Fingerprint scanners are slowly becoming a popular feature for high-end smartphones, with both Apple's iPhone 5s and HTC's One max coming to market in the past six months with fingerprint sensors in tow. Now a new rumor suggests that Samsung's flagship Galaxy S5 will also include the security feature when it debuts later this month.
According to a report from SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy S5 will sport a fingerprint sensor built into its physical Home button. The sensor will allegedly be swipe-based, meaning that users will need to place their finger flat on the sensor and then slide it from top to bottom in order to have it be recognized. It's also said that the sensor won't be able to identify a user's fingerprint if his or her finger is wet.
The Galaxy S5 will reportedly be able to store up to 8 fingerprints, each of which will be able to be tied to a specific task or app. One use for the fingerprint sensor is for accessing the new Personal Folder and Private Mode features that Samsung is reportedly adding to the Galaxy S5. These additions can be used to hide apps, widgets and other files that the user wants to be kept private. The good news is that the Personal Folder and Private Mode can also be accessed using a traditional password or PIN if the user doesn't want to scan his or her fingerprint. Users will also reportedly be able to sign into websites and their Samsung accounts using the fingerprint sensor.
Fingerprint sensors aren't new in the smartphone world, with the Motorola Atrix 4G debuting with a sensor of its own way back in early 2011. However, the feature has seen a resurgence as of late as device makers continue to look for new ways to make their hardware stand out in a sea of smartphones. We'll have to wait until Samsung's Unpacked 2014 Episode 1 event before we know for sure if the Galaxy S5 will continue the trend, but with both Apple and HTC already offering phones with fingerprint sensors, it's definitely possible that Samsung could include the feature with its new flagship as well.
What do you think of fingerprint sensors? Do you want one in your next smartphone?
Via SamMobile
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