Google Pixel 6 fingerprint sensor is the weakest part of a killer Android phone

(Image credit: Future)

Update: Google is reportedly in real time working happening a fix for the Pixel 6 fingermark problems .

In our Google Pixel 6 review, we praised the in vogue pure Android call for its impressive camera performance, smart features, fascinating project and a very competitive Leontyne Price. As so much, I was excited to give Google's latest phone a spin.

Simply exterior of the box, there's an prompt annoyance with the Pel 6: the under-display fingermark sensor. While it's neatly positioned in the lower center of the display where one's rif can easily reach, I've set up the detector's performance a dwarfish unreliable hitherto.

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And I'm non alone, every bit my colleagues over at TechRadar induce reported some inconsistencies with the fingermark scanner. Sundry Pixel 6 chatter happening Reddit has also surfaced that the image scanner isn't unflawed.

The nigh notable issue is that the Pel 6's translation is just a bit slower than other nether-display fingerprint sensors. In that respect's a dissever-second delay between touching the scanner plane section of the expose and the call up unlocking, at least when compared to my Oppo Observe X3 Favoring and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, both of which economic consumption optical under display scanners. And I've found the scanner needs a firmer, more direct press of a finger than other Android phones I've used.

I'm non the most impatient man, so I'd not usually begrudge a svelte delay when unlocking my phone. Simply I'm a big user of phone-based contactless payments, especially when road on Capital of the United Kingdom's Underground. And at rush hour the Split-second disparity between a phone unlocking can mean the divergence between sailplaning through an gangway gate or getting rear-finished by an onrushing commuter.

The Pixel 6 is the first Google phone to come with an low-level-display fingerprint scanner, so a a couple of teething problems are to be expected. But after the sagittiform but OH-so-snappy and responsive rear-mounted capacitive fingermark digital scanner on the Google Picture element 5, it's a little cacophonous to forthwith have a sensor that isn't as snappy and lags behind those found on some of the Sunday-go-to-meeting Android phones.

A noticeable delay is one thing, a lack of responsiveness or dependableness is another, And that's the main sticking out point for me with the Pixel 6 and its fingermark sensor.

The phone seems to dependably open when I use the scanner with my socialistic thumb, but struggled to recognize the fingerprint happening my true pass thumb, despite the fact I've scanned it in twice.

What's more befuddling is I'd have assumed my left thumb would be the problem child, every bit it has a lump of pi tissue in it subsequently I chopped the front of it off in an accident with a gun. But it works fine, albeit with the aforementioned Split-second spread 'tween scanning and unlocking the phone. Yet my perfectly non-deformed right-hand thumb seems to really mess with the Pixel 6, to the extent that information technology then bounced ME back to needing to enter a PIN to unlock the phone.

It's unclear if this is a hardware or computer software problem. I've not dismissed user error, though two scans of the same finger usually gets past fussy scanners; maybe I'm simply best with my left-of-center hand. Disregarding, I'm hoping Google does some software tweaks to optimise the scanner to comprise a little more responsive.

Should these concerns put you off from acquiring the Picture element 6? Well, no. I deman to use the phone for a little longer to gather my thoughts, but our review was glowing and I'm liking the Pixel 6 thus far. And at $599 with very much of very good features the Pixel 6 is not a phone that can be well dismissed for a couple of minor flaws unless you are exceptionally fussy; that can chance if you've spent years of your spirit reviewing phones!

I've also been using the Pixel 6 Favoring, and piece its fingerprint scanner isn't ideal, I feel the Google Pixel 6 is the Android phone I've been waiting for.

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Roland Moore-Colyer is U.K. Editor program at Tom's Guide with a rive on news, features and opinion articles. He frequently writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; He's also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can live found wandering around London, oftentimes with a see of curiosity on his face.