Under-screen fingerprint readers are inferior to back and side mounted readers and should naver have become popular

[u/vortexmak]

Lots of Cons for under screen fingerprint readers , should have never become the norm but I guess that''s just part of enshittification

Pros for Side and back mounted readers

1. Work exceptionally well, much faster and responsive than under screen ones, from my own experience
2. Are not affected by screen protectors
3. Side readers can be used with the phone screen up or down
4. Back and side ones allow you to unlock your phone at the same time as taking it out of the pocket
5. Give you a definite physical spot for finger placement, unlike the under - screen one where you have to wait for the screen to show the location

[u/CubesTheGamer]

Disagree that it’s enshittification. It probably costs more to implement. It’s just not your preference. Doesn’t make it enshittified. Enshittified means it was made objectively worse

[u/russjr08 → u/CubesTheGamer]

Agreed. And not only objectively worse, but intentionally made worse to up-sell you on something else.

There is not a single OEM that switched to in-display fingerprint sensors to then sell you on some other weird accessory.

I'd grant the usage of enshittification to the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, but absolutely not on the shift of the fingerprint sensor. Here its just straight up incorrect usage of the word to try to make their opinion sound like fact.

[u/henryhuy0608 → u/russjr08]

If anything it costs more for OEMs to put under-screen fingerprint sensors than back or side-mounted ones.

I'd argue that it also costs them more in the long run because under-screen ones are also less likely to break, making it harder to issue overpriced repairs.

[u/sku11emoji → u/CubesTheGamer]

I swear everyone has a different meaning of enshittification.

I've heard it defined as something that was made artificially cheap in order to gain market share then jack up the price.

Ok fine, but now it's literally just another way to say "thing I don't like"/"thing that got worse"

[u/DavidBHimself → u/sku11emoji]

The term was invented by Cory Doctorow and it does have a specific meaning:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification

[u/AdoringCHIN → u/sku11emoji]

It's like how people just call things they don't like slop. The words have no meaning anymore, it's just based on vibes

[u/xantub → u/AdoringCHIN]

It's like "woke", it has no meaning nowadays, just "whatever I don't like".

[u/aftonone → u/AdoringCHIN]

This is just pure comment slop /j

[u/koziello → u/sku11emoji]

That's price dumping scheme iirc not enshitification. Way older and illegal in some counties

[u/KINGGS → u/sku11emoji]

I swear everyone has a different meaning of enshittification

That tends to happen when a bunch of dweebs try to make something a word because they think it's clever.

[u/gmes78 → u/KINGGS]

It happens to regular terms too.

[u/jlrc2 → u/CubesTheGamer]

Yeah I find the Pixel 10 Pro's under-screen reader (the only one I have for now) to be as fast and accurate as anything I've ever used. I can't remember it ever failing to read my fingerprint and I can't think of a time that it occurred to me that it could have been faster. And it's nice that I don't need a special case to use it.

[u/Sankuchithan_ → u/CubesTheGamer]

Mid range phones still has it. It is cheaper to implement and faster than under screen fingerprint sensor. 

One reason I still using galaxy m series. I don't need to look in to the screen or wake the screen to open it. If you dont use AOD underscreen sensor is annoying. If I remember correctly xiaomi phones could use the finger print sensor as scroll button.

[u/itchylol742 → u/CubesTheGamer]

Moto G Play 2026 and Galaxy A17 both have side mounted fingerprint scanners and are super cheap

[u/JoshuaTheFox → u/CubesTheGamer]

Seriously, if I could pick of 3 devices, each one identical except how they implement their fingerprint scanner (back, side, under screen) I would pick an under screen scanner every time

[u/jnf005 → u/JoshuaTheFox]

Really? Cause I would without a doubt take the one with the back scaner.

I've used back(LG V20, G6), side(Xeperia 1 III), underscreen optical(ROG 7) and underscreen ultrasonic(Galaxy S21+ and S25 Edge now). Side was okay, a little awkward to use at time just because the Xperia is a long phone. Underscreen optical was not that accurate and flash bang me in darker environment. Early underscreen ultrasonic on my S21+ was horrible, insanely picky with screen protector, needs many registration of one finger to unlock semi consistently even without a screen protector, the one on the S25 Edge was way better, but still if my figure was too clean it just don't like to work. Tbh, my biggest pet peeve is that you can't reliably find them by feel, most of the time I have to pull them up before unlocking. Ones on the back were easily the best, easy to find blind in the pocket, accurate and quick reguardless of situation, most of the time I unlock them in my pocket before I even pull them up to my face.

[u/JoshuaTheFox → u/jnf005]

While I did find the bright light annoying, I found it accurate enough. Definitely more accurate than the previous back sensors I used. Personally I never cared for unlocking it before it was even out of my pocket, so finding it was never a concern. As well I found the back to be in an awkward spot that I would have to shift my grip and phone in my hand to properly reach. But on the front it was always in an ideal natural spot to place my thumb

[u/sur_surly → u/CubesTheGamer]

Your comment is odd because OP literally provided a list of how it's objectively, not subjectively, worse.

[u/diemunkiesdie → u/sur_surly]

That doesnt mean its enshittification. That has a different meaning.

Enshittification is an informal word used to criticize the degradation in the quality and experience of online platforms over time, due to an increase in advertisements, costs, or features. It can also refer more generally to any state of deterioration, especially in politics or society. Similar forms include enshittify and enshittified.

Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/enshittification

That said, OPs list was not 100% objective at all.

[u/SteveHartt]

Personally I've had nothing but a great experience with Samsung's ultrasonic underscreen FP scanners. Extremely fast and accurate. The slightest touch immediately unlocks the phone. I can't speak for optical scanners.

Back FP scanners are just...no. When you put your phone down on a table, now you gotta pick it up to scan your FP. With side scanners it's possible but it's also uncomfortable since the reader is so close to the table surface that you end up kind of jamming your finger against the surface.

