Your Google Pixel 6 might get a major new feature but don't get too excited

Date:
Tue, 29 Mar 2022 14:46:08 +0000

Description:
The Google Pixel 6 range might soon offer facial recognition, but the feature is likely to be flawed.

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The Google Pixel 6 range is behind many high-end phones in at least one way: unlocking methods. While these phones include an in-screen fingerprint sensor they lack facial recognition (dubbed Face Unlock on previous Pixel phones), but theres evidence that this could soon change.

Developer @mile_freak07 posted on Twitter that theyd found a new change related to Face Unlock in the config file of an Android beta.

This isnt the first mention theyve found of facial recognition on the Pixel 6 range, but the fact that theres a change to the entry suggests it could be something Google is actively working on. Again some news to share regarding face unlock on Pixel 6/Pro devices. This time a glimmer of hope.After going through the firmware dump of the new QPR3 Beta 1.1, I found a new change regarding face unlock in the powerhal config file. https://t.co/aO5m0YUxPn pic.twitter.com/r6DAssktPx March 26, 2022 See more

That said, theres no information on when Face Unlock might arrive on the phones, if it does at all. It could arrive as a software update at any time perhaps as part of a Pixel Feature Drop, or alongside Android 13 .

But Google might equally decide not to roll the feature out after all, the Pixel 6 range has been out a while without Face Unlock, so Google might just save it for the Pixel 7 . Analysis: a flawed feature

Previous reports suggested that Google hadnt yet implemented Face Unlock on the Pixel 6 range because the feature was draining too much power.

So if Google cant resolve that problem, it may not roll the feature out at
all or if it does, you may want to stick with the fingerprint sensor anyway, so youre not having to charge your phone more often.

On top of that, some previous evidence of the feature (spotted by 9to5Google
) suggested that if it does launch, it might just land on the Pixel 6 Pro
not the standard Pixel 6. So a lot of Pixel owners might still be out of
luck.

But if it doesnt land for your phone, its unlikely to be a huge loss anyway, since while Apples Face ID system is fast and secure, most Android phones
dont handle it as well, offering systems that are almost always less secure, and sometimes slower and less reliable too.

Theres no reason to think the Google Pixel 6 range will be an exception to that, especially as it doesnt have the extensive hardware Apple uses for its system, so the fingerprint sensor is likely to remain the best option. The Google Pixel 6a could land soon

Via XDA Developers



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/your-google-pixel-6-might-get-a-major-new-featu re-but-dont-get-too-excited/


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