What you need to know
- New findings in the Android 13 QPR1 beta 1 build point towards a face unlock feature on the Pixel 6 Pro.
- Your face must be unobstructed and in clear light for the feature to work properly.
- The latest Android 13 beta build is not expected to reach a stable release until December with the Pixel 7 series potentially receiving it before the Pixel 6 Pro.
There appear to be details about Google’s face unlock feature finally coming to the Pixel 6 Pro device.
As Google resumes its Android 13 testing with the QPR1 beta 1 build after a short hiatus due to the stable release, there appears to be some information about face unlock on the latest Pixel phones. According to 9to5Google, the latest beta build has code that explains how this feature is supposed to work, saying that Face Unlock “works best when there’s enough light and you’re not wearing a mask or dark glasses.”
In addition, the beta build explains that users are asked to hold the phone at eye level to start the scan. Google apparently warns that face unlock is “less secure than a strong pattern, PIN, or password.”
The reason for this is due to the lack of specialized hardware, which only relies on the images taken by the phone’s front camera. This means someone can unlock your phone while you sleep or if they look like you, such as a twin. Meanwhile, phones like the iPhone, LG G8 and Pixel 4 had specific hardware that provides secure face unlock. Unlock on Android, however, iPhone has consistently shown this hardware.
Further insight has shown 9to5 that the feature is referred to as “Traffic Light” in the latest beta version.
We’ve been waiting for the Pixel 6 Pro to receive the face unlock feature for a while now. Early rumors pointing to this feature still being a possibility were found in Android 12L’s source code. And we’ve seen several examples of the feature still in the works.
Additional information found in the latest version suggests that the face unlock feature will only kick in once you’ve made it past your phone’s always-on screen to the lock screen.
We don’t expect to see this current beta build to see a stable release until December, which is when Google’s next feature drop should be. However, this will come after the launch of the new Pixel 7 series, which may come with the feature already enabled. This could mean the face unlock feature could land on the new flagship devices first before dropping a number back and getting to the Pixel 6 Pro. Unfortunately, it’s not expected on the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6a.
Of course, the feature has appeared in QPR builds as far back as late 2021, so there’s no telling if it will actually arrive this time around. Anyway, fingers crossed.
The Google Pixel 6 Pro is a stunning phone with a unique design and exclusive Pixel features. 120Hz refresh rate, 6.7-inch LTPO OLED screen ensures that everything you see is crystal clear. The addition of the 50MP rear camera captures your life exactly as you remember it.
