Samsung continues to expand its Galaxy range of Android smartphones and tablets with the Galaxy S4 Active , a new high-end handset that’s aimed at people who love to explore the great outdoors.
Straight out of the blocks is a simply gorgeous display. Samsung’s slapped a 5-inch, 1080p screen on the Galaxy S4 Active that comes in at a whopping 443 pixels per inch (ppi). That’s above the 336 ppi found on the iPhone 5 and just a fraction below the 468 ppi offered by the equally beautiful HTC One . Video games, stills, movies, it doesn’t matter what you throw at it, this display will show content at its very best.
Powering the device is a 1.9 GHz quad-core processor, along with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory. Only 11.25GB of that is usable, however, so Samsung has been wise to include a micro SD slot for up to 64GB of additional storage.
It’s powered by a 2,600 mAh battery, which is sensible given the size of the display and juice that will inevitably be drawn from the quad-core processor. There’s also an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, the same as the original Galaxy S4, in conjunction with a fairly impressive 2-megapixel snapper on the front. Samsung has also revamped its camera app with a new ‘Aqua Mode’ this time around, which will increase the detail and clarity for video and photographs shot underwater.
The device runs the very latest version of Android – 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), with Samsung’s TouchWiz skin and bundle of exclusive apps piled on top. That means S Translator, Air Gesture, S Health and all the other new features introduced with the original Galaxy S4.
The unique selling point of Samsung’s new hardware, however, is its ability to protect itself against dust and water. The Galaxy S4 Active offers a fully sealed design, graded at International Protection IP67 – the highest being IP68 – to protect the internals against water damage for up to 30 minutes, at a depth of one meter.
It also has a water-resistant earphone jack, so if you find yourself out in the rain or working near the sea, you don’t have to worry about damaging the handset as you listen to some tunes.
Samsung is aiming the Galaxy S4 Active at tradesmen and various professionals who work outdoors on a regular basis. A high-end smartphone is all well and good, but if it can’t handle the odd knock or splash of water, it’s next to useless for anyone who still wants to make calls or check emails while out on the road.
The device should also appeal, however, to the younger crowd who regularly attend music festivals or enjoy outdoor and adventurous sports, such as mountain biking, sailing, or rock climbing. The ability to shoot underwater is a pretty novel feature, and combined with the Galaxy S4 Active’s already impressive 8-megapixel camera, it’s a good choice for amateur film makers.
The device will launch initially in the US and Sweden at the “beginning” of this summer. It will be available in three color variants: Urban Grey, Dive Blue and Orange Flare.
The introduction of the Galaxy S4 Active follows the original Galaxy S4 – which sold over 10 million units in its first month – as well as the new Galaxy S4 Mini , a mid-range handset with a smaller 4.3-inch display.
This might be LG’s next Android Wear smartwatch
While Google is gearing up to launch Android Wear 2.0, the major update to its wearable platform, LG appears to be ready with its first devices to debut the OS.
A couple of weeks ago, we heard rumors that the Korean hardware maker planned to launch the LG Watch Style and LG Watch Sport next month . Some blurry photos did the rounds last week, but tipster Evan Blass seems certain that the Style looks like the watch in the images you see here, in silver and rose gold finishes.
We noted in our previous report that the Style will likely be thinner and leave out the heart rate sensor than the more feature-packed Watch Sport. TechnoBuffalo’s photos from last week seem to confirm that. The strap also comes with a clever quick-release system so you can swap it out for other options.
Credit: TechnoBuffalo
According to Android Police’s source , the Style will go on sale for $249. We’ll have to try the timepiece for ourselves to determine if its build and the configuration of a 1.2-inch 360 x 360 pixel display, 512MB RAM and a 240mAh battery warrant that price.
However, it will certainly be exciting to try Android Wear 2.0 before it rolls out to other devices. The updated OS is slated to bring a bunch of major features like a dedicated app store, handwriting recognition and a full QWERTY keyboard and Google’s AI-powered Assistant .
When can you get your hands on LG’s new watches? The company is expected to officially unveil both wearables on February 9 and begin selling them in the US the next day. They’ll become available else over the next two months, and it’s likely that Android Wear 2.0 will also roll out to more devices in that time. If you’re in the market for a new smartwatch, it’s best to wait just a little bit longer before you buy.
Samsung unveils a curved ultra high-definition TV, while LG announces a flexible curved TV
It’s the battle of TVs for two big Korean tech firms, Samsung and LG, at the Consumer Electronics Show happening currently in Las Vegas.
At CES today, Samsung took the wraps off its first curved ultra high-definition TV , with four times the resolution and pixels of full HD. Samsung has developed what it claims is the optimal curvature of 4200R. It touts the curved screen as providing a wider field of view, which creates a “panoramic effect that makes the display seem even bigger than it is and draws viewers in like no TV has ever done before.”
The flagship Samsung curved UHD TV has a screen size of 105 inches, while another U9000 series comes in 78-inch, 65-inch and 55-inch screen sizes.
Meanwhile, LG also announced the “world’s first” flexible OLED curved TV. Viewers get to control the angle of curvature of their TV via their TV remote to suit their preference. “The range of curvature was determined by taking into account key factors that affect the viewing experience such as screen size and viewing distance,” LG notes.
The 77-inch TV “has been subject to tens of thousands of hours of tests to ensure the reliability and durability of its unique display,” LG says.
It’s not clear yet how much these TVs will cost and when they will ship, but they should sit squarely in the high-end category.
Headline image via Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images