Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review

Like the normal S4 - but much more satisfying

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review
The tough cookie of the smartphone world

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Even though the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has seen its camera downgraded from the original handset, it can still capture video footage in full HD, 1080p.

If you fancy capturing some footage head over to the camera app, and unlike previous iterations where you had to switch between camera and video mode on the S4 Active there's a record button on screen next to the shutter key, allowing you to get straight to it.

While recording you can tap to focus if you want the S4 Active to concentrate on a particular object, but if you're not bothered it will auto-focus as you move around.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review

If you want to use the LED flash as a light while recording then you'll need to make sure you have the flash turned on before hitting record, as there's no way to toggle the light when filming.

Something you can do while you shoot however is take photos, so if something amazing happens during your filming you can also capture it as a still image at the same time. It's a handy little feature which only makes it onto a handful of devices, so we're pleased to see it here on the Galaxy S4 Active.

You can also zoom in and out while recording, but quality suffers the further you go in thanks to the digital zoom so it's probably best avoided if you can.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review

Options are greatly limited on the video recording side of things, but you can add the same effects available in camera mode to your films.

Select the up arrow at the bottom of the screen (when held in landscape) to open up the effects window, and from there you can choose between eight options including posterise, sepia and black and white.

The final product isn't too shabby and if you've managed to film in a relatively well lit area then the Galaxy S4 Active will produce pretty decent results, but it can struggle in darker areas and the LED light will only help you so much.

TOPICS
John McCann
Former Global Managing Editor

TechRadar's former Global Managing Editor, John has been a technology journalist for more than a decade, and over the years has built up a vast knowledge of the tech industry. He’s interviewed CEOs from some of the world’s biggest tech firms, visited their HQs, and appeared on live TV and radio, including Sky News, BBC News, BBC World News, Al Jazeera, LBC, and BBC Radio 4.

Latest in Samsung Galaxy Phones
an image of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Finally! One UI 7 has a release date - here are the Samsung phones that’ll get it first
Samsung Galaxy S24 hands on handheld back straight white
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is getting one of the S25’s biggest video upgrades with One UI 7 – here’s why Log Video matters
An image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from a hands-on event
Samsung's latest software upgrade could mean Galaxy phones beat iPhones for gaming – but you can't get it yet
An image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from a hands-on event
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could resurrect an intriguing camera feature
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be in line for a Galaxy S25 Ultra-level camera upgrade
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, close up on the dual camera system, against a marbled background
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is being tipped to come with a sweet Google Gemini deal
Latest in Reviews
Assassin's Creed Shadows
I’ve played Assassin’s Creed Shadows for more than 40 hours and can’t stop collecting tea sets, painting birds, and assassinating evil schemers
Samsung SSD 9100 PRO review
The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD makes AI workloads faster—here’s what I found in my tests
A Samsung 9100 Pro sitting on top of its retail packaging
I spent two weeks with the Samsung 9100 Pro, and while it's a dream for professional users, gamers can do better
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e main image
I tested the HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e - read why this is a cracking home printer
HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4302fdw main image
I tried the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4302fdw - read why it disappoints
Epson EcoTank ET-2830 main image
I tried out the Epson EcoTank ET-2830 - see how this cheap inkjet holds up