Fingerprint Sensor Question--Pulling Phone Out of Pocket

[PowrDroid]

As of right now I'm considering the Moto Z Force or Pixel XL as my new phone. One thing I really want in a new phone is a fingerprint sensor. The number one advantage I see is the ability to reach into my pocket, cover the fingerprint sensor and pull it out of my pocket unlocked and ready to use. A couple of questions:

1. Is this technique possible? Can I cover the sensor with my finger/thumb in the pocket and pull out the phone ready to use?

2. Fingerprint sensor on the front of phone or back of phone would be best for this technique? (Note: I always place my phone in pocket with phone's screen facing my leg and top of phone goes into pocket first. It seems to me with this pocket placement the rear fingerprint sensor would be better.)

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of front and rear fingerprint sensor placement.

4. What else do you use fingerprint sensor for beside locking/unlocking the phone?

 

[Zendroid1]

I've had phones with fingerprints on front and back. Having it on the back and being able to pull it out of your pocket unlocked is easier and more natural. I use my index finger to do this. Your index finger naturally lands in this spot when it's on the back. When it's on the front it's not as natural and you can do it but it requires a bit of maneuvering. My phone also goes into my pocket glass towards my body and top of the phone down first.

 

[Almeuit]

As of right now I'm considering the Moto Z Force or Pixel XL as my new phone. One thing I really want in a new phone is a fingerprint sensor. The number one advantage I see is the ability to reach into my pocket, cover the fingerprint sensor and pull it out of my pocket unlocked and ready to use. A couple of questions:

1. Is this technique possible? Can I cover the sensor with my finger/thumb in the pocket and pull out the phone ready to use?

2. Fingerprint sensor on the front of phone or back of phone would be best for this technique? (Note: I always place my phone in pocket with phone's screen facing my leg and top of phone goes into pocket first. It seems to me with this pocket placement the rear fingerprint sensor would be better.)

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of front and rear fingerprint sensor placement.

4. What else do you use fingerprint sensor for beside locking/unlocking the phone?

1. Yes
2. Back works well for me. Some prefer front. To be honest I have no real preference.
3. Front you have to be looking at the device and then place your finger in the designated spot. The back your finger kind of falls right there naturally.
4. Unlocked certain apps like my AT&T account and also LastPass.

 

[mightyfacundo]

As of right now I'm considering the Moto Z Force or Pixel XL as my new phone. One thing I really want in a new phone is a fingerprint sensor. The number one advantage I see is the ability to reach into my pocket, cover the fingerprint sensor and pull it out of my pocket unlocked and ready to use. A couple of questions:

1. Is this technique possible? Can I cover the sensor with my finger/thumb in the pocket and pull out the phone ready to use?

2. Fingerprint sensor on the front of phone or back of phone would be best for this technique? (Note: I always place my phone in pocket with phone's screen facing my leg and top of phone goes into pocket first. It seems to me with this pocket placement the rear fingerprint sensor would be better.)

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of front and rear fingerprint sensor placement.

4. What else do you use fingerprint sensor for beside locking/unlocking the phone?

I do the same thing and it works great for me. I think the fps is in a very natural position to do what you're asking.

 

[tk-093]

Unless you have super baggy pockets, cargo shorts maybe... you can't really reach the fingerprint sensor as you reach into your pocket.. With a front sensor it is super easy since you basically "pinch" the bottom of the phone as you pull it out and your thumb naturally lands on the sensor. This is assuming you put the phone top down into your pocket.

Now, it's not going to make THAT much of a difference either way.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Unless you have super baggy pockets, cargo shorts maybe... you can't really reach the fingerprint sensor as you reach into your pocket.. With a front sensor it is super easy since you basically "pinch" the bottom of the phone as you pull it out and your thumb naturally lands on the sensor. This is assuming you put the phone top down into your pocket.

Now, it's not going to make THAT much of a difference either way.

I'm curious as to your definition of "super baggy" as I have no issues whatsoever, and that's with the XL.

At the OP, one other excellent feature with the Pixels is the ability to bring down or raise up the Notifications and Quick Settings screens by simply swiping down or up on the sensor. Since the forefinger tends to fall naturally on that spot on the back of the phone (at least for me), this is very easy and intuitive. While I don't suggest that either front or back placement has an unlocking ease advantage over the other, this additional functionality seems like it would be very cumbersome if located on the front.

 

[Zendroid1]

My pants aren't baggy at all and I can reach into my pocket and hit the back sensor in one swift motion.

 

[SteelGator]

1. Is this technique possible? Can I cover the sensor with my finger/thumb in the pocket and pull out the phone ready to use?

