Galaxy S6 Active could have a microSD card slot, but no fingerprint scanner

BY Killian Bell

Published 26 Mar 2015

Samsung Galaxy S5 Active

Samsung’s major design overhaul for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge meant a number of popular features from the Galaxy S5 had to be cut, most notably the microSD card slot. But according to one source, the Galaxy S6 Active will bring that expandable storage back.

“We’ve gotten our hands on some new evidence that seems to indicate Samsung still cares about its old-school customers who’ve never abandoned the company (even in its “plastic is fantastic” days),” SamMobile reports, citing Reddit member “Garshol.”

Garshol has been speaking with a Samsung representative in Europe, and claims the S6 Active — which is expected to be an AT&T exclusive in the U.S. — will be “similar to the S6,” but with a few big differences.

Like previous Active handsets, it isn’t expected to be quite as powerful as Samsung’s flagships Galaxies, with a “less good camera” and no fingerprint scanner or heart rate monitor. But it could make up for it in other areas.

The device is expected to have physical buttons that’ll make it easier to use with wet hands or when wearing gloves, as well as a microSD card slot and a removable battery — which many Android users still find to be incredibly useful.

It will also have a bigger battery, Garshol says, and will have Samsung’s latest TouchWiz software pre-installed when it makes its debut this summer.

Interestingly, Garshol says adds that the reason why Samsung ditched the microSD card slot for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge is because it wanted “to be more similiar [sic] to apple, both regarding design, storage capacity and “core functionality”.”

As for the water-resistance, that was dropped because market studies showed users didn’t like the Galaxy S5’s annoying port cover.