3D fingerprint scanner

Galaxy S23 might feature next-gen Qualcomm fingerprint scanner

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Phone

By Asif Iqbal Shaik

Last updated: November 24th, 2022 at 10:51 UTC+01:00

The Galaxy S10 was the first Samsung phone with an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader. However, its performance wasn’t very reliable. The company brought Qualcomm’s second-generation ultrasonic fingerprint to the Galaxy S21. Now, it looks like Samsung’s next-generation high-end smartphone will get an even better fingerprint reader.

According to some rumors, the Galaxy S23 will feature Qualcomm’s third-generation ultrasonic fingerprint reader. However, we are unsure whether it’s the same 3D Sonic Max sensor Qualcomm debuted earlier this year or a completely different fingerprint scanner. If it’s the 3D Sonic Max, we are in for a treat, as it is the world’s biggest and most advanced fingerprint reader.

The Qualcomm 3D Sonic Max has a surface area of 20mm x 30mm, which is almost 10x the size of the 3D Sonic Gen 2 (8mm x 8mm) scanner used in the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It has already been used in the iQOO 9 Pro and the Vivo X80 Pro. It has five times better accuracy than the 3D Sonic Gen 2 and can accommodate two fingers simultaneously for higher security. It even supports one-tap fingerprint registration, which reduces the process of registering fingerprints drastically.

Some other improvements that Samsung is rumored to bring with the Galaxy S23 series are E6 LTPO 3.0 Super AMOLED display with 2,200 nits peak brightness, a 200MP ISOCELL HP2 camera sensor (S23 Ultra only), Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, LPDDR5X RAM, UFS 4.0 storage, Wi-Fi 7, and emergency messaging via satellite communication.

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Galaxy S23 series might come with next-gen Qualcomm fingerprint scanner

This is an in-display fingerprint reader done right

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

In-display fingerprint sensors were instant hot hardware when they were first introduced in 2018, as major players embraced the ability to hide biometric authentication behind a smartphone’s screen.

They’ve earned a mixed reputation since then, though, and it’s easy to see why. The first in-display fingerprint sensors were slower and way less accurate than conventional fingerprint readers. This is still the case to an extent — see the below-average scanner in the Google Pixel 6 series. Even though today’s in-display scanners are faster and more accurate than early versions, they offer a tiny scanning area and don’t provide the tactile feedback of conventional fingerprint scanners.

The best in-display fingerprint experience today

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

Vivo’s latest flagship phone uses Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Max ultrasonic sensor for its in-display fingerprint sensor, enabling a host of benefits. The first is one-tap enrolment. As the name implies, you can fully register a fingerprint with just one tap. None of this “hold, release, hold, release, hold, release” claptrap we see on conventional in-display scanners today (followed by repeating the process for the edges of your finger).

Explained: How fingerprint scanners work — Optical, capacitive, and ultrasonic tech explained

Perhaps my favorite benefit is the much larger scanning area, measuring 20mm x 30mm². Qualcomm says this is four times bigger than its 3D Sonic Gen 2 sensor, while Vivo claims it delivers a scanning area that’s 11 times bigger than conventional in-display fingerprint sensors.

It's virtually impossible to miss a reader that's 4x bigger than older versions.

It doesn’t quite cover half the screen as we saw with previous concepts like the Vivo Apex, but the sensor inside the Vivo X80 Pro represents a huge improvement over current fingerprint scanners. Crucially, this expanded scanning area means you don’t have to search for the scanner when your eyes aren’t on your phone, such as when taking it out of your pocket. It’s virtually impossible to miss a reader this big.

The 3D Sonic Max scanner also offers fast unlocking speeds, with Qualcomm touting 0.2 seconds between touch and unlock. That figure doesn’t mean much out of context, but I did notice that the X80 Pro was a little quicker to unlock than under-display fingerprint sensors on the Vivo X70 Pro Plus and another flagship-level phone I’m currently using under embargo. The scanner works with wet fingers too, but I’ve found it sometimes takes a second try to successfully scan in these situations.

Bigger, faster, and more useful too

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

These benefits extend to more than just quick registration, fast speeds, and a large scanning area. Vivo includes the option to link an app or two to the fingerprint scanning area. You can quickly launch messaging clients, your favorite social network app, the camera, or anything else right from the unlock screen.

