PieFedFive years later, ultrasonic fingerprint sensors are finally coming to more Android phones
Blaze (he/him)9to5google.com/2024/11/01/android-ultrasonic-fi…
In-display fingerprint sensors have become commonplace in virtually all Android smartphones, for better or for worse, and five years later...
29 Comments
Comments from other communities
Rear scanners had no reason to go away. Imagine a phone with one giant fingerprint sensor/touchpad on the back(like the PS Vita).
I miss the back fingerprint scanner. I could unlock my phone as I'm taking it out of my pocket . The in screen one on Samsung phones is really unreliable.
Being able to swipe down the notifications from that button was a great feature
If it's any consolation, "one handed mode" (at least on pixels) has an option to let you bring the shade down by swiping down on the gesture bar
Swiping down on the fingerprint scanner was my favorite thing on my pixel 5, for checking notifications or fidgeting with it! I was a little bummed when I eventually upgraded, but found that and it works relatively well
I use this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.android.sidegesturepad
It can also pull the screen down with a different gesture
My sensor is on the button that turns on the phone, and it's on the right side where the thumb is placed anyway. You press it, phone turns on and you can enter the passkey, you slide your thumb over it, you unlock the phone directly.
I have it deactivated though. There's no need to store my fingerprint anywhere to save 1.5 seconds.
It's annoying when phone is flat on the table. Otherwise, yes, they're much better.
All of the phones I have had have had practically flat fingerprint sensors, For example, the Pixel 3a XL which is closest to me right now has an inwards facing sensor.
Deleted by moderator
Seriously. I'm tired of blinding myself at night when trying to sleepily check my phone. The sensor on the back of my old pixel could also be used to pull down the notification shade which I can't easily reach with one hand, now, since the screen is so large.
Ultrasonic under screen readers dont need to light up that spot to work
Ohhh I just assumed it was what my pixel 8 was using.
I forgot about the gesture to pull down the notification bar. The was far superior. I could reach in to my pocket and have the phone unlocked before I even see the screen
There is a one-handed mode gesture that you can enable. It allows you to swipe straight down on the gesture bar to pull the entire top of the screen down.
I use that but it only works from the home screen. If I use the gesture from an app it just interact with the app.
That's odd, I can use that gesture from any app. Wonder if it's phone-specific.
I'm using a pixel 8 with graphene. If I try to use that gesture while browsing lemmy with the Sync app, for example, it just scrolls the feed back towards the top.
I only explain bc I'm hoping I'm using it incorrectly.
Motorola had it right, the sensor was right where my index fingers rested on the back. Unfortunately this isn't "premium" nor "hi-tech" enough to sell phones.
I had a phone with one on the back and currently have one with it on the screen. Personally I had absolutely no issues with its functionality in the screen and do prefer it over the back. I like that I can unlock my phone without having to pick it up off the desk or while its still in the mount on my vehicle dash.
Seems to work perfectly fine to me but maybe it's a quality issues with the brand of phones. Mine is a OnePlus and it's almost 4 years old now, still works fine and never had any issues.
Gid these are shtty, and in a shitty spot.
I know ved the one on my Gakaxy Nte 9. I had it unlocked before it was out of my pocket or picked up, the one on the Pixel Pro 6 was so bad I got rid if the phone after a month, the Samsung Note22u i am on now sucks but not quite as bad.
Damn it bring it back like the Note 9! Worked 99/100 and was fast.
I want my fingerprint sensor to squeal
How about a real sensor on the back, that works every time, like my 2017 phone had.
Screw this under the screen nonsense, that's not how I hold my phone. It's awkward.
My current device has that (2019 Motorola)
I'm a big fan of the side power button scanner on my Moto G
The Z Fold has a side button scanner as well; it's easily one of my favorite features
I've grown to hate the power button sensor on Moto's because on many cases the cutout for the button is deep. Making it a pain in the ass to get good contact with the button for the sensor to read properly. Literally never have gotten it to read successfully on the first try since I've owned the phone with the case I use.
Yes, it's technically a case problem, but it shouldn't be on the friggin power button to begin with imo.
