According to a new report, Samsung will not install an in-display fingerprint sensor in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 either. A patent that surfaced some time ago fueled speculation that Samsung is using fingerprint sensors under the display in upcoming foldables.

As the BusinessKorea website reports, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 will again not have an in-display fingerprint sensor. Like its predecessors, the next generation of foldable smartphones should again be able to be unlocked using a button with an integrated fingerprint sensor. The reason for not using the in-display fingerprint sensor is probably not the difficult technical feasibility.

Are in-display fingerprint sensors useful for foldables?

As BusinessKorea writes, Samsung filed a patent application with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) some time ago. There a rather complicated method is shown how foldable smartphones can be unlocked with in-display fingerprint sensors both in the folded and in the unfolded state.

After the patent became public, many tech websites and industry insiders speculated that this novel unlocking method could already be used on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4. However, Samsung is sticking with capacitive fingerprint sensors for the time being.

According to experts, there is a good reason for this. The renewed decision for the capacitive sensors has nothing to do with the fact that in-display fingerprint sensors are not technically feasible. The capacitive sensors are simply much more practical in terms of user experience. According to the experts, it is much more natural to place your thumb on the button with the integrated fingerprint sensor when unfolding the smartphone.