this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2023
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[–] [email protected] 56 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I feel like the main reason it's a big deal is the fact that the front-facing fingerprint scanner sucks ass.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Yup, I'd prefer a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone than what we have today

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

Or power button. Even the Samsung screen sensors haven't been as reliable as the good old dedicated ones.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Me too. Back facing fingerprint sensors were so ergonomic and responsive. Phone makers literally unanimously decided to throw away the best option for all kinds of sub optimal alternatives.

[–] akilou 5 points 1 year ago

Biggest thing I miss about my Pixel 3. And the size.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

That coupled with gestures on the sensor is absolute goat

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I've been reluctant to give up my 4a because of the rear fingerprint sensor. Now that we've hit October, I'm trying to figure out what to do.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I have a Pixel 7 Pro. I came from an S22 Ultra (ultrasonic) and I find the one on the P7 Pro to only be marginally worse. Instead of 95/100 it's probably closer to 90/100. The most annoying thing for me is that it blasts like which (at night) can be annoying. But have you used it personally? I'm interested if there's something that makes it noticeably worse for some people.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not sure what I've done differently, but my under screen reader on my 6 pro is more reliable than the back reader on my pixel 3.

Obviously my one data point doesn't negate the vast swathes of people who do have issues, but for me I may not even elect to use face unlock. Seems unnecessarily insecure.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Mine has also been very reliable.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They should have just used the Qualcomm ultrasonic sensor that Samsung uses under their displays. It is brilliant and even works through some types of screen protectors, and some types of (medical) gloves. But Google seems hell-bent on never using Qualcomm components in their phones anymore, to the detriment of their users.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I was gunna say, my Samsung front glass sensor is excellent , as fast as previous back glass ones.

I prefer side mound of back, purely for ergonomics, but otherwise its very rare I get issues.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Same here, every time I make a comment on this topic I get shot back that the fingerprint reader on phone X is wonderful. In my experience, the only fingerprint readers that consistently worked were those on the back of the phone. In either case, I’ll take face unlock any day over a fingerprint reader. Just another thing that Apple got right and then never looked back. οΏΌ

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Still disappointing that it isn't using a proper IR illuminator. Apple's Face ID is still better, and the DyNaMiC iSlAnD doesn't take up that much space. I've adjusted to having a fingerprint sensor on my Pixel 6 Pro, but the thing is so much slower.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Keep in mind you don't have to have a slow fingerprint sensor, Google just managed to fuck that up

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

As a OnePlus 7 Pro user, it's so fast, My ideal phone would have a fingerprint reader on the on/off button, seems so logical to do so

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

I've never understood these comments mine opens just as fast as my Samsung

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I've heard this one is particularly bad. It's broadly fine but it is definitely slower than the one in my old OnePlus 7 Pro.

I paid $250 for the phone refurbished so I have a hard time complaining too much.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pixel 4 was, and it was better than Apple's implementation.

It's crazy that Google did it once and beat Apple. Then they dropped it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They dropped it because people were complaining about the massive forehead

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Which was not actually big in person, and something that could've definitely been shrunken down more by 2023.

Now we are left with the garbage "face" unlock on the Pixel 6/7, or the garbage in screen fingerprint sensor. I mean all in screen sensors are shit. They work like 80% of the time, while the Pixel 4 face unlock worked 100% of the time, and it was so good I forgot I ever had a lock on my phone, because it was instantly unlocked, even in a pitch black room.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'll take a forehead over a notch.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I've found that going back to a plastic film cover instead of glass made the fingerprint scanner work every time. Having said that, I'd much rather have a glass screen protector. This new design forced me to buy a different screen protector and case style than I'm used to, and imo, my case / screen protector is a downgrade. I usually buy cases with built in screen protectors, but every one of those I tried were shit with the fingerprint reader. This, like so many of Google's 'innovations' is a terrible idea. They've clearly run out of ideas on what to do next with hardware on smartphones. I just want my 2011 phone with 2023 performance / OS. Everything they've done after that has been a downgrade.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Do you really need a screen protector? It is sp annoying to me to buy products to protect the product.

