Upgrading to ultrasonic
Google first switched to under-display fingerprint scanners with the Pixel 6 — before that, it has always used traditional rear-mounted sensors. Unfortunately, the switch went rather poorly — early users reported issues both with unlock speeds and the reliability of the scanning. While the subsequent OTA updates and the next generations of Pixels somewhat improved the situation, unlocking was still comparatively slow, and it remains that way to this day.
The source of these problems was the choice of fingerprint scanner used. Google opted for an optical scanner from a company called Goodix, while the competitors have been using ultrasonic scanners. Optical scanners are typically slower, less accurate, and more sensitive to any moisture or dirt you might have on your finger. There’s also the issue of usage in low-light environments — optical scanners require the screen to flash a very bright light in the place of the scanner, which means if you don’t cover the circle on the screen completely, you might get hit with a flash of blinding light.
An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner should make unlocking faster and more reliable.
While the overall unlock experience and speed rely on more than just the hardware, an ultrasonic sensor is always going to be better than an optical sensor.
Coming soon to a Pixel near you
What do you think about the upgraded fingerprint scanner in the Pixel 9? Let us know in the comments.
Will the Pixel 9’s fingerprint scanner upgrade convince you to ditch your current phone?
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