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They mention the Pixel and I just got to say, I wish someone would bring back the fingerprint reader on the back of the phone. That was seriously the best solut
by godelski 1y ago
They mention the Pixel and I just got to say, I wish someone would bring back the fingerprint reader on the back of the phone. That was seriously the best solution. Fastest way to unlock your phone, because no matter how slow the fingerprint reader is you activate it while pulling it out of your pocket. I honestly don't get why people like Face ID more (what I currently use). Someone, please bring this back
- aidenn0 1y agoIt's not exactly a flagship phone, but the Unihertz Jelly Max has a fingerprint reader on the back.
- smallerfish 1y agoThe problem with Unihertz though is that they lose interest in fixing software bugs approximately 5 minutes after lauching new phones. And, based on my experience, they tend to launch with a lot of bugs.
- andrewmcwatters 1y agoI hate Face ID so much. I hate being asked for my PIN for every single little thing I do. I already unlocked my phone, please stop asking me. If I grabbed it, YES, I WANT TO DO THE THING! -Exhausted Apple user also wanting easier authentication
- godelski 1y agoOr the minute it actually takes to unlock my phone because it missed the first one and then asks for my pin and activates right before I finish entering my pin
- TylerE 1y agoThe one thing that grinds my gears is how they made it mandatory for lock page widgets. I don’t need my smart lights faceid protected when I’m trying to turn them on in the middle of the night
- jcalx 1y agoMy main gripe with fingerprint sensors on the back is that it's easy to inadvertently smudge the camera lens when unlocking the phone. Some phones have/had fingerprint unlock on the side power button which is similarly convenient, although I actually don't mind the underscreen sensors that are most common these days. I do appreciate being able to sneak a peek at my phone by discreetly unlocking it at very oblique angles that aren't possible with Face ID.
- godelski 1y agoThat's more a design failure of the camera system, not the fingerprint reader. You can have the best of both worlds here.
- ZeroWidthJoiner 1y agoThe backside fingerprint reader could even be used as an input device on some models for scrolling, or pulling down/up the notification bar. Great for scrolling through content or swiping through screens without having to cover your display for gesture input: https://www.androidauthority.com/miss-rear-fingerprint-scanner-gestures-3528157/ https://www.androidauthority.com/miss-rear-fingerprint-scann...
- rtaylorgarlock 1y agoExactly--this plus the usability original commenter communicated made this why I did so much work to keep my Pixel 3 alive for so long. I still think about the rear fingerprint sensor after a Pixel 3 -> pixel 6 -> S21 Ultra -> S24 Ultra journey, and further how much fun i had back in the ROM + kernel + modding + undervolting days.
- DrAwesome 1y agoThis is one of the big things I miss from my Pixel 5a; it was so nice to be able to unlock the phone and pull down the notifications bar with one hand. There's a lot I like about the Pixel 8 Pro I replaced it with, but that's one thing I miss.
- Bluestein 1y agoAt some point, somebody is going to have to bring back the "track pad" aspect of the fingerprint sensor at least.- (Heck, I'd buy it even as an add on, that one could stick to the back of the phone ...)
- godelski 1y agoSeriously! There's so much design innovation that's been pushed off the table in an effort to make everything look the same. What bugs me is there's so many Android phones but so few differences
- pcchristie 1y agoThere was a "healthy" phone called the Bloc Phone which had the screen in Black & White by default but allowed you to use the fingerprint on the back at any time to give you a few minutes of colour when (say) looking through your camera roll. Really cool idea.
- jerlam 1y agoAnother plus: you could swipe down on the fingerprint reader for additional actions, like seeing your notifications.
- stavros 1y agoI do the same with the sensor being on the lock button, why does it have to specifically be the back?
- rustyminnow 1y agoWho said it has to be on the back? Bro said that's what he prefers over Face ID, maybe just has never had one on the lock button.
- stavros 1y agoIf it doesn't have to be on the back, he can just buy a phone with a fingerprint reader on the side today.
