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Fingerprint Scanners on iPhone 5s and Galaxy S5 Compared in New Video

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple debuted its Touch ID fingerprint sensor in September of 2013 with the iPhone 5s, making it the first major smartphone to include fingerprint recognition technology. Samsung followed with its own version of a fingerprint scanner in the Galaxy S5, which is slated to be released on April 11.

A new YouTube video from Tanner Marsh compares Touch ID on iPhone 5s with the fingerprint scanner of the upcoming Galaxy S5, walking through the process of setting up fingerprint recognition on both devices and comparing and contrasting some of the available functionality.

The two fingerprint scanners are quite different, with Apple's Touch ID utilizing a round home button that captures a motionless fingerprint while Samsung's sensor is activated using a swiping motion that scans the finger from base to tip using a rectangular home button.

iPhone 5s users may be familiar with the setup process of Touch ID, which includes placing each finger on the home button multiple times in order to register a fingerprint from multiple angles. Samsung's setup is a bit different, involving multiple swipes downward on the screen over the home button.

Early reports suggested Samsung's fingerprint sensor was somewhat inaccurate, and the video depicts some of the same problems with fingerprint recognition. Marsh notes that he has to swipe directly over the center of the home button for a fingerprint to register and describes how the sensor on the S5 is hard to use with a single hand.
It seems like it's sort of hit or miss unless you swipe directly over the center of the button, covering most of it with your finger. Moreover because you have to swipe starting from the bottom of the touchscreen it makes the process nearly impossible with one hand.

As for the iPhone 5s, because the device essentially captures multiple scans of your finger in various positions you can literally unlock it from any orientation including upside down, left, right, or diagonally. It doesn't matter. It will almost always recognize your finger.
Click to expand...
While Samsung's fingerprint sensor appears to have some issues, Apple's Touch ID faced its own problems early on, including "fade," or the increasingly erratic performance of the fingerprint sensor over time. iOS 7.1, released in March, solved the issue, bringing much-needed improvements to Touch ID's fingerprint recognition capabilities.

Apple also faced significant scrutiny over both hacking and privacy concerns after the launch of the iPhone 5s, leading it to publish multiple documents detailing how the feature works, assuring users that only mathematical representations of fingerprints are stored in the A7 processor's Secure Enclave, which is walled off from the rest of iOS.

Samsung may face some of the same scrutiny following the April 11 release of the Galaxy S5, especially as the company has plans to allow developers access to the feature.

Samsung's S5 will also be compatible with PayPal's mobile payment app, allowing users to authorize PayPal payments with a fingerprint, a feature that could also cause concern with some users. Apple has plans to enter the payment arena with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner, but has yet to do so.

Article Link: Fingerprint Scanners on iPhone 5s and Galaxy S5 Compared in New Video
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/04/03/iphone-5s-and-galaxy-s5-fingerprint-comparison/
Rogifan

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,124
31,156
Luckily for me Touch ID has been nearly flawless, even when I was on holiday and in and out of water frequently. I like the fact that I don't have to first wake the device before unlocking it. Can't wait for it to come to iPads and be opened up to 3rd party support.
 
A

afsnyder

macrumors 65816
Jan 7, 2014
1,270
33
So the S5 accuracy is pretty good but the tech is very inconvenient for the end user for that size device?
 
poppe

poppe

macrumors 68020
Apr 29, 2006
2,242
51
Woodland Hills
TouchID has been amazing for me with the only exception being extreme cold and the TouchID App Purchase not always coming up - which is more annoying than it not unlocking.
 
W

WestonHarvey1

macrumors 68030
Jan 9, 2007
2,771
2,187
My 5s Touch ID been broken for awhile, so I turned off the feature. I'll probably do a warranty swap before my year is up, but for now I'm back to my status quo - no passcode. Touch ID is only easier than no passcode when it works reliably.
 
T

taxiapple

macrumors regular
Jun 9, 2009
191
27
WestonHarvey1 said:
My 5s Touch ID been broken for awhile, so I turned off the feature. I'll probably do a warranty swap before my year is up, but for now I'm back to my status quo - no passcode. Touch ID is only easier than no passcode when it works reliably.
Click to expand...

Mine stops working after a few days also. I've given upon it.
 
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H

hlfway2anywhere

Cancelled
Jul 15, 2006
1,544
2,338
WestonHarvey1 said:
My 5s Touch ID been broken for awhile, so I turned off the feature. I'll probably do a warranty swap before my year is up, but for now I'm back to my status quo - no passcode. Touch ID is only easier than no passcode when it works reliably.
Click to expand...

You say that last thing as if it's Touch ID's fault for you not getting your phone serviced.
 
Quu

Quu

macrumors 68040
Apr 2, 2007
3,420
6,792
Pretty clear that Apple bought the best technology for this with their acquisition of the company that made it and Samsung is having to put together a solution using scraps of what's left.
 
fullauto

fullauto

macrumors 6502a
Oct 19, 2012
918
322
Brisbane
Apple sure owns fingerprint recognition. TouchID PayPal payments would likely be an iOS 8 feature anyhoo.
 
jclo

jclo

Managing Editor
Staff member
Dec 7, 2012
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4,302
Touch ID never really worked properly for me in the beginning, so much so that I considered turning it off. It's been a LOT better since iOS 7.1 was released.

Beforehand, I would need to put my thumb on the sensor multiple times for it to register, now it's almost always instantaneous. It never works right after washing my hands or when its cold, though. I still debate as to whether it's any better than a passcode, really, since that takes all of a couple seconds to enter, but it'll be an awesome feature when it can do stuff like authenticate payments (or replace my 1Password master password).
 
dannyyankou

dannyyankou

macrumors G5
Mar 2, 2012
13,002
27,986
Westchester, NY
fullauto said:
Apple sure owns fingerprint recognition. TouchID PayPal payments would likely be an iOS 8 feature anyhoo.
Click to expand...

Apple has been developing a mobile payment method, so we'll see. It would be awesome if you could use it with banking apps and purchases at stores too (iBeacon could come in handy for this).
 
R

rovex

macrumors 65816
Feb 22, 2011
1,231
176
How did he turn the iphone on standby just by pressing two fingers on the screen at 3:40???
 
spinedoc77

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,391
5,254
I must say that after hating Apple's horrible fp sensor, with the new update it works awesome. I have not had a single issue with it since the iOS update. The S5 one looks weak, I don't think I'd want to be dropping my phone all the time trying to do that one handed.
 
B

brucerb

macrumors newbie
Aug 13, 2013
26
1
Fade is still alive and causing trouble

"...Apple's Touch ID faced its own problems early on, including "fade," or the increasingly erratic performance of the fingerprint sensor over time. iOS 7.1, released in March, solved the issue..."

What evidence, beyond anecdotal, is there that 7.1 solved the fade issue? Apple's release notes only stated:" Improves Touch ID fingerprint recognition." Meanwhile there seems to be plenty of anecdotal evidence fade is NOT solved.

The "fade issue" is still there for me (sharp drop off in recognition starting on the second day after putting in "new fingers", twice per finger) and apparently also for at least one other commenter above. I might as well have bought a 5C (if I could ignore the aesthetics).

Yes, after giving 7.1 a few weeks I'm off to the Genius Bar soon to complain.
 
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