The Samsung Galaxy Active series offered a unique blend of flagship features and extreme durability. But which Active model – the S6 or the S7 – holds up better today? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The S7 Active edges out the S6 Active thanks to its slightly faster Snapdragon 820 processor and improved camera. While the S6 Active boasts a longer endurance rating, the S7 Active's overall performance and features make it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 29, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, June. Released 2015, June | 2016, June. Released 2016, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 146.8 x 73.4 x 8.6 mm (5.78 x 2.89 x 0.34 in) | 148.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (5.86 x 2.95 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 184.8 g (6.53 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
MIL-STD-810G compliant salt, dust, humidity, rain, vibration, solar radiation, transport and thermal shock resistant | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~66.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~64.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP8 | Adreno 530 |
| OS | Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), TouchWiz UI | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF | 12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide) | 5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
| ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) | 15W wired, QC2
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | Up to 57 h | Up to 110 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 504 h (3G) | Up to 384 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 24 h (3G) | Up to 32 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Gray | Camo Green, Titanium Gray, Sandy Gold |
| Models | SM-G890A | SM-G891A |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 360 EUR |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) | 0.92 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.48 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body) | 0.32 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 109h
| Endurance rating 96h |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 72dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB |
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 2487Basemark X: 32362 |
Samsung Galaxy S6 active
- Exceptional battery life (on paper)
- Rugged and durable design
- Water and dust resistant (IP68)
- Bright Super AMOLED display
- Older processor showing its age
- Less impressive camera compared to S7 Active
- Slower charging
- Limited software updates
Samsung Galaxy S7 active
- Faster processor (Snapdragon 820)
- Improved camera with better low-light performance
- Slightly more modern design
- Water and dust resistant (IP68)
- Slightly shorter battery life (on paper)
- Can be more expensive on the used market
- Still an older device with limited software support
Display Comparison
Both phones feature 5.1-inch Super AMOLED displays with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. However, the S7 Active's display is slightly brighter and offers marginally better color accuracy. The S6 Active's screen is still excellent, but the S7 Active has a slight edge.
Camera Comparison
The S7 Active's camera is a clear winner. It features a 12MP sensor with a wider aperture (f/1.7) and improved image processing, resulting in better low-light performance and more detailed photos. The S6 Active's 16MP camera is still decent, but lacks the S7 Active's clarity and dynamic range.
Performance
The S7 Active's Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the S6 Active's Exynos 7420. Apps launch faster, multitasking is smoother, and gaming performance is improved on the S7 Active. The S6 Active is still capable, but shows its age.
Battery Life
The S6 Active surprisingly has a higher endurance rating (109h) than the S7 Active (96h) on paper. However, real-world usage often sees the S7 Active lasting longer due to its more efficient processor and software optimizations.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active is a good choice for users prioritizing maximum battery life and a lower price point on the used market. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is ideal for those needing a more powerful processor, a better camera, and slightly more modern features, even if it means a bit less battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the S6 Active still worth buying?
If you prioritize battery life and can find it at a significantly lower price, the S6 Active can still be a decent option. However, be aware of its limitations in performance and camera quality.
❓ Which Active phone is more durable?
Both phones are built to military standards (MIL-STD-810G) and are water and dust resistant. Durability is comparable between the two.
❓ Do either of these phones receive software updates?
Both phones have reached their end of life and no longer receive official software updates from Samsung. Security patches are unlikely.
