Previous rumors indicated that Samsung will launch the next-generation of its mid-range Xcover and now the company has officially announced the Xcover 2, which can also take underwater pictures.

Samsung describes the smartphones as "the ideal smartphone for active explorers who are enjoying outdoor lifestyles and seeking a durable mobile device with essential smartphone capabilities."

The Galaxy Xcover 2 is optimized to withstand rugged outdoor conditions and the smartphone is dust and sand proof. The handset is also water resistant to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes, which enables you to take pictures under water with the direct camera key.

The IP67-certified Galaxy Xcover 2 sports a 4-inch TFT display with 480 x 800 pixels resolution. A dual-core 1GHz processor powers the handset. The handset has 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded further using a microSD card, and 1GB of RAM.

The Galaxy Xcover 2 packs in a 1700mAh battery and is equipped with a VGA quality front-facing camera and a 5-megapixel rear-facing snapper with auto-focus and LED flash. The LED flash can also be used like a torch, which makes the smartphone one of the best handsets for outdoor exploration.

The Galaxy Xcover 2 will run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean along with the company's own TouchWiz user interface. The smartphone will be pre-loaded with Samsung apps including the Readers Hub, Music Hub, Video Hub, and Game Hub.

"The intuitive Motion UI understands your movements to shake and update or turn over to mute; data can be synced, backed up and restored with S-Cloud; S Voice lets users control the phone using their voice, allowing you to see the weekly weather forecast, the contact number you're trying to find or even take a picture as you speak; Best Shot recommends the best shot from a series of photos; Smart Stay recognizes whether the user is looking at the screen to dim the screen accordingly," notes the official press release.

Samsung did not reveal price and release date of the Xcover 2, but rumors indicate that the smartphone will start shipping from February onwards.

Everyone cannot afford a top-of-the-line handset and the Galaxy Xcover 2 is made for users looking for a mid-range handset, which will be ideal for frequent outdoor use and able to withstand exposure to dust and water. We will have to wait and see if the Galaxy Xcover 2 can make an impression in the current smartphone market where consumers seem more inclined towards high-end smartphones.