14 DAY TRIAL // Unlike Apple, who abandoned fingerprint sensors and embraced facial recognition on its anniversary iPhone, Samsung has no plan to give up on this technology and instead wants to improve it on its next-generation flagships.
The best way to do this, it seems, is to pick another manufacturer, as Samsung has reportedly chosen a Taiwanese company to make the fingerprint sensors that’ll be used on the Galaxy S9, and most likely on the Note 9 as well.
Very little is known at this point about the name of this company, but local media outlets report that this Taiwanese manufacturer expects a huge boost in profit following the contract it signed with Samsung and the sales volume that the South Koreans typically record for their flagship devices.
At this point, speculation is all we got, and Samsung picking a different fingerprint sensor maker could be a sign that the company is pondering a new design, placement, and capabilities.
Facial scanning and fingerprint sensors
There were rumors that Samsung could go for a dual-camera system on the Galaxy S9 and instead of putting the fingerprint scanner to the right of the camera module, as it’s the case on the S8 right now, it could move it just below it in a vertical layout.
But on the other hand, today’s report is living confirmation that Samsung does not plan to ditch the fingerprint sensor in an approach similar to Apple’s.
People familiar with the matter suggested Samsung could also adopt 3D sensing cameras for the Galaxy S9, but at the same time, the company also wants to keep offering fingerprint sensors. It’s believed facial recognition wouldn’t be enabled for tasks like payments as the company doesn’t think it’s secure enough to prevent unauthorized access.
Apple, instead, says facial recognition is substantially more secure than fingerprint sensors, citing a 1:1,000,000 chance for someone else to unlock a device that’s protected by Face ID.