Looking for a phone that can handle a beating? The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active and the Xcover 3 are both built tough, but cater to different needs. This comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide which rugged champion is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The S6 Active boasts significantly superior performance and a better camera thanks to its powerful processor and chipset. However, the Xcover 3 offers exceptional durability and water resistance, making it ideal for extreme outdoor use. It's a trade-off between power and resilience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 29, 40 | 1, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, June. Released 2015, June | 2016, April. Released 2016, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 146.8 x 73.4 x 8.6 mm (5.78 x 2.89 x 0.34 in) | 132.9 x 70.1 x 10 mm (5.23 x 2.76 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 154 g (5.43 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 | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | - |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density) | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~207 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~66.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.5 inches, 57.6 cm2 (~61.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm) | Exynos 3475 Quad (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP8 | Mali-T720 |
| OS | Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), TouchWiz UI | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM | 8GB 1.5GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.0 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS, gyro-EIS | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide) | 2 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
| - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) | - |
| Music play | Up to 57 h | Up to 42 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 504 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 24 h (3G) | Up to 13 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2200 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Gray | Gray |
| Models | SM-G890A | SM-G389F |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 200 EUR |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) | 1.02 W/kg (head) 1.31 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.48 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body) | 0.78 W/kg (head) 1.37 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 109h
| - |
Samsung Galaxy S6 active
- Superior Performance
- Excellent Camera
- Vibrant Display
- Water and Dust Resistant (IP68)
- Faster Charging
- Shorter Battery Life (compared to Xcover 3)
- Older Device
- Less Rugged than Xcover 3
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 G389F
- Exceptional Durability (MIL-STD-810G)
- Excellent Battery Life
- Water and Dust Resistant (IP67)
- Physical Key for Camera
- Lower Performance
- Less Impressive Camera
- Lower Resolution Display
- Outdated Software
Display Comparison
The S6 Active features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a QHD resolution (2560 x 1440), offering vibrant colors and sharp details. The Xcover 3 has a smaller 4.5-inch LCD display with a lower resolution (1080 x 1920). The S6 Active's display is noticeably superior in terms of clarity and color reproduction.
Camera Comparison
The S6 Active has a 16MP rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 5MP front camera. The Xcover 3 features a 13MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. The S6 Active's camera delivers better image quality, especially in low light, and offers more features.
Performance
The S6 Active's Exynos 7420 Octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM provide significantly faster performance than the Xcover 3's Exynos 3475 Quad-core processor and 1.5GB of RAM. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the S6 Active.
Battery Life
While the S6 Active boasts an endurance rating of 109h (likely a misprint, more realistically around 20-25h of usage), the Xcover 3's 2700mAh battery provides excellent battery life, often lasting a full two days on a single charge. The Xcover 3 wins in this category due to its focus on power efficiency.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active is for users who want a rugged phone with flagship-level performance and a good camera, willing to accept a shorter battery life. The Xcover 3 is perfect for those prioritizing extreme durability, water resistance, and a long-lasting battery above all else, even at the cost of performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the S6 Active still worth buying?
It depends. If you need flagship performance in a rugged package, it's a good option. However, be aware it's an older device with limited software updates.
❓ How durable is the Xcover 3?
The Xcover 3 is incredibly durable, meeting MIL-STD-810G standards for shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures. It's also IP67 rated for water and dust resistance.
