Me too. Back facing fingerprint sensors were so ergonomic and responsive. Phone makers literally unanimously decided to throw away the best option for all kinds of sub optimal alternatives.
Go Lineage, Pixels are super easy to update. And then root, so you can run Kernel Adiutor and make it really fast while still having better battery life.
I have a 2018 phone that people think is new because of Lineage and KA.
Several Pixels are hitting EOL right now. The 4a received its last update in August. The 5 loses support in 2 days. The 4a 5G loses support next month.
I have a Pixel 7 Pro. I came from an S22 Ultra (ultrasonic) and I find the one on the P7 Pro to only be marginally worse. Instead of 95/100 it’s probably closer to 90/100. The most annoying thing for me is that it blasts like which (at night) can be annoying. But have you used it personally? I’m interested if there’s something that makes it noticeably worse for some people.
I have a pixel 6. In addition to the occasional missed swipes in general, which are annoying and count for something compared to the 100% instant unlock rate I had with my rear scanner, I feel like if I’m not careful about the exact angle at which I tap my thumb, or the exact position where I center my thumb, it registers wrong. When I hold my phone naturally, my thumb is positioned wrong, it comes in a little too sideways to register. So after I get it wrong a couple of times, I need to carefully hold my phone in an awkward position or bend my thumb in a weird way to make sure I hit the exact right spot at the exact right angle. And then sometimes it’s still wrong, so I try to change the position and use a different finger. And with all that effort, I’ve still gotten locked out of my phone a couple of times.
None of that shit with the rear scanner, it just works, my phone is always unlocked before I see it.
Well, I can’t argue with the rear scanner being better. I picked up my Nexus 6P the other day and it still works perfectly. Long live rear fingerprints!
I’m not sure what I’ve done differently, but my under screen reader on my 6 pro is more reliable than the back reader on my pixel 3.
Obviously my one data point doesn’t negate the vast swathes of people who do have issues, but for me I may not even elect to use face unlock. Seems unnecessarily insecure.
They should have just used the Qualcomm ultrasonic sensor that Samsung uses under their displays. It is brilliant and even works through some types of screen protectors, and some types of (medical) gloves. But Google seems hell-bent on never using Qualcomm components in their phones anymore, to the detriment of their users.
Same here, every time I make a comment on this topic I get shot back that the fingerprint reader on phone X is wonderful. In my experience, the only fingerprint readers that consistently worked were those on the back of the phone. In either case, I’ll take face unlock any day over a fingerprint reader. Just another thing that Apple got right and then never looked back. 
I feel like the main reason it’s a big deal is the fact that the front-facing fingerprint scanner sucks ass.
Yup, I’d prefer a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone than what we have today
Or power button. Even the Samsung screen sensors haven’t been as reliable as the good old dedicated ones.
Me too. Back facing fingerprint sensors were so ergonomic and responsive. Phone makers literally unanimously decided to throw away the best option for all kinds of sub optimal alternatives.
Biggest thing I miss about my Pixel 3. And the size.
Same! I miss being able to use it for swipe actions like I could on my note 9 a few years ago too…
That coupled with gestures on the sensor is absolute goat
I’ve been reluctant to give up my 4a because of the rear fingerprint sensor. Now that we’ve hit October, I’m trying to figure out what to do.
October? Is that a reference to OS updates?
Go Lineage, Pixels are super easy to update. And then root, so you can run Kernel Adiutor and make it really fast while still having better battery life.
I have a 2018 phone that people think is new because of Lineage and KA.
Several Pixels are hitting EOL right now. The 4a received its last update in August. The 5 loses support in 2 days. The 4a 5G loses support next month.
I have a pixel 6 pro and the on screen fingerprint scanner is nothing but frustrating.
I have a Pixel 7 Pro. I came from an S22 Ultra (ultrasonic) and I find the one on the P7 Pro to only be marginally worse. Instead of 95/100 it’s probably closer to 90/100. The most annoying thing for me is that it blasts like which (at night) can be annoying. But have you used it personally? I’m interested if there’s something that makes it noticeably worse for some people.
I have a pixel 6. In addition to the occasional missed swipes in general, which are annoying and count for something compared to the 100% instant unlock rate I had with my rear scanner, I feel like if I’m not careful about the exact angle at which I tap my thumb, or the exact position where I center my thumb, it registers wrong. When I hold my phone naturally, my thumb is positioned wrong, it comes in a little too sideways to register. So after I get it wrong a couple of times, I need to carefully hold my phone in an awkward position or bend my thumb in a weird way to make sure I hit the exact right spot at the exact right angle. And then sometimes it’s still wrong, so I try to change the position and use a different finger. And with all that effort, I’ve still gotten locked out of my phone a couple of times.
None of that shit with the rear scanner, it just works, my phone is always unlocked before I see it.
Well, I can’t argue with the rear scanner being better. I picked up my Nexus 6P the other day and it still works perfectly. Long live rear fingerprints!
I’m not sure what I’ve done differently, but my under screen reader on my 6 pro is more reliable than the back reader on my pixel 3.
Obviously my one data point doesn’t negate the vast swathes of people who do have issues, but for me I may not even elect to use face unlock. Seems unnecessarily insecure.
Mine has also been very reliable.
They should have just used the Qualcomm ultrasonic sensor that Samsung uses under their displays. It is brilliant and even works through some types of screen protectors, and some types of (medical) gloves. But Google seems hell-bent on never using Qualcomm components in their phones anymore, to the detriment of their users.
I was gunna say, my Samsung front glass sensor is excellent , as fast as previous back glass ones.
I prefer side mound of back, purely for ergonomics, but otherwise its very rare I get issues.
Same here, every time I make a comment on this topic I get shot back that the fingerprint reader on phone X is wonderful. In my experience, the only fingerprint readers that consistently worked were those on the back of the phone. In either case, I’ll take face unlock any day over a fingerprint reader. Just another thing that Apple got right and then never looked back.