After a month with my new Pixel 6 Pro, I think Google ruined a great thing by cutting out the fingerprint sensor on the back of these new phones. Everything else about this sixth generation Pixel is great except that one change. It is more than disappointing, it makes my phone less secure now too.
Let’s go back to the beginning for a minute. I have been a Pixel fan from Day 1 for two reasons:
1) pure Android, meaning no software additions from 3rd party providers (I hate bloatware)
2) solid fingerprint biometrics, and more notably located on the back of the phone (that was genius)
Both reasons have become more and more significant to me over the years… especially now that this second reason is gone!
SUPER FAST ACCESS
The best part of having a fingerprint sensor on the back of the Pixel was for super fast access. I would reach into my pocket, grab the phone, touch the fingerprint sensor and have it unlocked by the time it was up to my face. If I were a cowboy, the speed of that move would compare to one of the quickest draws in the West.
What happens now?
I touch the screen reader and get “Not recognized”.
I touch it again, “Not recognized”.
Again, “Not recognized”.
Again, “Partial fingerprint detected”.
Again, “Too many attempts. Try again later”.
Finally, I just enter the damn PIN.
This. is. annoying!
Oh, and good luck if your hands are wet, sweaty or cold.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Did Google really need to chose one over the other? Why not offer both? I’m happy to have a front interface to unlock my phone now when it’s laying on the table. However, I sorely miss the ease and speed of unlocking it in one motion, right from my pocket.
Is there any reason Pixel users couldn’t have their fingerprint cake and eat it too?!
This hardware feature should have remained a signature feature of the Pixel line-up since rear fingerprint sensor placement really is the best fingerprint sensor location!
LESS SECURE NOW
I will go as far as saying my new Pixel 6 is now also less secure than ever. How? I previously never had the need to set up Smart Lock. Now? I can’t set up enough things to avoid going through what I describe above. I have just about everything working to keep my phone unlocked: my Pixel Buds, my Fitbit, my Bose SoundLink speaker, my car, my location. Anything that will keep me from experiencing this frustration. As a result, I don’t feel my device is nearly as secure as it once was.
Just the other day, I handed my phone over to a Zagg employee at the mall to replace my screen protector and realized afterwards that it was unlocked the whole time. Nice…