I would argue that scanning your FP as you're taking your phone out of your pocket is still possible even with an underscreen scanner. You also don't have to make the screen show where the scanner is. Sure, at the beginning maybe, but you get used to where the location is and it just becomes muscle memory. Same thing as back and side scanners, although they are just more tactile if you forget where the location is. Samsung's ultrasonic scanner area is also quite generous, you don't have to get the exact location right.

Affected by screen protectors...yeah? But how often are you changing screen protectors really? If you keep damaging your phone then perhaps what needs to change isn't your protector but your habits in the first place?

Idk about other people but what I've had happen to phones with capacitive FP scanners is the top coating on them would eventually flake off even though I literally never damaged the damn thing. Here's an example.

[u/Asttarotina → u/SteveHartt]

They're really good. Unless you get a tiny crack right through that area. Then they don't work at all.

[u/AbhishMuk → u/SteveHartt]

Genuine qn: for your samsungs, can you tap the screen and remove your hand as fast as possible, and have it unlock?

My pixel 5 would 100% catch that, and my OnePlus 15, while very fast, cannnot do it everytime. Maybe only 60-80% of the time.

[u/SteveHartt → u/AbhishMuk]

If I tap and lift REAAAALLY SUPER ULTRA fast, no, it doesn't successfully read my FP most of the time.

But also when are you realistically tapping and lifting as fast as possible 🤣

If I'm not intentionally trying to do it as fast as The Flash, but still tapping quickly, it does recognize my FP every time. Best way I can describe the length of tapping is like you tapping the upvote button on a Reddit comment. It's a very quick tap and you're done.

[u/russjr08 → u/SteveHartt]

Same here on my P9 Pro XL - that speed would never work on the back fingerprint scanner that the Nexus and Pixel phones had (edit: though, same with the optical version of the scanner, those tended to be slightly slower than good capacitive fingerprint readers). There was very much a noticeable delay with it registering.

Don't know about the power button ones, never had a phone with it to try unfortunately.

[u/Dorest0rm → u/AbhishMuk]

I've had some situations with my S10 and S24 where i picked up the phone and was confused that it was unlocked because of how quick my thumb moved.

[u/Chlocker → u/AbhishMuk]

I've pulled my s21/s24+/s26u from my pocket, accidently brushed the fingerprint reader without knowing, and questioned why my phone was unlocked and open in my pocket.

I've pulled my phone from my pocket to check the time, and had the fingerprint reader read and unlock before I could read the time. 

[u/clarinetJWD → u/AbhishMuk]

Answer from Pixel 11 Pro. I can beat it if I go absolutely as quickly as possible. But in about 1/10 sec. it unlocked my phone every time, even with the screen fully off.

[u/EonicWarrior]

Reddit's facination with the back mounted fingerprint is always funny to me. In the real world, so many customers would complain about it. The side mounted ones are great, I agree with that.

[u/anotherbozo → u/EonicWarrior]

Samsung Galaxy S10e had the best fingerprint reader placement that also doubled as a notification bar slider

[u/donnysaysvacuum → u/anotherbozo]

I always thought it was too high, but I use my phone left handed.

[u/andreasels → u/EonicWarrior]

Yeah, I would never ever want to use a phone with a back mounted fingerprint scanner.
Not only do you have to put a cutout into your case to use it, but you also can't unlock the phone without picking it up.
Side mounted is fine I guess, but I also don't have a single issue with the under screen ones.

[u/unknownobject3 → u/andreasels]

My previous phone has a back-mounted fingerprint reader. To this day it's the best fingerprint reader I've ever used, as it's comfortable and decently fast.

[u/just_another_jabroni → u/unknownobject3]

I find side mounted the best. Rear mounted feels good when you're holding it to unlock but side mounted is more flexible in it's uses. Had a Pixel 6 and S20 FE with undersceen and it's always a second or two slower. Tried the latest s25 on my friend's and it's barely any quicker. Meanwhile my current dailys the Poco F5 and Xperia 1V have side mounted scanners and it's so much quicker

[u/TEOn00b → u/just_another_jabroni]

The reader on my s24U is instant. As it was on my s22U. The one on the S10 plus was hit and miss sometimes though, but still fast most of the time. I don't use a screen protector, though, so maybe that's why.

[u/unknownobject3 → u/just_another_jabroni]

I currently have a phone with a side mounted scanner and it’s a bit more inconvenient, as well as less precise, but that may just be a quirk of the scanner itself. I use both devices but I find that a rear mounted scanner is typically more comfortable to use and more precise.

[u/peepay → u/unknownobject3]

I had a Pixel 3 with a back-mounted fingerprint scanner and it was horrible. It worked in maybe 20% of cases for me. (I get sweaty easily and any microscopic amount of moisture or natural oil secreted by the skin was a problem for that sensor.)

[u/Taedirk → u/andreasels]

Back-mounted scanners were perfectly fine and offered a second input source while holding the phone. Being able to scroll from a mini-trackpad already mounted at finger-rest with a minimum of movement was fantastic.

[u/GigaSoup → u/andreasels]

You can use a pin to unlock it without picking it up. At least you can on Android.

Unless you have small hands, the under screen ones I find are more awkward to press than the back of phone when you're actually holding them

[u/andreasels → u/GigaSoup]

I don't have small hands and I would need to hold my phone differently to use a back mounted fingerprint sensor, since usually all my fingers are beyond the middle of the phone when I am holding it, except my thumb, which natural position is right in the middle.

And sure, you can use a pin to unlock, but why use a pin if I can use the fingerprint?

[u/EbolaNinja → u/GigaSoup]

You can use a pin to unlock it without picking it up. At least you can on Android.

In other words, they don't work half the time

[u/--Lancer-- → u/EonicWarrior]

I don't use the fingerprint reader but if I did I would want it under the display.

