The Galaxy S8 active - Samsung"s rugged new variant of its latest flagship smartphones - has been revealed ahead of its official announcement. A listing for the new device appeared on the Wireless Power Consortium site, showing the design of the handset for the first time.
The listing confirms that the Galaxy S8 active will have Samsung model number SM-G892A, but more significantly, it also shows that the new device will lack the curved-edge display that Samsung established as a standard feature on both the Galaxy S8 and S8+, which it announced in March.
Instead, the S8 active will have a flat screen - just like the Galaxy S6 active and S7 active that it released in previous years. However, it still features rounded corners like the S8 and S8+, giving it a similar aesthetic to the new LG G6. Unlike its earlier active models, though, the new device won"t have physical buttons on the front of the handset, relying on the same on-screen navigation controls as the "standard" S8 handsets.
The decision to "flatten" the display on the S8 active was likely the result of efforts to ensure that the handset is as robust as possible, reducing its vulnerability to damage upon impact. The device also appears to have slightly "flared" bodywork at the corners, further reinforcing its shock-absorbing capabilities.
The Galaxy S8 active is expected to be exclusively sold on AT&T in the United States, like its predecessors. Details of pricing and international availability remain unclear.
Samsung will be hoping to avoid the controversy that surrounded the Galaxy S7 active with the launch of its new model. Shortly after that handset"s release last year, Consumer Reports said that the S7 active wasn"t as water-resistant as Samsung had claimed. Samsung stood by its claims, and promised to "replace any Galaxy S7 active under its standard limited warranty, should water damage occur."
Source: Wireless Power Consortium via The Verge