say goodbye to the most criticized tradition

Google Pixel 9 Will Finally Get the Fingerprint Scanner It Deserves

News about the Google Pixel 9 Pro is coming slowly, but it is coming. It will be a phone that will rely on Samsung’s Tensor processor, probably the last time we’ll see a Google phone equipped with this type of SoC. The cameras tend to be somewhat conservative, as does the design.

But there’s an element we’ve suffered from on the Pixel for generations, a tradition we never fully understand. The fingerprint reader on these phones has been optical for generations. This means both lower accuracy and slower unlocking. Because? Because ultrasound is the key.

optical readers. The optical reader works in a very curious way. They are equipped with a miniature camera located under the panel. When we bring our finger closer, the numerous photos it takes of the fingerprint are compared with those taken during the initial setup.

The main problem is that this camera needs a lot of light to work, and this is the main reason why these readers make a small “flash” when you put your finger on it. In fact, some of them are annoying at night because of the brightness they emit.

These readers are very limited as the detection area is small and they are highly dependent on ambient light.

ultrasonic readers. An alternative to this type of reader is the ultrasonic one. This is a slightly more expensive technology, so not all manufacturers encourage it. There is no camera, but an ultrasonic system with a very small microphone.

When we place our finger on a surface, ultrasound maps our fingerprint, taking into account the small differences in the depth of the grooves of the fingertips. The microphone is responsible for comparing this data back to the signals it received when we registered the fingerprint in the system. It is a more reliable and faster system.

Google Pixel 9 Pro is the first with an ultrasonic sensor. According to Android Authority, Google’s 9-series will solve this problem: the company plans to introduce ultrasonic fingerprint readers into its flagship phones.

This puts an end to a very long tradition they’ve been maintaining since the Google Pixel 6. Specifically, we’re talking about Qualcomm 3D Sonic Gen 2 (QFS4008), the same under-screen fingerprint scanner found in phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Image | Hataka

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