Xiaomi is said to be working on ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanners.
The company may introduce ultrasonic scanners with the upcoming Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Xiaomi may also switch from optical to ultrasonic fingerprint scanners on all of its upcoming flagships.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is one of the highly anticipated flagships from the company for its camera prowess. We have heard plenty about the device from reports suggesting a variable aperture lens, the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and even the battery details.
The latest report from tipster Digital Chat Station suggests that Xiaomi may finally switch to using ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanners with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. This new scanner will not just be faster, but will also users to unlock their devices even with moist fingers.
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Xiaomi 14 Ultra Goes Galaxy S23 Way: May Get an Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner
While most modern flagships now feature under-display fingerprint scanners, a majority of them are optical scanners that take a picture of your fingerprint to verify your biometrics. It’s a quick and affordable way to place the scanner beneath the screen, and hence brands also implement it on mid-range devices.
However, this technology comes with a huge drawback where you have to place your finger over an exact point for the scanner to function. If your fingers are wet, moist, or oily, an optical fingerprint scanner will not be able to verify your identity.
This is why some brands like Samsung use ultrasonic fingerprint scanners, which eliminates these drawbacks. These scanners emit ultrasonic waves, which bounce from your finger back to the sensor. It works even when your fingers are wet. Vivo offers a wide-area ultrasonic scanner where users can place their finger anywhere in the lower half of the screen to unlock their device, instead of placing it at a specific point.
DCS says that Xiaomi has started testing ultrasonic fingerprint scanners for its upcoming device, which could launch next year. Although the post does not mention the exact device name, the timeline suggested by DCS hints that the company may feature an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
However, Xiaomi is said to be working on a single-point ultrasonic scanner, meaning that users could still be required to place their finger over a specific point on their screen. But it still outweighs the regular optical fingerprint scanners in all other aspects.
Earlier this year, DCS had also reported that Goodix, one of the largest suppliers of fingerprint scanners to Android OEMs, has completed the development of ultrasonic fingerprint scanners. These were also more cost-effective than Qualcomm’s scanners, causing companies to lean towards Goodix.
Xiaomi is expected to replace optical scanners with ultrasonic scanners on all of its upcoming flagships. These should gradually make their way to mid-range and budget devices as the technology is expected to get more affordable in the next few years.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra Expected Launch Date
Xiaomi has not officially confirmed the launch date of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra yet. As per previous reports, the device is expected to launch in China in April 2024. However, The company could remain conservative with the global launch given the high price of its upcoming flagship. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was spotted on EEC certification, hitting that the company could launch it in the European markets.
Xiaomi did not launch the Xiaomi 13 Ultra in India last year. Instead, the company launched the Xiaomi 13 Pro in the country for Rs 79,999 which is one of the most expensive Xiaomi devices in India. Due to the high price-entry barrier and the company’s evergreen focus in the mid-range segment, Xiaomi may skip the Xiaomi 14 Ultra from its Indian lineup.
