Seoul – Samsung developed a new version of its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone with features targeted to active outdoor users.
The new phone, the Galaxy S4 Active, will be available sometime in the summer, initially in the U.S. and Sweden, the company said.
The Android 4.2.2 model offers almost all of the same features as the Android 4.2.2 Galaxy S4 but adds IP67 water and dust resistance to seal out dust and protect the device from damage when under one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Its camera also adds an aqua mode to increase the visual quality and clarity of images and videos taken under water for enhanced underwater images and video. The main camera’s LED flash also turns into an LED flash light. Other features on the S4 Active but not on the S4 include water-resistant earphone jack.
In another difference, the Active’s main camera features 8 megapixels while the S4’s main camera offers 13 megapixels. The Active camera also lacks such features as Dual Shot, Dual Recording, Dual Video Call, 360 Photo, Cinema Photo, and Eraser, the company’s web site shows. The Active is also a little heavier at 5.33 ounces compared to the S4’s 4.6 ounces.
Like the S4, the S4 Active features 5-inch Full HD display, though it uses a TFT LCD display instead of the S4’s Super Amoled display. Both models feature 1.9GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB RAM, 4G LTE and HSPA+42, 2,600 mAh battery, and display with similar pixel counts: 443ppi for the S4 Active and 441 for the S4.
Key features shared by both include 4G LTE and HSPA+42Mbps, NFC, Smart Pause, Smart Scroll, Air View, Air Gesture, ChatOn, WatchOn, S Voice, S Travel, S Health, S Voice Drive, Story Album, Group Play, Sound and Shot, and glove-touch display.
