So I’ve been messing around with a few phones lately, a nexus 6p, a pixel 3a xl, and a s21 ultra, and I’ve noticed that on the 6p and 3a xl both sound louder, punchier, and clearer when compared to the s21 ultra. They also both have that thicc notch design with a massive speakerphone which might add to the high volume levels.
Yes, absolutely worse than the 6. At least it was possible to get the one in the 6 to do what you want, whereas the fingerprint reader in the 8 requires the user to adjust their behavior - and that’s with already enrolling multiple fingerprints per finger etc.
It’s workable, but it requires adjustment and it does fail every once in a while in an annoying way. The 8 does have face unlock though.
That pretty much sounds like what I have to do with my 6.
Maybe I got an exceptionally bad one.
Just out of curiosity, have you tried registering your prints in a darkened room?
I took your suggestion and went to a pitch black room and re-enrolled all fingerprints. No significant improvement.