Samsung Galaxy S4 Active hands-on: A no compromise Android smartphone fit for the great outdoors

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a one of a kind Android smartphone, splicing industry-leading high-end specs into a durable handset that is both dust and waterproof.

The device, unveiled earlier this month, is made for people who live or work in the great outdoors and are prone to using their smartphone in less than ideal weather conditions. Yet for all of Samsung’s efforts to make the Active as rugged and durable as possible, it still comes off as a bit of a looker.

The 5-inch, 1080p display offers a pretty daunting 443 pixels per inch, ensuring that video games, movies and photos look absolutely stunning. The hardware is also rather subtle, avoiding the huge bumpers and JCB colors that so often come with protective covers aimed at people with a vocational career.

The Galaxy S4 Active comes with an impressive 1.9 GHz quad-core processor packing 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory. The handset is therefore incredibly quick and takes on high-performance app with no fuss whatsoever.

TNW had the chance to go hands-on with the device at Samsung’s ‘Premiere 2013’ event in London today and came away rather impressed. In many ways it actually surpasses the original Galaxy S4, which is an achievement few of its closest competitors have been able to achieve.