The ultra-durable Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is now available through AT&T. On June 29, the U.S. cell carrier silently added it to their lineup of devices available for purchase through their website. Before you go trading in your smartphone for an upgrade, however, you should read our review on the Galaxy S5 Active variant. Dust, Water and Shock Resistant Not to our surprise, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active features a rugged dust, water and shock-resistant shell. It’s able to withstand drops from 4 feet on a flat surface, and it can be submerged in water 3-feet deep for 30 minutes (although I don’t recommend the latter). Granted, the launch-edition Galaxy S5 also boasts dust and water-resistant technology, but the variant looks and feels stronger and more durable. As you can see from the photo above, it’s beefier with four large bolts attached to the rear. We’re not sure if these bolts serve a purpose, but they are pretty cool looking nonetheless. Activity Zone Another major change in the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is the addition of an all-in-one button that launches every health and fitness app.  The button, dubbed Activity Zone, is located on the side of the device. When…

Watch out Samsung, Life’s Good (LG) recently unveiled a new version of its flagship smartphone, the “G” series, which is causing some commotion in the mobile industry. The new LG G3 is a high-end smartphone that rivals leading mobile brands like HTC, Apple and the Google Nexus series. But how does it compare to the Samsung Galaxy S5? Display The Samsung Galaxy S5 is often touted as the best all-around display among any smartphone currently on the market. It’s 5.1 inches in diameter and boasts 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Surprisingly, however, the LG G3 has managed to trump the Galaxy S5’s display, as it features a 5.5-inch screen with quad-HD 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. I’m a huge fan of the Samsung Galaxy S5, but I have to name the LG G3 as the winner for display. Processor Now let’s talk about what really matters in a smartphone: the processing power. Both the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3 are powered by Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor running at 2.5GHz. There were rumors that LG would use an upgraded version of the Qualcomm processor — the 805 — but they ultimately chose the safe route by using the 801. So,…

Most people have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Samsung’s Galaxy S5 variants. We know they have an Active, Mini and a Premium variant in the works, but the company has not released any official statement regarding the release of these devices. However, a recently published YouTube video shows what appears to be the Galaxy S5 Active variant. When Samsung launched its fourth generation Galaxy smartphone last year, many users complained about its lack of water-resistant technology. To solve this issue, the South Korean company released a water-resistant variant known as the Galaxy S4 Active. The Galaxy S5, however, featured water-resistant and dust-resistant technology right off the bat, leaving some people to question whether or not Samsung would even attempt to produce a Galaxy S5 Active. Well, it looks like they are in fact releasing a Galaxy S5 Active, because we have exclusive footage of the upcoming device below. Video: Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Check out the video above for a sneak peak at the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active variant. In terms of appearance, it looks quite similar to the Galaxy S4 Active — it’s thick with a solid yet ergonomic body for maximum strength and comfort. The video also…

Although Samsung has yet to announce an official release date for the smaller, more compact “Mini” variant of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, several websites have leaked infromation regarding this upcoming variant. According to GSM Arena, the new Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini will follow the same tune as the previous Galaxy S4 Mini. It will feature the same body style and design — only on a smaller scale.  The Galaxy S4’s screen was roughly 4.3 inches, which is about 20% smaller than the Galaxy S5’s screen. So, what kind of screen size can we expect to see with the Galaxy S5 Mini? BGR claim it will feature a Super AMOLED screen at 4.5 inches  (1280 x 720 resolution) — just slightly larger than the Galaxy S4 Mini. The Galaxy S5 Mini is aimed to attract budget-conscious consumers and first-time Android users alike. Assuming Samsung prices it in a similar manner as the S4 Mini, you can expect the Galaxy S5 Mini to cost $100-$200 less than the  launch-edition Galaxy S5. Consumers who aren’t willing to sign into a 2-year contract with their cell carrier often skip the Galaxy S5 due to its $600-$700 price tag. The Galaxy S5 Mini, however, could…