9to5Google It can be reported today that Google’s original plan was to launch the Pixel 6 Pro with face unlock, but the feature was pulled relatively close to its launch.
Google intends to release the Pixel 6 Pro with face unlock to complement the under-display fingerprint sensor, according to people familiar with the matter. The feature is only available on the larger flagships, not the smaller Pixel 6, and it works with something we previously speculated based on the code.
The hardware difference between the two phones is that the 6 Pro’s 11.1MP front-facing camera has a 94-degree “ultra-wide” field of view, compared to 8MP and 84 degrees on the $599 Pixel 6. Otherwise, there’s no dedicated hardware (infrared cameras, spot projectors, or flood illuminators) like you’ve seen on the Pixel 4 in 2019. There’s also nothing like Soli Radar to speed up the unlocking process.
Soli face unlock on Pixel 4
Google may rely entirely on what the selfie camera captures to verify it’s you. This seems to be more of a Google-style approach, mostly using software to solve puzzles. This is also what the Galaxy Nexus powered by Android Ice Cream Sandwich utilizes.
Over the past 11 years, significant improvements in processing and accuracy are expected, especially with the advent of specialized hardware like Tensors. For example, Google touts that its chips allow for faster and more accurate face detection — in a photographic context — thanks to an integrated subsystem, while consuming half the power compared to the Pixel 5.
The relatively final decision to pull Face Unlock is reflected in the extent to which the feature is referenced in early and launch-day marketing materials. These include a German print ad (despite falsely claiming it’s for a Pixel 6 entry) and a UK carrier launch page showing “Face and Fingerprint Unlock” in a live image from the Android 12 Security Center. That reference, along with the reference in the Play Store listing screenshot, was later withdrawn. Since then, additional scattered references to features on actual Pixel 6 Pro devices have emerged.
Google is still working on adding face unlock to the Pixel 6 Pro, and it’s targeting the next major quarterly Android update, but plans could still change, one of the sources told us.
If this is indeed still the plan, it would be interesting to see Google updating the Pixel 6 Pro with a major new feature near the end of its annual product cycle. It’s definitely a welcome addition for current owners and those who continue to have their doubts about the fingerprint reader. Meanwhile, this face unlock method could become a staple of future Pixel devices.
More on the Pixel 6 Pro:
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