I had two Samsung flagship phones, one (S20FE) had an optical fingerprint reader and the other (S22) had an ultrasonic one. Both of them somewhat regularly failed to read my finger, were slower than a fingerprint reader on the power button and are more expensive/complex to build. They won’t work with cheap 3rd party screen replacements and some screen protectors as well.

Meanwhile my $90 Android phone has a fingerprint reader on the power button. It never fails and I never have to perfectly place my finger on the sensor area to get it to work. It just seems like the perfect place to put a fingerprint sensor, so why do phone manufacturers keep using in-display fingerprint readers over the cheaper alternative?

  • Maalus@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    My under the screen fingerprint sensor allows me to take out my phone from my pocket already unlocked. No button presses, no fiddling with finger placement on the back, it just works and is fastest.

    • ikidd@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      IDK how you manage that since there’s no tactile feedback to know when your finger is in the right spot on the screen. I have to be very precise with mine so I have to look at it every time.

      • Maalus@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        I don’t. I just pull it out of my pocket roughly in the middle by pinching with my pointing finger and thumb. Get an unlocked phone each time I get it out.

        • ikidd@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Must be a much better reader than on my Pixel6. Not very fucking impressed with that one.