Apple and Samsung WISH they could make this phone - On-screen Fingerprint Reader

This CES 2018 hands-on from Linus Tech Tips showcases Synaptics’ first live demonstration of an in-screen fingerprint sensor, the Clear ID FS9500, integrated into a phone with a 6.4 inch OLED display. The host explains the layered structure of the display, describing a glass digitizer on top of an OLED panel with tiny holes that let light reach the sensor underneath, enabling fingerprint reading through the display. While the feature is impressive, the host notes visibility is highly angle-dependent and only noticeable under certain lighting, with the fingerprint becoming nearly invisible at normal viewing angles on dark backgrounds and barely visible on light ones. The device is described as a 2018 CES prototype with a Samsung OLED panel and a traditional microUSB port, plus a headphone jack, for reference. Although the speed is not on par with established solutions like the iPhone 8, the system is presented as a viable, interactive step toward fully display-embedded biometrics, highlighting the potential for future all-display smartphones. The segment includes a light plug for Squarespace sponsorship but remains focused on the display technology, the user experience of unlocking through the screen, and the broader implications for smartphone design. The video closes with a nod to the significance of this development for the industry and a call to subscribe for more CES coverage.

Topics · Science & Technology · Smartphones · Gadgets · Consumer Electronics · Technology Demonstrations · CES 2018