Samsung is believed to have been working on optical fingerprint recognition technology for a few years now but we've yet to see the company commercialize an in-display fingerprint sensor. We heard rumors that it was going to do it with the Galaxy S8 last year but that didn't happen and the Galaxy S9 has maintained the status quo as well. Those pinning their hopes on the Galaxy Note 9 for the in-display fingerprint sensor might be left disappointed this year.
No in-display fingerprint sensor for the Galaxy Note 9
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed in a note to investors that Samsung is likely not going to introduce an in-display fingerprint sensor with the Galaxy Note 9. A similar prediction was made for the Galaxy S9 by KGI in August (which was accurate) but it claimed then that the Galaxy Note 9 would get it.
Kuo is only saying that it's likely for Samsung to not introduce an in-display fingerprint sensor with the Galaxy Note 9 because of “technological difficulties.” The sensor apparently faces difficulties in functioning properly in different environments and with screen protectors. Since that affects the success rate, Samsung may decide to stick with a conventional fingerprint sensor for its next flagship device.
This prediction leaves some wiggle room with the assumption being that if Samsung is able to sort out the issues in the coming months, it might decide to ship the Galaxy Note 9 with an in-display fingerprint sensor after all. However, there's no concrete evidence available right now to back up this assumption.
In our detailed opinion about Samsung's in-display fingerprint sensor conundrum, we mentioned that Samsung has already missed the boat on this technology as manufacturers like Vivo are now shipping smartphones with a fingerprint sensor embedded underneath a display.
However, Samsung has now said that it's no longer obsessed with being the first in the world to introduce new technologies. It would rather wait and ensure that the technology works perfectly being commercializing it and that's probably what it's going to do with the in-display fingerprint sensor as well.
