Samsung usually releases a version of its flagship phone that's more durable and resistant to damage than it's standard phones. And now, we're getting a closer look at what that more rugged version of the Galaxy S6 will be like.
This week, Samsung posted a user manual on its US mobile website that reveals a ton of details about the so-called Galaxy S6 Active. The manual has since been taken down, but 9to5Google saved a photo of the phone and a few details about it before the document was removed:
According to the leaked manual, the phone will come with a 5.1-inch screen with a 2560 x 1440-resolution display, a 16-megapixel main camera, and a 5-megapixel front camera. All of these components are the same as that of the standard Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
The internal specifications of the phone seem to be the same as the regular S6 - the biggest difference comes in terms of design. The phone doesn't have a fingerprint scanner like its more delicate counterpart, and has physical menu buttons instead of capacitive touch buttons.
The S6 Active still has a heart rate monitor and is just as light as the regular Galaxy S6. But, as the photo shows, the phone appears to have a sturdier bumper and is likely made of a different material, since the standard Galaxy S6 has a glass-coated back. It's not as attractive as the Galaxy S6, but it's not meant to be - Samsung's line of Galaxy Active phones are usually aimed at those looking for a phone that can withstand a few drops and getting a little wet.
There's no word yet on when the Galaxy S6 Active will launch, how much it will cost, or which carriers it will be available through. But, considering this has been one of several leaks, it'll likely be announced soon.
The Galaxy S6, with its metal and glass design, is the most premium phone Samsung has released yet, which means it's also probably more susceptible to damage. In the past, Samsung's phones such as the Galaxy S5 have come with removeable backs, making it easy to replace the rear panel in case of damage, or swap out the battery. Samsung opted to ditch that feature for its Galaxy S6 lineup in favor of a unibody design, however, so it looks like the Galaxy S6 Active is designed to provide a more durable alternative.