I gave up years ago, no more cases or screen protectors.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

screen protectors really arent needed anymore at least imo

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Owned a 6 and a 7 pro, 7 made substantial speed upgrades

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (8 children)

I get that it's a convenience, but does anyone else still avoid face and fingerprint unlocks? It seems useless if I was forced to unlock my phone by someone violent, like the police.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It seems useless if I was forced to unlock my phone by someone violent, like the police.

My life seems a great deal more boring and uneventful than most people around these parts.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

it's Lemmy most of us are very big on privacy and such it's not the fact most really at risk for that just that it could happen and would rather be safe then sorry

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

I feel like a short password is a much bigger security risk.

There are ways to disable the fingerprint scan in the moment. Different phones have different norms around this, but one universal option: pick a finger to not code into your phone. When a cop asks you to unlock your phone, say okay, use that finger five times in a row, oh no, you're locked out, man, this fingerprint reader sure is finnicky, oh well!

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Pins and passwords is something people can glance at to find out what it is. And there's cameras all around. It's why I preferred finger or face unlock in public, and worst case scenario I can turn off phone to require a pin.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If you're that concerned, if you power your phone off, biometrics will not unlock the phone after it's turned back on, only the pin. So if you find yourself in a predicament where you think someone will try to unlock your phone without your consent via biometrics, as, long as you turn your phone off before they get it, they won't be able to get in without a PIN.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You don't even need to turn it off. Long press the power button and then hit lock

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you're being assaulted you may not have time to turn it off. I don't know about pixels but my phone doesn't just shut off when I hold the power button. I have to hold it and then select power off. That would be difficult if I was under attack by someone who wanted my phone.

[–] Ataraxia 7 points 1 year ago

I just disable fingerprint with a a button press if it comes to it but I also don't go anywhere lol.

Also Homeland Security has my fingerprints and iris for an old job so... meh.

[–] evo 4 points 1 year ago

How often does that happen?

As long as finger/face scans stay secured on device it's pretty innocuous imo. And you can quickly enter the "lockdown" state, which disables biometrics. Law enforcement cannot force you to enter passwords in any civilized country I know of.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I do, but I question the point. Anyone that wanted to get into my phone would probably already be monitoring me and honestly I'm not that cautious of entering my pattern/password when (for example) travelling on the bus.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

in the power menu you can also disable biometrics on next lock until you open it again on some phones in the pixel does and pretty sure Samsung does as well

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Face unlock on the Pixel 8 doesn’t compromise on security.

Try saying that after a cop unlocks your phone by holding it up to your face (legal btw)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

iPhones can enter a lockdown mode with a couple button presses, I’m sure android can do it as well.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Holding down the power button?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Power button + volume up (you can change it in settings)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yup, mines set to power button because I would never invoke assistant like that

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

There is a lockdown mode or something in the power menu that should disable biometrics until the next unlock with pin/passcode

Not defending the companies, just something to be aware of if you see a cop coming towards you in the distance

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

If it doesn't have ir illuminators how it can't be fooled by a video playing back on a tablet? AI isn't magic, there's no way it can distinguish a properly made video playing on another screen. Even an human can't distinguish that in that super short time

Example: make a video recording from the front camera of someone doomscrolling. Then play this on another screen, perfectly parallel, and at a distance where bezels can't be seen.

[–] Klystron 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Cool to see they managed to incorporate it. I like the idea of face unlock but for me it's not convenient enough. Hard to use like if I'm sitting at my desk and phones sitting on top, I need to hover my face over it awkwardly until it sees me, and if I'm laying in bed or on the couch, it won't recognize me either. I'll always be loyal to the trusty fingerprint reader.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think it works best in combination with fingerprint scanner.

Like when your fingers are wet and are difficult to scan. Whilst trying to make the scanner work, face unlock just does it for you.

But, yes, if it were one or the other, fingerprint scanner is simply way more convenient.

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