Skip to main content

Qualcomm’s long-awaited second-gen 3D Sonic fingerprint sensor is 50% faster

Qualcomm wants to make its in-display fingerprint sensor a little bit more seamless. Its first-generation Sonic Sensor was introduced a few years ago, and at the time offered a decent experience — but since then, has been overtaken in terms of speed and performance by competing optical sensors. Now, Qualcomm has finally launched a new, second-generation 3D Sonic sensor with big improvements.

The new sensor is 77% larger than Qualcomm’s original 3D Sonic Sensor, measuring in at 8mm square, compared to the original’s 4mm by 9mm. In other words, you’ll be able to place your finger on a larger portion of the screen, making the overall experience a little more seamless.

Recommended Videos

Perhaps even better is the fact that Qualcomm says the new sensor is a hefty 50% faster than the original. Combined with the larger surface area, users should be able to get into their phones more easily. The new sensor is about as thin as the last-gen version, coming in at 0.2mm.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Qualcomm says that the new fingerprint sensor is expected to debut on mobile devices in early 2021. We’re not yet sure how early in 2021 that is, but Samsung is set to launch the Samsung Galaxy S21 on January 14, so it’s entirely possible that the companies have been working together on the tech, and that the next-gen Galaxy device will include it. The previous-gen sensor was included in the Galaxy S10, Note 10, Galaxy S20, and Note 20.

Of course, the future of fingerprint sensors in phones is a little uncertain. While Apple has switched to Face ID over Touch ID, most Android manufacturers have stuck with fingerprint sensors, mostly under the display. Rumors suggest Apple may soon include both in its phones, which would help ensure that users can easily get into their phone, even with a face mask on.

It’s about time for an upgrade to the 3D Sonic Sensor. When the first-generation version debuted on the Samsung Galaxy S10, it was considered pretty fast — but by the time the S20 rolled around, competing optical sensors generally outperformed the 3D Sonic Sensor, and the S20 suffered in reviews because of it. The flip-side of that is that Qualcomm says the 3D Sonic sensor is very secure, and hard to trick. Regardless, hopefully the new sensor will bring the Galaxy series in line with the competition.

Interestingly, Qualcomm touted the fact that its other fingerprint sensor solution, the 3D Sonic Max, won a CES 2021 Innovation Award. This technology was initially shown off in late 2019, but never made it to market — even as the standard 3D Sonic sensor was in development. Qualcomm now says that this even larger sensor, which can recognize two fingers among other advancements, will finally launch in phones this year.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Instagram takes a page from Spotify’s book to launch Blend for Reels
Instagram on the Samsung Galaxy A54.

Watching a variety of Instagram Reels has never been easier than in a special group chat with friends. Instagram has launched Blend, a new feature that allows you to create custom Reels feeds for you and anyone you invite into a DM group.

The Meta-owned platform announced the rollout of Instagram Blend on Thursday (per TechCrunch), which is inspired by a Spotify playlist of the same name called Spotify Blend that mixes your music tastes with those of the person you invite into that playlist (assuming they have Spotify at all), and the songs refresh daily. With Instagram Blend, you can create a Reels feed in a one-on-one DM with another person or in a group chat with friends or family.

Read more
I tested the Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e’s cameras, and the two almost tied
A person holding the Google Pixel 9a and Apple iPhone 16e.

The Google Pixel 9a’s arch rival, almost regardless of whether you are trying to decide which one to buy, is the Apple iPhone 16e. Just like dogs chase cats, a new Pixel phone will go up against an iPhone in a camera test at some point, and over the past week or so, we’ve worked to answer the question of which phone takes better photos, the Pixel 9a or the iPhone 16e.
The camera specs
Google Pixel 9a (left) and Apple iPhone 16e Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The two phones have very different camera systems. The Google Pixel 9a has a 48-megapixel main camera with an f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS), plus a 13MP wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. On the front is a 13MP selfie camera.

Read more
After delays, the Google Pixel 9a is finally available to buy: These are the best deals
A video playing on the Google Pixel 9a.

After a lot of waiting, delays, and hype for the Google Pixel 9a, there's no shame if your hype died down a bit. But now it's here, and we've reviewed the Pixel 9a as "a brilliant phone to buy" and even find picking between the Pixel 9a and regular Pixel 9 a "close call." The Google Pixel 9a retails for $499, and you can see it in the store for yourself by tapping the button below. But there are a lot of offers going on that you need to know about before making your purchasing decision to ensure you get the best deal. Here, we're going to detail all of Google's offers on the phone so you can get the best deal for your unique situation.

What Google Pixel 9a deal is best for you?
Depending on what you have and what you want, there is a different Google Pixel 9a deal out there for you:

Read more