We’ve made so many jokes over the years about the in-display fingerprint reader used in Google’s most recent Pixel phones, because the sensor has been so bad that with every update, folks take to comment sections and reddit to proclaim that the update has somehow magically improved them. The updates never do because the sensor is just bad and could only ever be so fast.
We’ve also taken plenty of shots at the cellular connectivity of the Pixel line over its switch to Tensor chips and Samsung modems because of their inability to hold a stable connection to cellular networks, the overheating that often accompanies non-WiFi activity, and the battery drain that follows. Past Google phones have had some major issues, if you can’t tell.
For the Pixel 9 Pro, we were curious if the new Samsung modem and new ultrasonic fingerprint reader could bring us joy after so much pain. As it turns out, they certainly can.
NEW PIXEL 9 FINGERPRINT READER IS FAST: In a write-up shortly after Google’s Pixel event last week, we talked about the new fingerprint reader, which Qualcomm confirmed is their 3D Sonic Gen 2 ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.
This thing just reads to unlock and does it quickly every single time you scan your thumb. The misread or error rate on this Pixel 9 Pro fingerprint reader has got to be incredibly low. I can probably count on a single hand the number of times this thing has failed over the past week.
With both screen off or screen awake, you just need to gently touch your fingertip to the fingerprint spot, you’ll get a subtle vibration to acknowledge the scan, and then you are in. That’s it. There’s no wiggling of your finger or misreads that frustrate you into swiping your pattern or pin instead.
I hate to spend too much time on something as minor as a fingerprint reader, but man, those previous sensors were awful. Google provided a massive improvement in an area we weren’t sure they’d ever figure out.
NEW SAMSUNG MODEM IMPRESSES: The Pixel 9 series has a new Samsung modem, which wouldn’t normally get us excited. Samsung’s modems in previous Pixel phones have been disasters at times. Just a few months ago, we were talking about a botched update for the Pixel 7 series that left people without stable texting or calling abilities. The dropped cellular connections and airplane toggling actions to restore them have become everyday tasks for many Pixel owners. Even with last year’s Pixel 8 Pro, Tim ran into so many cellular issues that he tested out several networks because he found it hard to believe that a phone (a phone) could be the problem (it was).
Over the past 8 days of testing, I’ve spent a lot of time out of my house on cellular connections with both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL and have not had any cellular drops. None. Zero. I’ve also experienced no overheating, a phone that remains at what I’d call “normal operating temperatures,” and no battery drain when off of WiFi and putting in work on either T-Mobile or Verizon’s networks.
You know this if you read about how impressive battery life has been, but I took both phones out for a 2 hour Pokemon Go session this past weekend in 80-degree heat with screens on the entire time and data-only connections and had no issues. The phones worked, they lasted, and the connections remained stable throughout.
We’ll continue testing to see if Google has finally solved one of the Pixel line’s worst ongoing issues, but so far things are looking good in the modem and fingerprint departments.
I have to disagree with the under screen fingerprint sensor in Pixels being "bad". In my experience with my Pixel 8 Pro vs my previous Pixel 5 and Pixel 2 XL the optical sensor works just as consistently as the rear sensor on those other phones. The only thing I've noticed is that the optical sensor is a little slower which I easily adapted to. I tested out a Pixel 9 Pro in an AT&T store where I was able to setup the ultrasonic sensor and try it and it is faster so that's nice.
I'm most curious about the new modem and no so much the speed and connection stability because I haven't had any issue with that on my Pixel 8 Pro. I'm more curious about efficiency. My Pixel 9 Pro is scheduled to be delivered on 9/17 so I'll just have to wait to have that question answered.
I spent 2 years with Pixel 7 pro:
– Good dictation when it works, but for some reason it works very badly in the street or in the car
– it gets warm for no visible reason, I even put it in the extreme energy economy mode but it still gets warm
– I have to reboot it almost everyday because some system services on a random basis quit working
– The camera is good, but when I bought a new phone for my wife which cost almost 3 times cheaper, I saw that its camera is better at low light conditions than my Pixel's cam. The room test was: turn off the light late in the evening and take a photo of a book. The book's name with Pixel was an unreadable blur, with wife's phone – perfectly readable.
