While Samsung was working overtime to recover from the Galaxy Note 7 debacle, a spate of rumors claimed that the upcoming Galaxy S8 would sport an in-display fingerprint sensor. That was almost a given considering Samsung was ditching the physical home button to expand the display. But more recent leaks show that the Korean electronics giant has moved the fingerprint sensor to the rear of the handset instead of embedding it in the display.
Samsung ran out of time to develop optical fingerprint scanner
Samsung’s partner Synaptics had developed its own fingerprint sensor FS9100 that would sit underneath the display. The Korean company was supposed to integrate the FS9100 in the Galaxy S8. Sources familiar with the development told The Investor that Samsung and Synaptics were working to develop the new sensor, but they ran out of time.
So, Samsung was left with no choice but to move the fingerprint sensor to the back at the last minute. The Galaxy S8 release has already been pushed back by about a month compared to the Galaxy S7. The company’s all-out efforts to develop the optical fingerprint sensor went down the drain. The results were “frustrating,” said a source familiar with the matter. But it’s a clear indication that future Samsung handsets could feature on-screen fingerprint scanner.
Galaxy S8 to have two more methods for authentication
Many experts have expressed concerns that placing the fingerprint sensor next to the rear camera could cause users to accidentally smudge the camera lens while trying to unlock the device. Meanwhile, Apple’s 10th anniversary iPhone 8 is expected to adopt an on-screen fingerprint scanner. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the iPhone 8 would steal the show from Samsung’s handset due to its innovative design, facial recognition, and augmented reality features.
Now Samsung executives have to convince buyers that the rear placement of the fingerprint sensor is no less convenient than it was on the front. But the Korean company is reportedly looking to make the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner merely a backup method for authentication. According to reports coming out of Korea, the Galaxy S8 would come with iris scanner and facial recognition technology. The face recognition software would take just 0.01 second to unlock the handset.
Galaxy S8 receives 3C certification in China
Ahead of its official unveiling on March 29th, the Galaxy S8 has received 3C certification in China. The device certified in China has the model number SM-G9500. Just a few days ago, both the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus were spotted passing through the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC certified three different variants of the S8: SM-G950U, SM-G950U1 and SM-G950W; and another three variants of the S8 Plus: SM-G955U, SM-G955U1 and SM-G955W.
Samsung’s AI assistant Bixby would come pre-installed on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Bixby would work with all the native apps on the new phones. The devices will have 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, respectively.
