Qualcomm’s new ultrasonic fingerprint reader offers 50% faster speed

The sensor could debut with Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S21 smartphone series.

Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2 unveiled (Qualcomm )

Qualcomm has introduced a new and significantly improved ultrasonic fingerprint reader. Dubbed as 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2, Qualcomm's new sensor offers 77% larger fingerprint reader area and captures 1.7x more biometric data. The company says it is about 50% faster than the current generation of its fingerprint reader.

Qualcomm says the larger and faster fingerprint reader will make the process unlocking the device quicker than ever. The new fingerprint reader will be available on mobile devices early this year.

Apart from being super fast, Qualcomm's new sensor is just 0.2mm thick. The slim size will make it compatible with new form factors including the full edge-to-edge flexible OLED displays. It also offers an edge over the contemporary sensors as the new sensor allows the device to be unlocked even when your fingers are wet.

“Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 1 was 4x9mm (surface area 36mm2). Gen 2 will debut with a sensor that is 8x8 (64mm2), which is 77% larger than Gen 1,” said Qualcomm in a post.

It is worth noting that Qualcomm's first-gen Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor was featured in many flagship smartphones including Samsung Galaxy S10, Note10, S20, and Note20 series. The upcoming 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2 will most likely debut with the Samsung Galaxy S21 series.

Interestingly, Qualcomm's new sensor is not larger than the 3D Sonic Max, which the company had showcased in 2019. The chip, however, did not offer any significant speed improvements over the original 3D Sonic Sensor. Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2 is likely to address this gap with its speed enhancements.