Customer reviews from Samsung US
Samsung - Galaxy S 4 Active Cell Phone (Unlocked) - Gray
Average customer rating
4.2
(146 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 146 reviews
5 Stars
85
4 Stars
32
3 Stars
14
2 Stars
4
1 Star
11
85%of customers recommend this product.
(
120 out of
141)
Customer Reviews for Samsung - Galaxy S 4 Active Cell Phone (Unlocked) - Gray
Customer Rating
1
Not for use as underwater camera
on July 31, 2013
Posted by: Thaddio
from Norman ok
Expertise:Intermediate
I loved my Samsung S3, but when the S4 came out I was excited to see it was billed as waterproof so I upgraded. I really liked the new cover and all of the same features I was used to in the S3. However they mislead you to think the phone can take pictures underwater and it cannot. I closed everything properly as they insist but water infiltrated the camera lens and then into the earphone port. This instantly changes the phone to earphone mode. 15 minutes later the phone shut off and never functioned after that. DO NOT PUT THIS PHONE UNDER WATER AT ANY LEVEL. AT&T will not warranty it and upon reading the fine print in the Samsung booklet they will not cover any water damage.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display
Cons: Poor quality, Did not meet expectations, misleading public
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
4
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
1
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
WOW Cell
on July 2, 2013
Posted by: CeSwa
from Miami, Fl
Expertise:Expert
I can actually wash my phone! Phone is amazing, super fast and bright, switched from Iphone 5 to Samsung, it does everything the Iphone can't!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
3
NOT WATER RESISTANT
on July 11, 2013
Posted by: brookst45
from Chico, ca
Expertise:Intermediate
first thing i did, test the underwater picture capabilities, under water for 20 seconds. I did everything as described in the manual. Phone got water in it and was toast. Dried out and is working OK today. I am taking it back for a new one because i am afraid there is unknown damage.
Pros: Bright display, Lightweight
Cons: Did not meet expectations
Features
4
Performance
2
Design
2
Value
3
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
1
Disappointed!!! WORST PHONE I OWNED
on October 30, 2013
Posted by: M1234O
I had the Samsung note 10.1 for a while and liked it therefore when my phone was stolen last June I went to the AT&T store and was convinced that a switch from iPhone to Samsung Galaxy S4 Active was a good choice for me. What a terrible choice!!! First, and this is maybe the fault of AT&T rather than Samsung initially the specifications of the phone were mistakenly given to me - specifically I inquired about the differences between the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S4 active, and other than the screen size and the weight I was told that the active was superior. I most say that at the time given that it was before the official release of the Active there were not a lot of reviews as to the differences on the web. Later I found out that there are several other differences, one major one for me been the quality of the camera which is Superior in the Samsung Galaxy S4. But given that my phone was stolen and I needed a new device I purchased the Active relaying on the misinformation given.
I could have let the camera issue go - if it was not for the fact that merely 4 days after I purchased the device it went dead - completely "the black screen of death", which apparently after a quick Google search was a common malfunction in earlier version of the Samsung Galaxy - completely died, given that my phone was on vibrate I could see (rather feel) that people were calling me but I was unable to answer or do anything. I was away at the time at a place with no AT&T store which was horrible, I felt strained as I could not do anything without my phone/emails and etc... This never happened with the 3 years I owned an iPhone.
Between flights I went back to AT&T to ask to replace the device - they would not let me switch back to another device! After further convincing I agreed that I most have gotten a lemon and that I should try another device. My second phone lasted a mere 10 days, this time the battery would drain faster than it would recharge, I was away again and could not make it back to the AT&T store in time for the 14 days exchange after you purchase a device - so they would not agree again to exchange it! After screaming and yelling they gave me a new battery and power cord and the phone would charge reasonably (and promised to send me a new device). I receive my third device however it was refurbished and I did not agree to accept a refurbished unit given that I merely owned the phone a month out of which a third of the time it was not working, not to say that the refurbished device was over-heating (to the point where I got a note on the phone that it is stopping charging the device due to over-heat) so I returned it and asked for a new device. I am currently at my fourth device and this time it worked fine for a month however now it is not connecting to the Wi-Fi it keeps disconnecting randomly, further it drops calls, and again the battery is draining super fast and it over-heats. I HATE THIS DEVICE !!!!! I am not a fun of Apple but I wish I could go back to my iPhone - yes it was more restrictive and not as fun, however it worked! and when it comes to a phone this is all I am asking it to do, don't over heat, get my calls and emails and be reliable - the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is definitely not that! I am very scared to go away with it as I do not know if it will work or drop dead on me, it is definitely not what I was expecting when I purchased a Samsung product and taints all my experience with Samsung products, I was waiting for the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition to come out, but now I seriously second guessing myself whether I would ever want to buy another Samsung product again. I AM STUCK WITH THIS PHONE AS AT&T BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT LET ME DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, HOWEVER IF YOU CAN AVOID IT RUN AWAY FROM THIS DEVICE AS FAST AS YOU CAN !
