this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2025
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Android

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[–] lemmyng@piefed.ca 13 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I do not like the power button fingerprint reader.

  • Cases need a notch to expose the power button.
  • Can't use the power button to lock the screen while fingerprint unlock is enabled, because it immediately unlocks itself with the fingerprint.
  • Accidentally unlocks itself way often when putting it in my pocket than with the back reader.
[–] Creat@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The 2nd and even 3rd point is not automatically true for every phone and setting. I have a combined fingerprint reader and power button on my Fairphone 5, and the 2nd thing has always worked just fine.

It also has the option to only enable the fingerprint reader if the display is on, which addresses your 3rd point completely. It means you can pick the phone up, including having a finger in the reader, and it won't turn on or unlock. You need to press down in the button to trigger the screen, then it can be unlocked. That also means that when locking it and turning off the screen actively by pressing the power button with the phone on, it never re-unlocks. To be honest this part wasn't a problem before the setting became available, as the locking would disable the fingerprint reader anyway, but letting your grip go slightly could trigger re-unlock.

[–] lemmyng@piefed.ca 4 points 2 days ago

Only activating the fingerprint reader when the screen is on is a regression compared to the rear reader. It means I need to squeeze the phone to unlock it, vs just placing my finger in the right spot. It also negates the purported advantage from the comment above mine about being able to easily unlock the phone while lying on a table.

I'm not arguing that the power button reader doesn't work for anyone. I'm saying that it is qualitatively worse UX for me in particular.

[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago

My eldest's phone has this. Your second point is valid and a pain in the ass.

[–] artyom@piefed.social -5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Cases need a notch to expose the power button

I don't see why that's a problem.

Can't use the power button to lock the screen while fingerprint unlock is enabled, because it immediately unlocks itself with the fingerprint.

Sounds like you just had a shitty phone, that shouldn't happen.

Accidentally unlocks itself way often when putting it in my pocket than with the back reader.

Again, shitty phone. You're supposed to actually push the button to unlock it. Don't understand why your finger would be on the back of the phone when putting it in your pocket anyway.

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Again, shitty phone. You’re supposed to actually push the button to unlock it. Don’t understand why your finger would be on the back of the phone when putting it in your pocket anyway.

This isn't a "shitty phone" thing. Every phone I've owned with a side-mounted fingerprint reader has unlocked via touch (not press). It's standard.

[–] artyom@piefed.social -2 points 2 days ago

Again, we were talking about the back.

[–] artyom@piefed.social -2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Yes it is. Once again, we were talking about on the back.