hate on the galaxy cause you have an iPhone
Great review
Remember when Michael Fisher was associated with Pocketnow.
I forgot how much I love Michael Fisher aah
apparently, people are buying these water proof smartphones because they thought they would need it at the first instance when they saw the phone and considered it as a needed option or feature to have on smartphones while they rarely go out, or work in construction sites and is a waste of the product. These water proof, shock proof phones are made for a purpose and obviously to provide the capability of getting them wet dirty and place where they could possibly drop their phones a meter high(definitely not made to withstand dropping down the cliff!). From my own view, my opinion is that these phones are made for people who are going to use them in the way they should be, for example going through tough situations and so on and not for people who think they need it while they actually don't coz they would just be staying at home all day and not gonna risk getting their phones damaged or wet.
"for those who need the rating, just don't believe it's everything proof!" why would you be buying the device in the first place? If you really need that extra durability, and you're buying a device specifically made for that, you would think it can handle a lot more.
think you upgrade to android L 5.0
If you're going to make an "active" phone, go all the way. Samsung REALLY didn't do that. Make it unibody for better water resistance. Make it thicker and genuinely tougher. Add a lip around the screen (like an otterbox) to protect the screen better. Even reduce camera and screen resolution to keep the price down. (chances are the people who need this phone won't care, and Samsung can make lower resolution screens still look good.)