Samsung and Apple introducing ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensors, eventually

Apple and Samsung are both reportedly preparing ultrasonic fingerprint sensors for in-display integration in smartphones. While Samsung will not implement an in-display fingerprint sensor in its Galaxy Note 9, which is expected to launch later this year, but is working towards integrating an ultrasonic sensor in the Galaxy S10, which could launch in 2019, Forbes India reports.

PhoneArena reports that Apple’s integration would come next year at the earliest. Both PhoneArena and Forbes India cite a report in South Korean newspaper Chosun.

The report refers to the Samsung technology as “Fingerprint on Display” (FoD), and says it provides increased accuracy and durability. The development of the technology is complete, but manufacturing the sensors is too expensive, produces a low yield, and is time consuming. Once it resolves the remaining challenges, Samsung will integrate the technology into IoT devices and other products in addition to smartphones.

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a March note to investors that Samsung does not consider either optical or ultrasonic in-display sensors up to its standards.

Synaptics Vice President of Marketing Godfrey Cheng told Biometric Update in February that fundamental physics issues are holding back the integration of ultrasonic in-display sensors.

Article Topics

Apple  |  biometrics  |  fingerprint sensors  |  Samsung