Recognition: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
- Google could add an in-display fingerprint sensor to future Pixel phones.
- Several references to built-in fingerprint sensors were found in the Android 12 DP2 code.
Google has mostly stuck to its rear physical fingerprint scanners since the Pixel series began. However, the technology has now started to show its age, as Android competitors have already made massive use of in-display fingerprint sensors. Now it looks like Google is finally coming over and planning to add fingerprint sensors in the display to future Pixel phones.
A developer named kdrag0n on Twitter (via XDA developer) found references to Google’s potential plans in the code of Android 12 Developer Preview 2. Several new code classes were discovered in the SystemUIGoogle app. One of them is called “UdfpsControllerGoogle”, with “Udfps” apparently referring to “fingerprint scanner under the display”.
Similar references were also found in the code of the first Android 12 Developer Preview. They didn’t specifically associate in-display fingerprint sensor support with Pixel devices, however. This time around, the new Udfps code suggests that the feature is being developed for Pixel phones rather than AOSP.
Obviously, this is not enough evidence to conclude that future Pixel phones will have fingerprint sensors on the display. For example, we already know from leaked renders that the Pixel 5a will most likely keep a physical fingerprint reader. But there have been times when future Pixel features have been leaked through Android code. So let’s wait and see if Google is finally ready to update its hardware.
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