Fingerprint scanner gestures might come to the Google Nexus 5X and 6P via a firmware update

While the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X will soon be updated to Android 7.1 Nougat, they aren't getting all the features that the brand new Pixel and Pixel XL phones are offering. However, there's one feature that might be made available for the two Nexus handsets after all, despite a previous report to the contrary. We're talking about fingerprint scanner gestures.

According to Android Police, Google says it's "evaluating" the possibility of releasing a firmware update for the Nexus 6P and 5X in order to add support for fingerprint scanner gestures. It turns out that the two Nexus phones have the exact same type of fingerprint sensors found inside the Pixel and Pixel XL, but they currently don't support gestures because they use old firmware. It's a software issue, not a hardware one. So, hopefully, Google's evaluation will lead to a positive conclusion regarding this potential firmware update.

By "fingerprint scanner gestures" we actually mean just one type of gesture: swiping down on the sensor to instantly access your Pixel's notification shade. It's not a major feature, but it's pretty cool, and we do want to see it on last year's Nexus phones.

source: Android Police