The Huawei Ascend P6 S, once a slim champion, faces off against the rugged Samsung Galaxy S7 Active. Both offer unique strengths, but which one delivers the better overall experience? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active decisively wins this comparison. Its superior processor, significantly better camera, and exceptional battery life outweigh the P6 S's slim design. While the P6 S was impressive for its time, the S7 Active remains a more capable and durable device.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, January. Released 2014, January | 2016, June. Released 2016, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 132.6 x 65.5 x 6.5 mm (5.22 x 2.58 x 0.26 in) | 148.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (5.86 x 2.95 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM, (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 120 g (4.23 oz) | 184.8 g (6.53 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~312 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~70.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~64.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS+ LCD | Super AMOLED |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.6 GHz | Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 530 |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 4.4.2 (KitKat), EMUI 2 | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm |
| Video | 720p | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 3.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| | - | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired, QC2
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | - | Up to 110 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 216 h | Up to 384 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (2G) / Up to 12 h (3G) | Up to 32 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 2000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Camo Green, Titanium Gray, Sandy Gold |
| Models | - | SM-G891A |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 360 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.92 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.32 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 96h |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 72dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB |
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 2487Basemark X: 32362 |
Huawei Ascend P6 S
- Very slim and lightweight
- Compact size
- Decent design for its time
- Outdated processor
- Lower camera quality
- Limited battery life
- Lack of modern features
Samsung Galaxy S7 active
- Durable and rugged design
- Excellent performance
- Outstanding battery life
- Great camera
- Water and dust resistance
- Larger and heavier than the P6 S
- Design may not appeal to everyone
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, known for vibrant colors and excellent outdoor visibility. The Huawei P6 S has a 4.7-inch IPS LCD display. While the P6 S is more compact, the S7 Active's larger, brighter, and more color-accurate display provides a superior viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The S7 Active boasts a significantly better camera system. While specific megapixel counts might be similar, the S7 Active's image processing and sensor technology are far superior, resulting in sharper, more detailed photos with better low-light performance. The P6 S camera is adequate but noticeably behind.
Performance
The Snapdragon 820 chipset in the S7 Active offers a massive performance advantage over the P6 S's quad-core processor. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the S7 Active. The S7 Active's Kryo cores are simply more powerful.
Battery Life
The S7 Active's endurance rating of 96 hours is exceptional, showcasing its impressive battery life. The P6 S, while having a decent battery for its size, cannot compete with the S7 Active's longevity. The S7 Active's charging capabilities (QC2) also provide faster charging speeds.
Buying Guide
The Huawei Ascend P6 S is best suited for users prioritizing a very slim and lightweight phone, and who don't need top-tier performance or camera capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is ideal for those needing a durable, long-lasting phone with excellent performance and a great camera, especially those working or playing in demanding environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Huawei P6 S still worth buying?
Given its age and outdated specs, the Huawei P6 S is generally not recommended unless you specifically need a very slim and compact phone and can find it at a very low price.
❓ How durable is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active?
The S7 Active is built to withstand harsh conditions, featuring a rugged design, water and dust resistance (IP68), and shock absorption. It's a very durable phone.