- rustyminnow 1y agoI see what you mean now. Having owned both kinds (and under-screen), I think they still have a point though - on the back was (slightly) better and I wish they'd come back.
- zevon 1y agoI would personally rank a traditional iPhone home button sensor and the backside sensors on certain Android devices as equally great for unlocking while sliding the phone out of a pocket and general convenience. Side button sensors work OK, too but I have much more misses on my supposedly more "modern" side button sensor phone than I ever had on old Pixels or any old iPhone with a home button sensor. I assume this is due to the size and general shape of a side button in comparison to an iPhone-style home button or old-Pixel-style back sensor which are bigger, indented and finger-guiding.
- godelski 1y agoI have. Better than FaceID and under screen but I still prefer on the back. It had other benefits and just felt nicer than in the lock button
- 1y ago
- nicoburns 1y ago> Fastest way to unlock your phone, because no matter how slow the fingerprint reader is you activate it while pulling it out of your pocket. You can also do this with under-screen fingerprint readers which are excellent these days.
- RandomBacon 1y agoUsually you can't place your finger in the just the rigbt spot when blindly frabbing the phone from your pocket. I loved the rear fingerprint reader on my old Nexus 5X.
- godelski 1y agoNever worked out quite as well for me. There's no tactile feel, which is more important than people give credit for, especially when grabbing something without looking. Plus, as others are pointing out, there's additional benefits
- aceazzameen 1y agoI have never been able to unlock my under-screen fingerprint reader by taking it out of my pocket. This is because the reader isn't in a good position when the phone is in my pocket. Yes, it's where my thumb is when properly holding my phone, but my grip is different when pulling the phone out of my pocket. My older phone with the reader on the back had my index finger in position before I even attempted to take out of my pocket. It was slower at reading my prints, but was always unlocked before I looked at the screen. I'd love to use the old phone for so many reasons, but the lack of updates has rendered it useless. No Lineage or Graphene for that one either.
- Bluestein 1y ago> fingerprint reader on the back of the phone Seconded, vehemently.- My humble, tiny, circa-2014 Elephone E1 (RIP) was unsurpassed.- Me wonders if the "onscreen reader" is not an integration-cost cutting measure, as it saves one part?
- wkat4242 1y agoIt doesn't save a part. It's still a separate part underneath the screen.
- mbirth 1y ago> I honestly don't get why people like Face ID more Because good luck using that fingerprint sensor while wearing gloves, e.g. during garden work, while on a motorcycle ride, or in winter.
- layer8 1y agoWhy not both, though. Touch ID for the 80% of cases where it works and then is faster than Face ID, because by the time the phone is in front of your face it’s already unlocked, and Face ID for the remaining cases where Touch ID fails. If you can include three cameras, surely you can include two biometric sensors.
- Twistyfiasco 1y agoThe backup unlock is the watch.
- godelski 1y agoThis was annoying, but it is less annoying than my experience with FaceID[0]. Sure, there's no perfect solution, but it isn't like we all have to use the exact same solution for everything, right? There's more than one phone out there... I do hope we have a mutual understanding that we're talking about something subjective. Something that isn't the best option for everyone. FaceID, fingerprint, or whatever. There's no one size fits all... [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44362879 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44362879
- snapplebobapple 1y agoHave you tried phones with it on the power button? That was the best for me by far.
- guappa 1y agoYeah it's great! I want to put off the screen and instantly after going off, it reads my finger and goes on again! Who came up with that idea?
- gertlex 1y agoI'm sure it's manageable with proper software, as I had no such issue back in the day with my Xperia Z5(?) compact. (That said, I get similarly cranky about various gestures that just don't reliably work in some cases. I despair of the eventual day they (google in my case) no longer offer the 3 button home row on android phones)
- davidmurdoch 1y agoAsus?
- guappa 1y agoNo, one of the new "nokia" that run stock android.
