Galaxy S4 Active Review - Water-resistant and Amazing!

 It has been a bit more than 2 months since we had a chance to experience what the original Samsung Galaxy S4 has to offer, but not it is time for the main flagship to get a few interesting updated and the Galaxy S4 Active is brilliant example of that. Just like the Galaxy S4 Red Aurora for AT&T the Active is a device exclusive to AT&T that is available for $199.99 on two-year contract. Other payment options include you paying $449.99 (saves you $145) for a one-year contract and paying straight up-front $594.99 for a month-to-month deal. You can see the full prices and order online here.

Dip it in water - nothing bad is gonna happen!

 So, how exactly is the Galaxy S4 Active different from the regular model? Well, while this isn't the unique Advanced LTE model that people might have been expecting, the S4 is still quite unique on its own. However, the only real changes are on the outside since the internal hardware is pretty much the same. 

The Exterior Changes to the Galaxy S4

 Thus, let me point out right now that the most important difference is that the Galaxy S4 Active is water and dust resistant.

 But just how water-resistant is it? Some are even saying it is waterproof, but as you know that cannot really be true. Still, for the purpose of this Galaxy S4 Active review we can say that this device does show that we are slowly getting close to a an actual "waterproof" smartphone. According to Mashable, the device can be submerged as up to  three feet in water and can stay there for roughly 30 minuets. Apparently, you can even listen to music while swimming, although I am not sure who swims with their smartphone and how they find this practical.

 Another major change is that the camera on the Galaxy S4 Active has 8 MP instead of 13. However, to compensate for this, the camera actually has an Aqua mode for underwater photography which looks rather impressive.

The body is actually thicker!

 The final important change to the exterior of the phone is that the body is a bit thicker. It is hard to notice it until you actually compare the two. This is actually a welcoming change in my opinion as I always prefer smartphones which are a bit heavier in one's hand. Of course, this is a very niche opinion and depends on your style and needs.

 So, do I think that the Galaxy S4 Active is worth it? If I wanted to buy the S4 right now and had access to AT&T then I would certainly opt for the Active. While it has one of the worst names ever, I quite like the water and dust resistant body and the thicker back. I don't plan on putting the phone into the water, but having a device that can work like a charm during the rain is a brilliant feature that is slowly becoming an industry standard on many devices.

Galaxy S4 Aurora Red at AT&T

 It seems that AT&T is once again the first to score a very unique device, this time it is the Galaxy S4 Aurora Red, a beautiful smartphone that will surely win the hearts of many. The exclusive new device was launched today by Samsung and AT&T and it comes with 16GB of storage. So, how much does the new Galaxy S4 Aurora Red cost exactly? Well, the device is actually fairly priced which is an odd thing to see considering that these special models are usually more expensive. The Aurora Red will cost $639.99 if you decide to purchase it from AT&T off contract or you can choose to pay $199.99 with a new two-year contract.

Do you like the Galaxy S4 Aurora Red. Is it a "girl thing" or is the new design unisex? Click on the product photo to zoom by the way!

 This is not the only new color that the S4 will come in, but these will get introduced over time and via different carriers. Samsung pulled a similar "trick" last year with their previous model and it proved to be a success. Experts are saying that Sammy will need every sale that they can get though since the latest flagship isn't doing so well on the charts anymore. While it is still selling well, it is becoming obvious that sale figures are dropping. The Galaxy S4 Aurora Red and similar unique models are just one of the strategies for Samsung to boost sales and get ahead in the game.

 Of course, many see this in a different way. Fans will argue that nobody really makes their choice based on the color on the phone. It's not like one would choose a bad two-year contract just to get a phone in a different color than what other carriers are offering. People feel as this is just Samsung telling AT&T: "you guys are special, we love you". Still, one would be surprised how important color can be to some people and how much impact the design leaves on their decision. Devices such as Galaxy S4 Aurora Red are designed with such people in mind of course and this is a very niche device.

 If you wish to check this device out in more detail, then feel free to visit the official AT&T website!

 

Galaxy S4 Prices and Release Dates US

Following our last report on the rumored Galaxy S4 release dates many of the mobile service providers decided to step forward and reveal their offers regarding the brand new Galaxy S4 smartphone. Although we did have some glimpse of possible offers as well an official announcement from AT&T, most of the information was unknown to the general public. In today's post we will clarify what the carriers or offering, what the prices will be and when you can expect these offers to be available.

 

T-Mobile Galaxy S4

 T-Mobile will be the first carrier to feature the Samsung Galaxy S4. The new pride and joy of the Android world will begin selling the Galaxy S4 on April 24. So, how much will this device set you back? Well, it'll be $149.99 up front as well as $20 per month for 24 months. This is a subtotal of $480 and a total of $629.

AT&T Galaxy S4

 AT&T took their job as the Galaxy S4 carrier quite seriously and they made their offers publicly available right off the bat. You can currently order the device via their website, but you must also sign a new two-year contract. We covered this in a lot of detail here.

Sprint Galaxy S4

 In spite off the nasty rumor that Sprint will release the Galaxy S4 somewhere in June, the official word is that they will start selling the device from April 27. You can get the Galaxy S4 via Sprint for $249.99 with a two-year contract. New customers switching from another carrier can get the phone for $149.99.

Verizon Galaxy S4

 Verizon has not announced pricing or availability for the Galaxy S4 which is not a major surprise. They are known for being the last in line to get the latest tech, but not everyone is in a hurry anyway. The Verizon employees have, however, confirmed that the company will sell the device.

US Cellular Galaxy S4

 U.S. Cellular has often been regarded as the second Verizon and it is no surprise that they have also not announced any details such as the price or release date of the new smartphone. They have, however, confirmed that they will sell the device.

AT&T Galaxy S4 Pricing Details (US Only)

 Greetings dear Galaxy S4 fans! If you are interesting in getting the latest flagship device through AT&T then you will be pleased to know that they have published information regarding their prices and offers. As expected the new phone will be quite expensive, but the costs aren't anything different from the S3 once it was launched. 

So, if you are interested in AT&T and want them to be your carrier of choice, you can get the new device by signing a new two-year contract with AT&T starting April 16 (preorder only). So, what is the price you ask? Well, this obviously depends on the model, and thus here are the price specs:

• 16 GB Model will cost you $199.99
• 32 GB Model will cost you $249.99

 Once again, I remind you that this is only available with a new two-year contract  and you can preorder the Galaxy S4 starting April 16. You can get more info and subscribe to their S4 mailing list via the official product page.

 Aside from this, I would also like to let you guys and girls note that this price is pretty fair. The iPhone 5 (16GB) and the new HTC One (32GB) all cost as much as the 16GB Galaxy S4 model which seems quite reasonable to me. Still, there was a lot of debate over the past couple of days. 

 Thus, I ask you my dear readership, what do you think about this offer? Is the price fair? Is the quality that AT&T provides sufficient for you to sign a two-year contract? Let me know in the comments!