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?
Wow, that is the opposite of my experience. I have only had problems with the power button fingerprint readers. My last three phones have used in-display readers, and that has been so much more reliable for me.
I do still use my Pixel Tablet, which uses a power button fingerprint reader for some reason, and I am constantly fighting with it.
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.
Yessss. I had a Nexus 6P and the back fingerprint reader was amazing. Still probably the best phone I’ve had.
This so much! And it’s eragonomic no matter which hand you use. My new phone has it on the power button and it’s just ok. I miss having a rear touch sensor.
The S9 had the fingerprint reader centered on the back. It was awesome.
As did the Pixel 2. Still miss the back scanner
Plus you could use it to drop down the notification window with a gesture. It was handy.
Power buttons are often covered by cases and, since they’re usually a weak spot for water proofing, it’s more effective to have a case that fully covers the button. In-screen readers (like what I have on my Samsung A71) tend to be good enough most of the time.
It really depends on the sensor tech. The fingerprint reader in my pixel 7 pro is absolute dogshit. I’ve heard the pixel 9 line improves things though.
Pixel 8 user here - the in-display fingerprint reader is fine, as long as my finger isn’t super dry (which happens regularly). So I’m regularly licking my finger to unlock the device like some boomer that’s used to doing it from turning pages in a book.
My dude, rub the side of your nose. Works great, no extra moisture.
Never fails on a 7 Pro
Cause its cooler to not need to have a button uncovered.
Not an expert but I’d suppose it’s nothing more than marketing getting in the way and insisting on an over engineered solution because it’s flashy
Motorola does it on the power button
I have a T-Mobile Revvel as a backup, it has it on the power button. Actually a decent freebe 5G phone, no complaints
For a while, there was a patent on it, at least in he US. I remember having to root a Sony phone to enable the fingerprint reader on the power button about 10 years ago.
I miss my Xz1 Compact
That’s the one!
Foldables have it on the side/power button but are priced as if they had 100 ultrasonic fingerprint readers under each screen.
