The best all-around rugged phone has long been Samsung’s Galaxy S Active series. But the only place you could ever buy one AT&T. Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile customers missed out year after year, and unlocked versions took what felt like an eternity to reach the market.
Fortunately, that’s changing. T-Mobile says it will begin offering the Galaxy S8 Active on November 17 online, and in stores on November 22. The device will cost $820, or $30 per month with $100 down when you spread out payments over two years. Sprint customers will also have access to the longstanding AT&T exclusive according to Samsung, though pricing and availability wasn't available as we published this story.
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Galaxy S8 Active: What You'll Pay
| Carrier | Galaxy S8 Availability | Full Cost | Monthly Payment |
| AT&T | Now | $849.99 AT&T | $28.34 per month (30 months) |
| Sprint | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| T-Mobile | Nov. 17 | $820 T-Mobile | $100 down; $30 a month (24 months) |
While the S8 Active doesn’t emulate the curved display of the standard S8 or its more compact form factor, the Active can take a much more serious beating. The S8 Active is designed to survive drops up to 5 feet high, and matches the IP68 water resistance offered in Samsung’s other flagships. It’s also bulkier and heavier, with a more substantial rugged frame and rubberized corners to cushion falls.
But the best part is, it makes absolutely zero compromises in regard to performance. The S8 Active still has a Snapdragon 835 processor, not only the same CPU that powers the S8 but also the one found in the Pixel 2 and Galaxy Note 8. There’s still 4GB of RAM on board, and the AMOLED screen is just as vibrant, with the same extra-wide 18.5:9 aspect ratio as you’ll find in many of the year’s best phones.
In addition to the Galaxy S8 Active, T-Mobile has also announced it will receive the LG V30+, the higher capacity version of the V30 that, until now, was exclusive to Sprint and US Cellular. The device will be available only in “limited quantities” beginning November 17, for $850. For the record, that’s significantly cheaper than the $912 Sprint is asking for the V30+.
