The Nexus 6 would have a fingerprint sensor, but Apple prevented it

The Nexus 6 was originally set to feature a fingerprint sensor nestled in the dimple on the back of the device. The news comes as the result of an interview with Dennis Woodside, former CEO of Motorola. What was the reason for the decision that left the production model without a fingerprint sensor? Apple. If not for the technology giant, the Nexus 6 would have a fingerprint sensor.

In 2012, Apple purchased Authentec, a supplier of mobile fingerprint recognition scanners. Authentec was considered the best company in the category, and Motorola had previously utilized Authentec technology in the Motorola Atrix 4G. Without Authentec, “the second best supplier was the only one available to everyone else in the industry and they weren’t there yet.”

As such, Motorola made the decision to leave out the fingerprint sensor altogether. The move, although disappointing to some, was likely the wisest option. Fingerprint sensors that aren’t top-notch lead to an experience that’s more frustrating than helpful. Look at devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One max for confirmation of that. When trying to create a device that offers the best experience, as the Nexus 6 aims for, you can’t include a feature that’s half-baked.

source: androidandme