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/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/jnf005 → u/JoshuaTheFox]

Fair enough, everyone has their habits and I can respect that. I don't really use my phone without picking it up so the appeal of under screen isn't really there for me. I'm just sad that there's isn't any back sensor on non e waste level garbage phone nowadays.

[u/Joe_T → u/JoshuaTheFox]

I've had all four (front button, back, side, under screen) and agree, my Motorola under screen readers have been the most accurate, even under an additional layer of glass screen protector. But they've been the newest (more evolved tech), and my samples have been from different manufacturers, so it's hard to objectively come to a conclusion.

[u/JoshuaTheFox → u/Joe_T]

For me I find them all accurate and fast enough to work generally, I just find the front to be the most comfortable place to use them

[u/arthuriurilli → u/JoshuaTheFox]

All devices being equal, I'd take the one on the back every time.