It turns out that the most recent Galaxy S20 firmware update (version G98xxXXU2ATE6) has added one more feature aside from camera improvements. Post-update, the ‘Fingerprint' settings page contains an additional option for disabling the ripple animation effect that plays whenever you unlock the phone using your fingerprint.
There are no performance gains
Judging by our testing and a few posts from Reddit users, disabling this effect won't make the fingerprint reader faster or more accurate. For some users, the lack of eye candy might make the unlock process seem faster, but in reality, turning the ripple animation effect off doesn't seem to have any purely-practical uses. This is another visual customization option Samsung had added, so it's most welcomed by those of us who care about such details. Nevertheless, with no performance gains in sight, the feature's importance will be subjective for every individual. Some users will prefer keeping the ripple effect, others will feel better with it turned off.
Whichever camp you reside in, if you own a Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, or Galaxy S20 Ultra and you've received the recent firmware update, you can play around with this new fingerprint-related customization option by opening Settings, accessing Biometrics and security, tapping Fingerprints, and switching the Show animation when unlocking toggle On or Off. Give it a try and feel free to share your personal preference in the comment section.