– The fingerprint scanner is just awful. I got no other words. About 20% attempts to unlock fail. If I wipe the phone screen thoroughly, it works again for about an hour and then unlock failures start again. It looks amazing, especially when pay in a shop. When the fingerprint fails girls at cash desk look at me as if I have stolen my phone)) Google, this optical sensor cannot be used for screen unlocking.
– The connection is quick and stable, both the Wi-Fi and cellular network.
– My external Samsung SSD connects to my Pixel very unreliably, sometimes it doesn't connect at all. I have a Mac and this Samsung SSD connects to it without issues.
– My smartwatch by Huawei are limited by Pixel in functionality. Basic functions like find my phone work with lags. There's also an issue with notifications on my watch.
– My wireless headphones from Oppo/Dynaudio cannot be switched to a good codec. With Pixel, they only support AAC
– A useful feature for me – web camera mode doesn't work properly with my Mac. The quality of video is a complete rubbish
– of all these AI features which were vastly promoted by Google, I use only one – photo unblur
To my regret I resume that Pixel 7 is a hugely overpriced and glitchy phone with an unreasonable claim to pull the user into Google's ecosystem
I am surprised to hear that your fingerprint unlock fails 20% of the time. I don't have a Pixel 7 Pro but I do have a Pixel 8 Pro and I'm pretty sure it's the same sensor. I rarely have a failure to unlock. It's definitely slower that what I've used before but not a lot. It was pretty easy to adjust to it being a little slower.
With the fingerprint sensor – a hardware issue may be. I am not a sweaty hands person but have to wipe the screen often because only that helps. Plus to that – when I fail to be recognized with my right hand finger my left finger works, et vice versa. A very obscure issue….
I know many are just dying to upgrade, or get something new just for the sake of getting their fix…but I think the good money is on version 10 next year!
Coming from the P6P, I think I'll take a fourth gen phone using the same architecture than the Google's first attempt with TSMC. Maybe they'll buck the trend and get it right first time!
One article I read today called the finger print reader flaky and this one says it's great! SMH
Would be nice to do the same testing with a P9 and see if it behaves like you stated. It's great progress anyway !
The old capacitive sensors are faster than the newer ultrasonic. It seems the big reason for the change was mostly fashion. Google's previous under-screen sensor was noticeably worse than Samsung's ultrasonic sensor, true. But the best ultrasonic is still no better than the old capacitive sensors.
Agree! OnePlus always used an optical FP sensor and it worked flawlessly! I think they are going to the ultrasonic…in version 13? I know some of the issues have to do with a persons actual skin condition on their finger tips, but other times it's the way the OEM's implement the chosen tech!
I tried the Pixel 9 Pro fingerprint sensor in an AT&T store and found it to be very fast. I haven't used a capacitive sensor for a while (I've been using a Pixel 8 Pro for the last 10 months) but it Pixel 9 Pro seemed to be as fast or ever faster than the sensor in my old Pixel 5 and Pixel 2 XL. I'd have to get out one of those old phones and compare directly to the Pixel 9 Pro.
It was definitely faster than the optical sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro and I adjusted to that being a little slower than my previous phones pretty easily. It will definitely be an improvement when my Pixel 9 Pro shows up next month.
I can't say that I've had the same problems with my fingerprint reader on my Pixel 8 Pro, it's been fine, not flawless but works good for me. Makes me wonder what I'm doing differently from those that are having these "so bad" experiences.
The modem on the other hand does frustrate me from time to time. I consider myself fortunate that I don't live in a weak signal area so the hiccups for me are minor but noticable. I'll be looking forward to that improvement, but on the 10 Pro because I'll be keeping the 8 Pro for another year.
It must be relative.
I'm happy with the P8P FP sensor but I still recall the P6P sensor on release which was horrible – to the point I used PIN to unlock until a software update.
