Rumor: Xiaomi to use ultrasonic fingerprint scanners on phones

Xiaomi would switch to ultrasonic fingerprint scanners instead of optical ones for more expensive models. It was previously rumored that OnePlus will do the same. These scanners are now mainly known from Samsung's Galaxy S phones.

Xiaomi's Redmi K80 Pro would get an ultrasonic scanner, reports IT Home based on information from Digital Chat Station. The same rumor was previously about the Xiaomi 15 and OnePlus 13. This means that the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner could soon end up on many more phones.

The optical fingerprint scanners that many manufacturers have been using in recent years are small cameras behind the screen that detect an illuminated fingerprint. Ultrasonic versions, on the other hand, work with ultrasound. The scanner emits a sound that passes through the screen and the glass layer above it and reflects against the fingertip. By capturing and measuring that reflection, the fingerprint can be derived.

Samsung's Galaxy S phones have had such ultrasonic scanners since 2019's Galaxy S10, which have the potential to work faster and more accurately. Samsung's cheaper phones with a fingerprint scanner behind the screen, such as FE phones, have an optical scanner. Phones from many other manufacturers, including Xiaomi, OnePlus and Google, have optical scanners.

Vivo X21's fingerprint scanner behind the screen