14 DAY TRIAL // Building a truly advanced and reliable fingerprint sensor integrated into the screen appears to be more difficult than it sounds, as neither Apple nor Samsung manage to make it happen and bring it to their devices.
While Apple is now considering ultrasonic fingerprint sensors for a possible iPhone generation coming in the next few years, Samsung is reportedly pushing back the release of the first smartphone with such technology.
Earlier this year, it was rumored that the Galaxy Note 9 due in the summer would be the first Samsung model to feature this fingerprint sensor, but a new report today reveals that this plan has since changed.
The South Korean phone maker now wants to release an in-display fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S10, the anniversary model that’s projected to see daylight in early 2019. Details are very scarce right now, but Samsung reportedly aims this release to be truly big, so holding back this feature for the anniversary launch could help achieve this goal.
Ultrasonic sensors for the win
Originally, it was believed that Samsung wanted the Galaxy Note 8 launched in the summer of 2017 to pioneer the in-display fingerprint sensor, but the company pushed back the unveiling to the Galaxy S9 because the feature wasn’t ready. The reader was eventually delayed to the Note 9 because of the same reason, and now the cited source says the S10 is more likely to bring it because Samsung isn’t entirely satisfied with its accuracy.
Just like Apple, Samsung plans to use ultrasonic sensors, and the company wants a higher level of accuracy, as well as reduced costs. Ultrasonic readers are more expensive than optical, and without ways to cut production costs, Samsung might have to increase the final price of the device.
2019 could thus become the year when both Samsung and Apple launch devices with in-display fingerprint sensors, though for the time being, both are pursuing facial recognition as well.