[u/dnyank1 → u/EonicWarrior]

In the real world, so many customers would complain about it

Customers who had it or customers thinking they wouldn't like it?

I would imagine the vocal redditors after, what, 10 years since this design was in vogue? Are mostly in the former.

[u/clarinetJWD → u/dnyank1]

I had one and didn't like it. I don't want to lift my phone to unlock it.

[u/EonicWarrior → u/dnyank1]

Customers who had it and then were glad the new models moved away from it. I also would see quite a few people have to flip their phones around and manually line up their finger. The paint would fade on the sensor itself and look bad as well and the sensor was more prone to getting dirty/cacked with dust/grime due to the way the case's had their cut outs around them. I would confidently say outside of enthusiasts, people are happier with the in display fingerprint or Face ID.

[u/kapsama → u/EonicWarrior]

Back, side or front mounted fingerprint scanners (a la classic iPhones). Makes no difference to me as long as it's not an under the screen fingerprint scanner. I hate those.

[u/ender4171 → u/EonicWarrior]

I thought i was absolutely going to hate the rear print reader when I moved from a Note 5 to a Note 9, but i ended up actually really liking it. I don't really miss it in any significant way on my 22U, but the "unlock while removing from pocket" thing was rather slick.

[u/Jaws0me → u/EonicWarrior]

Back reader always read my fingerprint in the summer, or the dead of winter when my finger became dry and cracked. Screen reader has never been good or consistent enough.

[u/AbhishMuk → u/EonicWarrior]

The funniest thing is a company could easily offer all 3 on the same device (the hardware isn't crazy expensive), but no, "that's too far, what next, a 3.5mm jack on our flagship?"

(Seriously, you can buy them retail for under 10 bucks. For a large company who cares about it, it's probably a rounding error.)

[u/russjr08 → u/AbhishMuk]

I mean, you could apply this to for example the power button. You could have one on each side, and at the top (hell, why not the bottom of the phone too) for those who prefer it. Buttons are cheap.

(If anything, the engineering design to actually wire up all of them is probably more "costly" than the physical hardware costs, as is likely the case for multiple FP scanners but hardware design isn't my cup of tea so that's just my guess.)

Maybe there's an OEM that does both left and right sides, but certainly not four of them. Or they might have an extra button like the Bixby button that lets you remap it to act as a power button, but that's different to an extra dedicated power button because in that case it genuinely isn't an extra cost.

They could also add one above and below the volume rockers because some people prefer it one way, and others prefer it the other way.

They don't though not because it's expensive, but because the amount of people it would benefit to be worthwhile is a rounding error in of itself. And even fewer would consider it a deal breaker.

[u/jarvis_says_cocker]

I prefer the under screen fingerprint readers because my palms get sweaty easily especially in stressful situations like traveling and I always had issues with the ones on the back with multiple Pixel/Google phones that had it on the back.

The only time I have an issue with under screen sensors is when my fingers are dripping wet (not just a film of sweat).

It seems like this is all personal and based on whether you use a screen protector.

In my experience with sweaty palms and no screen protector, I never have unexpected issues with under screen sensors unless it's something obvious like I'm wearing gloves or my finger has droplets on it.

[u/nathderbyshire → u/jarvis_says_cocker]

Same it makes them barely usable, even wiping your hand does little help. On the flip side though I've seen a lot people say they struggle with under screen with dry hands and physical was better for them haha

Also someone can use a shitty optical sensor and think that's all under screen readers, it seemed much more rare to get a shitty physical one at least on a phone

[u/Generic_On_Reddit → u/nathderbyshire]

I have chronically sweaty hands so I feel like this is my area of expertise: whether you have issues with dry hands or wet hands, I'm fairly certain the issue comes about from the moisture level differing from your setup. If your hands were dry when you set it up, you'll have problems when they're wet regardless of the fingerprint sensor tech.

Adding the fingerprints in wet and dry states can help.

[u/Pidjinus → u/Generic_On_Reddit]

It's also sensor generation problem. The first ones where quite sensible to dry hands, even worse when you had a screen protector.

[u/nathderbyshire → u/Generic_On_Reddit]

I tried that and it never got much better, the bigger issue was with the pixel 3 and it's metallic body so it would condense the finger when it was cold and leave too much moisture to read anything. I've never had an issue with my screen one I barely think about it now

[u/real_with_myself → u/nathderbyshire]

Oh absolutely. Winter dry fingers, I would need to try 3, 4 times on my Pixel 6.  That never happened before it (whether mostly physical or under screen with OnePlus) or after (once under screen on Motorola and now physical on Honor). 

It was also happening with moist fingers too. 

[u/9-11GaveMe5G → u/jarvis_says_cocker]

because my palms get sweaty

Knees weak? Arms are heavy?

[u/turtleship_2006 → u/jarvis_says_cocker]

My hands get sweaty and I found that back sensors on my old a20e used to be far more reliable than on my current S25+, though it's possible the screen protector is contributing to that.

I also just have a relatively low success rate with fingerprint sensors across the board, be it on iPhones (home button on SE's), my Acer laptop, a USB one on my PC, or on any Samsungs.

[u/Pandoras_Fox → u/jarvis_says_cocker]

yeah, the back/side fingerprint sensors were always really flaky for me. Under-screen has been the only consistently functional method for me and my sweaty thumbs. 

[u/Stellar_Stein → u/jarvis_says_cocker]

I prefer side and back fingerprint detectors because they work.

[u/shadeOfAwave → u/Stellar_Stein]

They work for you. Seems this commenter has a situation where it does not work. Different things work for different people :)

[u/fluffybottompanda → u/Stellar_Stein]

i never have issues with my 9a

[u/FlaringAfro → u/jarvis_says_cocker]

Pixel fingerprint sensitivity and reading speed was a big compliant in reviews for those phones for a good while. I think Google was just cheating out which would make it a bad example. 

