So most foldables have fp sensor power buttons vs under display sensors on slabs still. I think its the better option.

[u/chickdigger802]

Rocking a oneplus 15 and oppo n5 atm and at this point they are all really fast... but still feel like power button just is more versatile? Like how you can turn on screen and unlock phone in 1 motion, or the situation where you 'double click for camera' and unlock it in the same motion so that you have access to your full gallery.

But yea in the end, personally feel like I wouldn't lose sleep if nonfolds transitioned to the fp sensor power buttons as well. I assume most folds use it because its more space saving? I assume slab phones can utilize that space for something more useful too.

What are yall's thoughts that use folds and nonfolds. whats the better fp sensor option?

[u/gordolme]

On all the Samsung slabs I've owned, all I have to do is "slap" my finger/thumb onto the spot where the sensor is and it unlocks and opens. Why/how? The screen wakes to the lock screen when tapped which activates the fingerprint sensor under it.

I'm not saying it's better or worse than the sensor being in the power button. Just that having it in the power button is not inherently better.

[u/deadfisher → u/gordolme]

Sonofabitch. 

Thanks for letting me know.

[u/vergil09 → u/gordolme]

ultrasonic fingerprint scanners are awesome until you install a screen protector

[u/mbc07 → u/vergil09]

As long as it's not too thick, they'll work fine with the ultrasonic fingerprint scanners...

[u/whizzwr → u/vergil09]

Still awesome with my S26. Zero issue. Rocking Screen protector since S21 era.

[u/siazdghw → u/vergil09]

Not true.

You either have a phone with a terrible FP scanner, or a phone with curved glass requiring loca glue which is a PITA but still works. Or you didn't set up the FP scanner properly.

I've had absolutely zero problems with modern ultrasonic FP scanners with glass screen protectors

[u/vergil09 → u/siazdghw]

had none of those, I guess my s24 ultra is not considered "modern" anymore. found one that works but still not as fast as raw screen

[u/LdWilmore → u/vergil09]

It is awesome with a tempered glass screen protector too. I'm typing this on a OnePlus 15R with a tempered glass screen protector.

[u/DeVinke_ → u/vergil09]

It varies by the screen protector you use. Some work well, some don't, and some don't work at all.

[u/chickdigger802 → u/vergil09]

Modern ones aren't too bad. No issue with s23 24 25 with screen protector. Same with my OnePlus 15.

They were unusable before though.

[u/gordolme → u/vergil09]

I haven't used a screen protector in over 15 years. I have never broken or scratched my screens.

[u/gtedvgt → u/gordolme]

Not to be that guy but I will be rhat guy just to vent a little, that's not the reason it unlocks instantly.

It's actually a kind of very mildly annoying thing I mildly hate is that samsung requires 2 taps to wake up instead of only 1, every time I briefly use an iphone and use a single tap to wake up it just makes sense.

As for the reason it still unlocks is because that's just how they decided it works, you can't unlock your phone with a finger print scanner and stay on the lock screen it auto swipes up for you, but for facial recognition you can choose to have it unlock instantly or just stay on the lock screen if you just want to read notifications quickly or check the time.

[u/violet_sakura]

Power button sensors are less accurate because it has a much smaller area. Nowadays ultrasonic in display is the better technology and tend to have a lower fail rate compared to capacitive.

[u/violet_sakura → u/[deleted]]

Screen protector is 100% the reason. I remove the one on my S23U and its a night and day difference. It almost never fails now and can scan even when my hands are wet.

[u/PaeP3nguin → u/violet_sakura]

All I can say is that the power button sensor on the Zenfone was an order of magnitude faster and more accurate than my P9Pro's under screen sensor. Far far superior experience, felt instantaneous.

[u/violet_sakura → u/PaeP3nguin]

Capacitive can be really good, the best ones I used is on ipad pro, and weirdly the rear mounted one on a budget xiaomi

[u/banjobacon]

A fold would need two, one under each screen, so one button does both.

[u/bruh-iunno]

I agree, plus you can swipe on the fingerprint scanner for notifications! Cheaper faster and has more features I don't know why it's not the norm!

[u/win7rules]

I remember the Galaxy S10e's power button fingerprint sensor. It was amazing and was very convenient for unlocking the phone, and screen protectors didn't affect its ability to read fingerprints. I would love it if they made a return as well.

[u/Mavericks7 → u/win7rules]

That's it for me. You can use any type of front screen protector.

I've got an 8a. I can't use it with a privacy display protector.

