14 DAY TRIAL // Shipments of in-display fingerprint sensors are continuously increasing, and a new report indicates that the majority of phone makers worldwide are planning the switch to such technology.
Digitimes writes that in-display fingerprint sensor orders could reach 42 million units this year before exceeding 100 million units next year, especially thanks to the world’s largest manufacturers adopting them as well.
The report doesn’t specifically name Samsung, but it does state that “Korea-based smartphone vendors” are expected to start using ultrasonic fingerprint sensors on their devices. Samsung has long been rumored to be looking into such tech for the Galaxy S10, and the firm is believed to account for a large share of the said orders.
Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo are other brands that may invest in such fingerprint sensors, in turn also generating a boost in OLED shipments, according to the report.
Apple going in a different direction
And while most Android phone makers are projected to begin using in-display fingerprint sensors, Apple is doing exactly the opposite and is giving up on fingerprint readers entirely.
After ditching Touch ID partially last year, Apple wants to bet all-in on facial recognition with the 2018 iPhone generation. A total of three models will be unveiled this year and all will boast Face ID instead of Touch ID, with fingerprint sensors to thus be abandoned entirely.
Starting later this year, Apple will also implement facial recognition on the iPad, and fingerprint sensors would be dropped on the tablet as well.
Ironically, in-display fingerprint sensors were said to be considered by Apple as well, but its plan to implement such a feature on the iPhone was shelved after the company failed to develop a reliable solution. Instead, Apple decided to give up on fingerprint readers entirely and is now pushing hard for Face ID to become the unlocking method on all of its iPhones.