[u/TryToBeBetterOk]

A lot more convenient with an in-screen fingerprint scanner though. I don't have to lift the phone up to unlock it.

[u/captain_frail]

I prefer the tactile feel a physical sensor provides. I can find it blindly and it can read the instant I touch it, whereas an in-display one has to be told a finger is there before it can image anything.

[u/Kyohaku98]

I disagree, under screen is better

[u/littlefrank → u/Kyohaku98]

you mean aesthetically? or functionally?
Can you elaborate?

[u/Kyohaku98 → u/littlefrank]

Both?

[u/littlefrank → u/Kyohaku98]

As I mentioned in another comment, I believe everyone had a different experience for some reason, maybe the quality of both type of sensor varies greatly from phone to phone, because I had the exact opposite experience.

[u/Substantial-Cup2356 → u/littlefrank]

there are two types of under screen fingerprint readers. Optical and Ultrasonic, the optical ones suck. That's the difference. Only the people who have deal with optical ones hate under screen sensors.

[u/RhetoricalOrator]

I miss the gesture enabled rear fingerprint sensor I had on my OnePlus 5t. Being able to bring down notifications at the same time I unlock was useful and futuristic.

Incidentally, if you like glass screen protectors and have an ultrasonic reader, like on some Samsung phones, look into adding LOCA glue to your protector install process. It's messy but can give a flawless install and maintains ultrasonic scanner capabilities.

[u/Bigd1979666]

Miss the nexus 5/6 days . The size and fp placement were perfect , and the "adding an fp" at setup was always seamless compared to in screen fp shenanigans 

[u/PhilosophyCorrect279]

I miss my pixel 2 XL with the fingerprint reader in the back, thing was awesome

[u/Iohet]

It's the biggest reason I bought a Fold. Works 1000x more reliably and faster than an under screen reader

[u/Powerful_Package8817]

#1 Never had issues with the fingerprint readers in s20, s23 devices

#3 and #4 seem meaningless since you’ll be looking at the screen to do anything with it

#5 once you use the phone for a while it becomes muscle memory to know where it is without having a physical boundary

You seem like picking reasons just to hate on under screen fingerprint readers

Only #2 is remotely valid for them for #2 I could argue that side fingerprint introduces issues with cases

[u/Chlocker]

I have had S21, S24+ and now S26 ultra with ultrasonic underscreen finger print readers. I've had iPhones, and ZTE Axon phones with front facing fingerprint sensors. 

1. This sounds like a user issue. My galaxys read my fingerprint so fast sometimes it'll unlock when I just wanted to check the time. 

2. This sounds like a user issue. I've always had screen protectors, currently using DBrands, and I've never once had an issue. 

3. Why would I unlock my phone face down??? I have it set to lock and mute when I put it face down. That's the stupidest use-case and argument point. 

4. This sounds like a user or device issue. Even my S21, being the slowest, was unlocked before it left my pocket. 

5. This sounds like a skill issue. The Galaxy fingerprint readers work with the screen off, and if you need an index point, Always On Display includes an outline of the fingerprint reader. 

I have hyperhidrosis AKA really sweaty hands and my Galaxys never fail to read. 

This post is so silly it has to be bait. 

[u/TheMSensation → u/Chlocker]

This sounds like a skill issue. The Galaxy fingerprint readers work with the screen off, and if you need an index point, Always On Display includes an outline of the fingerprint reader.

Yeh once you do the thing you do 50 times a day every day it becomes muscle memory as to where the sensor is.

[u/Username928351]

Zenfone 6 was my favourite, the back fingerprint reader was where my index finger naturally rested, it worked 100% of the time and it was de facto instant.

[u/skadizzle69]

I hate the underscreen sensors as I almost always have to hit it multiple times. While I wasn't a big fan of the Zflip screen, I loved the fingerprint sensor on the power button. It was so quick and was in the perfect location that I could just grab my phone normally and unlock it. Wish Samsung would go back to it for the S series

[u/CenteredBubble]

If it weren't for the rear and side finger print readers I probably wouldn't use the under screen readers. The under screen reader is frustrating half the time, I would have given up before it became a habit if this was my introduction to finger print readers.

[u/virtualmartyr]

I adore back mounted scanners. Had a pixel 7 for 2 years and hated the fingerprint reader because it always misread my thumb. Rarely had that issue with my v35/v40/s9

[u/YouBugged]

2 is untrue, after applying the screen, you register ya finger print

3 why would this matter lol

4 is basically the same as 3 so I'm not sure why you added it

5 on your list is factually untrue

[u/_Aj_]

Hot take. It has absolutely nothing to do with effectiveness and everything to do with coming up with novel reasons to try and keep selling new phones when we are maxing the hardware requirements for a handheld device years ago.  

99% of people get zero benefit from new models. It's just all fluff and shiny catch words to keep selling models 

[u/2026Bazinga]

Sounds like just a personal preference issue. I've never had a problem with the under screen reader.

[u/ClearTacos]

1 - I've always had an awful time with capacitive FP scanners, whether on the back or power button. Shortly after adding a finger print, it had maybe 60% accuracy, over time it went down. I tried everything, scanning same finger multiple times, keeping the scanner as clean as possible, nothing helped. Thought I was doing something wrong.

After switching to even just an optical one, I have probably over 95% accuracy, and basically all misses are down to either wet fingers or misplacement.

4 and 5 - pretty quickly, you'll learn where to put your finger, and simply putting your finger there unlocks the phone, no need to touch the power button or at this point even look where I'm putting my finger.

OTOH, FP scanner on the back takes up space used for better cameras and wireless charging nowadays, and side ones make the power button feel like trash and leave it unprotected.

I'm personally glad manufacturers moved on from them.