- Pfeil 1y agoReading this on my Fairphone 5 and can't reproduce this issue. But I admit that sometimes I just want to see the lock screen and accidentally unlock the phone. Therefore, I still agree. The back is the better position for the fingerprint reader.
- iforgotpassword 1y agoIt rarely happens right when locking the phone, mosty because I already developed the habit to press the power button not with the tip of my thumb but lower down, where the joint is. But when shoving it back in my pocket it still happens on a regular basis, even when I try to avoid it. The button is just located in such a way that it's very hard to avoid touching it while doing so. Then I pull it out a while later to find I changed 20 settings and made a dozen in-app purchases. ;)
- fennecbutt 1y agoFor all the hate that I give apple (great hardware, terrible company, wasted potential) it was extremely smart of them to buy PrimeSense. Even Microsoft kinda missed that boat.
- xavdid 1y ago> I honestly don't get why people like Face ID more Big +1. Face ID fails way more than Touch ID ever did. I know you couldn't your finger with wet hands or gloves, but that didn't come up all that much. Face ID fails multiple times per day, every day. I can't unlock my phone well in bed, while brushing teeth, while it's sitting on a table not directly in front of me, if I'm in direct sunlight, in a car mount, etc. The only time it's more useful is when I'm already using the phone and need to auth for an app (bank, 1Password, etc). Then it's seamless. It just doesn't make sense as an unlock mechanism, IMO. iPad has the same problem - I can't unlock it if it's on the couch next to me without picking it up and holding it in front of my face. Face ID would make a lot of sense on a laptop, which is always used in basically ideal conditions for unlocking: straight on view, probably inside, always centered on my face. I'd love Touch ID on a phone's lock button, but that's not an option. And I'm worried that if it was an option, it would be relegated to the budget phones (like it is on ipads).
- 2muchcoffeeman 1y agoWhy would sunlight make a difference? It uses infra red to map your face right?
- xavdid 1y agoI have no idea, but it's a constant source of frustration. Sunglasses also lead to failed reads, which makes a little more sense but is just as frustrating. "Here's a new phone. It works great except you can't use it quickly if you're wearing sunglasses. Sorry!"
- shiomiru 1y ago> That was seriously the best solution. I much prefer having it on a physical home button. You can still feel a dent, but it takes even less effort to reach for it with your thumb. (Well, I think the Pixel never had a home button, and by now it's unfortunately disappeared from other phones too...)
- godelski 1y agoThe back sensor had an indent too, so you could easily feel it. Hold your phone in your hand. Where does your index finger sit? If it is on the back of the phone, that's where the sensor was. It was very natural.
- shiomiru 1y agoSure, but I'm talking about where my fingers first reach when taking the device out of my pocket. In that case, I'm grabbing it with my thumb, index finger and middle finger, and since the phone is seated upside down, my thumb reaches the home button before I'm even holding it in my palm. On phones with a fingerprint sensor on the back, I first have to get a full grip, and then I can reach for the sensor. (But it's probably somewhat hand/pocket-specific...)
- jansper39 1y agoYou can bring back the software buttons for back/home/app switcher on Android in one of the display menus. First thing I turn on.
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- lynndotpy 1y agoAnd even if it's not much of a dent, with a case, it makes a fantastic divot for holding your phone. I hate FaceID and I miss fingerprint scanners.
- al_borland 1y agoI was a FaceID skeptic and it quickly won me over, not because of the unlocking experience, but for the authentication during use. What used to be a prompt, followed by an active fingerprint scan, turned into something completely seamless and automatic.
- thallium205 1y agoMy wife and her sister can unlock each other’s iPhones using the face unlock feature which blows my mind because they do NOT look super similar and are 4 years apart. I’ve turned off all biometrics and use only a PIN. I’m extremely skeptical of the tech.
- Gigachad 1y agoTwo situations I can think of, they might have Bluetooth unlock with an apple watch enabled, or they might have the work with masks setting turned on which turns the accuracy to shit.
