A new upgrade to the Google Pixel 9 has been teased, and it's something everyone who has used a Pixel in the past few years has been waiting for.

As reported by Kamila Wojciechowska of Android Authority, Google is looking to add an ultrasonic fingerprint reader to the new Pixel. Specifically, it is the same Qualcomm unit found in the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Most smartphones with fingerprint scanners under the screen, including the current Pixel 8 series, use optical scanners that read fingerprints using bright light and a small camera sensor. These work well most of the time, but can start to malfunction if the screen between the fingers is scratched or dirty, or if local light conditions are too bright. Ultrasonic sensors are more resilient to these problems because, as the name implies, they use sound.

Wojciechowska claims that the new sensor will be available on three Pixel 9 models, including the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL and the base model. However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will not have it, and will have a fingerprint sensor on the power button, which is common on folding phones.

The under-display optical sensor that Google has used since the Pixel 6 series has had an unfortunate reputation for being buggy and taking a long time to read a finger. While these issues have been addressed in software updates and later Pixel models, replacing them still seems like a good idea as long as Google implements everything properly the first time.

Made by Google on August 13 is an unusual time for Google to announce a new flagship phone, but the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold will likely debut here . The new Pixel Watch 3 and the final announcement of Android 15 may also be seen there, so it is definitely worth keeping an eye out for.