The Google Pixel 9 series is setting a new standard for smartphone usability with its latest update in Android 16, particularly with enhancements to the fingerprint sensor technology. This update is part of Google’s commitment to improving user experience with seamless and efficient biometric security features, advancing how users interact with their devices.
Simple Activation for Advanced Security
Traditionally, unlocking a smartphone with a fingerprint sensor required waking the screen—a limitation stemming from the optical sensors’ need for light. However, the new update on the Pixel 9 series introduces a groundbreaking change. With Android 16, Pixel 9 users can now unlock their phones without having to light up the screen first. This feature not only enhances convenience but also addresses user complaints about the brightness shock in dark environments.
Christine Romero-Chan of Digital Trends highlights, “Android 16 will make it so that you can open your Pixel 9 without turning your phone screen on at all.” This improvement is specifically tailored to the Pixel 9’s ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which does not rely on light, thus allowing for this advanced functionality.
Beyond the Fingerprint: Additional Android 16 Updates
For those with access to the Android 16 Developer Preview 2 (DP2), activating this feature is straightforward. Users can navigate to Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock to enable the new functionality. However, it’s important to note that this setting is exclusive to those in the developer preview phase and users of the Pixel 9 series, as earlier models like the Pixel 8 Pro, while showing the option, do not support activation.
What This Means for Pixel Users
While the fingerprint enhancement is a highlight, Android 16 DP2 brings other subtle yet impactful changes. Although these updates might not be groundbreaking for every user, they collectively signify Google’s ongoing efforts to refine the Android experience, focusing on both functionality and user convenience.
