Faster than Samsung: Pixel 9 ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is the best new feature in Google phones

In fact, as you can tell by the video, you can simply tap the screen without having to hold your finger - it’s that fast! Of course, this doesn’t work 100% of the time, but even when holding down your finger, it’s incredibly fast.

I wonder if this might result in some accidental touches that unlock your Pixel 9 though. Like when you’re holding the phone in a way that your finger touches the reader. But that’s a minor inconvenience compared to the broken scanners in the Pixel 6, so I guess I’ll take it!

And let’s not forget that the Pixel 9 continues having Face Unlock for payments and other services that require a higher degree of security, which is bizzare since the Pixel doesn’t have the iPhone’s Face ID sensors but only a single selfie camera.

On a personal note, after years of swearing by Touch ID, I came around, and I prefer using Face ID on my iPhone 13. However, Face ID isn’t always convenient - like when my phone is on the table or when I’m in bed, or just want to open it without looking.

Galaxy S24, Pixel 9 Pro, OnePlus 13: It’s time - ultrasonic fingerprint scanners should replace all optical scanners in flagship smartphones

Finally, as a heavy smartphone user (I hate saying that but it’s true), security and convenience are top priorities for me - like they are for many people.

I've experienced both optical (my Pixel 8 Pro) and ultrasonic fingerprint scanners (my Galaxy S24 Ultra), and it’s clear - ultrasonic fingerprint scanners should be the new standard. Especially after I’ve seen what the Pixel 9 can do.

Optical scanners are widely used by so many phone-makers but they come with some limitations. They work by capturing a two-dimensional image of your fingerprint using light. They are cheaper, and relatively quick and accurate, but they can be annoying.

For one, optical scanners struggle in certain conditions, such as when my finger is wet, dirty, or even slightly off-center. Moreover, since they rely on a flat image, they can be more vulnerable to spoofing techniques - not that this has happened to me.

On the other hand, ultrasonic fingerprint scanners take security and reliability to the next level. These scanners use ultrasonic sound waves to capture every little detail of your fingerprint, in three dimensions. This 3D mapping is not only more accurate but also significantly harder to fake. And yes, the ultrasonic scanner on my Galaxy S24 Ultra works fine even when my finger is wet or greasy (don’t judge!).