News about the Google Pixel 9 Pro has been trickling in, but it’s coming. This will be a phone based on a Tensor processor made by Samsung, and it’ll probably be the last time we see a Google phone equipped with this type of SoC. The cameras aim to be a bit conservative, as does the design.

But there’s a tradition that’s been troubling us for generations on Pixels, that we’ve never quite understood. The fingerprint reader on these phones has been optical for generations. That means both lower sensitivity and slower unlocking. Because? Because it’s an ultrasonic key.

optical readers. The optical reader works in a very interesting way. It is equipped with a small camera located under the panel. When we bring our finger close, the many photos taken by the fingerprint are compared with the photos taken during the initial configuration.

The main problem is that this camera needs a lot of light to work and that is the main reason why these readers make a small “flash” when you place your finger in. There are even those that become annoying at night due to the brightness they emit.

These readers are quite limited as the detection area is small and highly dependent on the brightness of the environment.

ultrasonic readers. The alternative to this type of reader is ultrasonic. Since it is a bit more expensive technology, not all manufacturers support this technology. There is no camera here, instead there is an ultrasound system accompanied by a very small microphone.

When we rest our finger, our fingerprint is mapped with ultrasound, taking into account the small changes in the depth of the grooves on our fingertip. The microphone is responsible for comparing this data again and the signals it receives when we register the fingerprint in the system. It is a more reliable and faster system.

First Google Pixel 9 Pro with ultrasonic sensorAccording to Android Authority, Google’s 9 series will solve this problem: The company plans to add ultrasonic fingerprint readers to its flagship phones.

This brings an end to a very long tradition that they’ve been carrying on since the Google Pixel 6. Specifically, we’re talking about Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Gen 2 (QFS4008), which is the same under-display fingerprint reader that phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra use.

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