This feature is now expected to launch on the Galaxy S9

Jun 19, 2017 06:19 GMT  ·  By
The Note 8 could use a fingerprint reader placed on the back, just like the S8
   The Note 8 could use a fingerprint reader placed on the back, just like the S8

Just like Apple, Samsung is hard at work on moving the fingerprint scanner under the touch panel, making it possible for users to unlock their devices by simply tapping the display.

But according to a new report, Apple is a lot closer than Samsung to bring this new technology to the market.

Specifically, it turns out that Samsung’s fingerprint sensor integrated into the display is causing some screen issues on the existing prototypes, with brightness noticeable higher in the area where the scanner is installed.

At this point, Samsung is believed to be still investigating, but due to this problem, the company has already decided to hold this feature back a little longer.

iPhone 8, first to come with the new tech

In other words, the Galaxy Note 8, which is projected to launch in August or September this year, won’t be getting the new fingerprint scanner, but rather the same approach that was used on the Galaxy S8 and S8+ with the conventional sensor placed on the back of the phone.

Most likely, Samsung is now planning to debut the new fingerprint sensor embedded into the display in the first quarter of 2018, when the company is projected to take the wraps off the new-generation S model. This means that the Galaxy S9 has all the chances to become the first Samsung model with a fingerprint scanner installed in the display.

On the other hand, Apple is also developing a similar technology, and in this case, work seems to be advancing at a much better pace. Cupertino is projected to introduce the new fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 8, which could see daylight in September before it hits the shelves in October.

By bringing it on the Note 8, Samsung hoped to beat Apple to launching a phone with a fingerprint sensor integrated into the screen, but if the latest reports are accurate, things could be the other way around. Samsung, however, still wants to bring the Note 8 to the market before the launch of the iPhone 8, so the target continued to be late August/early September for the new phablet.