Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Leak Hints At Larger Iris Scanner

A hands-on video starring what’s said to be a screen protector designed for the Galaxy Note 9 emerged online earlier today, suggesting Samsung’s next Android flagship may feature a larger iris scanner than its predecessor did. The change may allow for improved authentication speed and accuracy over longer distances, provided Samsung hasn’t reshuffled the top bezel arrangement since last year and the Galaxy Note 9 ends up being yet another one of its products to feature an iris scanner as the first module from the right.

While the South Korean original equipment manufacturer is already understood to be developing a mobile 3D camera system in collaboration with Isreali startup Mantis Vision that would rival the depth-sensing imaging setup of the iPhone X, that particular technology isn’t expected to be commercialized by the firm until the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus are released early next year. Samsung is said to have delayed its implementation in order to gain more time to create a depth-sensing solution that doesn’t require a display notch, though the company may still be looking to improve its mobile biometric authentication mechanisms in time for the Galaxy Note 9 to benefit from them.

Cutouts for what are assumed to be an LED indicator, ambient light sensor, earpiece, and a single selfie camera are all observable on the newly leaked screen protector as well. Recent reports indicate that the most premium variant of the Galaxy Note 9 may ship with as much as 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space, whereas the lineup is also expected to debut at least one new color in the form of “Teddy Brown.” Samsung‘s upcoming Android flagship is likely to be officially announced at IFA in late August, with its predecessor also being unveiled at last year’s iteration of the Berlin, Germany-based trade show. Should the company stick with the same availability schedule, the Galaxy Note 9 would become available for purchase on a worldwide level by mid-September.