The Google Pixel 7 series phone may come with an under-display fingerprint sensor though the same is not going to be applicable to the Pixel Tablet due out next year. In fact, even the Pixel Foldable device being talked about would be lacking an under-display fingerprint sensor. Instead, both will have it mounted on the side, embedded within the Power button. The discovery of Android software code written specifically to test the user interface of the side-mounted sensor on two particular devices is a huge giveaway of this being expected on the Pixel Tablet and foldable device.
This makes for a somewhat weird scenario given that under-display sensors have often been considered a futuristic feature, one that succeeds the rear- or the side-mounted fingerprint sensors we have had for some time now. Google too has a history of not being efficient enough when it comes to under-display sensors. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were found significantly lagging when it comes to its front-mounted fingerprint sensor. This is when competitor Samsung did a much better job on this front.
Fortunately, things have improved considerably with the latest Pixel 7 series phone which has resulted in the front fingerprint sensor performing remarkably better. It even introduced a much improved Face Unlock mechanism on the latest Pixel phones as well. All of this notwithstanding, the company seems to go back to the side-mounted fingerprint sensor for its upcoming Pixel tablet and Pixel Notepad foldable device.
As for what the software code has to reveal, one of the two devices that were found mentioned has been described as ‘Y-aligned’. What that means is the device has two distinct states – folded and unfolded – and that the sensor is either on the left or the right hand side of the device. This is indicative of the Pixel Notepad foldable device to have a similar layout for the fingerprint sensor as it is on the Galaxy Z Fold range. This way, unlocking the device is going to be consistent via a side-mounted sensor as the same would serve the purpose in both states, folded or unfolded.
The other device that was found mentioned is one referred to as the “X-aligned” device. This is indicative of the sensor either being at the top or the bottom, with the sensor likely embedded within the Power button. This is expected to apply to the upcoming Pixel Tablet device, similar to how it is on the Pixel Slate.
Meanwhile, in a related revelation, the Pixel Tablet display is expected to have a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. Unconfirmed sources also claim the inner display on the Pixel Notepad Foldable device to have a resolution of 1840 x 2208 pixels, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, an average brightness of 800 nits, and a peak brightness of 1200 nits. The external display, on the other hand, is touted to have a resolution of 1080 x 2100 pixels.
More details are awaiting. Keep watching this space.
