Samsung to Fix Glitchy Fingerprint Scanner

An old saying goes that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but that saying may not be as true for technology. Unable to actually copy Apple’s Touch ID without incurring huge legal costs, Samsung decided to try and make as close to a carbon copy as possible with its fingerprint technology in the Galaxy S5 smartphone. Unfortunately for Samsung, copied technology by and large meant lower quality technology, resulting in chronic glitch problems and users largely eschewing the feature for the traditional touchscreen and push button features.

So what does Samsung decide to do to fix the problem in time for the upcoming Galaxy S6? Be more like Apple’s Touch ID, of course.

Part of the problem regarding Samsung’s imitation software is that it’s swipe-based, where the user swipes their finger across the home screen button in order to activate the phone. Apple’s Touch ID on the other hand is touch-based, which shortens response times and increases the frequency of accurate readings. Samsung had hoped that the swipe feature would be sufficient for the Galaxy S5, but customers found it frustrating to use.

So for the S6, the South Korean company will switch over to touch-based fingerprint recognition. To make it readable, the new phone will have a larger home button than the S5 in addition to software improvements that will more closely mirror Apple’s technology. It does come with the greater risk of legal reprisal, territory Samsung has been in before, but touch technology isn’t just Apple’s IP anymore, as long as the code is different. Furthermore, Samsung phones tend to be cheaper, and customer satisfaction is greater than that of Apple. Adding a reliable touch sensor, even if it’s a copy, will strengthen Samsung’s competitive advantages over Apple, increasing sales and possibly taking a bite into Apple’s business.