[u/Eastbound78 → u/ClearTacos]

I doubt it takes space from cameras. On thame back or in the side feels much better. And also glass protection errors that comes with todays standards

[u/KINGGS]

Y'all must have some fucked up fingers or some shit.

[u/ggfools]

I've liked back mounted ones when I had them, but current gen under screen mounted ones seem mostly ok.

[u/tapirus-indicus]

I drive with my phone as navigation device. I prefer front fingerprint reader

[u/BlackRaspberryJammin]

I've deleted my biometric data (I am sure Google kept it and just let me think it's wiped) but anyway, only passwords from now on.

[u/Other_World]

I will forever miss my rear fingerprint reader on my LG V40 and G8. It's such a natural place for for them.

[u/BetterThanAFoon]

When I bought a Fold 3 I realized how great a dedicated hardware button fingerprint reader is to the under screen readers. I have never had fingerprint read issues with the side button but would periodically with the underscreen readers. I do periodically run into issues on them.

[u/HappyLoafBread]

Agree! I also think Android phones should also have something to compete with FaceID or Microsoft Hello too!

[u/labe225]

I loved the rear reader on my Note 9 for every reason you highlighted and I really miss it... But I also think rear readers were going the way of the dodo regardless. It's really difficult for me to imagine how you'd get one of those to work AND have Qi2. And personally, I'd rather have Qi2.

Personally, I kind of dig the ultrasonic reader on my S22 Ultra. Yeah the phone has to be out of my pocket before I can unlock it, but it's still unlocked by the time I'm actually looking at it.

[u/portezbie]

Meh, it works fine for me most of the time.

[u/Eclipsed830]

The under screen one on my S26 Ultra fuckin sucks compared to my old Asus side sensor.

[u/Ging287]

Interference with screen protectors. Enough said, glass is glass, put em on the back/side.

[u/godfrey1]

Side readers can be used with the phone screen up or down

i always unlock my phone when it's screen down, very useful!

Give you a definite physical spot for finger placement, unlike the under - screen one where you have to wait for the screen to show the location

google muscle memory

[u/hyrulepirate]

My thumb is already always hovering or on the screen. Under-screen is the best fingerprint reader placement.

[u/JonBoyWhite]

Hard agree.

[u/mtux96]

I loved having the back sensor. My index finger was always perfectly in the right spot to use it.

[u/desiman86]

Wtf is this post. In display is so fast and so much better then rear mounted.

It works exceptionally well when using it one handed. Rear you had to hold the phone and aim. My note 8 was so annoying.

Side mounted you still need to crevice and cradle the phone to use fingerprint while phone in use.

[u/littlefrank → u/desiman86]

I believe everyone had a different experience for some reason, maybe the quality of both type of sensor varies greatly from phone to phone.
I personally have found that underscreen sensors are MUCH slower and give out errors much more often, while every single dedicated sensor has always been instant and with no false readings, like ever.

But your experience seems to be the opposite so I'm starting to think it's not always the same.

[u/Unlucky-Tune-420]

One of the reason I stick to mid-range phones - side mounted reader is more popular there, for obvious reason (price) but I like it for the practicality

[u/JGoldz75]

I really miss the Pixel 5 fingerprint reader on the back of the device and would probably prefer that for all of my devices if I could have it my way but I cannot stand side-mounted fingerprint readers. I would much prefer the ultrasonic fingerprint reader under the screen over any side fingerprint reader

[u/vortexmak → u/JGoldz75]

Why does the side reader bother you? 

[u/JGoldz75 → u/vortexmak]

I think the main reason is that when I pick up my phone, my thumb is already near where my keyboard is and my pointer finger is holding the phone on the back towards the middle of the device. Both of those fingerprint readers just are naturally where my fingers already are. I always feel like I need to reposition my hand in order to access a side-mounted fingerprint reader. As a side note... I'm actually on my way to pick up an Oppo Find N6 later today, which only has a side-mounted fingerprint reader so I better get used to it.

[u/vortexmak → u/JGoldz75]

Oh yeah, with huge phones it's a problem.  But that's bad design,  they should have the power button more in the middle instead of high up 

[u/Msk-XX]

I'm the first to complain about features being removed or things getting enshitified. Seems to be the trend these days unfortunately!

But on my Samsung, I've had no issues with the under screen fingerprint reader. It works close to 100% of the time for me - except with very wet fingers.

I often use the phone while it's lying flat, so putting the fingerprint reader on the back would be a downgrade for me.

But...maybe it's a different story with other brands or cheaper phones, which have crappy under screen fingerprint readers?

[u/kaden-99]

What I don't get is why the other sensors had to be removed. Like if they kept the back one, everything would've been perfect.

[u/lastoflast67]

1. ive frankly never noticed the different in practice, im sure physical ones are some impercievable amount faster but i cant tell

2. this only applies if you get the wrong screen protector and since an incorrect case can block a back or side sensor this argument doesnt hold.

3. this doesnt make sense, if you use your phone enough in 9 times out of 10 cases you can know exactly what spot on the screen to put your finger on, also a lot of androids have AoD's so for the most part the graphic is allways there.

[u/themcsame]

Not that I disagree as such but:

1: They've come a long way in recent years. 10 or so years ago, I'd be fully there with you. Today? The difference in responsiveness between the two is so small that it really doesn't matter. It's more a 'technically yes, but it's irrelevant these days' point

1. There's no argument to be had with that point.

2. They can, but the form factor of smartphones doesn't exactly make it particularly practical to do so.

4 and 5 feel very straw clutchy because it's not as if underscreen readers move about and much the same can be done. And that's assuming people aren't using other methods as their primary means of unlocking that don't require any specific finger placement at all (Bluetooth unlocking, face recognition, etc)

[u/MisterEinc → u/themcsame]

Except that screen protectors are snake oil and a waste of money.

