Notebookcheck Logo

Samsung Galaxy S21 series tipped for new UD fingerprint scanner as FCC confirms Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 versions

The Galaxy S21 will feature the Snapdragon 888 in some markets. (Image source: LetsGoDigital & Snoreyn)
The Galaxy S21 will feature the Snapdragon 888 in some markets. (Image source: LetsGoDigital & Snoreyn)
The Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra are set to feature an exciting upgrade in the form of improved biometrics. Apparently, the devices will have a UD fingerprint scanner that is two times faster than the one in the Galaxy S20 series, and with a much larger surface area to boot. Additionally, the FCC has confirmed that there will be Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 versions of the Galaxy S21 series, too.

More details about the Galaxy S21 series have been revealed ahead of the anticipated launch earlier next year. The designs of the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra have already been revealed this week, and now Ice Universe has revealed details about the state of their primary biometric authentication method.

According to the leaker, the trio of devices will have much faster and larger UD fingerprint scanners than those that Samsung included in the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra. Specifically, Ice Universe claims that Samsung has doubled the speed of its fingerprint sensor between generations, and it should now be fast enough to 'tap to unlock' a Galaxy S21 series handset, rather than having to press its screen. The leaker adds that the sensor measures 64 mm², making it 1.77x the size of the sensor found in the Galaxy S20 series.

Additionally, the FCC has inadvertently confirmed that there will be Snapdragon 888 versions of the Galaxy S21 series. As the screenshot below shows, documentation for the Galaxy S21, referred to by its model number SM-G991U, states that it has an SM8350 chipset, which is the model number of Qualcomm's latest flagship chipset.

The US will be one of the countries in which Samsung sells Snapdragon 888-powered versions of the Galaxy S21 series based on the FCC filing, but it is unclear where else Snapdragon SKUs will appear. Samsung sells the Snapdragon version of the Galaxy S20 FE globally, but there is no indication that this will be the case with future Galaxy S handsets. Other Galaxy S21 series handsets should come with the Exynos 2100, which Samsung has hinted that it will unveil on December 15.

The SM8350 is headed to the SM-G991 - aka the Galaxy S21 will have a Snapdragon 888 chipset. (Image source: FCC)
The SM8350 is headed to the SM-G991 - aka the Galaxy S21 will have a Snapdragon 888 chipset. (Image source: FCC)
Read all 1 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 12 > Samsung Galaxy S21 series tipped for new UD fingerprint scanner as FCC confirms Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 versions
Alex Alderson, 2020-12- 9 (Update: 2020-12-10)