- svachalek 1y agoYour watch should not unlock someone else's phone though.
- Gigachad 1y agoThe point is if you have watch unlock enabled and someone unlocks your phone standing right next to you, it's still in range to unlock your phone with your watch.
- al_borland 1y agoDoesn’t the screen indicate which unlock method it’s using?
- busymom0 1y agoMy sister in law's mom and her daughter have the same thing too where the daughter can unlock her mom's phone with faceID. I researched this and apparently, if you have an unsuccessful unlock first and then you enter the code to unlock, then the phone may train the faceID with the new face too.
- biggestfan 1y agoThe Pixels had the worst option for a while: the under-screen optical sensor. Slow and prone to failure. They've since switched it out for an ultrasonic sensor, but it was shockingly bad for a few years.
- tedk-42 1y agoNothing better than trying to unlock your phone at night and the screen blasts the white light to illuminate your fingerprint to be read. Ultrasonic ftw.
- wolpoli 1y agoI had an Pixel 9 Pro with the ultrasonic sensor and I found that it wouldn't work at all with a tempered glass screen protector. The optical sensor they had for previous generation sort of works fine with a screen protector
- makeitdouble 1y agoIt's nice that it was working for you, and I also wish we could build more options for ourselves. I think, even having a stable physical design would help tremendously: imagine each new Pixel with the same standard screen size and casing attachment. Google could still change the overall outer feel as long as it fits the inner latching mechanism. Then building a third party back panel with a fingerprint reader becomes somewhat realistic. And we don't need Google to build an ecosystem, just stop doing their minuscule size tweaks every year and stabilize the attachment mechanism. Just that.
- jpk 1y agoYes. I pine for the ATX of phones.
- crazygringo 1y ago> I honestly don't get why people like Face ID more (what I currently use) Because it works for authentication too. My password manager just... automatically authenticates me without me having to tap a thing. It recognizes the login form on the validated domain, it scans my face, it fills in my info. Same as paying with Wallet, I just slide up the credit card I want to use and it scans my face as I hold it against the reader. And I'm not always pulling the phone out of my pocket, I'm picking it up off the table. I grab it by the edges, I'm not putting my finger on its back.
- notpushkin 1y agoWould be great if both options were available simultaneously. Face ID didn’t pass? Just scan your finger instead and carry on.
- godelski 1y ago> Because it works for authentication too. You do realize this is true for fingerprint sensors too, right? Everything you are describing here is orthogonal to fingerprint and FaceID
- crazygringo 1y agoSorry if I wasn't clear -- it's because I don't have to do anything. The fingerprint sensor requires me to put my finger on it. FaceID just works without me doing anything. I don't even realize I have to authenticate, and then have to do something in response -- it just does it.
- godelski 1y agoIf the fingerprint reader is in the right place it feels like you aren't doing anything. Just like with FaceID where you looking at your phone becomes second nature so does your hand placement when pulling your phone out of your pocket. If you haven't had a phone like this before it's hard to explain. But I can tell you from personal experience that it is less effort than FaceID, which is my current daily driver
- codedokode 1y agoHow you can ensure that your fingerprints are not sent somewhere (and your face model when using Face ID)?
- lttlrck 1y agoYou can say the same thing about a PIN code. Edit: oooof I missed the point entirely. Sorry.
- codedokode 1y agoPIN code is worthless, what will you use it for if you don't have my phone? While fingerprints and 3D face scan will always find a buyer, for example, the government.
- planb 1y agoHow can you ensure that your phone is not recording you 24/7? It’s called „trust“. Trust in the vendor, trust in independent 3rd parties that would identify such an issue, trust in capitalism because this would certainly be very bad publicity.
- codedokode 1y agoI cover the front camera (I don't do video calls anyway). "Trust" in people who live in the other country and cannot even be put in jail seems like a poor choice.
