Samsung Galaxy S7 vs S8 Active: A Clash of Flagship Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The S8 Active edges out the S7 thanks to its slightly more powerful Snapdragon 835 chipset and rugged design. However, the S7 often presents a better value proposition due to its typically lower price. Both offer a solid Android experience for budget-conscious users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S7 (USA) | Samsung Galaxy S8 Active |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G930A, G930V | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - AT&T |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G930A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - AT&T |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 25 - G930R | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 41 - Sprint | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2016, February. Released 2016, March | 2017, August. Released 2017, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 in) | 151.9 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (5.98 x 2.95 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 152 g (5.36 oz) | 208.1 g (7.34 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density) | 1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~568 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.8 inches, 85.4 cm2 (~75.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED, HDR10 |
| Always-on display | 3D Touch (home button only) Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Adreno 540 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo), TouchWiz UI | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), One UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| 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 | 12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF 2 MP (dedicated iris scanner camera) |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm | - |
| 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 | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C |
| 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate |
| ANT+ S-Voice natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ S-Voice natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC2 Wireless | 15W wired, QC2 Wireless |
| Music play | - | Up to 113 h |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 120 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 32 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, Gold Platinum | Meteor Gray, Tungsten Gold |
| Models | SM-G930A, SM-G930P, SM-G930V, SM-G930T, SM-G930R, SM-G930F, SM-G930U, SM-G930R4, SM-G930T1, SM-G930VL, SM-G930AZ, SM-G930R6, SM-G930R7 | SM-G892A, SM-G892U |
| Price | About 320 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise - 92.4 / Crosstalk - 91.4 |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 111h |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 70dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 78dB |
| Performance | - | GeekBench: 6314 (v4.4) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S7 (USA)
- Compact and pocketable
- Excellent camera
- Good value for money
- Vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Older chipset
- Smaller battery
- Less durable than S8 Active
Samsung Galaxy S8 Active
- Rugged and durable design
- Slightly faster processor
- Longer battery life
- Larger display
- Less aesthetically pleasing design
- Potentially higher price
- Larger size
Display Comparison
The S8 Active features a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels, while the S7 has a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display at 2560 x 1440. The S8 Active's display is larger and slightly sharper, but the S7's smaller size makes it more pocketable. Both offer vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both phones boast excellent cameras for their time. The S7 features a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, while the S8 Active has a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. Image quality is comparable, with both phones producing sharp, detailed photos in good lighting. Low-light performance is decent on both, but the S8 Active might have a slight edge due to software optimizations.
Performance
The S8 Active's Snapdragon 835 chipset (10nm) provides a noticeable performance boost over the S7's Snapdragon 820 (14nm). While both phones are capable of handling everyday tasks, the S8 Active excels in multitasking and demanding games. The S8 Active's octa-core CPU also offers a slight advantage.
Battery Life
Both phones are reported to have endurance ratings of 111h, suggesting comparable battery life. However, real-world usage may vary. The S8 Active's larger battery capacity (4000 mAh vs S7's 3000 mAh) contributes to its impressive endurance.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is ideal for users seeking a reliable, affordable Android phone with a great camera and a compact design. The S8 Active is perfect for those needing a durable, rugged device with extended battery life and a slightly faster processor, prioritizing resilience over pure aesthetics.