For those who miss the familiarity of smartphones, Samsung has announced two new “ruggedized” Galaxy devices – the Galaxy XCover 7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro – that feature removable backs and user-replaceable batteries.
The Galaxy XCover 7 Pro is designed for enterprise customers, but it comes with some of the same Galaxy AI features that Samsung is pushing on its flagship smartphones, including Google Circle to Search and Object Eraser. The phone uses the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip, has a brighter screen, and comes with a 4350 mAh battery, but the reason to buy it is all the ways Samsung has made it more rugged and customizable than the average phone. This includes IP68 water and dust protection, MIL-STD-810H certification for drop protection, programmable buttons, built-in pogo pins as another charging option, and a battery that you can replace yourself by simply pulling it out of the back of the phone.
The Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro has a 10.1-inch screen and uses the same Snapdragon chip as the XCover 7 Pro, but the tablet offers even more charging options. Samsung says that the Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro can be used without a battery when it is connected to the dock, and you can also hot swap batteries on the tablet without turning it off. You’ll be able to enjoy many of the same durability benefits as the XCover 7 Pro, and the IP68 water and dust protection extends to the S-Pen stylus used in the Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro.
None of these devices are designed for ordinary people, but they are a good illustration of how familiar features like batteries that you can replace yourself have become niche. We’ve gotten lighter and sleeker flagship phones, but it’s worth wondering if XCover owners are really living the good life.
Galaxy XCover 7 Pro will be available for pre-order on May 8, 2025. The Galaxy Tab Active 5 Pro is scheduled for release in “early June,” according to Samsung.
