Google probably wants to install a completely new fingerprint sensor this year, we could see a change in the new Google Pixel 6 for the first time.
Google Pixel 6: The next top smartphone from Google is still a few months away, but the preview version of the next Android generation doesn’t want to keep any secrets. With the new developer preview of Android 12, Google already seems to reveal where the fingerprint sensor is in the new smartphone. This year, Google seems to be taking a somewhat more modern path again, after the sensor on Pixel 5 and Co. was back in its old position.
A developer was able to discover several new classes directly in a Google app, including the one called “UdfpsControllerGoogle”, which at first glance is meaningless. Meaningless until you can decipher the abbreviation. This stands for “Under Display Fingerprint Sensor”. The relationships found indicate that this new class in the source code is not intended generically for such fingerprint sensors, but for the next pixel smartphones.
Google Pixel 6: New sensor could also indicate a major design upgrade
Of course, we still need to be careful with these discoveries and clues. None of this is officially confirmed, and things are still subject to change. Nevertheless, we and our colleagues at XDA think the timing is right. Google has been waiting for several generations of these under-display fingerprint sensors. However, the latest generation from Qualcomm is extremely fast and therefore an attractive alternative to the sensor on the back of the smartphone.
Google would hardly just move the fingerprint sensor and leave the rest of the device in the same condition as the Pixel 5. A major conversion could take place, which brings more differences to the design of the predecessor. However, due to the recent years, we do not expect the Google phones to make any major leaps in design. Much more of an optimization, perhaps to increase factors such as the battery capacity again.
