Google Pixel’s Face ID-rivalling upgrades can’t come soon enough
After Google’s botched attempt in 2019, it wasn’t until the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro four years later that we finally got a true 3D solution. At long last, Android users could authenticate payments and log into banking apps using the power of their face alone.
It was a revelation for me – until I was trying to unlock my phone in the dark. While Face ID still works perfectly, the Pixel struggles big time until you turn the lights on. But that could be about to change – sort of.
A software-based solution
Android Authority has spotted code in the beta for Android 17‘s upcoming QPR3 update that mentions “Face Active Illumination”.
While that alone wouldn’t be conclusive evidence, further code uncovered by the site mentions the likes of “dark”, “brightness scale” and “bedtime”, all of which hint at it being focused on face unlock.
However, the most likely solution will be a partial one. With all recent Pixel phones missing the iPhone’s dedicated infrared dot projector, it’ll almost certainly rely on software to brighten your face in the absence of external lighting.
Pixel 11 handsets don’t have the hardware required for true Face ID-esque unlockingAnyron Copeman / Foundry
The most realistic scenario is a feature which automatically recognises when you’re in a low-light environment and prompts you to illuminate the screen, thus providing just enough light for the system to recognise you.