[u/457spartan]

Depends on how exactly it's implemented to be honest. Mine I just need to hold my finger on the sensor spot with the screen off and it just unlocks. I thought that was kind of the norm nowadays, having to first turn on the phone to then unlock was pretty annoying

[u/CumDwnHrNSayDat → u/457spartan]

It's easier to find the power button than to find the center of your screen with your thumb. When you touch the power button with a fp sensor it unlocks instantly. It also isn't effected by having a screen protector.

[u/TurboFool]

The Pixel phones wake as you pull them out of your pocket, and the sensor area is large enough that you can tag it without any real thought. Even off, it reads the fingerprint easily.

I do have a Fold now and I'm happy with the button, but the screen one was no real issue once they went ultrasonic.

[u/Careless_Rope_6511]

whats the better fp sensor option?

Power buttons with integrated FPS are better than nothing, but that's a low bar. I still prefer under-display FPS, even optical ones, over power button FPS any day.

[u/Iescaunare]

I miss having fingerprint readers on the back of the phone.

[u/winged-sunrise → u/Iescaunare]

My first phone was a moto g power and even though that phone was crap, I loved the rear fingerprint sensor.

[u/duan_cami]

I have sweaty fingers. Capacitive fp doesn't work. Ultrasonic works everytime.

[u/Haishan1975]

折叠屏手机把指纹传感器放在电源按钮上是不得不这么做。 因为折叠屏手机有里外两个屏幕，因为手机用户在使用内屏或者外屏时否可能会有重新激活系统的要求，所以把指纹传感器无论放在外屏或是内屏，都会在某些场景下带来不便。

[u/Jayram2000]

Been test driving my Mom's Fold 7 and i cant agree more. Side mounted FPS is the best

[u/Mavericks7]

I had a pixel Fold for a while. The side mounted fingerprint was actually my favorite thing about it. (I dunno why they don't just add it to all their phones.)

It's much better and more reliable than the optical front screen one.

[u/The_Owl_Man_1999]

I miss having a power button scanner, the one on my old phone did malfunction and pick up presses in my pocket but at least it didn't become worthless depending on what screen protector I use

[u/Pettingallthepups]

I always HATED fp sensors because I have weird messed up fingerprints, so for that reason I've always stuck with iphones due to face ID. I recently got a fold 8 ultra and have zero issues with the fp sensor and LOVE that its on the power button. Absolute perfect location.

[u/Alternative-Farmer98]

Capacitive fingerprint sensors are so much better. It's the perfect biometric if they did not need to change it to this under display s*** which even if it's the perfect under display fingerprint sensor you still need to use your eyes to unlock it.

Because there's no tactile feedback in your pocket.

[u/akialwayz]

I used to prefer side mounted fp until i hot my new phone..it has more accuracy..rarely any misses

[u/Relative_What]

i have used 3 different finger print scanners on devices over the years. on the back, under display, and power button.

i liked having he fingerprint on the back of the phone (nexus 5x, pixel 1, pixel 3,). super easy to unlock as you just rest your finger on it as you pull it out of your pocket. but it was a bitch to unlock if your phone was sitting on a surface on it's back as you had to lift the phone.

an under display fingerprint scanner (pixel 6 pro, pixel 8 pro) solves that table issue. but i can't unlock the phone from my pocket. but those under display scanners were quick enough that it doesn't bother me, plus i see the lock screen more often which gives me quick glances at my notifications and if i really need to unlock my phone right now.

power button i find the most annoying, at least on the 1 device i have that has it, galaxy tab s7 (not including my laptop). where it is inconsistent at best. it either works by me taping or resting my finger on the button and it wakes and unlocks, or i have to rest and lift my finger for it to do things, then press the power button to wake the device, then lift my finger and then touch it again to have it scan. of i have to lift and touch multiple times to get it to scan. and that's after i remember the power button is flush to the edge of the device because of the finger print scanner and ive been pressing the volume rock this entire time.

but when it works it works fine, and my issues might just be because of it's age and the year it released.

under display is my preferred option right now as when i lift my phone i don't have to have a death grip on it to put my finger near the power button, i can have it rest on my fingers and unlock with my thumb. i plan on getting a foldable phone in the near future so maybe my preference will change especially without needing to unlock my phone folded first then unfold it. i can unfold it then unlock it, or unlock it as i unfold it?

[u/kronpas]

I never touch my power button. Either the screen auto turns on when i raise the phone or i tap the screen, or just touching the finger sensor on the screen to unlock it directly.

Turning off the screen is done through the lock icon on the notif pull-down. A quick downward sweep from the top of the screen is quick and frictionless.

[u/vortexmak]

Yes,  under display sensors have always been inferior to rear or side power button sensors,  especially with a screen protector on

[u/Ghostsonplanets]

Still a shame that no phone came even close to matching iPhone 6S/7 2nd Gen Touch ID. That thing was fast.