Another difference between the regular S7 and its hardier brother is the so-called Active key, which sits above the volume rocker on the device's left edge. By default, it launches Samsung's fitness tracking dashboard, Activity Zone, but you can program it to open your favorite app instead. Double pressing the Active key opens what's known as the Emergency Zone, a feature that lets you quickly call 911 or send a preset SOS message.

This year's Active also has a microSD slot, as well as a fingerprint sensor built into the home button -- two features that last year's S6 Active lacked. In particular, a fingerprint sensor here makes it much more convenient to approve Samsung Pay transactions.

But back to that ruggedness. Let's get one thing clear there: The S7 Active is not more waterproof than the S7 and S7 Edge. All three phones have the same IP68 rating for water resistance, which means they can withstand up to five feet and 30 minutes of immersion. However, the S7 Active has a shatterproof screen, stronger metal body and a rubberized back that lends it a nice grip. It can also survive falls from up to five feet, and has a 4,000mAh battery -- a considerable improvement over the GS7's 3,000mAh cell.

Thanks to that ruggedness, I had no problem throwing the phone into my backpack full of sharp keys, and the shatterproof screen even held up after falling into the middle of a heated foosball scuffle. It was only after I subjected the Active to further abuse by drop-kicking it and dropping it three floors onto a table (a genuine accident!) that the panel even cracked.

After the fall, the Active's display was covered in scratches, but it was at least responsive. True to Samsung's claims, the screen's surface did not shatter and was still smooth. The cracks were all under the top layer and I could still tap and swipe on the panel without cutting my fingers on splintered glass. It's worth noting, too, that that three-story drop was beyond the range Samsung says is safe, which makes me all the more appreciative that the phone still worked afterward.

The Active's water resistance came in handy as well when some greasy food spilled on the display, at which point I put the phone under running water to wash it off. I also liked the Aqua camera mode, which lets you shoot pics underwater and use the physical buttons as shutter triggers. Don't venture too far, though. The S7's rating only guarantees up to five feet of immersion, meaning deep-sea diving is a no-go. That said, if it happens to fall out of your pocket into a pool or a puddle, it'll be fine.

All that said, the best thing about the S7 Active isn't necessarily its ability to survive accidents but how well-rounded it is as a phone. It's basically the already awesome S7 wrapped in a more protective body, and it has the same speedy Snapdragon 820 chip and excellent cameras.