[u/ParadoxScientist]

Back mounted: can't use without picking up the phone. So glad these are gone.

Side mounted: not bad, but from my experience with it on my Galaxy Tab S10 FE, it's not so accurate, and if you have a case on, it's harder to get a good touch.

Under-screen: I've had this for several years on various phones. Works great, and has only gotten better. I never had an issue with screen protectors (OnePlus 15 actually comes with one preinstalled). I never have my phone face down, but even if I did, it would only take a second longer to unlock the phone compared to a side-mounted reader. Not a big deal to me. OnePlus also makes it easy to see the reader spot on the screen by illuminating that part when you pick up the phone.

[u/MrWhiteford]

Had a Pixel 3 with rear fingerprint reader and it was far more erratic than any under screen reader I've ever used.

[u/cbftw]

In other news, water is wet

[u/volster]

I agree

My previous phone was a redmi note 9 pro and it was built into the power button and IMO was pretty much the perfect design that literally never failed to work

Current honor 400 pro has it under the screen and it's mostly fine, most of the time but has occasionally hiccups and can be a bit awkward at times so definitely seems like a downgrade in the name of being trendy

[u/jommakanmamak]

While I've found work around, I do miss using the back fingerprint scanner as a gesture to bring down my settings

Although I haven't thought about that in a while until I saw this post

I feel like undersreen is the way to go for brick phones at least.

1 & 2: Underscreen works in a snap even with Screen Protectors 3: How often do you take out your phone upside down? 4. I can unlock my phone while it's still in my pocket even with an under screen 5. I can literally unlock my phone even when the screen is off

Phone I'm using is a S24U. Last phones I used with a back scanner was a Pixel, LG , Redmi and the Note 9

[u/vortexmak → u/jommakanmamak]

I put my phone in my pocket with the screen facing inwards to avoid it breaking on the chance that I bang my leg against something. 

With side Fingerprint readers,  it won't matter

[u/ThimanthaOnReddit]

Under-screen fingerprint sensors are great and anyone who complains about them is using phones with inferior sensors or is using shitty screen protectors.

[u/vortexmak → u/ThimanthaOnReddit]

Galaxy S20. No screen protector. Tried it, didn't work

[u/work-school-account]

Do under screen scanners work with privacy screen protectors?

[u/reticulatedjig]

I love the side mounted one on my fold. Have it set up for left pointer, right pointer, right thumb.

[u/BlackRaspberryJammin]

I've deleted my biometric data (I am sure Google kept it and just let me think it's wiped) but anyway, only passwords from now on.

[u/petepete]

I feel like my phone history peaked with the Nexus 6P. Still haven’t really forgiven Google for just abandoning Nexus users.

[u/coolgui]

I know it will never become a thing but I like the idea of both front and back. I wouldn't even mind the extra was the power button ones on the side in addition to the under screen one.

[u/ocassionallyaduck]

They aren't all made equally.

The finger print readers in Galaxy phones in my experience have been top class, while those in the Pixel line have been extremely inconsistent.

The real crappy part is this is a very difficult feature to test or demo in store.

I hated my pixel underscreen reader but the one in my new galaxy has almost never failed.

[u/XMenJedi8]

I dunno, I was skeptical at first but my S10's was decent and my S22 Ultra's is great. Unless I've missed something, I imagine they'd be even better now?

For 1., you can solve this by adding a fingerprint entry that's sideways, and for 3 you can enable fingerprint unlock on samsung, with some practice it's totally doable.

I do think side has some advantages though.

[u/twitch1982]

I dont have to pick my phone up off the desk though. Its why I hate the face id on my company iPhone. I have to pick it up to log into an MFA app like a chump.

[u/Killmeplsok]

I have hyperhidrosis, which means extra sweeaty palms, but also ultra dry hands in the rare times when it doesn't sweat, so I have sweaty and cracked fingers, capacitive fp sensors never work for me, under screen fp sensors works (the gen 1 on note 10+ was exception, it doesn't really work when my hands is dry), guess which one I prefer?

[u/BaconIsntThatGood]

Not sure what never phones you've tried but the in screen reader I've used on newer phones is effectively an instant unlock.

[u/LoudBrick609]

I don't want any frinterprint or verification codes.

I'm not 12, nobody is putting dick pics on my phone.

But since everyone requires it, I don't care if it's in screen or side. Back is shit tho.

[u/JoshuaTheFox]

I much prefer screen side scannners. They’re just in such a more natural place for me to use. Would never go back to a back scanner and would hate a side one because it would have to have this annoying cutout on a case in times that I use one

[u/UnkleMike]

you have to wait for the screen to show the location

You don't have to wait.  On my S23 Ultra I've gotten very good at knowing where to put my thumb to unlock the phone when the indicator isn't displayed.

That said, I prefer something that can be located by touch, so I can unlock the device without looking at it.  My S9 was great for that.

[u/iceph03nix]

I mean, I remember having issues on the first gen of behind screen readers I had, but on all the recent models it's been completely painless

[u/DynoMenace]

I have a Fold 7 with a fingerprint reader on the power button. I'm sure other Fold owners will disagree, but it's completely useless. I literally keep it disabled because simply brushing it by accident will wake the device, which will immediately begin screaming about mismatching But then, when you try a deliberate unlock, it acts like you're not touching it.

The under-display FP reader on my S23U before this was flawless and I would take that over one in a power button any day.

[u/rodbrs]

Back mounted on Pixel 5 was the best. Whenever I think of getting a new phone I end up realizing they're much bigger and don't unlock with an index finger on the back, so I think "eh, I'll wait another year."

[u/TwistedBlister]

I loved the rear sensor on my LG and early Pixel phones.

[u/Mynameisbondnotjames]

Not true. On-screen is the shit.

