r/Android • u/iamryanmsd • 4d ago

Face Unlock vs. Fingerprint Scanner: What’s your main way to unlock your phone?

Hey everyone, just curious what the split is like here.

I’ve been using a phone with a fast fingerprint scanner for a long time, but a lot of newer devices are putting a massive emphasis on upgrading their biometric Face Unlock setups to work better in pitch-black low light.

If your phone has both options available, which one do you actually find yourself using more throughout a normal day? Do you prefer the instant speed of face unlock or the reliable muscle memory of a fingerprint sensor?

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u/trickster721 3d ago

Fingerprint. Taking the fingerprint sensors off the back was a terrible decision. Now I have to tap the screen to wake it up, and then use the fingerprint sensor to unlock, adding an extra step.

Using facial recognition is like if somebody was trying to think up the most ridiculous and inefficient possible method of unlocking your phone, as a joke. Should we assign functions to different facial expressions? There's also a perfectly good microphone, so why not just whisper the password? Why not use the accelerometer to detect a specific dance routine?

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u/never0101 2d ago

My pixel 3 xl has the absolute most perfect fingerprint scanner location. It sat almost exactly where my finger would land when picking it up. I miss hardware fingerprint scanners. In screen is just terrible and so much more inconsistent even with years of being used in phones.