The S4 Active clearly has a wilder personality than the original Galaxy S4, but the two phones have the same basic shape and internal specs, down to the IR blaster at the top of the phone.
Physical navigation buttons are easy to press with wet or dry hands. It's a very nice change from flat, touch-sensitive icons and the S4's skinny Home key.
I love the look of the rubbery bumpers on the back, but since they don't completely wrap around the Active's corners, they have limited functionality in protecting the phone from drops and scrapes. Samsung squared off the camera mount design to reinforce the sporty look.
This Active isn't the only water baby there is, not by a long shot. But if you do it right, you can get some neat shots you wouldn't ordinarily be able to nab without extra accessories.
