The Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL were announced yesterday with a host of improvements over the 2023 generation, among which is a new, faster fingerprint reader that is built into the OLED display. Even though the optical fingerprint reader of the Pixel 8 series was better than what came before, it still wasn’t as good as what other brands had.
For the 2024 generation, the optical reader is gone, replaced by a Qualcomm 3D Sonic Gen 2 (an ultrasonic reader). Google claims that it is 50% faster than the reader on the Pixel 8 phones, Qualcomm says that it is the “world’s fastest ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor”.
The reader should work reliably, even if your fingers are wet, and it has anti-spoofing technology that allows it to reject imposter photographs and fake molds of your finger. The sensor measures 8x8mm in size (0.3×0.3in).
Qualcomm partnered with @Google to create another reason to love the Google Pixel 9: The Qualcomm 3D Sonic Gen 2 fingerprint sensor. https://t.co/klFCFRTUab
— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) August 13, 2024
The fourth new phone from yesterday, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, has a side-mounted fingerprint reader, so it uses a traditional capacitive sensor.
The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL will be out next week, the Pixel 9 Pro will be out in early September. Here are pricing details for the new series.