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?

  • 🧟‍♂️ Cadaver@lemmy.world
    43·
    2 months ago

    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.

      • XeroxCool@lemmy.world
        6·
        2 months ago

        I had a 3a and thought I loved the rear reader, but apparently I have my phone flat on a desk or in a stand often enough that I really do prefer the front reader

        • DontTreadOnBigfoot@lemmy.world
          2·
          2 months ago

          I can never get my 6 to read my print unless I hold it in my hand exactly right (and even then it’s hit or miss), so the stand or desk thing is irrelevant in my case.

          • RogueBanana@lemmy.zipEnglish
            2·
            2 months ago

            Although the pixels specifically seems to be exceptionally bad compared to others. I absolutely hate it on my pixel 7 but my mom’s nothing phone seems to be much better but still not as fast/reliable as the dedicated sensor on the back or side.

    • Nightsoul@lemmy.worldEnglish
      61·
      2 months 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

    • Red_October@lemmy.world
      1·
      2 months ago

      For my part, I don’t have all of my fingers scanned into the reader (Which is on the power button), so it’s easy to just use a different finger in the event that I want to access my lock screen specifically.