Galaxy S8 Active release date and carrier finally revealed

In the months since the Galaxy S8 launch, we've heard countless rumors about its more rugged brother, the Galaxy S8 Active. Some of these rumors come directly from the source, with Samsung accidentally outing the phone back in June and AT&T doing the same thing last week. AT&T seems to have finally decided that enough is enough, officially unveiling the phone today.

AT&T revealed today that the phone is available for pre-order tomorrow, with a release to follow in just a couple of days on August 11. The phone will cost $28.34 per month on AT&T Next, which is actually slightly more expensive than the standard Galaxy S8. It would appear that the added ruggedness will cost you a few extra bucks each month.

Though AT&T's Galaxy S8 Active listing isn't live just yet, the company does give us a good idea of what to expect in terms of specifications with today's announcement. Prospective buyers can look forward to a 5.8-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, a 4,000 mAh battery, and of course, a durable design that gives added protection against drops, dust, and water.

Perhaps most notable about the announcement, however, is the fact that AT&T says that it will exclusively offer the Galaxy S8 Active "for a limited time." That sure seems to suggest that we'll see the Galaxy S8 Active land at other carriers soon, though we probably won't hear more about those plans for weeks or months. The Galaxy S8 Active will be available in two different colors when it arrives later this week: Meteor Gray and Titanium Gold.

The Galaxy S8 Active qualifies for a number of different Galaxy promotions AT&T is currently running. For instance, there's a buy one, get one offer that will net you a free Galaxy S8 when you purchase a Galaxy smartphone, add a new line, and sign up for DIRECTV. If that seems like too many stipulations for you, you can also get a $500 rebate on a Samsung TV when you buy a Galaxy smartphone and add DIRECTV service.

So, there you have it. After months of rumors and speculation, the Galaxy S8 Active is finally about to launch. We'll see how this stacks up to the standard Galaxy line soon enough, so stay tuned for more.