Modern smartphones are loaded with features, and arguably the most exciting deals with its scanning technology. Indeed, one of the best things about new phones like the Galaxy S8 and iPhone X are their practical, convenient, and impressive scanning capabilities.

Here’s a look at what these technologies are and how you can enable or disable them on your phone.

Fingerprint Scanners

Fingerprint scanners were the first biometric features introduced to the general public via the iPhone. Never before had users been able to secure their phones using human characteristics totally unique to them.

Security is the primary use of this feature. When you’re setting up a new phone that has this type of scanner, you’ll have the option to enable the feature and register one or more fingerprints.

Then, when you want to unlock your phone, you’ll simply place your finger briefly on the scanner.

The convenience of this capability goes far past the lock screen. Many third-party apps take advantage of this biometric safety feature, meaning you can log on to your bank account, a music app, and other software using the scanner.

You’ll find the options to enable, disable, and change your fingerprint preferences in your phone’s settings. Look for “Lock Screen and Security” or a similar tab.

From there, you can turn fingerprint scanning for your lock screen and app passwords on or off and register a print for whichever finger you want to use for biometric security purposes.

Face Scanners

The second wave of biometric security followed quickly after fingerprint scanners became a standard on smartphones.

Android devices launched with facial recognition, and the iPhone more recently unveiled its Face ID technology.

Like fingerprint scanning, both utilize the phone’s camera and scanner to register an image of your face that you can use for biometric security.

For example, with T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S8, users can unlock their phones just by glancing at the screen; thanks to its facial recognition capabilities.

This phone features an iris scanner and fingerprint scanner as well, giving you more ways to secure your phone outside of registering a numeric passcode.

Biometric security combined with T-Mobile’s reliable network — recently announced as the fastest in America, means you can unlock your phone and fire up your apps with unprecedented speed.

The applications for face scanners aren’t confined to security. Particularly with Face ID, which scans your face in 3D space, facial recognition is a reliable, safe way to use your phone seamlessly.

You can unlock it with minimal input which is a new degree of convenience for smartphone users. Face ID’s scanning capabilities can also track user input in real time.

We’ve seen this with the iPhone X’s animojis, which is a cute application of this technology. In the future, though, responsive facial recognition could be used for accessibility and other practical purposes.

If your phone supports facial recognition, you can enable, disable, and change your preferences through the phone’s settings. On the iPhone X, search for the Face ID & Passcode tab.

Iris Scanners

Iris scanners are another new innovation. This technology rolled out on smartphones as of 2017. These scanners are similar to face recognition, but they only track the user’s iris to secure the device. If your phone has this feature, you just have to look into the camera to unlock the gadget.

Augmented Reality

The convenience and applicability of smartphone scanners aren’t confined to biometrics. One of the most prominent examples with the most thrilling applications for work and play is augmented reality.

Phones that have this technology use 3D scanning to accurately gauge the depth and content in a physical space. Then, items can be virtually projected into the area via your phone’s screen.

This technology is already being used for everything from safety training to architectural design and entertainment.

Smartphone technology is moving forward at an exciting pace. Just a few years ago, fingerprint scanners were new and impressive and today, we’re on the cutting-edge of facial recognition entering the mainstream.

Check for these features in your next smartphone, and look forward to top-notch security, convenience, and fun from your mobile device.