Vivo shows smartphone with fingerprint scanner behind screen

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo has shown a prototype of a phone at CES with the fingerprint scanner behind the screen. Other specifications of the device are not yet known.

The fingerprint scanner is integrated between the motherboard and the OLED panel, the manufacturer writes. This makes it possible to have the fingerprint scanner on the front of the phone, without having to keep special space under the screen.

Vivo claims that the phone is ready for mass production. Despite this, the manufacturer has not yet announced the model, presumably to get publicity twice with the same device. In terms of security, the fingerprint scanner should not be inferior to scanners that can be found in current high-end phones.

The Chinese manufacturer has not announced any further details of the phone. A listing on the website of a mandatory certification previously indicated that the device will be called X20 Plus UD, where UD stands for Under Display, the location of the fingerprint scanner. Vivo has not confirmed that. Other manufacturers will probably also come this year with models with fingerprint scanners under the screen. The technology promises to solve the problem that there is no place for a fingerprint scanner on the front of phones with small bezels.

Vivo said last month that it was working on this device. The Synaptics Clear ID scanner lights up on the bottom of the smartphone when the device wakes up. After placing the finger on the location of the scanner, it gives access to the smartphone.