Samsung's Galaxy S8 Active Release Date Coming To T-Mobile, Sprint This Month

For those who aren’t planning on getting the $999 shattering-prone iPhone X, Samsung announced Tuesday the “military grade” durable Galaxy S8 Active is coming to T-Mobile and Sprint.

The S8 Active will be available with both carriers later this month. Samsung did not specify the actual date the smartphone will release with T-Mobile and Sprint, but T-Mobile said on Tuesday the device will be available with the carrier on Nov. 17. The S8 Active was previously available only with AT&T after its August release.

“The Galaxy S8 Active delivers military-grade durability with a long-lasting battery to get the most out of your day and the performance you expect from a Galaxy S smartphone,” Samsung said in its announcement.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active Features

Samsung focused the S8 Active on durability, as it’s able to survive strong impacts and falls. The device includes high-strength aluminum and protective bumpers and is dust and water-resistant. The S8 Active sports a shatter-resistant screen that protects the display from cracking.

The smartphone features a 5.8-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED Display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 10nm processor and support for up to 1 Gbps to download files on the go. The S8 Active comes with a 4,000 mAh battery that can run for more than 24 hours on a single charge and supports wireless charging. The smartphone has a 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage and 256GB expandable storage.

The S8 Active includes a dual pixel 12MP F1.7 rear camera and 8MP F1.7 smart autofocus front camera, which allows photos to be taken in low light and at fast speeds. The camera can be used to identify landmarks or other things in the user’s environment. The smartphone also features Samsung’s voice assistant Bixby.

Samsung says the S8 Active “is secured from the chip up with Samsung Knox, the defense-grade mobile security platform designed to protect the integrity of the device.” The platform is used by 29 governments and includes biometric features, like iris scanners and fingerprint.

Samsung S8 Active Price

Samsung did not say how much the S8 Active will cost with T-Mobile and Sprint, but the device’s price should be similar to AT&T’s $850 price tag. The smartphone comes in Meteor Gray and Titanium Gold options with AT&T, while Sprint and T-Mobile will offer the device only in Meteor Gray.

The upcoming release of the Galaxy S8 Active with T-Mobile and Sprint comes after Samsung announced last week the Galaxy Note8 Enterprise Edition is now available in the U.S. market. The smartphone comes with software focused on business and work, like Samsung Knox Configure and Samsung Enterprise Firmware Over the Air. The Note8 Enterprise Edition is selling at a $994, just a few dollars less than the iPhone X.

It seems like Samsung is trying to tap into niche customers, like business-centered consumers with the Enterprise Edition and people who are in tough environments with the S8 Active.