Earlier this morning Qualcomm officially announced the Snapdragon 820 processor for mobile devices, due to launch in smartphones, tablets, and things like drones by sometime next year, although there is still no listed exact date for a time of release, so at the moment it’s currently unknown when consumers will start to see devices powered by new flagship CPU from the company. Alongside the official announcement Qualcomm has started to give bits and pieces of details about the new processor, citing that the CPU is 30 percent more efficient than the Snapdragon 810. They have also opened up about their SenseID fingerprint solution, which they have announced will be available at the same time as the Snapdragon 820 processor.
While SenseID will become available at the launch of the new chip, that doesn’t mean that every OEM who uses the Snapdragon 820 CPU within their devices will opt to enable SenseID. Qualcomm states that it’s up to the manufacturers to include the functionality, so there will likely be some OEMs who don’t utilize it all. SenseID will come out as a rival for TouchID found within Apple’s products as well as Samsung’s offerings, and now Google’s Nexus Imprint, and early impressions following SenseID’s initial announcement back in March already peg it as the technology to beat once it’s launched.
SenseID will be able to scan a 3D image of your fingerprint using ultrasonic sound waves, and according to Qualcomm it will still be able to function properly even if your fingers are a little dirty or wet, factors which tend to trip up some of the other available fingerprint tech that’s already out there and available in devices. Qualcomm also boasts that it will be able to scan fingerprints effortlessly through different types of device materials like Sapphire Glass, Aluminum, Steel, Plastic and more. Because SenseID captures a three-dimensional image of the fingerprint Qualcomm says’s it’s much more difficult to fake or spoof a fingerprint, providing extra security and accuracy to the technology that other fingerprint sensors currently aren’t capable of. With SenseID on the way, devices using the Snapdragon 820 will be able to enable the functionality for use with mobile payments and passwordless security, much like the other options already out there.
SenseID will be available at the same time as #Snapdragon820–but it’s up to the OEMs to include it. -Tim https://t.co/IW119yZRZG
– Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) November 10, 2015