Galaxy P1 Might Be First Samsung Smartphone To Have In-Display Fingerprint Sensor

The Samsung Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy A series are rumored to arrive with in-display fingerprint sensors. However, it looks like neither of those two will be the very first Samsung Galaxy smartphone to have the feature.

A new rumor has surfaced claiming that one of Samsung’s mid-range Android smartphones will be the very first to have a fingerprint scanner under the display. This is according to a Samsung Leaker MMDDJ on Twitter. The leaker said the handset is intended to be released for the Chinese market. Another hint that the leaker dropped is that the rumored Samsung mid-range smartphone might be called the Galaxy P1. In July, it was rumored that Samsung would be releasing two new smartphone lines that will be under the Galaxy P and Galaxy R brands.

The Galaxy P1 will allegedly be a mid-range smartphone that will be an “Original Design Manufacturer” device. This means that Samsung will be in charge of designing the phone, but it will not be manufacturing the handset on its own facilities, according to Android Authority.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 is rumored to arrive with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, while the Galaxy A series will have an optical sensor. It’s very likely that Samsung might use an optical sensor for the Galaxy P1, so that the ultrasonic sensor will be an exclusive feature of the Galaxy S10, which will be the South Korean company’s first flagship phone for 2019.

Unfortunately, no information was given on the specs of the Samsung Galaxy P1. It may seem a little odd that Samsung’s first Android smartphone to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor is a mid-range handset, but this appears to be in line with the company’s current mobile strategy.

Samsung mobile division CEO DJ Koh revealed earlier this week to CNBC that they are planning to bring in new cutting-edge features to its more affordable models first. Koh also confirmed that the first of these devices will be released within this year.

“In the past, I brought the new technology and differentiation to the flagship model and then moved to the mid-end. But I have changed my strategy from this year to bring technology and differentiation points starting from the mid-end,” Koh said.

The CEO also said that the new strategy is an attempt by Samsung to attract millennial users, who may not be able to afford the pricier Galaxy S and Galaxy Note models.

“So we are very much focusing on millennials who cannot afford the flagship. But how can I deliver meaningful innovation to our millennials? That's the reason I'm trying to differentiate the mid-section,” Koh explained.