Google fans cry ‘I miss this so much’ as ‘perfect’ phone feature scrapped and say ‘no reason’ it shouldn’t return

GOOGLE fans are mourning the loss of a popular feature on the company's Pixel phones.

A thread on the Google subreddit is calling for a Pixel design perk to return.

The Google Pixel 5 featured a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone
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The Google Pixel 5 featured a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phoneCredit: Getty
Later Google smartphones – like the Pixel 6 – abandoned the feature, swapping it out for an under-screen scanner instead
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Later Google smartphones – like the Pixel 6 – abandoned the feature, swapping it out for an under-screen scanner insteadCredit: AFP

Fans say they want to see fingerprint scanners put back on the rear of Pixel phones.

The original Google Pixel phone came in in 2016, and featured a fingerprint sensor on the back.

This was kept on right through to 2020's Google Pixel 5 – but was eventually abandoned on later models.

Now past-gazing Google fans say they want it back, with one commenting: "Yeah I miss the back fingerprint sensor."

They continued: "Faster, more reliable, perfectly positioned so that the screen was already unlocked by the time you got it out of your pocket."

Another replied: "Me too, I miss it so much."

SCREEN WIPE?

A different user added: "Under-screen sensors are one of the main reasons I moved to FaceID. Just put that thing anywhere else than under the screen! Works much better and I can feel where it is."

One questioned: "No reason a phone couldn't have 2 right? One at the back and one on the power button or under the screen."

And another sad user added: "I miss this so much."

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Google abandoned the fingerprint scanner on the back with its 2021 Pixel 6 model.

This device retained a fingerprint scanner, but instead moved it to under the display.

The under-screen optical scanner module was sold as a perk at the time, but some fans prefer the rear option.

By contrast, some rival phone makers have abandoned fingerprint scanners altogether.

The new Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro (released in 2023) also skip a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner
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The new Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro (released in 2023) also skip a rear-mounted fingerprint scannerCredit: AFP

Apple's flagship iPhone series hasn't featured fingerprint scanners for years.

The company stopped including them with its iPhone X in 2017.

Since then, Apple has preferred for users to unlock phones using its Face ID facial recognition technology.

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When Face ID launched, Apple said it had just a one-in-a-million chance of mistakenly unlocking for the wrong face.

This was reportedly 20 times better than the security of Touch ID.

Google Pixel phones – a timeline

Here are the key dates...

  • Google Pixel / XL – October 20, 2016
  • Google Pixel 2 / XL – October 17, 2017
  • Google Pixel 3 / XL – October 18, 2018
  • Google Pixel 3a / XL – May 15, 2019
  • Google Pixel 4 / XL – October 23, 2019
  • Google Pixel 4a – August 20, 2020
  • Google Pixel 4a (5G) – November 5, 2020
  • Google Pixel 5 – October 15, 2020
  • Google Pixel 5a – August 26, 2021
  • Google Pixel 6 / Pro – October 28, 2021
  • Google Pixel 6a – July 21, 2022
  • Google Pixel 7 / Pro – October 13, 2022
  • Google Pixel 7a – May 10, 2023
  • Google Pixel Fold – June 20, 2023
  • Google Pixel 8 / Pro – October 12, 2023