The only real downside is that apps requiring biometric authentication after opening, such as banking apps, still require an additional fingerprint press to log in. Furthermore, the scanning area for standard device unlocking is significantly reduced. But it says a lot that the leftover area is still comparable to conventional fingerprint scanners.

Vivo lets you set shortcuts to your favorite apps or use two-finger unlock to view a hidden app.

We’ve seen a similar app shortcut feature before from OnePlus and Xiaomi. But both require you to keep your finger held down on the scanner after unlocking and then slide over to the app shortcut. On Vivo’s new flagship, you only need one tap to unlock your phone and open that desired app seamlessly.

For what it’s worth, I’ve got the app shortcut feature disabled in favor of taking full advantage of the much wider scanning area. But we can see this being useful for your favorite messaging app or quick access to payment apps (e.g. for public transport or mobile payments in general).

Vivo also offers two-finger unlock for some cases, such as accessing app encryption functionality and viewing hidden apps. This is neat in theory, although we would’ve liked to see file safe functionality using two-finger authentication as well.

A question of availability

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this in-display fingerprint sensor used on smartphones. Vivo debuted the 3D Sonic Max fingerprint tech on last year’s Iqoo 8 Pro, and other 2022 releases like the X Note and Iqoo 9 Pro offered it as well.

More reading: Biometrics aren’t the best way to secure your phone

However, the X80 Pro marks the most readily accessible phone with this tech, being available in China and India with pending launches in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. So the chances are good that you’ll be able to experience this tech right now or very soon (unless you’re in the US).

It’s curious that Vivo is the only brand offering phones with 3D Sonic Max tech at the moment, suggesting some sort of exclusive arrangement between it and Qualcomm. So what does the chipmaker say about this?

Qualcomm told Android Authority that it wasn’t able to name specific partners for the fingerprint sensor but that “there definitely have been quite a few OEMs that have recently adopted it.”

Either way, we hope other manufacturers embrace this tech very soon, as it’s simply too good for one brand to use it exclusively.

What do you think of in-display fingerprint scanners?

806 votes

Qualcomm Sense ID Ultrasonic 3D Fingerprint Scanner Promises New Quality of Biometric Authentication / Sudo Null IT News The biometric method of protecting sensitive data using the Touch ID access control scanner, first implemented in the iPhone 5S, is already the past, according to Qualcomm.

A qualitatively new level of authentication and security of user data will be provided by the Sense ID ultrasonic 3D fingerprint scanner, which, according to the developers, is devoid of key shortcomings and vulnerabilities of Touch ID technology. The first device with Sense ID support, which is already expected to be on sale, will be the Chinese smartphone LeTV Le Max Pro with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset.0003

As you know, sensors that scan fingerprints and use the information received as a user ID is one of the popular trends that are actively implemented by many manufacturers of smartphones and mobile computers. This method of identification is convenient and relatively simple, it has a number of advantages, but it is not without its drawbacks, which are most directly reflected in the level of security of confidential data.

Recall that a few days after the start of sales of the iPhone 5S, a team of German hackers Chaos Computer Club (CCC) posted a step-by-step instruction on the website, demonstrating the ease of hacking the Touch ID fingerprint scanner installed in Apple's flagship smartphone at that time. Note that Touch ID is currently available on other Apple products, including iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 4.

The essence of the method used by the hackers was to photograph the fingerprint of the owner of the phone at a resolution of 2400 dpi (dots per inch), the minimum editing of the picture in Photoshop, its subsequent inversion and printing on a laser printer at a resolution of 1200 dpi on the surface of a standard transparent sheet, which can be purchased at the photo store. After the resulting papillary pattern was smeared with carpentry glue. The adhesive film obtained after drying is easily separated and can be placed on the fingerprint reader by anyone interested in obtaining confidential information of the smartphone owner. nine0003

As CCC spokesman Frank Rieger stated in his commentary on the material, “... False claims of benefits that the biometric industry opens up leave society in the cold. Without addressing the security issues of access to confidential information, biometrics technology was created as a way of oppression and control. In this case, information that cannot be changed is used as a cryptographic key. Moreover, it is left hourly and everywhere in the form of completely working copies,” he summed up. nine0003

_{September 2013. Demonstrating the ability to unlock TouchID in iPhone5S}

The process does not seem too complicated, although the implementation of the hacking method in practice requires the fulfillment of several conditions: a clearly defined goal, the ability to obtain a snapshot of the owner’s fingerprint in the required resolution, the presence of a minimum set of appropriate equipment. Immediately after the release of the video, Apple was criticized for developing a feature that does not increase, but, on the contrary, reduces the level of protection of the smartphone. Taking the path of increasing the comfort of access, in this case, the Cupertinites have significantly simplified the process of accessing confidential information. nine0003

Of course, the information released by the CCC did not greatly affect the choice of the majority of average users in favor of the convenience of the TouchID function, but in some cases it definitely made those who are not too careful to store valuable information on their smartphones think.

