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New Galaxy S5 Active details reveal exclusive OIS camera, barometer, apps, and more [VIDEOS]

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Guess a rugged outer shell wasn’t the only exclusive feature Samsung was planning for their still unannounced Galaxy S5 Active. As shown off by TK Tech News in their latest hands-on video, Samsung has added a few device specific hardware and software features, the first being a barometer — not found in the regular Samsung Galaxy S5.

The barometer can be read via the S5 Active’s new “Activity Zone” app, a swiss army knife for active individuals that features not only S Health, but a flashlight and compass as well. Definitely handy if you’re lost in the woods and trying to get home. We wonder if Samsung wont soon make this app available via their in-house Samsung app store in the coming weeks.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Key settings

Also new for the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is a handy little physical button that dubbed the “Active Key.” This button can be configured in the Settings app to launch any app you’d like with a tap and another with a long press. Pretty neat considering it’s been awhile since we saw a dedicated camera button.

Probably the most noteworthy feature that is sure to piss off a few Galaxy S5 owners: the inclusion of what appears to be an OIS (optical image stabilization) camera. Keep in mind that this is still unconfirmed, but after TK Tech News noticed some rattling in the camera, he took both the S5 and S5 Active out for a camera face-off.

Now it’s not certain, but after comparing the video from both cameras, it really does appear that Samsung went with an OIS camera in the Galaxy S5 Active. See for yourself in the video below.

Perhaps the reasoning was that “active types” are more likely to take pictures and videos while running/biking. Who knows. Of course this could also mean Samsung forfeited their ISOCELL camera in the Active, so regular S5 users shouldn’t be too peeved.

All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is looking like a pretty slick Android. And not just for the outdoorsy types, but for anyone looking for something different than offered from the current Galaxy S5. Someone slap me, I kinda like what I’m seeing so far…

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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14 Comments

  1. Very clever of SAMSUMG to “leak” this phone,just in time to steal LG’s thunder.
    Lots to like here,but,too bad it’s probably gonna be an AT&T exclusive.
    Perhaps SAMSUNG will sense that interest for such a phone exists outside of AT&T subscribers.

    1. evleaks over on twitter mentioned AT&T & Sprint for sure. Don’t recall if he mentioned T-Mo or Verizon.

  2. I could definitely be interested in a GPE – if they had one for last year’s Active I probably would have ordered one.

    1. I actually loved the look of last year’s Active! Was thinking about picking one up until I heard of the problems that phone had in ROM development. Figured it was the exact same as an S4 but I was wrong :/

      1. You saved me

  3. Still not enough for me to buy a Sammy

  4. Seems Samsung is using the “Active” as a mid year guinea pig for new features that may or may not go in the next flagship..

  5. I actually love this design, the body of the phone is sexy.

  6. If the S5 and S5 active have the same base hardware (soc/ram/screen) then Samsung is basically saying f u to anyone that bought the original S5.

    With the active AND the prime

    1. If his prototype rolls out essentially unchanged by Samsung, the S5 Active will not have USB 3.0. That alone would suck.

    2. The prime version? I can understand your gripe. But what made you think there wasn’t going to be an Active version?

      They can’t make both at once.

  7. That video must have been recorded on a zeppelin. That altitude changes 30 feet while he was playing with it.

  8. Millibars dumbass.

  9. I’m getting the ads as soon as I open an article but the actual text and picture load time is atrocious on the Phandroid app. Please fix this guys! Cheers! (HTC Desire HD)

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