Welcome to\u00a0TNW Basics<\/a>, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve used any modern Android devices, you\u2019ll have come across the current unlocking trend: the in-screen fingerprint scanner.<\/p>\n Over the past decade of smartphones, one of the clearest usability evolutions has been\u00a0how<\/em>\u00a0we unlock our devices. We\u2019ve moved from typing in passcodes, to fingerprint scanners, to facial recognition, but the method most seen at the moment is the aforementioned in-screen fingerprint scanner.<\/p>\n For those not in the know, this \u2014 as the name suggests \u2014 is a fingerprint scanner that sits underneath the screen. With the current race to make screens as large as possible (I\u2019m looking at you, OPPO Reno<\/a>), the extra space saved by hiding an unlocking mechanism under the display is paramount. This is why devices like\u00a0the Samsung Galaxy S10+<\/a> and\u00a0the Huawei P30 Pro<\/a> use the technology.<\/p>\n Thing is\u2026\u00a0how do in-screen fingerprint scanners actually work? Like, really. Well, we\u2019re here to show you.<\/p>\n Basically, there are two main ways in-screen fingerprint scanners function. The first is the optical technique.<\/p>\n This is the older of the two methods, so is more likely to be found on either phones from a few years ago, or budget-friendly devices (like the Meizu 16s<\/a>).<\/p>\n Simply put, optical in-screen fingerprint scanners work by projecting light.<\/p>\n The functioning area of the in-screen scanner (which you can see in the image above) illuminates the finger. Then, a sensor or camera underneath the screen grabs an image of the digit. This is then compared to the stored version on the phone and, if it matches, it\u2019s unlocked. Simple!<\/p>\n While optical is an older technology, ultrasonic is currently all the rage. Specifically, this is the method used on the flagship phones from Samsung<\/a>, Huawei<\/a>, and other premium phone makers.<\/p>\n Instead of using light, the ultrasonic approach uses \u2014 drumroll please \u2014 ultrasonic (AKA high frequency sound) waves. Woo! When you place your finger on the scanner, an ultrasonic wave is produced, which interacts with the finger\u2019s skin and bounces back.<\/p>\n In other words, the ultrasonic method creates a 3D map of a digit, as compared to the flat image of the optical approach. This also means it\u2019ll work better if your fingers are wet or dirty.<\/p>\n This ultrasonic method also has large security implications.\u00a0While, in theory, you might be able to fool an optical sensor with a photograph of a fingerprint, an ultrasonic in-screen scanner is much harder to hoodwink \u2014 you\u2019d need a 3D model of a finger, and even that might not work depending on the tech.<\/p>\n So, there you have it! A simple explanation of how the hell an in-screen fingerprint scanner actually works. Thank us later.<\/p>\n For more gear, gadget, and hardware news and reviews, follow Plugged on \n Published July 23, 2019 \u2014 13:33 UTC\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/fingerprint-scanner-1-796x1232.png\")
Method one: optical<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/fingerprint-scanner-2-796x1161.png\")
Method two: ultrasonic<\/h2>\n
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