Qualcomm first talked about developing a more advanced and reliable biometric authentication method using ultrasonic fingerprint scanning technology back in March last year. And now, ahead of the release of the first smartphone powered by the flagship Snapdragon 820 processor, Sense ID was unveiled by CEO Steve Mollenkopf at the recently concluded CES 2016.

Advanced 3D scanner sensor, complete with ultrasonic transceiver unit, allows you to collect much more individual information. The waves generated by the transmitter and reflected from the surface of the finger are recorded by the signal receiver, which forms a detailed three-dimensional image of the print. The sensitivity level and resolution of the signal receiver make it possible not only to read the papillary pattern, but also to record additional key useful information, such as the depth of the grooves and the height of locally protruding fragments of the skin relief, and even the specific location of the sweat pores of the skin. nine0003

Thus, the innovative sensor from Qualcomm allows you to get not a two-dimensional, but a detailed three-dimensional “fingerprint map” containing a much larger amount of identifying information, which reduces the likelihood of a smartphone being hacked using the described method.

Another advantage of the Sense ID technology is the ability of ultrasound to penetrate metal surfaces, glass and some plastics, which will allow for a local space for the sensor directly under the screen of the device, and not to assign a separate area to it, as, for example, in Google Nexus or iPhone . In addition, which is very important, the reading process and the accuracy of information identification in this case are not tied to external influence factors, such as wet or not too clean hands and exposure to low temperatures. nine0003

The first model with a Sense ID sensor available to users will be the Chinese smartphone LeTV Le Max Pro based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset. time will be implemented in the flagship models of these manufacturers and will be in high demand on the market.

Source 1, Source 2.

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How reliable are fingerprint scanners?

The debate about how secure fingerprint authentication is has been going on for years. Back in 2013, shortly after the release of the iPhone 5S with Touch ID, they were able to deceive him by photographing a fingerprint on the glass and making a cast. However, technology does not stand still. nine0003

For example, last year, smartphones began to massively equip ultrasonic fingerprint scanners that are hidden under the screen of the gadget, so no additional panels are needed. Such scanners were considered more reliable than their predecessors.

Our colleagues from the Cisco Talos team decided to test whether the fingerprint scanners in modern devices are easy to fool, or whether this technology has finally become truly secure.

Fingerprint authorization - theory

First, let's talk about how fingerprint scanners work. The basic idea is simple: when you put your finger on the scanner to unlock your smartphone, laptop, or smart lock, the sensor somehow receives an image of your papillary pattern. There are several types of scanners, and each of them recognizes the fingerprint in its own way. Cisco Talos researchers focused on the three most popular types:

capacitive scanners are the most common type. A capacitive scanner acquires an image using a small electrical charge. To do this, miniature capacitors are built into it - devices that can store electricity. When a finger touches the scanner, it discharges these capacitors. In those places where the finger comes close to the sensor (print ridges) - more, and where there is a gap between the skin and the sensor (print troughs) - less. The scanner measures this difference and determines the pattern of the print from it. nine0040
The optical scanners actually photograph the fingerprint. The device shines on the finger through a prism, the light is reflected differently from the ridges and troughs, and the sensor reads it and gets the desired picture.
Ultrasonic scanners instead of light, send an ultrasonic signal and record echoes, which also form different patterns from ridges and troughs. Such a scanner does not have to be in contact with the finger, so it can be hidden under the smartphone screen. In addition, he “hears” not only that part of the finger that is adjacent to the surface, but also the edges of the pads that are far from the sensor, so that the picture comes out voluminous. This helps to recognize deception with flat copies of the print. nine0040

After receiving your fingerprint, the scanner - or operating system - compares it with the one stored in the device's memory. At the same time, all existing methods of reading fingerprints can give some error, so when comparing, a certain percentage of discrepancies is allowed - for each device it is different.

