If you’ve snagged one of the new Samsung Galaxy S5 Active smartphones, you’re probably in need of some new accessories. Here are five of our top picks for accessories that every Galaxy S5 Active owner should have.
1. Best Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Fitness Accessory: Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit
Samsung Gear Fit Review: Smartwatch Gets In ShapeHas Samsung finally created the perfect wearable, combining fitness tracking with smartwatch features? WSJ Personal Tech Columnist Joanna Stern finds out. Subscribe to the WSJ channel here: bit.ly/14Q81Xy Visit the WSJ channel for more video: youtube.com/wsjdigitalnetwork More from the Wall Street Journal: Visit WSJ.com: online.wsj.com/home-page Follow WSJ on Facebook: facebook.com/wsjlive Follow WSJ on Google+: plus.google.com/+wsj/posts…2014-04-08T12:43:24Z
In the video above, the Wall Street Journal reviews the Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit.
As we pointed out in our main article about the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active, AT&T is giving people who buy the S5 Active a $50 discount on the Galaxy Gear Fit wristband tracker.
The Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit is the slimmest of this generations’ Galaxy Gear offerings. The Gear Fit allows you to quickly respond to notifications and track your heart rate. You can easily customize the look of your Gear Fit, which makes the experience feel more personalized. Given the fact that the S5 Active is designed for outdoor and fitness use, a Gear Fit just makes sense.
Also works with a variety of other Samsung devices
Cons:
Some users find the display orientation limiting
Not shockproof
Not waterproof past a certain depth
Automatic screen turn-on is a bit over-sensitive, according to some user reviews
Battery life limited compared to other fitness bands on the market
2. Best Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Charging Accessory: ReVIVE Solar ReStore Solar Charger
ReVIVE Solar ReStore by Accessory PowerPortable Extended Battery Charge Pack This easy-to-use, multi-functional charger let's you take charging on-the-go. It's equipped with a universal USB charging port & a powerful internal backup battery that stores backup power for when you are away from outlets. Charge it up by the power of the Sun, USB or an AC outlet to provide…2011-11-03T22:27:50Z
Get a closer look at this solar charging accessory in the video above.
Since the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is designed to withstand the demands of a rugged outdoor lifestyle, it stands to reason that traditional chargers might not be as useful to S5 Active owners. A solar charger makes more sense for people who are outdoors more than they are indoors, and this ReVIVE solar charger from Accessory Power definitely fits the bill.
Great for people who are never near an outlet during the day
4000mAh battery (enough to recharge the 2800mAh battery in an S5 Active once, and then some)
Three-year warranty
Expandable with added panels
36-hour on-board LED light with flashlight and emergency settings
Cons:
On first use, charge it up 100% by USB, then drain fully so that the Li-polymer battery chemicals can be exercised and broken in
Full solar charge takes 13 hours (USB charging time is a mere four hours)
Has a max charge rate of 2.1 amps
Some users have experienced exceptionally slow (multi-day charge times)
Weighs more than some other solar charging kits on the market
3. Best Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Car Kit Accessory: Obliq EX Dashboard Car Mount
Obliq EX Car Mount Holder for All Smartphone, GPS up tp 6 inch device-Easy one hand mounting technology with firm, stable grip -Fully adjustable with 360 degree rotation for quick portrait and landscape views -Super strong, washable gel type suction cup that securely mounts onto any flat surface and dash boards -Luxurious cutting edge Patented Design -Compatible with up to 6 inch size smartphones amazon.com/Obliq-Windshield-Dashboard-Universal-Navigation/dp/B00IJMK0W4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395442746&sr=8-1&keywords=obliq+car+mount2014-03-21T22:59:48Z
Learn more about this versatile car kit accessory in the video above.
The Obliq mount is compatible with any smartphone up to six inches. Despite being a bit bulkier than the regular S5, the Galaxy S5 Active is still small enough to fit in this cradle. Whether you spend a lot of time in the car for work, or love to take long drives on the weekend, this helpful car accessory is worth investing in.
Versatile design holds your phone, as well as drinks or snacks
Available in three colors to suit your car’s interior
Will work with any smartphone up to six inches, including the Samsung Galaxy S5 or S5 Active
360 degree rotation
Easy to install
Cons:
May not grow with you if you ever upgrade to a larger phone
Washable gel type suction cup may not adhere to all surfaces
Car mount may lose sticking ability in very hot or humid climates
Depending on how bulky your case is, you may need to remove case from your phone prior to mounting
Some users have experienced pads falling off shortly after installation
4. Best Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Charger Accessory: PowerGen External Battery Pack
PowerGen PGMPP6000 6000mAh External Battery Pack (w/Imbedded Micro Cable) Unboxing and ReviewI got this from Amazon because free shipping is awesome and I got this for a good price. I added the link for you folks just in case. amazon.com/gp/product/B008TXCMFQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008TXCMFQ&linkCode=as2&tag=launch09-20 Rate, comment, and subscribe. This channel will review anything from electronics, fitness,etc. I hope to do some give aways in the near future. Maybe when my…2013-03-30T06:55:10Z
Check out an unboxing and review of this battery pack in the video above.
This PowerGen pack holds a whopping 6000mAh charge, allowing you to charge multiple phones, or recharge the 2800mAh Samsung Galaxy S5 Active’s battery repeatedly. If you love your Android device but wish you had better battery life, this external battery pack is a smart buy.
Works with multiple phones from Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG, and more
Large capacity: 6000mAh
Available in multiple colors
Embedded Micro-USB (no need for an extra cable)
Compliant with international safety standards
Cons:
PowerGen does have some other battery packs that have even larger capacities
Only offers 500 or so recharge cycles over the life of the battery
Power Pack only comes with a one-year limited replacement warranty
Takes at least 120 minutes to fully recharge
Doesn’t come with a dedicated wall plug charger (the USB-to-micro-USB cable can be plugged in to a computer to charge)
5. Best Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Camera Accessory: CamKix Universal 3 in 1 Camera Lens Kit
VideoVideo related to top 5 best samsung galaxy s5 active accessories2014-05-30T17:38:01-04:00
Learn more about this camera lens kit in the video above.
This cool kit offers three different lenses that snap on the outside of your phone, and transform your phone’s ho-hum camera into something more creative and powerful. It includes a fish eye lens, a macro lens, and a wide angle lens.
Note: The wide angle lens is paired with the macro lens. You must gently unscrew the wide angle to reveal the macro power beneath.
Available in six cool colors to showcase your personality
One-year guarantee
Made from durable, high-quality materials
Comes with microfiber carrying bag
Cons:
Designed to work best without a case on your device
Some elements hard to unscrew
May be cumbersome for some
One more thing to lug around in your tech arsenal
Not much value added for people who don’t take a lot of photos with their phone
Considering getting someone an electronics gift? Check out our Gifts section for tons of great gift recommendations, or visit our ultimate guides to the best gifts for women and best gifts for men.
