Review: Samsung S7 Active Withstands Water, Drops And General Clumsiness

Samsung's new Galaxy S7 Active smartphone is built to withstand the elements. Dropping the phone in water up to 5 feet deep is no problem, even for as long as a half an hour.

A drop on the floor is no problem, either, as the screen is shatter-resistant at up to a 5-foot drop.

Samsung knows there are consumers out there that would like some assurance against their own clumsiness, or who want to use their phone to get sporty or outdoorsy. The "active" button on the side of the phone brings up a quick view of the weather, barometer and compass, as well as a stopwatch and a flashlight.

But Samsung is also targeting the S7 Active toward mobile workers who are going to be power users of their smartphones and don't want to worry about their phones not being rugged enough.

We mean power users literally, too. Mobile workers will like the battery life on the S7 Active, which lasts a full day on a single charge.

Users will pay a premium for the peace of mind that comes with this phone's ruggedness. But it's not jaw-dropping: The Galaxy S7 Active starts at $795, or about $100 more than the Galaxy S7.

All in all, we're impressed with what Samsung has done with the Galaxy S7 Active, and anyone who'd like less smartphone anxiety might consider it for his or her next phone.