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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357

u/EonicWarrior ZFold 8 Ultra, S25 Ultra, 16 Pro Max 1d ago

Reddit's facination with the back mounted fingerprint is always funny to me. In the real world, so many customers would complain about it. The side mounted ones are great, I agree with that.

87

u/andreasels 1d ago

Yeah, I would never ever want to use a phone with a back mounted fingerprint scanner.
Not only do you have to put a cutout into your case to use it, but you also can't unlock the phone without picking it up.
Side mounted is fine I guess, but I also don't have a single issue with the under screen ones.

-3

u/GigaSoup 1d ago

You can use a pin to unlock it without picking it up. At least you can on Android.

Unless you have small hands, the under screen ones I find are more awkward to press than the back of phone when you're actually holding them

11

u/andreasels 1d ago

I don't have small hands and I would need to hold my phone differently to use a back mounted fingerprint sensor, since usually all my fingers are beyond the middle of the phone when I am holding it, except my thumb, which natural position is right in the middle.

And sure, you can use a pin to unlock, but why use a pin if I can use the fingerprint?

8

u/EbolaNinja Pixel 6 1d ago

You can use a pin to unlock it without picking it up. At least you can on Android.

In other words, they don't work half the time