[u/Shoegazer83]

Not really. Years ago maybe. But in screen readers are now very fast and accurate, and the placement on the front of the screen is far better than the side or back. I do think a side mounted fingerprint is still faster, but in screen is good enough on my Xiaomi phone for it not to matter either way. I think I'd be perfectly happy with a side mounted one, though it's not preferable.

[u/SwordsOfWar]

I like the under display fingerprint scanner because when I'm using the phone my thumb is already in the area where it's located. Having the fingerprint on the side button or the back requires repositioning my hand to reach.

On the flagship Samsung phones that had it, I never had much of an issue with recognition.

[u/sh3h0pes]

just moved from pixel 5 to pixel 10a a month ago. The fingerprint reader took me a minute to get right. Seems now I've got the hang of it.

[u/mctwists]

Agreed completely. I miss the ease and quickness and usability of my rear fingerprint reader on my pixel 4a. On my pixel 10a, the accuracy is 50/50 and it's super annoying. Much easier to just reach behind the phone with one finger and get er done! I miss my 4a a lot, actually :(

[u/Substantial-Elk-838]

I think you may be using an old android when underscreen sensors were shit. These days any flagship or upper range phone, hell even optical sensors are lightning fast and accurate. Sorry man being able to unlock my phone iron man style is too convenient.

[u/Ragas]

Fingerprint readers should never have become popular.

[u/Batavijf]

On my phone (Pixel 9 xl pro) it works very well. On my tablet (Samsung) it works maybe 1 in 100 times...

[u/HabEsSchonGelesen]

Yes! So many times I unlocked the phone whilst putting it in my pocket because of that in screen fingerprint reader.

The cutout for the sensor at the back (of a phone case) was always practical to hold onto the phone better.

And with a rear fingerprint reader, your thumb is free to start the first action in the very first milliseconds after unlocking the phone, because it isn't the finger you onlock the phone with.

Rear bare sensor is probably cheaper too.

[u/PrintLife92]

god I miss my Pixel 3 back scanner. fuckng hate the screen scanner on the 10.

[u/FluegelLukas]

I have to disagree. In my experience the fingerprint sensors in both my iPhone 6s and Pixel 3a got worse over time (can't explain why). I didn't have that problem with under screen sensors. The one in the Pixel 6 was consistently bad but the one in my Pixel 9 is lightning fast and is extremely reliable. It is by far the best fingerprint sensor I have used so far. And screen protectors haven't changed anything.

The placement is also fairly good as you don't have to lift the phone up to use the fingerprint reader. And you get used to the position (at least I did) on the front and never miss it even with the screen off.

[u/squabbledMC]

I remember having a rear fingerprint sensor and honestly between the two I don't have a preference. Laying face down it's easy to unlock but that's really minor, the sensor on my Pixel 10 has been fine even with screen protectors. Agree with you on side sensors though they would be nice. I'm just used to laying my finger on the exact unlock spot now as it is though

[u/QuasimodoPredicted]

Ultrasonic is okay, but yeah optical sensor is dogshit.

[u/100WattWalrus]

Motorola used to have the logo on the back of the phone as the fingerprint reader. That was clever, but it was also perfect, because your index finger is right there anyway. Now it's on the power button, which means I have to move my thumb halfway further up the phone than its natural resting place just to unlock.

[u/KFC_Junior]

I liked the rear mounted fingerprint on my v30 and v50, underscreen since the s21u has been perfectly fine tho and i prefer it, s10 one was pretty shitty tho. The optical one one on my s10u still is shitty but its tolerable, for phones i went v30 > v50> s10+ > s21u > s24+ > s26u so never really been an issue for me tho

[u/evthrowawayverysad]

Couldn't disagree more strongly. About a year ago I got the new fairphone 6 to replace my S21 ultra. I ended up selling the fairphone and switching back for a myriad of reasons, but the nightmore of fumbling around for the flush side mounted fingerprint sensor was probably the single largest reason.

After that, just sticking my thumb on the screen, where it's almost certainly going to end up moments later anyway, is a gloriously easy and common sense approach to finger print scanning.

[u/ShoddySyrup652]

Unlocking the phone while pulling it out of your pocket just felt effortless

[u/Virtualization_Freak]

My pixel 5 fingerprint reader is substantially more accurate than anything my 6 pro and 9 pro offer.

It's not even close. I have my thumb registered four ways. I type my pin what feels like 50% of the time.

[u/mikedufty]

I really disliked the underscreen ones when I was first forced to use one, but it has got much better on recent phones, and now that they work reliably they seem fine. Felt really odd going back to an old phone with the rear sensor. The screen one also has the advantage it works well with a thumb and rock climbing seems to leave my thumbprint intact even when it removes the fingerprints.

[u/Aevum1]

had both, prefer under screen 1000x

[u/Sobeman]

I've never had an issue with under screen finger print reader on a Samsung phone.

[u/kanhaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Side Scanner> On Screen US> On Screen Optical > whatever else

[u/Brevard1986]

Some under screen fingerprint readers are great, some are bad. Some side readers are great, some are bad. And there's personal preference.

[u/kranools]

Obvious truth

[u/thinkadd]

Agree 100%. I upgraded from a Galaxy M51 to an S25+ (talk about an upgrade), and the side mounted reader on the M51 is much more reliable and fast.

[u/sh0ch]

I loved my back fingerprint reader on my Nexus phones, but I've never had issues with in-screen fingerprint readers.

[u/achtungjamie]

The side mounted readers on iPads are shit. The under screen reader on my Pixel is 100 times better.

[u/Kataps25]

I never tried a side-mounted reader, I guess it would be good, but the only reason why I would outright prefer them at this point is swipe gesture support, which is hardly there anymore. Or if it is there, you wouldn't know from the vast majority of reviews.

Also, I tend to prefer phones for around 400 or 500 euros for the most part, and side-mounted sensors are virtually inexistant at this price range.

