Rear Fingerprint Scanner Gestures A Relic Of The Past But A Great Feature Nonetheless

Today’s smartphones often feature in-display fingerprint sensors. These sensors have evolved significantly since their debut, offering quick, accurate unlocking and even the capability to scan wet fingers. However, one feature from the past—a rear fingerprint scanner—comes with its own set of unique gestures that were both innovative and practical.

In the mid to late 2010s, rear fingerprint scanners were common on various high-end phones. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S9, LG G6, and Huawei P9 showcased these innovations. However, the Huawei Mate S stands out for its unique integration of gestures with the rear fingerprint sensor.

One of the standout features of the Huawei Mate S was the ability to swipe down on the rear fingerprint scanner to activate the notification shade. This gesture proved particularly useful on large devices, as it allowed users to access their notifications and quick settings easily and smoothly. Swiping up similarly dismissed the notification shade, demonstrating versatility and practicality.

Moreover, Huawei incorporated various other functionalities, such as tapping and holding the fingerprint sensor to take photos, turn off alarms, and answer calls. Additional lateral swipes enabled scrolling through photos within the gallery. The tap-to-selfie feature was particularly appreciated, as it simplified capturing selfies to a simple gesture rather than navigating the on-screen shutter. However, lateral scrolling on the scanner was less favored.

Google recognized the utility of these gestures and adopted them in their own devices, starting with the 2016 Pixel and Pixel XL. While the feature was available on most Pixels until the Pixel 5, it did not return in the Pixel 9. Google’s use case was limited to toggling the notification shade, a simple yet effective use. Samsung followed suit, incorporating this feature in the Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S9, and Galaxy Note 9.

Samsung’s implementation allowed users to swipe down to view notifications, and while it lacked customization options, the feature performed seamlessly with the sensor’s placement behind the index finger when holding the device, making it much more fluid than opening the notification center from the display.

LG and Motorola also embraced rear fingerprint gestures, further expanding the feature’s reach among major smartphone manufacturers.

As the industry moved toward in-display fingerprint sensors around 2018 and 2019, rear fingerprint gesture support began to decline. Organizations like Xiaomi integrated gestures into in-display sensors, enabling quick app shortcuts, although customization options were limited.

Xiaomi and realme have further innovated with under-display fingerprint sensors, using them for heart rate monitoring and underwater photography with the realme GT7 Pro. These adaptations show that companies still explore ways to enhance biometric sensors beyond basic authentication.

Despite the evolution of technology, the rear fingerprint scanner gestures offer a nostalgia factor for users who remember their ease and convenience. These gestures might have faded out of mainstream use, but they remain a fascinating element of smartphone history.

In conclusion, rear fingerprint gestures were a testament to the creativity of early smartphone manufacturers in optimizing user experience. As biometric technology has advanced, so too has the way we interact with our devices, but gestures like these remain a memorable part of smartphone history.

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