this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2024
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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?

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I like the side-mounted power button fingerprint reader on my S10e. It's fast, it works, it's in a location I can use with either hand since the phone isn't the size of a gaming monitor.

[–] SomeGuy69@lemmy.world 5 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

It's much better to reach. I'll never buy a phone again without finger print reader below the screen. On my S10 it's also very reliable. It works 95 of 100 times and those 5 times my finger was just weird on the screen and not centered.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 6 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I loved the Pixel 4 I had with the reader on the back. My finger was already there when I picked up the phone, and it was way more accurate than the one on the screen of my 6.

Miss that phone, except for the nightmare charging port.

[–] Flying_Hellfish@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

You could also swipe down on the reader to bring down the notification tray, I miss that fingerprint reader every day.

[–] TheRealKuni@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago

I will admit when I went to the Dark Side I was shocked by how much I like Face ID. I do miss having the in-screen fingerprint reader when I’m wearing a mask, SOMETIMES, but even that has improved in the time I’ve owned an iPhone.

But yeah, on my OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition and OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition (damn I loved those phones so much) the in-screen reader was excellent.

[–] Voltage@sh.itjust.works 31 points 16 hours ago (4 children)

Optimal fingerprint reader placement is on the back of the phone. You can just pick it up slide your finger on it and boom on to the home screen. Just want to see the time? Just press the power button and see the lockscreen.

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 7 points 12 hours ago

I'm mixed on this. I have had the S9 for 6ish years, since launch. I love that it's on the back. except having to pick it up to unlock it lol. so 80% of the time it's amazing, which I guess is good enough.

also, pro tip, add multiple finger prints, both thumbs, and index, etc. so you can unlock it in multiple grips and don't need a single finger available to get in.

[–] SolOrion@sh.itjust.works 7 points 14 hours ago

Agreed completely. I have an S23 rn, but my previous phone was a mid-tier android with a fingerprint reader on the back. My natural resting grip on my phone would just unlock the thing. It was amazing. My current phone is a clear upgrade in every way except the fingerprint reader. My new one has it in the screen and I fuckin hate it.

[–] Maalus@lemmy.world 4 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

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 0 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

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 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

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 1 points 7 hours ago

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

[–] davidagain@lemmy.world 6 points 15 hours ago

I deduce that your phone never randomly locks while you're using it as a satnav. Lucky you.

[–] kraftpudding@lemmy.world 5 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Ok, so how does this work with phone cases?

[–] fididosooe@lemmy.ca 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

My phone's case has a cutout for the power button.

[–] kraftpudding@lemmy.world 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

But wouldn't that let water and dirt inside the case, just like the camera cutouts? I already hate those

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (1 children)

No more than the cutout for the camera does. Similar construction.

My case fits pretty snugly and neither hole is an issue.

[–] kraftpudding@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

For me, dirt and especially water getting into the case through the camera holes is definitely an issue, and my case also is tight.

[–] potentiallynotfelix@lemmy.fish 30 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

I don't know but I prefer fp sensors on the back of the phone because my fingerprint is also up there naturally.

[–] eronth@lemmy.world 13 points 18 hours ago

Yes! I'm so sad they've moved away from this. I could pull out my phone AND unlock it in the same grab.

[–] corroded@lemmy.world 5 points 18 hours ago

I can't find a decent screen protector for my Galaxy S23, no matter how I try, and it's all due to the damned in-display fingerprint reader. Any adhesive-style screen protector has an open area for the fingerprint reader, and it's either a different material or a different thickness; they all look like shit. I've tried the screen protectors that use a UV-cured adhesive, and they're messy, difficult to apply properly, and generally a pain in the ass.

I've relegated myself to not using a screen protector at all, but considering my pocket lint scratches my screen, it sucks.

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 7 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

My Pixel 7 has the fingerprint reader behind the screen and it's awful. Unless you've got the greasiest fingers of anyone who ever lived, it fails to log you in.

Instead the face recognition kicks in, and then fails when you try to make a payment, asking for your fingerprint again.

It's fucking aggravating.

My crappy old Huawei thing has a separate panel for fingerprints and it never failed to work.

[–] independantiste@sh.itjust.works 4 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

The pixels from 6 to 8 use an optical fingerprint scanner, and optical scanners almost universally suck, because they use a tiny camera to see your finger through the display on your phone. Most phones including the pixel 9's include an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which is more reliable, faster, doesn't flashbang you in the dark, and has the potential to be much bigger (think lower half of the phone is the fingerprint scanner).

I haven't had trouble with under display fingerprint scanners since I had my S23 (ultrasonjc), but my previous has an optical one and it was the worst thing I'd used.

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 2 points 7 hours ago

I've used standalone optical readers before, and the ones that worked well had a slightly tacky rubbery-plastic layer on them, that I think helps with making the fingerprint stand out. Obviously can't do that on a screen, because it'd be weird.

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 7 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

They said the same about the 6 but honestly it works pretty well for me most of the time.

Sorry, I have God fingers I guess. blessed by the finger maiden.

[–] WhyFlip@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago

The fingerprint readers on the Pixel 6, 7, and 8 all fucking suck.

[–] FleetingTit@feddit.org 5 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I would hate that so much. The power button is for turning the screen off!

[–] amorpheus@lemmy.world 4 points 15 hours ago
[–] Ashiette@lemmy.world 41 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (6 children)

I think the answer might be 'because of marketing'.

For me, I dislike both the power button AND the screen fingerprint reader. The power button because I like to access my lockscreen and not to be catapulted in the last app I was using ; the screen reader because it's messy and oftentimes doesn't work correctly. My newborn has been able to unlock my phone, multiple times...

What I really miss was the fingerprint reader on the back of the device. It was convenient, fast, precise and let me access the lock screen.

[–] Nightsoul@lemmy.world 5 points 16 hours ago

Why not just tap the screen of your phone to see just the lock screen? It's especially convenient my phone is sitting on my desk, just double tap

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[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 82 points 1 day ago (7 children)

I miss when it was on the back, right around where you put your finger when you pick up the phone.

The underscreen one is a major downgrade and I gotta fumble with it a few times to get it to work, usually.

[–] RisingSwell@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 22 hours ago

My underscreen one is excellent and works 99% of the time. That still leaves it significantly worse than rear fingerprint sensor. RIP the best unlock method.

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[–] pycorax@lemmy.world 10 points 21 hours ago

The fingerprint sensor on the power button isn't the main reason why I got my Fold 6 but it's such a small thing that sweetens the deal a lot. I absolutely detest screen based fingerprint readers.

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