Samsung is finally fixing the Galaxy S10’s dodgy fingerprint scanner

Samsung may be focussing on more pressing (or is that folding?) issues of late, but it hasn’t forgotten about its other flagships.

The company confirmed to Reuters on Thursday that it will finally fix its dodgy fingerprint sensor on the S10 and S10 Plus models.

Located beneath the screen, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor could be fooled by a 3D-printed print, or, more worryingly, could be fooled by non-registered prints if a third-party screen protector was applied.

“Samsung Electronics is aware of the case of the S10’s malfunctioning fingerprint recognition and will soon issue a software patch,” the company told Reuters in a statement.

Clearly, there are issues to be ironed out, but the ultrasonic method does have its advantages.

As it uses high frequencies to scan a fingerprint’s surface, it can be used even if the display is damaged. That’s a bonus over optical fingerprint scanners, which snap an image of your finger.

The latter also isn’t exempt of issues either. In April, the Nokia 9 Pureview was unlocked using chewing gum.

Feature image: Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, by Andy Walker/Memeburn