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…
Don’t buy this new Motorola phone — get this other one instead
Renders of the Moto G 5G (2024) and Moto G Power 5G (2024).

the Moto G 5G (left) and Moto G Power 5G Digital Trends

Budget phones can slip under the radar when shiny, powerful flagships launch. But if you're in the market for a smartphone that gets the job done and won't blow a four-figure hole in your bank balance, then a great budget smartphone is the way to go.

Read more
Get 32% off the cellular model of the iPad Pro 12.9 this weekend
The iPad Pro on a desk next to a stylus and AirPods.

If you've been thinking about getting the iPad Pro with cellular connectivity but you've been hoping to buy the tablet from iPad deals for a discount, this may be what you've been waiting for -- a 32% discount from Amazon's Woot on the 12.9-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular model of the 2021 Apple iPad Pro with 128GB of storage. From $1,199, it's down to just $810, which is a steal price for this device with savings of $389. However, while there are still several days left on this offer, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase immediately because there's a chance that stocks don't last that long.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9
It's not the latest version of Apple's top-of-the-line tablet -- the honor goes to the 2022 Apple iPad Pro -- but the 2021 Apple iPad Pro is still a pretty powerful device by today's standards. That's because it's equipped with Apple's M1 chip, which promises fantastic speed and excellent graphics when you're working on your multimedia projects, multitasking between several apps, or playing console-level games. With its 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR touchscreen, you'll enjoy high-brightness and high-contrast content, and its mini-LED display provides deeper black levels and more vibrant colors.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs. A54: all the big changes, explained
Renders of the Samsung Galaxy A55 next to the Galaxy A54.

Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A54 Digital Trends

Samsung has been on a roll with new phone releases in 2024. At the end of January, Samsung released the flagship Galaxy S24 lineup. It's fantastic, but not everyone can afford the latest and greatest flagship. Thankfully, Samsung also makes budget-friendly alternatives, and that’s the appeal of the new Galaxy A55.

Read more