Google’s next Pixel smartphones are due to be launched next month, and new details suggest that a much-needed upgrade will make an appearance.
The team at Android Authority, quoting sources familiar with the matter, are reporting that the three Pixel 9 devices (the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL) will all feature an ultrasonic fingerprint reader.
This should improve the responsiveness and accuracy of the biometric sensor in the upcoming handsets. The fingerprint readers on the last few Pixel devices have not been well received, with Google’s support pages littered with complaints about the sensors, wondering why it can be unresponsive and inaccurate.
The current (and older) Pixels use an optical sensor, which can be weak in exactly the way that many users have discovered and, by their nature, are limited to scanning in 2D. A move to an ultrasonic sensor should allow for more fidelity when reading the fingerprint, more security in unlocking the device, and more accuracy when dealing with a wet display or finger.
The new sensor is not the only upgrade that Google is expected to make to the core hardware of the Pixel 9 series. An improved display has been spotted in the supply chain. Google could be preparing to use dual-stack technology, which will offer the Pixel 9 a brighter display with a longer life and reduced power consumption.
Google is holding a launch event on August 9th, where the three Pixel 9 handsets will launch, along with the next generation of Google AI.
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