Galaxy S7 vs. Galaxy S7 Active: What are the differences between the 2 handsets?

The Samsung Galaxy S7.Samsung USA

While Samsung has just launched the Galaxy S7 lineup, speculations suggest that the South Korea-based tech giant will be adding an Active version of the base model.

How will the Galaxy S7 Active differ from the base model?

The Active series of Galaxy S lineups began with the Galaxy S4. Since then, all the Galaxy S series flagships have had Active iterations.

If the Galaxy S7 lineup will also be expanded with an Active version, the same specs under the hood will most likely be listed. This means that the iteration will still feature Exynos 8890 or Snapdragon 820 chipset (depending on location) with 4GB of RAM, and the same internal storage options. Most likely, the Active version in the Galaxy S7 lineup will still have the same specs in its camera setup, as well as other components.

The recently launched Galaxy S7 lineup already has IP68 rating, which means that the flagship is already dust-proof and water-proof. As for the Active version, Tech Times surmised that Samsung may be thinking of changing the IP rating to much higher specs and may even go for a military-grade rating.

If this is proven to be true, this will be not the first time that Samsung opted for military-grade protection for an Active iteration. Last year's Galaxy S6 Active offered MIL-STD-810G certification, which is much higher than the IP6X certification currently featured in the Galaxy S7 lineup.

In addition to the military-grade specs, the design and form factor of the Galaxy S7 may also likely change. Much like what Samsung did with the Galaxy S6 Active, the Galaxy S7 Active may most likely incorporate tougher components for its body profile, such as rubber grips on the sides, and may even incorporate metal into its frame.