Android 12 reveals multiple evidence of a Pixel with an on-screen fingerprint reader

Android 12 Developer Preview 2 released yesterday in Europe, presenting a series of novelties that we hope to see at the end of the year in this new version of the operating system. This new version also allowed us to learn more about Google’s plans for its Pixels in the near future, with a model that would bring a significant change.

In Android 12 DP 2, it was possible to see evidence suggesting that Google would be working on a Pixel that it would have a fingerprint sensor under the screen, rather than on its back, as is the case with the company’s current line of phones.

Android 12 Developer Preview 2 is official: changes and news

We tell you what are the changes and news of Android 12 Developer Preview 2, the second version for Android 12 developers.

A Pixel with a fingerprint sensor under the screen

In the code of Android 12 DP 2 it was possible to see a line titled “UdfpsControllerGoogle”, where “Udfps” refers to the fingerprint scanner under the screen, that is, the fingerprint sensor under the screen. This could indicate that the company is finally working to integrate the fingerprint sensor under the screen of one of its next Pixel phones.

The fact that Google introduced a code like this in a previous version of Android is usually an indicator that it is working on integrating the fingerprint sensor under a Pixel’s screen in the future. In addition, the timing would be opportune, given that the the quality of the sensor under the screen has improved especially these years. They are more precise and secure, while allowing for a cleaner design of the device. The question will be whether Google would bet on an optical or an ultrasonic

This isn’t the only new thing that has been seen, as it looks like Google is working on introducing a new gesture of swipe for notifications on Android 12. This gesture would replace the gesture “swipe the fingerprint for notifications”, present in the Google Pixel. In these phones, your gestures with the rear fingerprint reader allow you to open and close the notification panel. This new move would have the same purpose, so it looks like they’re experimenting with a mobile future without a rear fingerprint reader.

We’ll have to wait a bit to see if Google will finally launch a smartphone with a fingerprint sensor under the display, but it seems clear that the first tests are already underway.