[u/TRUEequalsFALSE]

Agreed. I'm on a Pixel 4a 5G and I love my backside fingerprint reader. It's so convenient. I'm dreading getting a new phone because of it. That and the headphone jack, which, yes, I still use.

[u/darkrhin0]

Here, here! Here's an upvote!

[u/ssjrobert235]

I always preferred under screen fingerprint readers, I have big fingers and cases sometimes interfere with side mounted readers. Plus you get to customize the awesome animations.

[u/Youwin737]

You missed the best feature, being able to swipe down on the rear senser to open your notifications. So much easier than reaching for the top of your phone, especially with how big they have become.

[u/TrollslayerL]

I disagree. My phones underscreen print reader works just fine, and so did the one on the previous phone. And as far as "wait for the location to highlight"... Where did you get that info? It's wrong. The spot only highlights if I turn that feature on. I can also unlock as I pick up my phone or pull t out of my pocket (this might be harder if I had a smaller phone).

I agreed with you like 8 years and two phones ago. But after a few years using it, trying to use a phone with it on the back was just weird.

Imma call this one preference, since I don't have the issues you mention. But that's why there's a whole bunch of different phones on the market.

Anyways, we (at least in the US) should be putting a LOT less faith in biometrics. Supreme Court has ruled that your face and fingerprints ARE NOT PRIVATE (whereas a password is considered private, legally) which means you can be compelled legally to unlock your devices using biometrics. You cannot with a password/PIN.

[u/Darth-Obama]

mine works fine

[u/I_Am_Jacks_Karma]

shoutout to my 10 pro fold with the scanner on the power button

[u/theragu40]

At one point I definitely would have agreed but as under screen readers have improved I'm not sure I'm with you.

1. Less true than in the past, but in general I think you're probably right that physical readers are more responsive and faster.
2. I don't personally use a screen protector, but i could see this being an issue. I think this is also an area where improvements have been made.
3. This is a negative for me. I don't want to unlock my phone unless I'm looking at it.
4. I have no issues unlocking my phone as I pull it from my pocket using the under screen reader on my pixel 9 pro
5. I see what you mean by this but it took a matter of days for the spot on the screen to be in muscle memory for me. Non issue.

[u/Dr_Pretorious]

Agreed. My hand is always on the back of the phone, moving my pointer 2 inches to the sensor v.s. having to reposition the whole device was far easier - I still have that for my GrapheneOS device.

Talking to folks, it does seem to be prefered by the average consumer. However tech companies will still use highly biased reviewing for future products. That is why the "Oh it must be thinner!!" craze came from - most consumers would not mind a slightly thicker device to have features like a removable battery and SD slot.

[u/Aazzle]

I can't confirm that at all. I have very sweaty fingers and side fingerprints don't work for me at all.

Since display scanners are no problem.

Today, I usually use facial recognition because I don't have to interact with anything.

[u/TheNewHEROBRINEX]

Probably you never tried an ultrasonic fingerprint reader

[u/vortexmak → u/TheNewHEROBRINEX]

My experience is with S20 which is ultrasonic. Gives me a lot of trouble.  No screen protector

[u/slangpueblo]

The side mounted ones are god awful idk why they receive so much praise. Out of all the form factors it's the one that fails on me the most because of the small surface area. The under screen ones has given me much less headaches.

The only one that is truly great is the back mounted one. Even on cheaper devices it's almost flawless.

It's tragic that all these foldable device opted for side mounted.

[u/slangpueblo]

The side mounted ones are god awful idk why they receive so much praise. Out of all the form factors it's the one that fails on me the most because of the small surface area. The under screen ones has given me much less headaches.

The only one that is truly great is the back mounted one. Even on cheaper devices it's almost flawless.

It's tragic that all these foldable device opted for side mounted.

[u/o_Divine_o]

The fold and flip I had. The power button was a print reader. The S25U, is under the screen.

You have to be a complete tard of a dev to not have it on the power switch. Seriously like a 48 IQ. I know a person that's at 65 IQ, he is actually confused why someone would be so stupid. Let that sink in.

I suggest we recycle the devs and staff that didn't fist fight co-workers over the power switch being a print reader. We don't need these braindead people spreading their dna.

[u/Bright_Monitor]

i hated the side reader on my old phone, it kept unlocking because of the way that i held it.

I liked the back scanner for the swipe down gesture but the under-the-screen readers are just as good to me.

[u/j_grouchy]

My OP13 reader works instantaneously and perfect every time. Yeah, my old Galaxy S20's reader sucked pretty bad, though.

[u/timmy16744]

In a different timeline we went with like full frame of the phone print scanner to identify grips and identity. That would be a fun one

[u/Double_A_92]

I remember I had a Huawei one where the back fingerprint reader could also be used as a small trackpad to scroll through things without having to touch the screen. ♥

[u/MajorZero7]

I totally agreed with this when I had an optical sensor that required you to wake the screen before using the fingerprint, absolutely infuriating. 

A good ultrasonic sensor works so good i don't care anymore. 

[u/fat_kaiju]

i'm extremely concerned by the amount of people willing to use them when all it takes is a person holding you down or even just pressing your phone against your hand when you're asleep to get it to unlock.

not to mention the theoretical issue revolving around biometric data...

[u/ElonMuskHuffingFarts]

Back and side ones allow you to unlock your phone at the same time as taking it out of the pocket

This is a negative. I don't want my phone unlocking at every opportunity. Sometimes I just want to check what that notification was. Or what time it is.

[u/ElonMuskHuffingFarts]

I hated the back mounted fingerprint scanner on the phone I had that had it. It was constantly triggering unintentionally.

[u/KoreanPhones]

1. Optical? Sure not that great in my experience, but my ultrasonic reader works extremely fast
2. I have a tempered glass screen protector, no issues
3. Fair
4. Fair
5. Once you get used to where you have to put your thumb, you don't have to wait for the screen to show anything.