Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 XL rumoured to launch with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor

Despite not launching for about two months, a slew of leaks have revealed a good chunk of what the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold have in store. Multiple hands-on videos have shown off the base Pixel 9, while the rest have been conceptualized via renders. Now, Android Authority has unmasked yet another interesting QoL upgrade.

The Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL will all launch with ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, specifically the Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Gen 2 (QFS4008) found on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (curr. $947 on Amazon). Ultrasonic fingerprint sensors first showed up alongside the Galaxy S10 in 2019 and have since been a staple on high-end devices from a multitude of OEMs such as Vivo, Honor and others. Unfortunately, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold will not receive the upgrade and stick with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor/power button hybrid.

Google's transition to ultrasonic sensors will also help bolster security and make biometric authentication a tad less cumbersome. Optical fingerprint sensors, while cheaper, come with many disadvantages. For example, an ingenious hacker tricked the OnePlus 7 Pro's optical fingerprint sensor with hot glue. Plus, they tend to be unreliable under low light conditions or when your finger is wet.