The tech fraternity has been asking for an in-display fingerprint scanner for a long time now. It could become a reality only now after Synaptics officially announced that it was able to successfully make one. We shall be able to see them on devices pretty soon and Synaptics has hinted it could be coming to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ too.
Galaxy S8 series was the first one that was speculated to come with an in-display fingerprint scanner, but the company ended up placing it on the back. Then it was the turn of Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone X. While the Note 8 got a scanner similar to the Galaxy S8, the iPhone X brought a sophisticated facial recognition tech dubbed as Face ID.
Synaptics has a strong presence in the biometrics technology business and it caters some of the largest companies, including Samsung. Samsung was working with Synaptics to build an in-display fingerprint scanner for the Galaxy S8 but the target couldn’t be achieved in the set time. With this new announcement, things might be a little different this time around.
The company announced that it was able to make the world’s first fingerprint scanner that sits under the display. Synaptics calls the fingerprint scanner the “Clear ID FS9500”. Unlike the conventional fingerprint scanners that need a designated place for being operable, the in-display ones need the users to place their fingers on the display glass itself for scanning the fingerprint.
“Consumers prefer fingerprint authentication on the front of the phone, and with the industry quickly shifting to bezel-free OLED infinity displays, the natural placement of the fingerprint sensor is in the display itself. Synaptics’ Clear ID fingerprint sensors are faster, more convenient, and more secure than alternative biometrics, and this optical technology represents a major innovation shift and opportunity for the smartphone market.”-Kevin Barber, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile Division, Synaptics
Now we all know which company calls its OLED panel with thin bezels “Infinity Display”; it’s Samsung, of course. Synaptics has also confirmed that its in-display fingerprint scanner has already entered mass production and will be deployed by a “top 5” smartphone manufacturer. All these things hint towards the upcoming Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.
A report previously revealed that the Galaxy Note 9 would be the first Samsung device to sport an in-display fingerprint scanner and not the Galaxy S9 series. There is still no confirmation yet if the Galaxy S9 would be the first phone to get an in-display fingerprint scanner.
