According to a leak from Weibo user Smart Pikachu, the upcoming Xiaomi 15 series could see a significant upgrade in its fingerprint scanning technology. The leak suggests that all three models – the Xiaomi 15, 15 Pro, and 15 Ultra – might ditch the optical in-display fingerprint scanners of their predecessor and adopt ultrasonic fingerprint sensors.
Ultrasonic fingerprint technology has been gaining traction in the flagship phone market, with brands like Samsung incorporating it into their high-end devices.
Unlike optical scanners that use light to read fingerprints, ultrasonic sensors utilize sound waves to create a more detailed 3D map of the fingerprint. This can potentially offer several advantages, including:
- Improved security: Ultrasonic sensors are claimed to be more secure than optical scanners as they are less susceptible to being fooled by spoofing attempts like photographs or printed replicas.
- Better performance in wet/dry conditions: Optical scanners can struggle with wet or dirty fingers, whereas ultrasonic sensors are said to function more reliably under varying conditions.
- Faster unlocking speeds: Some reports suggest that ultrasonic sensors can offer faster unlocking times compared to optical scanners.
While the sensor has better accuracy and faster unlocking speed, it’s also more expensive to implement.
While the leak from Smart Pikachu seems to suggest all three Xiaomi 15 models will receive the upgrade, it’s important to note that this information remains unconfirmed by Xiaomi itself.
Additionally, there’s no mention of the specific type of ultrasonic sensor being considered. Some manufacturers utilize a “single-point” solution, while others employ a larger sensor area for potentially faster and more reliable unlocking.
The Xiaomi 15 series is expected to launch sometime in November, likely powered by the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset. With a few months still away from the official unveiling, we can expect more details and confirmation regarding the fingerprint technology and other features to surface in the coming weeks.
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