I could have let the camera issue go - if it was not for the fact that merely 4 days after I purchased the device it went dead - completely "the black screen of death", which apparently after a quick Google search was a common malfunction in earlier version of the Samsung Galaxy - completely died, given that my phone was on vibrate I could see (rather feel) that people were calling me but I was unable to answer or do anything. I was away at the time at a place with no AT&T store which was horrible, I felt strained as I could not do anything without my phone/emails and etc... This never happened with the 3 years I owned an iPhone.
Between flights I went back to AT&T to ask to replace the device - they would not let me switch back to another device! After further convincing I agreed that I most have gotten a lemon and that I should try another device. My second phone lasted a mere 10 days, this time the battery would drain faster than it would recharge, I was away again and could not make it back to the AT&T store in time for the 14 days exchange after you purchase a device - so they would not agree again to exchange it! After screaming and yelling they gave me a new battery and power cord and the phone would charge reasonably (and promised to send me a new device). I receive my third device however it was refurbished and I did not agree to accept a refurbished unit given that I merely owned the phone a month out of which a third of the time it was not working, not to say that the refurbished device was over-heating (to the point where I got a note on the phone that it is stopping charging the device due to over-heat) so I returned it and asked for a new device. I am currently at my fourth device and this time it worked fine for a month however now it is not connecting to the Wi-Fi it keeps disconnecting randomly, further it drops calls, and again the battery is draining super fast and it over-heats. I HATE THIS DEVICE !!!!! I am not a fun of Apple but I wish I could go back to my iPhone - yes it was more restrictive and not as fun, however it worked! and when it comes to a phone this is all I am asking it to do, don't over heat, get my calls and emails and be reliable - the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is definitely not that! I am very scared to go away with it as I do not know if it will work or drop dead on me, it is definitely not what I was expecting when I purchased a Samsung product and taints all my experience with Samsung products, I was waiting for the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition to come out, but now I seriously second guessing myself whether I would ever want to buy another Samsung product again. I AM STUCK WITH THIS PHONE AS AT&T BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT LET ME DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, HOWEVER IF YOU CAN AVOID IT RUN AWAY FROM THIS DEVICE AS FAST AS YOU CAN !
Cons: Poor quality, Did not meet expectations
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
1
Performance
1
Design
1
Value
1
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
This product has outstanding features
on July 25, 2013
Posted by: jeanlorri
from baltimore, Md
Expertise:Intermediate
my overall of this phone is amazing more than I had expected
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
1
DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE
on July 12, 2013
Posted by: tike
Expertise:Intermediate
The only phone that I have had a screen crack on in 20 years. It fell out of my pocket sitting in a beach chair (approx 12in) & the gorilla glass shattered all over the front. This is a very cheap made phone. Do not waste your money on it. The features are nice but if it can't last 10 days without breaking...why would any one want to purchase one?
Cons: Poor quality, Did not meet expectations
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
3
Performance
1
Design
1
Value
1
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Keep em comin
on October 15, 2013
Posted by: MMAoFlapjack
from Oklahoma
Expertise:Intermediate
Overall the phone is great, just need to hurry up and release the firm ware/stability upgrade. If you work in construction like I do you'll love this model. Samsung's kung fu is the best!!!!!!!
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight, water proof, dust proof
Cons: Not high def
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
2
Fragile, not "active" at all
on April 10, 2014
Posted by: Joe75
from Houston
Expertise:Intermediate
This phone is marketed as an "active" phone. Instead, it is incredibly fragile. It dropped one foot from a kneeling position (not from a moving car) and the screen shattered. It is hundreds of dollars to fix. Spend your money elsewhere. Never had a phone so fragile.
Cons: Poor quality, Did not meet expectations
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
2
Performance
4
Design
1
Value
1
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US