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Better facial recognition support coming to Android soon?
August 20, 2025
Android has hadfacial recognition technologyfor over six years, but the mobile platform could get more advanced facial authentication support soon.
A newcommit, called “add face authentication framework,” has been spotted in theAndroid Open Source Project(via9to5Google), suggesting Android is moving beyond thebasic technologyfirst seen in 2011’s Android 4.0.
The commit indicates that, unlikefingerprint recognition, only one face template can be harnessed by the user on the device; those who share devices would likely need to stick to another unlock method like fingerprint or PIN authentication. The function may continuously refine that single template though, like Apple’sFace ID.
An Intel employee is one of the people behind the commit but we don’t know in what capacity the company is involved. Does it have facial recognition hardware in the works for the platform and/or the Pixel 3?
Intel has itsRealSensecomputer vision platform and has also recently demonstratedfacial recognition paymentsover 5G. So it’s clearly got some experience with face-related technologies. It wouldn’t be the first time Intel contributed technology to a Pixel either, producing thePixel Visual Corechip in thePixel 2.
As for when we might see the technology roll out, the commit hints that the Pixel 3 duo, expected to arrive in September/October, could be the first devices to come with it. The most recentPixel 3 rumorssuggest dual front cameras for at least one model, which could be a clue that it will support advanced facial recognition.
Facial authentication technology has seen a resurgence following the Face ID-toting iPhone X’s release. In the past six months, everyone fromHuaweiandSamsungtoOnePlusandXiaomihave dabbled in the technology. The one constant is that none of these are as secure as Apple’s solution, which lets you make payments.
Nevertheless, the latest commit should help smaller Android manufacturers with fewer resources, allowing them to deliver better facial recognition too. When could these brands grab the feature? All eyes will be on Android P, expected to arrive alongside the Pixel 3 in September/October.
What do you make of the news? Do you prefer face unlock or fingerprint authentication? Let us know in the comments below!
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