- beeforpork 1y ago[dead]
- konfusinomicon 1y agothe scene early in Demolition Man where Wesley Snipes takes advantage of the most critical flaw in biometric security has always made me shy away from it. if someone is motivated enough, removal of the unlocking body part is all to easy so I'll stick with pass codes or patterns
- autarch 1y agoRemoving a body part is also an effective way to get a pass code or pattern. If someone is willing to do you great harm to unlock your phone, I don't think it matters much what locking method you use.
- spankibalt 1y agoPeople without safety and security awareness often underestimate a) time, b) the neccessary criminal energy, c) opportunity, and d) logistics (e. g. seclusion, tools). But when one has technology that works for the attacker by conveniently elimininating the mentioned problems almost completely, than your set of security features is just a pathetic lie... as well as a self-delusion. Which, to be honest, a lot of safety and security measures and technology are to most people. ;)
- ReptileMan 1y agoThe jurisdictions where a cop will with force put your finger to the fingerprint reader, but won't beat the keys out of you cover most of the first and parts of the second world. And if you are not in one of those countries just politely ask for a blank white sheet of paper to sign and let them fill the rest. You will save everyone some time.
- konfusinomicon 1y agoboy messed with the law and done got the keys beat out of him
- LexGray 1y agoI would not necessarily trust that. Had an army coworker who regularly beat information out with rubber hoses where he was stationed. Sort of the evil version of don’t ask don’t tell.
- sebtron 1y agoI guess this is highly subjective, I was just talking with my girlfriend last night about how much I dislike when the fingerprint reader is not on the front. Specifically because only if it is on the front I can easily use it when my phone is lying on the table. Also, my current phone phone has it on the back and I can only configure one fingerprint, so if for some reason I am holding it in my left hand I am out of luck.
- colordrops 1y agoAgreed, the front fingerprint reader works perfectly fine.
- godelski 1y agoDefinitely subjective. But popular enough that it should exist in the many many versions of Android phones that exist. What's the point of having so many varieties if they're all the same? Fwiw, it I'm at my desk it'd usually be on its face for flip to silent. Then I pick up and it's natural. Or I'd be using scrcpy because if I'm in front of a computer why are my hands moving from the keyboard? I guess I'll compromise with the mouse lol Single fingerprint registration is weird. Iirc I could do 2 on my pixel 2
- amelius 1y agoMaybe they should provide both options. Not every phone needs to be "opinionated" ...
- kevincox 1y agoWhy not both? Let's also stick an extra USB-C port on the side of the phone so that you can charge from whichever port is more convenient at the time. Or use an accessory like wired headphones and charge at the same time without carrying around a USB hub. Or if one breaks (charging ports are one of the most common things to fail on the phone) you can continue using the other one (either temporarily until the other is repaired or indefinitely).
- howenterprisey 1y agoMy current phone actually has this (ROG 9) and it's really nice! I had to put my phone in a cupholder recently and the side charging port saved me from having to balance it on the charging cable. (It also has a headphone jack.)
- 0x38B 1y agoThe fingerprint reader is one of the things I most love about my iPhone SE; I don’t see any reason to get a new phone. Apple’s declining software quality and walled garden incline me more and more towards ditching iPhone for GrapheneOS or a dumb phone like the Punkt MP; I find far more joy reading on an eReader, taking photos with a camera, or taking notes in my notebook than I do using the phone for any of those. Especially for notes, keeping journals for the last few years, I find such peace and even connection with myself and my thoughts in my journals; I write down passages from books that are meaningful to me, and seeing my own handwriting, the ink I wrote it in, even the shading in the ink – it all adds up to a deeply meaningful, physical experience. The answer is not more phone, it’s less!
- lnsru 1y agoMail on iOS stopped working properly months ago, touch on this particular device sometimes does not work. Photos app is ridiculous. Software quality is declining. Even very average user like me can notice it.
- textm0de 1y agoThe Mail thing was weird. I thought it was maybe an update or even a network issue as I had recently changed my router. I eventually gave up and replaced Mail with another email client.
