Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Active wasn’t terribly popular compared to other versions of the flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone, having accounted for just 4% of total Galaxy S4 sales according to a recent report. But Samsung seemingly still thinks waterproofing and dust-proofing are important features that will draw more customers to its phones moving forward. A recent report stated that Samsung is working on an “Active” version of its upcoming Galaxy S5 smartphone that will be both water-resistant and dust-resistant, and now new claims suggest Samsung will make these features commonplace on its high-end smartphones moving forward.
According to a report from G 4 Games, Samsung is in the process of shifting to a new type of antenna technology — in-mold antennas, or IMA — in some devices. The move is thought to be tied to the company’s efforts to make upcoming smartphones water- and dust-resistant; Samsung has historically used LDS antennas, which are fused to the back plate of a phone.
The report suggests that IMA technology will be featured on the Galaxy S5 Active in order to facilitate a thinner design while still keeping the phone water-resistant, and the tech will also likely pop up on future high-end Samsung phones that feature more rugged builds.
