Samsung Galaxy XCover 4 specs, best features and UK release info: All you need to know about Samsung’s new XCover 4 mobile phone, a rugged but stylish Android smartphone boasting full water resistance, a 13-megapixel camera and a 5-inch HD screen. Here’s the full XCover 4 specs, plus what we know about the UK price and release date.
We saw loads of fantastic smartphones launched at MWC 2017, as you’ll know if you read our guide to the best phones and tablets of MWC. However, while Samsung made us go ‘oooh’ with its professional Galaxy Tab S3 tablet and new Windows 10 devices, there was no sign of the well-anticipated Galaxy S8 flagship phone in Barcelona.
Then, at the very end of the mobile show, Samsung did launch a handset. Not the S8 as hoped, but the new Samsung Galaxy XCover 4. This rugged cut-price mobile is made with outdoors adventurers in mind, similar to the old Galaxy Active mobiles.
Here’s the full Galaxy XCover 4 specs, a run-down of the features and the UK release info we know so far.
Samsung Galaxy XCover 4 specs
| Phone | Samsung Galaxy XCover 4 |
|---|---|
| Screen size and type | 5-inch TFT |
| Screen resolution | 1280×720 |
| Size | 146x73x9.7mm |
| Water resistant? | Yes |
| Fingerprint sensor? | No |
| OS | Android Nougat 7.0 |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.4GHz |
| Memory | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB |
| microSD? | Yes (up to 256GB) |
| Battery | 2800mAh |
| NFC? | Yes |
| Rear camera | 13MP |
| Front camera | 5MP |
Samsung Galaxy XCover 4 best features
Not only is the Galaxy XCover 4 durable enough to survive bumps, knocks and drops, but that frame is also fully water resistant. Full MIL-STD 810G military standard grading means it can withstand extreme temperatures too. Great news if you’re off venturing into the wild and you need something that won’t break apart with a little bit of abuse. There’s also a glove mode, for when things get a bit chilly.
The 5-inch screen is rather basic, with older TFT technology instead of Samsung’s tried-and-trusted Super AMOLED panels. It’s a 720p HD display, so you should get reasonably sharp visuals, but this is more of a functional mobile screen than something to relish movies on.
Performance also should be fine for everyday use, but not geared towards blasting through the latest games and so on. Android Nougat is the OS of choice on the XCover 4, giving you the latest Google OS features such as split-screen multi-tasking.
The XCover 4’s 16GB of storage space can thankfully be quickly and easily expanded via a microSD memory card, up to 256GB in all.
A 2800mAh battery will hopefully give you at least a day of life between charges. Handy when you’re out and about. And the Galaxy XCover 4’s 13-megapixel camera should capture detailed photos of wherever you roam (as should the 5-megapixel selfie snapper).
Samsung Galaxy XCover 4 UK release info
The Samsung Galaxy XCover 4 is hitting Europe in early April, although right now Samsung hasn’t clarified if the phone will be released here in the UK. If it is, you can expect an asking price of around £199 to £249, as in Europe it costs 259 Euros.