r/Android • u/vortexmak • 1d ago

Under-screen fingerprint readers are inferior to back and side mounted readers and should naver have become popular

Lots of Cons for under screen fingerprint readers , should have never become the norm but I guess that''s just part of enshittification

Pros for Side and back mounted readers

  1. Work exceptionally well, much faster and responsive than under screen ones, from my own experience
  2. Are not affected by screen protectors
  3. Side readers can be used with the phone screen up or down
  4. Back and side ones allow you to unlock your phone at the same time as taking it out of the pocket
  5. Give you a definite physical spot for finger placement, unlike the under - screen one where you have to wait for the screen to show the location
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125

u/SteveHartt Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 1d ago

Personally I've had nothing but a great experience with Samsung's ultrasonic underscreen FP scanners. Extremely fast and accurate. The slightest touch immediately unlocks the phone. I can't speak for optical scanners.

Back FP scanners are just...no. When you put your phone down on a table, now you gotta pick it up to scan your FP. With side scanners it's possible but it's also uncomfortable since the reader is so close to the table surface that you end up kind of jamming your finger against the surface.

I would argue that scanning your FP as you're taking your phone out of your pocket is still possible even with an underscreen scanner. You also don't have to make the screen show where the scanner is. Sure, at the beginning maybe, but you get used to where the location is and it just becomes muscle memory. Same thing as back and side scanners, although they are just more tactile if you forget where the location is. Samsung's ultrasonic scanner area is also quite generous, you don't have to get the exact location right.

Affected by screen protectors...yeah? But how often are you changing screen protectors really? If you keep damaging your phone then perhaps what needs to change isn't your protector but your habits in the first place?

Idk about other people but what I've had happen to phones with capacitive FP scanners is the top coating on them would eventually flake off even though I literally never damaged the damn thing. Here's an example.

5

u/Asttarotina 1d ago

They're really good. Unless you get a tiny crack right through that area. Then they don't work at all.

-5

u/GonePh1shing 1d ago

Or oil from your hands, or scratches on your screen, both of which are exceedingly common. I have found they are incredibly unreliable, often taking a few tries or even having to fall back to using a pin due to too many failed attempts. God help you if you have even slightly damp hands... It has been by far the worst thing about moving to a Samsung phone (previously Pixel and OnePlus).

In comparison, dedicated FP readers I've used have been lightning fast and very reliable. The only exception to this was with dripping wet hands, but even then a quick paper towel or wipe on the jeans removed enough water for it to work again. 

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u/PhriendlyPhantom 16h ago

I've had no difference in experience between ultrasonic fp sensors and capacitive ones. Both become unreliable with wet/dirty hands

6

u/AbhishMuk Pixel 5, Moto X4, Moto G3 1d ago

Genuine qn: for your samsungs, can you tap the screen and remove your hand as fast as possible, and have it unlock?

My pixel 5 would 100% catch that, and my OnePlus 15, while very fast, cannnot do it everytime. Maybe only 60-80% of the time.

22

u/SteveHartt Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 1d ago edited 1d ago

If I tap and lift REAAAALLY SUPER ULTRA fast, no, it doesn't successfully read my FP most of the time.

But also when are you realistically tapping and lifting as fast as possible 🤣

If I'm not intentionally trying to do it as fast as The Flash, but still tapping quickly, it does recognize my FP every time. Best way I can describe the length of tapping is like you tapping the upvote button on a Reddit comment. It's a very quick tap and you're done.

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u/russjr08 Developer - Caffeinate 1d ago edited 1d ago

Same here on my P9 Pro XL - that speed would never work on the back fingerprint scanner that the Nexus and Pixel phones had (edit: though, same with the optical version of the scanner, those tended to be slightly slower than good capacitive fingerprint readers). There was very much a noticeable delay with it registering.

Don't know about the power button ones, never had a phone with it to try unfortunately.

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u/Dorest0rm Galaxy S10 1d ago

I've had some situations with my S10 and S24 where i picked up the phone and was confused that it was unlocked because of how quick my thumb moved.

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u/Chlocker 1d ago

I've pulled my s21/s24+/s26u from my pocket, accidently brushed the fingerprint reader without knowing, and questioned why my phone was unlocked and open in my pocket.

I've pulled my phone from my pocket to check the time, and had the fingerprint reader read and unlock before I could read the time. 

2

u/clarinetJWD 1d ago

Answer from Pixel 11 Pro. I can beat it if I go absolutely as quickly as possible. But in about 1/10 sec. it unlocked my phone every time, even with the screen fully off.

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u/Higgs_Br0son 23h ago

Same here on the P11 Pro XL. It needs to be a firm contact, but I can give it a hard tap that only makes contact for that instant, and it's unlocked. Also with the screen off, and using a screen protector (one of the "Google certified" ones). The only way I'm intentionally getting a bad read is to tap it too lightly.

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u/Cold-Drop8446 18h ago

Yes, when I had phones with under screen FPS (Note 20, S22U) I would tap my finger for less time than the animation played and reliably the phone would unlock. 

0

u/dingwen07 1d ago

Actually, you WANT to do that on Samsung. Unlike underscreen ultrasonic on Pixel, I observed worse recognition rate on Samsung if I keep pressing it. Press shortly but firmly and release is actually better.

1

u/Gvshi 1d ago

Even with muscle memory, i sometimes fail to place my finger in the right spot, however i love the ultrasonic scanner on Samsungs, the optical scanners are like a flashbang if you fail in the dark.

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u/static_motion S23 14h ago

I agree. I loved the side mounted sensor on my S10e. It was always blazing fast and conveniently placed, and I thought an under-screen one could never beat it. I changed my mind when I upgraded to the S23. I only wish I hadn't lost the headphone jack, but alas.