Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is the first all-screen phone with military-grade armor

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active was officially announced today, disproving the theory that an all-screen phone has to be delicate, too. This one is not.

It's a shatter, dust and water-resistant Android phone meant for everyone, from outdoor enthusiasts to hard-working parents, according to Samsung.

Oh, and by "everyone," Samsung means only AT&T customers. This one is a US and AT&T-exclusive, just like the S7 Active and S6 Active before it.

Its metal frame and bumper provide extra ruggedness, enough that it can be dropped from 5 feet without much worry thanks to its shock-resistant structure.

Yet it still matches the Galaxy S8 with its expansive 5.8-inch display, quad HD resolution, Super AMOLED panel and taller-then-normal 18.5:9 aspect ratio. It doesn't skim on the screen space.

It is, however, missing the elegant S8 curves, and, all around, there's more bezel that makes the phone a bit larger, but not as big as the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus.

The phone also has a bigger 4,000mAh battery, giving it a real boost for your long excursions compared to the 3,000mAh S8 and 3,500mAh S8 Plus batteries.

Price and release date

The 5.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S8 Active actually costs as much as the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8 Active. All of that extra armor really adds up.

The S8 Active price is $28.34 a month for 30 months with AT&T Next, while the full retail price is $849.99, coming in either Meteor Gray or Titanium Gold colors.

It won't cost nearly as much if you seek two Samsung phones. AT&T is offering a Buy One, Get One Free S8 deal if you are adding a new line and DirecTV, for example.

Pre-orders begin tomorrow, Tuesday, August 8, while the phone goes on sale Friday, August 11. We'll have a full review of this rugged smartphone soon.