- girvo 1y agoI'm about 30 seconds away from doing the same. It's honestly woeful how bad it is. Probably just going to move to the Fastmail client directly, I suppose.
- average_r_user 1y agoGenuine Question: What problem did you encounter within the Mail App?
- mindok 1y ago
- silon42 1y ago+1 I've come to realize that the rear fingerprint sensor is even more important than the audio jack for me.
- kelvinjps10 1y agoThe best it's on the power button tbh
- dns_snek 1y agoThis might be a minority experience but I used to use the Pixel 4a with the reader on the back and now the Pixel 8a with reader inside the display and I find the fingerprint reader of the 8a marginally faster and much more reliable. From an UX perspective I also find it slightly more practical on the front so I can unlock the phone without picking it up.
- Fade_Dance 1y agoSensor on power button is far more elegant, imo. I've had all three solutions and that one stood out as the clear winner.
- sn0wleppard 1y agoThis is maybe specific to the model, but my previous phone (Xperia 10 V) had its sensor on the power button and I'd always unintentionally unlock it immediately after locking it and putting it back in my pocket
- silisili 1y agoIt's great for that specific use case. It's terrible for people who put their phone on their desk, in a stand, or on a wireless charger while they are working.
- 4k93n2 1y agoi got rid of my pixel and went back to sony because of the fingerprint sensor being on the back. when its lying flat on a desk you have to lift it up to unlock it, same deal when its in a dock of some sort, its very awkward. having it on the side is a much better idea
- davkan 1y agoAgreed, I honestly couldn’t tell you what the lockscreen on my pixel 3a looked like, I almost never saw it. 100x better than faceid.
- spurgu 1y agoI love having the fingerprint reader behind the screen on my Pixel 8a. It has a clear benefit vs. the back; you can unlock it while it's sitting on the table, without lifting it up.
- WhyNotHugo 1y agoFaceID is absolute terrible. If you wear glasses, the angle on which it operates it pretty narrow. It has a really hard time if your face is partially covered. I can't hold my phone near my lap/chest on a train and unlock it, I need to bring it up to eye level (a gesture most unwelcome when you want to be discreet in unsafe areas). I can't lie in the couch with the phone resting in front of me; I need to angle it up to unlock it. It won't unlock in the mist, light rain, or a variety of other situations. I last tried the iPhone 16. It's a huge downgrade from the last iPhone SE.
- SergeAx 1y agoI had a Xiaomi phone with a fingerprint reader on the back, and now I have a Pixel phone with a fingerprint reader on the screen. It took about a week to get used to the new location, and I have been doing well since then. Do you have specific issues with it?
- seec 1y agoThey do Face ID because it's cooler and for unreasonable ideas about "security". As if most people are enough of a target to mess around with bio identification. Apple best product is marketing by far; this is just one of the results. I have been using Face ID since the iPhone X and agree that it sucks. It doesn't even really solve the "problems" I thought it would solve (unlock while cooking or other activities where your hands are dirty) because you need to look at the thing in a particular way and you need clean hands to interact with the phone anyway. It is especially annoying because the design of the notch/dynamic island is just terrible/stupid. There are days where I get so many misses that I feel like disabling the thing entirely since I have to use the passcode so much anyway. I was already very skeptical of Touch ID but Face ID is just worse and more expensive for not much benefits. This is the issue with technology nowadays, most of the real "problems" have been solved so tech companies come up with all kinds of nonsense to sell newer and shinier stuff. At some point a screwdriver is a screwdriver and a smartphone is a smartphone, we just need it to be of good quality and last long, that's it. But this does not make for "infinite" growth so here we are...
- thworp 1y agoA big issue with fingerprint-only devices is water. If your finger, the reader or both are sufficiently wet, most readers just don't work. Most touchscreens also don't work too well in those conditions - certainly not well enough to enter a secure alphanumeric unlock code - but enough to pull up a map. I've had my old iPhone 7+ turn into a charged brick multiple times in the rain. Never happened with the faceID phones.