The P8P is a thousand times better!
I own a pixel 7 and yes all of the issues were driving me mad. The worst the fingerprint scanner. Ordered a pixel 9 as the fingerprint scanner is for same in the whole pixel 9 range. Hope that it will bring back my faith in pixel.
also hope it will not burn my hands off just browsing the web like the 7..
I still don't know what kind of fingers people have, since I never had any issues with my Pixel 6. I can also count on a single hand the number of times it has failed over the past week, and it's usually when my fingers is too wet or too dry.
Also, modem issues must be a US thing, again, never had any issues in the past three years.
Anyway, improvements are always good!
And I don't know what kind of fingers people have that say it's flawless. Maybe fingers that never work ????
It's good that Google Pixel 9 pro ironed out the past problems in it's fingerprint reader, now regarding it's modem being improved is also good, but the question is how does it compare to qualcomm's snapdragon x80 modem which will be fitted into the snapdragon 8 Gen 4?
No more BLINDING light at night when trying to unlock your phone ????????
Or maybe stop doom scrolling social media in the middle of the night because you hate your life and just get some sleep instead
Found the depressed troll!
His momma is looking for him. He skipped dinner again.
I hadn't thought about that, good point. Otherwise the FP sensor has been good on my P8P, I'm not sure why. I do scan/save the same fingerprint twice, and I've found that the bottom of the fingerprint is the most reliable for someone like me who works with their hands and sometimes has beat up fingertips. I'm more stoked about the modem improvement.
I hadn't thought about that, good point. Otherwise the FP sensor has been good on my P8P, I'm not sure why. I do scan/save the same fingerprint twice, and I've found that the bottom of the fingerprint is the most reliable for someone like me who works with their hands and sometimes has beat up fingertips. I'm more stoked about the modem improvement.
Google needs to enable fingerprint sensor when display is off.
That has always been the case wdym? Even with the back mounted and side mounted fp sensors before
That would probably use a lot more battery. It would also be less accurate since you wouldn't know exactly where to put your finger.
They also need double tap to turn the screen off.
Nova Prime! Solved!
Not solved because I prefer not to use Nova launcher. I was referring to Google’s UI settings.
They also need double tap to turn the screen off.
The sensor isn't very big. With no visual indicator of where the sensor is I would expect a lot of failed unlock attempts.
I for one will welcome this wizardry magiks regarding temps and modems, as my P6P turns into a thermonuclear device on cellular to the point I can't hold it but with a weird pinch around the camera visor bar or it feels like it's trying to burn through my hand 🙁
Never had an unlock issue, never had cell issues on my 8 pro
sucks to suck i guess
I've had much better luck with the fingerprint reader on my P8 than was on my P7, but that also could be symptomatic of it being face-unlocked a lot before I try to use the fingerprint.
In any case, I'm excited for this fall and hopefully some better deals on the P9 Pro around the holidays so I can upgrade.
Glad to hear about the modem issues hopefully being resolved
It's early, so I hate to put a full approval here. Not having a single cellular drop in over a week is good for a Pixel phone, heh. We'll keep testing!
This article has a lot of misinformation about Samsung modems. The Pixel 7 and 8 can maintain a rock solid connection to cellular as long as they are forced into LTE Only or 5G Only mode. The problems start with the default settings when the Exynos 5300 modem switches from LTE to 5G or vice versa. I've encountered a long 30 second delay when that happens on the Pixel 6 and 7.
Yeah that's not the definition of "rock solid" when a modem has an inherent inability to hand off between signals. I will say I've found the same when in solidly 5g areas, but the minute it gets a bit sketchy or needs to hand off to LTE on my P8 it struggles.
Yeah, but LTE is available everywhere. 5G is not. It’s unfortunate that the Pixel 8 and earlier phones can’t have the best of both worlds but forcing it into LTE mode will give it a rock solid connection all the time.
