Remember when flagship phones were a serious investment? The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active and S6 Plus represent that era, offering robust features and performance. But which of these older powerhouses still holds up today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The S7 Active edges out the S6 Plus thanks to its significantly better battery life and slightly more powerful processor. While both offer a premium experience for their time, the Active's durability and endurance make it the more compelling choice for budget-conscious users.
| 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, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, June. Released 2016, June | Exp. announcement 2015, Q3 |
| Status | Discontinued | Cancelled |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 148.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (5.86 x 2.95 x 0.39 in) | - |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 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 4 | To be confirmed |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~64.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) | Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Mali-T760MP8 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat), TouchWiz UI | Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | To be confirmed |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS | 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm | 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide) |
| Video | - | 1440p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC2
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) | 15W wired
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | Up to 110 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 32 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Camo Green, Titanium Gray, Sandy Gold | White Pearl, Black Sapphire |
| Models | SM-G891A | - |
| Price | 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 | - |
Samsung Galaxy S7 active
- Exceptional battery life
- Rugged and durable design
- Slightly faster processor
- Water and dust resistance (IP68)
- Good camera with OIS
- Smaller screen
- Less refined design compared to S6 Plus
- Older software support
Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus
- Larger display for media consumption
- More premium design
- Good camera performance
- Shorter battery life
- Less durable
- Slightly slower processor
- Older software support
Display Comparison
Both phones feature AMOLED displays, but the S6 Plus boasts a larger 5.7-inch screen compared to the S7 Active's 5.1-inch. The S6 Plus's larger size makes it better for media consumption, while the S7 Active's smaller size is more pocketable. Resolution is similar, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks.
Camera Comparison
The S7 Active features a 12MP rear camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a brighter f/1.7 aperture, resulting in better low-light performance. The S6 Plus also has a 12MP camera, but with a slightly smaller aperture. Both phones capture detailed images with accurate colors, but the S7 Active's OIS provides sharper photos and videos.
Performance
The S7 Active's Snapdragon 820 generally outperforms the S6 Plus's Exynos 7420 in benchmarks and real-world usage. The Snapdragon 820's Kryo cores provide a noticeable boost in processing power, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster app loading times. However, both phones can handle everyday tasks and most games without significant issues.
Battery Life
This is where the S7 Active truly shines. Its 4000mAh battery provides exceptional endurance, offering significantly longer battery life than the S6 Plus's 3500mAh battery. The S7 Active's endurance rating of 96h is a testament to its superior battery performance.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is ideal for users prioritizing durability, long battery life, and a rugged design. It's a great option for outdoor enthusiasts or those prone to dropping their phones. The S6 Plus is better suited for users who value a larger screen and a more refined design, but are less concerned about battery longevity or ruggedness.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still receiving software updates?
Both phones have reached the end of their official software update cycle. However, custom ROMs may be available for users who want to keep their devices updated.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is significantly more durable due to its ruggedized design and MIL-STD-810G certification.
