Synaptics in-display fingerprint reader enters mass production for ‘top 5 OEM’

Smartphone makers that use fingerprint readers usually put ‘em in one of three places: below the display, on the side of the phone, or on the back near the camera. Thanks to a new Synaptics part, though, we’re going to see a device with a new fingerprint reader placement.

Synaptics has announced the mass production of its Clear ID FS9500 optical in-display fingerprint sensor. The company is teaming with a “top five OEM” on mass production of this part, but Synaptics won’t say which company that is.

Also of note is that Synaptics is offering press and analysts the opportunity to get a live demo if this in-display fingerprint sensor on a “full-production, soon to be announced Tier 1 customer phone”.

As for the Clear ID in-display fingerprint sensor itself, Synaptics says that it’s designed for “smartphones with infinity displays.” The sensor works with wet, dry, and cold fingers, Synaptics says, and the company claims that the sensor is twice as fast as 3D facial recognition

So which device might Synaptics be hinting at in its announcement? We know it’s coming from a top 5 OEM, which narrows down our options to companies like Samsung and Huawei. The fact that Synaptics says that its in-display fingerprint sensor is designed for smartphones with infinity displays hints that it could be a Samsung device because Samsung calls the displays on its flagship Galaxy smartphones “Infinity Displays.” Samsung is also likely planning to announce its Galaxy S9 in the early months of 2018, which could make it a candidate to be shown behind closed doors at CES in January.

Which device do you think will be the first with Synaptics’ in-display fingerprint sensor?

source: androidandme