Skip to main content

Fingerprint scanners make the leap from spy flicks to your smartphone

The words “biometric fingerprint scanning” are never going to fill seats or win fans. It’s a technical phrase that sounds boring, and we’ve been seeing biometric scanners in odd electronics for years now, but a company named CrucialTec has finally made fingerprint scanning a sexy feature you’re going to want in your next phone.

We caught up with CrucialTec at Mobile World Congress this week. CrucialTec is targeting the smartphone industry with its scanner, and it’s ready to be built right into a device’s home button. Imagine your iPhone’s home button could also scan your fingerprint at lightning speed. It would know if you’re its owner, but beyond even that, the possibilities are astounding.

CrucialTec Biometric scanner
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The demo we were shown had a biometric scanner built into a home button on a custom case. At it’s most basic, CrucialTec’s fingerprint scanning adds a high level of security to locking and unlocking your phone. You slide your thumb down the home button to unlock it, and it won’t unlock unless your print matches the one you stored when you set up your phone. Swiping your thumb takes the same amount of time as drawing a simple unlock pattern on an Android phone, but its infinitely more secure. As time rolls on, we’re relying on our phones to help us perform more and more sensitive activities, like banking and paying for items, but our security usually still consists of a four-number pin or no locking mechanism at all. It’s archaic.

10 fingers, 10 features

Basic, fast fingerprint scanning is all and good, but CrucialTec’s system gets interesting with the additional security and convenience features. Usually, fingerprint scanning uses one finger, but most of us have nine other digits sitting idle. CrucialTec’s software allows you to assign a different function to each of your 10 fingers. For example, the camera could be linked to your index finger, and sliding that down the home button would unlock the phone and automatically open the camera app. Its secure nature also lends itself to quick launching apps such as Expensify, or wireless payment and online banking apps.

CrucialTec biometric fingerprint scanner 10 fingers
Image used with permission by copyright holder

CrucialTec’s biometric scanner can also securely encrypt files which can only be opened using a swipe of your finger. The process is incredibly slick, as all that’s needed is to tap and hold the file you want to encrypt, then slide your finger over the home button. The file turns to a picture of a locked padlock and the original is securely locked away. You can unlock files by repeating the same process. Although this was demoed using pictures of a more adult nature, there are plenty of other (less dirty) files you might want to encrypt on your phone. With the introduction of such a simple encryption process, it may prompt us to store information we currently avoid saving.

It doesn’t hog power and is extremely accurate

CrucialTec biometric fingerprint scanner no hands
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Biometric scanners aren’t power hogs, so adding them to modern smartphones won’t put additional strain on the battery. We’re told that the failure rate – or how often it falsely accepts a non-user or fails to recognize your print – is miniscule. A working fingerprint scanner can benefit anyone if its integrated correctly, but with the shortcuts and file encryption, scanners like CrucialTec’s may actually be fun to use. When Apple purchased fingerprint scanner firm AuthenTec last year, its technology became an Apple exclusive. Since then, there have been rumors the next iPhone may incorporate it. The industry being what it is, this could see the tech quickly increase in popularity.

We’re told CrucialTec’s system has already been licensed by an unnamed Chinese manufacturer, and is expected to be added as a feature to a smartphone released this summer. Hopefully we’ll get to use this system sooner rather than later.

(Photos by Ben Nelson, Envision Studio)

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9 heavily discounted today
The Surface Pro 9 in laptop mode on a table.

Microsoft's Surface devices are well known for their versatility and performance, but they command premium prices. That's why there's always high demand for Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals, as who doesn't want to enjoy a discount when making a huge investment? If you're interested, Best Buy is offering the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 at $300 off, which brings its price down to $1,000 from $1,300, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 at $540 off, which lowers its price also to $1,000 from $1,540, ahead of the arrival of the consumer versions of the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10. You need to push through with your transaction as soon as possible if either of these bargains caught your attention, as we're not sure how much time is remaining before they disappear.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 -- $1,000, was $1,300

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a traditional Windows 11 laptop that's powered by the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 Evo processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 8GB of RAM. It won't match up to the performance of the best laptops, but it's going to be more than enough to handle daily tasks for work or school. The laptop features a 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen with vibrant colors and sharp details, a battery that can last up to 18 hours on a single charge, and a 512GB SSD that provides ample storage space for your files. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 also comes with a 720p webcam and dual far-field Studio Mics for clear video calls.

Read more
We have some bad news about the Google Pixel 9
A render of the Google Pixel 9 smartphone in black.

When the first wave of Google Pixel 9 series leaks arrived on the scene a few weeks ago, what really got us excited was the camera upgrade for the entry-level model. The leaked renders envisioned a triple-lens rear camera setup for the Pixel 9 that added a periscope-style telephoto snapper at the back alongside a radical design change.

Well, it seems those changes will remain a pipe dream, at least in 2024. OnLeaks, in collaboration with 91Mobiles, has shared alleged renders of the Pixel 9, claiming that the triple-camera devices in those leaked renders actually depicted the pricier Pixel 9 Pro and a new Pixel 9 Pro XL variant.

Read more
Google Pixel 9: news, rumored price, release date, and more
Front and rear profile of leaked Google Pixel 9 renders.

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are Google's latest and most powerful devices, but it won't be that way for long. Rumors of the Google Pixel 8a mean this pair of flagships will be supplanted as the latest Google phones fairly soon — but they'll be able to hold on to the title of "most powerful" for a little while longer. The Google Pixel 9 range, while definitely on the way, isn't due to arrive any time soon.

But when it does, it's sure to be a pair of blockbusters. Leaks for the Pixel 9 family are a little thin on the ground at the moment, but it seems as if Google is planning on making some big changes this time around. If leaks are correct, we expect a new look and some exciting new AI features that go beyond what we've seen before.

Read more