Used to love the back sensor. I could unlock my phone as I was taking it out of my pocket
I'm gonna have to say no to that. I love my ultrasonic sensor. It works when wet and is in a way more reachable location (the screen). No need to reach behind the phone or stretch your finger to unlock, no need to lift your phone when it's on a table. The success rate is basically identical and it's lightning fast, even faster than a physical sensor. The final perk is it doesn't create a large circle opening on the back of a case so the back of your phone is totally smooth save for the camera.
My experience is different. I have a pixel 8 for work and pixel 5 for personal. The physical fingerprint reader on the pixel 5 constantly works. The pixel 8, fails way too often.
The 8 has a shitty optical sensor. You've gotta try those Samsung ultrasonic sensors or those on the Pixel 9s. Way different experience. Just a light tap and it unlocks.
Are ultrasonic sensors better apart from the light hing? That I have never even thought about could be a problem.
Mine detects b between up to 5 fingers, and it's fast and with good accuracy, which is nice because depending on the situation I may use either hand.
I went Galaxy S22 Ultra (ultrasonic) to Pixel 8 Pro (optical) to Pixel 9 XL (ultrasonic).
My impression was the performance improved over time with the Galaxy and Pixel 8. I find the Pixel 9 worst overall, but figure they'll improve it in software.
No data to back that up.
It mostly struggles when my hand is wet. I miss the Pixel 4's face unlock.
Pixel 9 pro struggles with my finger scan if it's too dry. I guess washing hands removes the body naturally produced oil and that makes it harder to scan.
They are way better, faster without sacrificing precision/security. With an ultrasonic sensor I can simply tap the screen and it's unlocked, where with the optical ones I'd need to press for a second before unlocking, sometimes having to shuffle my finger around.
I experienced the complete opposite. Ultrasonic was crap, inaccurate, and slow (until it stopped working completely), while optical was just a tap, and very accurate
You probably used some cheap crappy chinese knock off ultrasonic then, because they do work, and much much better than optical
I have the P9p and have more issues with the (ultra sonic) sensor than I did with the (optical sensor) on the previous P8p.
I even compared both in hand before trading in the older phone and the P8p scanning was much better.
Though I have to mention; to improve the optical sensor reading I had to do 4 fingerprints with different brightness for each scan, and that what helped a lot.
Too bad I can't do the same with the Ultrasonic sensor since it doesn't care about the brightness on the screen.
Yeah, a "cheap" top tier huawei p30 pro that cost about 600$ when it was new 😆
I dont think ultrasonic can be better, but regardless of sensor tech, in screen sensor is absolutely crap, i put the inventors to the same box as the inventors/pushers of micro usb, curved edge phone screens, removing jack connectors, etc... these things arey very annoying, and very useless.
I'd like to switch back to my older phone, one of main reasons is the fingerprint sensor. The old phone has the plain old sensor at the back, where i naturally touch my phone, and its very fast. Much faster, and accurate than the newer phone's in screen sensor... when that was working... but it isnt working at all since a year.
Ultrasonic in screen sensor is absolute crap in every aspects. However the newer phone is a Huawei which also crap in everything, except its leica camera.
Never use biometrics on devices, security/privacy risk
Deleted by author
If you don't succeed in lockdown before seizure, or aren't conscious, your biometrics can be used without your consent.
Taking reasonable steps to improve your security doesn't mean all efforts are all or nothing
For my threat profile, state actors compelling biometrics from my EDC phone is pretty low on my list of concerns. That shit is intentionally sterile because I know they will just push me a compromised "security update" if they want in.
And in any case, I'd still rather be able to fight the collection in public, vs being compromised by anyone who paid the janitor $20 to plug a USB drive into my phone.
Sure, as conversation, i've heard of thieves face unlocking phones they just stole.
Indeed running as sterile an every day phone as possible is another great security approach by reducing risk.
Yeah I don't really care what a thief does with my phone after they brain me. It's the skull damage which concerns me. My google account is locked down with a hardware key so there's only so much damage they can do before I wipe the device. Unless I'm dead, in which case I guess it doesn't matter. Also my wife knows how to handle this situation. I would strongly suggest investing in posthumous spouse security as early as possible.
Your last sentence is great.
Regarding the prior stuff, that's very "you specific". There's of course tons of caveats or gotchas to my broad statement, but it doesn't make it untrue.
Biometrics present a less secure access path to a device...
Jokes on them, my phones stupid fingerprint reader only works about 3% of the time. They'll get frustrated and give up before finding anything, I know I usually do.