We know almost everything about Samsung’s 10th anniversary Galaxy S10 with Samsung itself happy to leak the full range. But what Samsung would prefer you don’t know is the range’s biggest upgrade comes with a significant problem…
A new video leaked by MobileFun highlights the issue: Samsung’s world-first Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader does not work with screen protectors. Moreover, the only successful workarounds look either ugly or expensive.
MobileFun’s video demonstrates the former. The popular accessory retailer shows that the only solution for standard screen protectors is to cut a hole in them around the new sensor. This looks terrible and is also self-defeating because it exposes a significant (and crucial) part of the display to damage.
As for the expensive option, this comes via premium screen protector manufacturer Whitestone who told 9to5Google it will have the only protector which is compatible with the Galaxy S10’s Ultrasonic reader at launch. It will cost an eye-watering $60.
Why is the workaround so expensive? Because it requires a very different (and more awkward) method of fitting a protector to the display.
Whitestone explains that the problem is no trace of air is allowed between a screen protector and the Galaxy S10’s Ultrasonic sensor – something that is impossible to achieve with any standard protector’s simple peel-on application. Instead, Whitestone uses a liquid adhesive which 9to5Google has tested and found to be a “lengthy installation process”.
The good news is the results are impressive if you get the installation right but at $60 for a two pack (single packs are not available), it is also not something you don’t want to mess up more than once.
Currently, it is unknown whether Whitestone’s method can be reproduced more cheaply and the precision liquid install process is likely to put off some buyers anyway.
All of which creates a bigger problem because the Galaxy S10 is going to be the most expensive Galaxy S model ever and with its Ultrasonic reader baked into the display, these are screens you do not want to crack.
As such, the biggest weakness of Samsung’s new entry-level Galaxy S10emay now become its greatest strength…
A new video leaked by MobileFun highlights the issue: Samsung’s world-first Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader does not work with screen protectors. Moreover, the only successful workarounds look either ugly or expensive.
MobileFun’s video demonstrates the former. The popular accessory retailer shows that the only solution for standard screen protectors is to cut a hole in them around the new sensor. This looks terrible and is also self-defeating because it exposes a significant (and crucial) part of the display to damage.
As for the expensive option, this comes via premium screen protector manufacturer Whitestone who told 9to5Google it will have the only protector which is compatible with the Galaxy S10’s Ultrasonic reader at launch. It will cost an eye-watering $60.
Why is the workaround so expensive? Because it requires a very different (and more awkward) method of fitting a protector to the display.
Whitestone explains that the problem is no trace of air is allowed between a screen protector and the Galaxy S10’s Ultrasonic sensor – something that is impossible to achieve with any standard protector’s simple peel-on application. Instead, Whitestone uses a liquid adhesive which 9to5Google has tested and found to be a “lengthy installation process”.
The good news is the results are impressive if you get the installation right but at $60 for a two pack (single packs are not available), it is also not something you don’t want to mess up more than once.
Currently, it is unknown whether Whitestone’s method can be reproduced more cheaply and the precision liquid install process is likely to put off some buyers anyway.
All of which creates a bigger problem because the Galaxy S10 is going to be the most expensive Galaxy S model ever and with its Ultrasonic reader baked into the display, these are screens you do not want to crack.
As such, the biggest weakness of Samsung’s new entry-level Galaxy S10emay now become its greatest strength…