Google Pixel 6's fingerprint scanner is perfectly placed, so it's a shame it sucks

Google Pel 6's fingerprint scanner is perfectly placed, so it's a shame it sucks

Google Pixel 6 held in hand with thumb reaching for fingerprint scanner

(Image credit: TechRadar / John McCann)

Fingerprint scanners on phones have been around for almost a ten, and while Orchard apple tree is set to move away from them, our digits are still the body biometric of choice for the majority of manufacturers.

However, not every publish sensor is ready-made, or located, equal. Pick up the Pixel 6 first, it was free Google had got something right. The fingerprint image scanner emplacemen.

It's embedded nether the display - which is common these days - simply unlike just about manufacturers, it's not right at the base of the screen out.

Instead, Google has located the scanner about a quarter of the way up the screen, and this makes it much easier to dispatch.

Removing fingerprint frustrations

I was swapping over from the OnePlus 9, which has a sensor towards the bottom of the display. It means when held in incomparable hand, I'd sometimes need to awkwardly shuffle the handset to sustain my thumb in the correct place.

Before the OnePlus 9 I was using the Picture element 4a for a couple of months in 2020, and while its tush affixed scanner was lenient to hit when the phone was in-hand, it wasn't accessible when lying happening my desk.

The Google Pixel 6 addresses both of these frustrations. It's easy to hit when held in the hand, and also accessible when laid happening a desk - information technology also has the added benefit of not rocking on a desk when you prod it, as its oversized photographic camera kick downstairs spans the entire breadth of the French telephone, providing a solid grounding for the handset.

Compare that to a number of major handsets today, whose cameras tend to be located in one corner on their rears, and you're in wobble city.

Back to the Pixel 6 though, and my top tip for registering your fingerprints - on this telephone or any other with an under-display scanner - is do both thumbs and both forefingers. This combining ensures easy unlocking in any scenario.

I was delighted with these revelations, merely now having used the Pixel 6 for over a week, there is a fundamental issue that's dampening my initial optimism.

Non all vanilla sailing

While the location of the fingermark scanner on the Google Pixel 6 is perfect, the performance isn't so good.

The digital scanner on the Picture element 6 feels a tad slow. I'm talking a fraction of a second or so, but there's a detectable delay versus more or less of the many phones I've used over the geezerhood.

It's still comparatively primal days - I've been using the Pixel 6 for fortnight - but other, bigger annoyance I'm facing is the high pitch of failed readings.

A lot of the fingerprint scanners in new phones improve accuracy the more you use them, so the Pixel 6 may well better for me equally the weeks pass by, but untimely detection functioning ISN't bright.

James Peckham, TechRadar's Phones Editor, has as wel cited similar issues on the Google Pixel 6 Pro, and then it ISN't just me.

Information technology's not just when I'm unlocking the handset either. I've had to read my finger multiple times before organism allowed into my other apps which I secure with the biometric tech.

You really need to let your finger location spot on, A otherwise the Picture element 6 struggles to aver your digit

I'm encouraging this is something that will improve over clip with more use, or something Google can localization with a software update in the future.

If the performance issues pot be resolute, the Google Pixel 6 may overcome fingerprint digital scanner I've ever used happening a phone, but for now information technology's a causa of great location, underprivileged performance.

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Trick joined TechRadar a decade ago as Staff Writer for Phones, and finished the years has built up a large knowledge of the tech industry. He's interviewed CEOs of some of the world's biggest technical school firms, visited their HQs and has appeared on hold ou TV and radio, including Sky News, BBC News, BBC World News, Camellia State Jazeera, LBC and BBC Radio 4. Earlier specializing in phones, tablets and wearables, John is now TechRadar's resident automotive expert, reviewing the latest and greatest EVs and PHEVs on the market. John likewise looks after the day-to-day running of the site.