If this percentage is high, it is likely that the imprint will be easier to fake. If the settings are more stringent and the percentage of permissible error is low, it will be more difficult to deceive the scanner, but the gadget will also recognize the real owner every other time. nine0003

How researchers forged fingerprints

Anyway, in order to make a copy of a fingerprint, you must first obtain the print itself. The researchers found three ways to do this.

How to steal a fingerprint, the first way: remove the casting mold

You can take the victim's fingerprint while the person is unconscious or, say, thoroughly drunk. Any soft but hardening material is suitable for this - for example, polymer clay. nine0003

As a result, the attacker immediately finds himself in the hands of a mold for casting a fake print. The obvious difficulty lies in the fact that it is necessary to catch the victim in the "correct" state or to introduce him into this state.

How to steal a fingerprint, the second way: get a picture from a scanner

You can also get a fingerprint taken with a scanner in one way or another. By itself, this method is technically more difficult. However, not all companies that work with biometric data store them securely. Therefore, it is possible that the thief will find scanned prints on the Web or buy them cheaply on the dark web. nine0003

After that, a flat picture needs to be turned into a three-dimensional model and printed on a 3D printer - and there are some nuances. First, in the program in which the researchers prepared the drawing for printing, there was no way to set the size of the model. Secondly, the photopolymer, which was used in a budget 3D printer, had to be warmed up after printing, and the dimensions of the sample changed.

Thirdly, according to research experience, the actual print of this polymer is too hard for even one scanner to recognize it as a real finger. Therefore, the researchers ended up printing not the cast itself, but a mold in which fake prints were then manually cast from a more elastic material. nine0003

How to steal a fingerprint, the third way: take a photo of a print on glass

Another obvious option is to take a photo of a print on a glass surface. This is exactly what the hackers did in the iPhone 5S story - in this form, the fingerprint is the easiest to get. After that, the picture will have to be processed in order to achieve the desired level of clarity, and then, as in the previous case, everything will rest on 3D printing.

According to the researchers, experiments with a 3D printer turned out to be very long and dreary: it was necessary to calibrate the printer, find the appropriate size of the form by touch, and the printing of one model (of which they had to make a total of 50 pieces) with the necessary settings took an hour. That is, quickly making a fake fingerprint to unlock a stolen smartphone in this way will not work. And the method of taking a fingerprint from a sleeping victim is also not super-fast. nine0003

In addition, the mold for casting prints is half the battle. You also need to make a fake yourself. Here the choice of material turned out to be the most non-trivial, because it was planned to test the fake on three types of sensors with a different approach to reading fingerprints. For example, it doesn’t matter to ultrasonic and optical sensors whether the finger conducts current or not, but it is important to capacitive sensors.

True, in the end, just this part of the process turned out to be available to anyone: cheap fabric glue was best suited for making fake prints. nine0003

Which devices were hacked

The fakes obtained by the three methods described above were tried on by the researchers on a set of mobile phones, tablets and laptops from different manufacturers, as well as on a smart lock and two secure USB drives - Verbatim Fingerprint Secure and Lexar Jumpdrive Fingerprint F35.

The result turned out to be rather sad: the majority of gadgets were deceived in 80-90% of cases, and in some places the success was even one hundred percent. Casts made with the mediation of a 3D printer were slightly less effective, but in most cases - exactly slightly .

However, there were exceptions. So, the researchers did not manage to hack the Samsung A70 smartphone at all. On the other hand, this is exactly the gadget that recognizes the real fingerprints of the rightful owner very reluctantly.

Also, all Windows 10 devices, regardless of manufacturer, turned out to be impenetrable. Researchers attribute this surprising unanimity to the fact that the operating system itself is engaged in comparing fingerprints with a sample, so little depends on the specific device manufacturer. nine0003

Finally, protected flash drives proved to be really secure, although our colleagues warn that with a different level of training, they can be hacked with some probability.

Among other findings, it is noted that the easiest to deceive was ... ultrasonic fingerprint scanners. Despite their ability to perceive a three-dimensional image, they willingly recognized a fake print as genuine, kindly pressed to the sensor with a real finger, including in a glove.

Fingerprint protection - for ordinary users

According to the researchers, the security of fingerprint authorization leaves much to be desired, and to some extent the situation has even worsened compared to previous years.

However, making a fake is quite a costly procedure, at least in terms of time. This means that a simple user has nothing to fear: street thieves on the knee will not make a fake print.

Another thing is if well-funded criminal groups or special services may be interested in you.