As others have said, YES!

2. Fingerprint sensor on the front of phone or back of phone would be best for this technique? (Note: I always place my phone in pocket with phone's screen facing my leg and top of phone goes into pocket first. It seems to me with this pocket placement the rear fingerprint sensor would be better.)

I do the same, and yes I think the rear FPS is better for this use case, by a lot.

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of front and rear fingerprint sensor placement.

On the back, open during pocket pull is a big one. When using it to authenticate different programs, Ping ID, Last Pass etc., it is more natural for me to use my finger on the back than thumb on the front.

Front FPS is better when the phone is sitting face up and you want to unlock without lifting the phone.

4. What else do you use fingerprint sensor for beside locking/unlocking the phone?

Last Pass is a great password program, it will use FPS for authentication
My work uses Ping ID, and it does FPS authentication as well
Pull down notification shade -- it works great, use this more than I thought I would. helps 1-handed use a lot.

 

[PowrDroid]

Front FPS is better when the phone is sitting face up and you want to unlock without lifting the phone.

OK. Why would I want to unlock my phone if I wasn't going to pick it up? Voice commands?

 

[cwbcpa]

I pull my Pixel XL out of my pocket with my finger on the FPS all the time. It's unlocked and ready to use by the time I'm looking at it. I think the rear placement is perfect for that.

I use the FPS on the Pixel for pulling down the notification shade and then unlocking apps that allow it such as banking and various others.

There are advantages to rear and to front placement and each come with tradeoffs.

 

[Almeuit]

OK. Why would I want to unlock my phone if I wasn't going to pick it up? Voice commands?

Sitting on a desk to change music or whatever.

 

[PowrDroid]

Sitting on a desk to change music or whatever.

We are talking about a First World problem here!

 

[1213 1213]

Sitting on a desk to change music or whatever.

You can still use the power button for that though, right?

 

[Almeuit]

We are talking about a First World problem here!

So is having to have your phone unlocked the second it's in your hand out of your pocket right? .

 

[tk-093]

We are talking about a First World problem here!

These are high end smartphones... it's all first world stuff dude.

 

[tk-093]

You can still use the power button for that though, right?

In order to unlock this phone while it's just sitting on the desk you need to hit the power button while gripping the entire phone, swipe up, enter your PIN or whatever you have set. It's a lot longer then just sticking your thumb on the button.

I used to do that all the time, but now I can't. So in THAT particular case, a FFS is better... Now, I'm also liking the back one for other cases so it will probably just all even out. I like trying something new so this has been fun. I've gone through a few Touch ID iPhones and the Note 5 and Note 7 so I've been pretty conditioned to use a front sensor but there's been very few issues with adjusting to a back sensor... been real simple.

Long term, my gut tells me I'm not going to care either way where the fingerprint sensor is. It will have zero impact on whatever device I get next.

 

[SteelGator]

OK. Why would I want to unlock my phone if I wasn't going to pick it up? Voice commands?

Read an incoming message was my main use. My phone sits right next to me, I read often without lifting it. The shortened time on the Pixel for the ambient display and no front FPS makes it less convenient. For me, with a trusted device on my wrist, fixing ambient display would alleviate this need.

 

[SteelGator]

We are talking about a First World problem here!

Totally!!! and not even problems. All of these phone companies are trying to give the best user experience. I look at these discussions as a way for them to continue to improve the experience. Most of these things are not going to be deciding factors on their own, but they do impact your overall impression of how easy your phone is to operate, which does impact where you buy your next phone.

 

[tk-093]

Here is the worst thing about a back fingerprint sensor.. It requires a hole in the back of the case to use the sensor. For years I've always teased iPhone uses who buy cases with a hole in the back so they can display the Apple logo and smugly let us know they have an iPhone. Even when I've used an iPhone I always made sure I bought a case that completely covered the back.

Now because of the back sensor people will think I'm some smug jerk showing off my iPhone when I'm clearly not.

 

[Gdwheel]

I have the Moto Z and the Pixel XL right now and I much prefer the Moto Z placement. It is easier to find. I find myself poking around the back of the Pixel with my finger partially on the reader. It is not as defined as it could be, in my opinion. LG did a better job making it easier to find just by feel. I would imagine the more you use it, the better your finger would be at finding the right spot right away.

One other thing that is great and very valuable about the Moto setup is that you can cover the fingerprint reader to turn the screen off. You never need to mess with the power button. That combination makes it much better, in my opinion, than the setup on the Pixel. The Moto also has a working ambient display so you don't have to turn on the screen. Hopefully, Google will get that working on the Pixel.