Unless you’re in an area like mine with Tmo that wasn’t a strong LTE market but was really built up with 5g. My LTE signal around here is terrible but 5g is surprisingly more reliable.
No it won't. I have LTE keep dropping in marginal areas that other phones work fine in.
On my 7/P – The cellular hand off now just borks the connection and I have to toggle airplane mode- 7/P no longer works inside our Costco- This is new and unfun- P9p/XL arrives tomorrow 🙂
Not really misinformation tho – we shouldn't be forcing our phones to LTE only. For those of us that are aware of this possibility it's not a biggie – but that vast majority of pixel users are likely newer users and the horrible network drops and transitions cannot be their intro to pixels, thays unacceptable
Wish I could force LTE only – AT&T won't let me
There’s a hidden service menu that can override that on AT&T and Verizon. An app like Netmonster can easily get you into that service menu.
I've experienced all of the issues above on my P8. Failed fingerprint unlock attempts, on a regular basis. Phone constantly overheats in an air conditioned car using navigation, then screen switches to night mode. And lastly, the battery is quickly losing juice when it detects weak cell signal.
Yep, been plaguing Google's phones for too dang long. So far, things looking good for the 9 series.
I've had all of the above except for battery quickly losing juice (as far as I can tell) on my P8P as well. My P9PXL arrives soon so hoping much less instances of the above.
I don't understand how people are complaining about the fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 8 phones. For me the sensor on my Pixel 8 Pro is just as accurate as my previous phones with a rear sensor. The only difference I've noticed is that the Pixel 8 Pro sensor is a little slower but I've gotten used to that. I'm trading in my Pixel 8 Pro for a Pixel 9 Pro just for the smaller side so I'll see if there is any difference but I don't expect much difference.
I found the rear sensor on my 3a XL to work more quickly and reliably. I got the P6P and was disappointed with that until a software upgrade which made the sensor bearable.
The P8P has been fine although compared side by side with an ultrasonic sensor leaves it lacking.
I'm happy to stick with it until the P10P which will hopefully address the FP sensor, the slow storage and the flaky bluetooth (which is a lot better than previous versions but still not as good as a mid range Xiaomi).
I have had many under glass finger print sensors that worked quite well! However, the VERY BEST sensors have been, and always will be ON THE BACK!!!! Just another stupid change for no logical reason whatsoever. SMH
What do you mean “hopefully address the FP sensor” on the Pixel 10?
Oops, slightly ambiguous. I meant as a package the p10 will hopefully solve all problems.
The p9 may have solved some of the problems already but slow storage, and loading times, is a big minus in my view.
What “slow storage” and “loading times” are you talking about? The Pixel 9 phones might not have UFS 4.0 but they do have UFS 3.1 which is what the Pixel 8 phones have and there are no issues with “slow storage” or “loading times” on my Pixel 8 Pro.
I’m surprised so many people mention not having UFS 4.0 storage when many people want a micro SD card slot on Pixels which is even slower than UFS 3.1.
You specifically mentioned you hope they will “address the fingerprint sensor” on the Pixel 10 phones. I’m still curious what you meant by that. What needs to be addressed?
I know people like to slam Sony Xperia's but….they have a game mode that's better than many gaming phones in that it allows you to add apps that are NOT games. For example, you can add Google Maps to the gaming feature so that while having the phone plugged in to a charger in the car and using the maps app you BYPASS the battery completely so that the phone runs directly from the charger thereby allowing the phone to run cooler, and save wear-and-tear on the battery! Something to consider!
Excellent- My 7/Pro stopped working inside our local Costco about 8 months ago for whatever reason. Hoping the 9/Pro does just fine as I am texting out pictures of good deals 🙂
My P8P also struggles within Costco. Thing is like a faraday cage lol.
Looking forward to both of you encountering the same issues in Costco with pixel 9s
That's interesting. I don't notice any issues in Costco.
No issues with my phones in Costco. But if I don't watch where I'm going, I get dangerously close to the AT&T kiosk where I might get accosted by the Rep trying to pitch a plan at me.