Qualcomm Announces The First Ultrasonic Fingerprint Reader Using Sound Waves, May Feature On The Galaxy S10

On Tuesday, Qualcomm announced its fingerprint scanner that unlocks your phone with sound, the news eventually came after many years of prototypes and small changes.

The new product from Qualcomm is named the 3D Sonic Sensor, the technology used in this sensor bounces sound waves off your skin, which is claimed by Qualcomm to be convenient and secure.

The design of the 3D Sonic Sensor allows it to fit underneath the phone display. This means smartphone manufacturers can create in-display fingerprint readers instead of in-display fingerprint optical scanners, the current widely used technology among smartphones.

It is likely that this ultrasonic fingerprint reader will feature on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10.

In-display fingerprint readers have become fashionable to the smartphone market since they don’t affect the screen size and need less groping around than an embedded sensor on the phone’s back or the home button. According to analysts at HIS Markit, a company specialized in researching customers, there will be 100 million smartphones using in-display fingerprint readers by 2019.

At Qualcomm’s meeting on Tuesday, senior vice president Alex Katouzian said that the integration of biometrics and security into cell phones is rapidly increasing, which means the future for fingerprint technology.

Now, you may have a few questions about the 3D Sonic Sensor, and we’ll answer them.

What is an ultrasonic fingerprint reader?

Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Sensor makes use of sound waves, the term “sonic” lies here, to sense your fingerprint when you try to unlock the phone.

The current in-display trend means the fingerprint sensor lies under the screen so you can unlock your device by pressing your finger against the screen, you can also apply this technology to the home button.

What is the difference between ultrasonic and optical fingerprint reader?

While the optical reader is more likely to take a picture of your fingerprint to identify the unique patterns and valleys of your fingerprint, the ultrasonic technology based on sound waves bounces back from your skin.

What is the difference between the way ultrasonic and the current Galaxy S9 captures your fingerprint?

There’s, in fact, no difference here.

Both use capacitors throughout the fingerprint sensor to detect the exact position you are touching.

What is the ultrasonic reader's security capability?

Right now, security experts and hackers can still trick the optical readers with fake photos, which Qualcomm claims cannot happen to the ultrasonic reader.

When you unlock your phones with the ultrasonic reader, it can read and scan your fingerprint as deeply as to your pores.

What’s competitive advantage does it have over Face ID and other unlocking features with face patterns?

Both Apple’s Face ID and Android’s face recognition and iris scanning don’t support mobile payments.

Well, Qualcomm says its ultrasonic fingerprint sensor will do.