Samsung's Cancelled Device: The Galaxy S9 Active
In the world of smartphones, it seems like every company is always trying to outdo the competition in terms of features and functionality. However, sometimes even the most highly anticipated devices get cancelled, leaving fans disappointed. This was the case for Samsung's Galaxy S9 Active, a device that never saw the light of day.
Release Date and Cancelation
The Galaxy S9 Active, which was meant to be the rugged, more durable version of the Galaxy S9, was announced in early 2018 but was ultimately cancelled before its release. The reason for its cancellation is unclear, but some speculate that it was due to low projected sales or technical difficulties.
Design and Build
From what we know about the Galaxy S9 Active, it would have had the classic Samsung design with a glass front and back, and an aluminum frame. It was also reported to have been IP68 dust and water resistant, meaning it could withstand being submerged in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Additionally, it was set to be MIL-STD-810G compliant, which is a military-grade standard for durability and resistance.
Display and Specs
The device was rumored to have a 5.8 inch Super AMOLED display with HDR10 capabilities. The screen resolution was said to be 1440 x 2960 pixels, giving it a high pixel density of 568 ppi. The Galaxy S9 Active was expected to run on Android 8.0 Oreo and be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with an octa-core processor and Adreno 630 GPU. It was also supposed to have 64GB of internal storage and 4GB of RAM, along with expandable storage via microSD.
Camera Capabilities
The Galaxy S9 Active was reported to have a single 12 MP rear camera with a variable aperture of f/1.5-2.4 and optical image stabilization. It would have also had features such as LED flash, auto-HDR, and panorama. The device was expected to be able to record videos in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, as well as offering slow-motion recording capabilities. The front-facing camera was rumored to be a dual setup, with an 8 MP primary lens and a 2 MP lens specifically for iris scanning. It was set to have features like dual video call and auto-HDR, and could record videos in 1440p resolution at 30 fps.
Other Features
The Galaxy S9 Active was expected to come with stereo speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which was being phased out by many smartphone brands at the time. It was also rumored to have 32-bit/384kHz audio quality, providing users with a better listening experience. Other features that were supposed to be included were 3D touch on the home button, always-on display, and a dedicated slot for microSD cards.
Final Thoughts
Although the Galaxy S9 Active was cancelled, it still showcases some impressive features and capabilities. It's a shame that it never made it to market, but it's possible that some of its features made their way into other Samsung devices, such as the recently released Galaxy S20. We can only hope that Samsung eventually releases a new rugged and durable device to replace the cancelled Galaxy S9 Active.
