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Fingerprint sensors the new black for smartphones as Korean firm Pantech launches the first

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Fingerprint sensors are starting to look like the new must-have smartphone feature as Korean firm Pantech launches its first, ahead of the long-rumored fingerprint sensor for the iPhone 5S.

There have also been conflicting rumors that the LG G2, due for launch tomorrow, will or won’t have a fingerprint sensor – we’ll soon find out.

A fingerprint sensor first appeared in early models of the Motorola Atrix 2 back in 2011, but was later removed by Motorola.

If you’ve never heard of Pantech, by the way, that’s because it makes phones almost exclusively for its domestic Korean market, where it’s actually second only to Samsung (but ahead of LG).

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Comments

  1. Chris Brown (@chr158r0wn) - 11 years ago

    I am pretty sure that the Motorola Atrix had a fingerprint sensor two years ago

  2. Jake Van Epps - 11 years ago

    Just to point out the moto Atrix had one a few years ago…

    • Ben Lovejoy - 11 years ago

      Thanks, Jake. It actually only appeared in the pre-production model, but I’ve updated the piece to include this info.

      • voondebah - 11 years ago

        My roommate had a Motorola Atrix and it certainly did have a fingerprint sensor. I doubt he had a pre-production model :)

  3. vasekvi - 11 years ago

    Um no how about first seen on the Motorola Atrix 2 years ago. And of course people have heard of pantech. They have been making crappy feature phones for years that were sold on att.

  4. Mike Beauchamp (@mbchp) - 11 years ago

    The Motorola Atrix 4G had a fingerprint scanner in 2012. This Pantech phone looks cool and all, but it certainly isn’t “the world’s first”.

  5. tino (@tinonolasco) - 11 years ago

    Crucialtec is providing the biometric fingerprint module. They are heading towards the wearable market with their navigation control for small screens.

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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