Google Pixel 7 to bring back Biometric Face Unlock: Will it make any difference?

Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro may bring back a feature to take on the iPhone 14 head-to-head. Back in 2020, Google announced its Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL with a unique biometric verification system, using its Soli chip to employ radar technology for unlocking the phone. Regulations restricted it to a few markets only and Google fell back to the fingerprint sensor going forward. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro also rely on fingerprint scanners for quick unlock. The Pixel 7 series, will however, bring back the biometric face unlock feature.

Based on a leak from Mishaal Rahman, a Google Play Console listing revealed that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro support Android’s Biometric Face Unlock feature. This is the same feature that was on the Pixel 4 and Pixel XL. However, the Pixel 4 series had to rely on the sensors and based on the renders shown by Google, it seems this could be another software based miracle from the Search giant.

Pixel 7 to get Face Unlock feature

The Pixel 7 does not seem to have a dedicated sensor setup similar to the Pixel 4 or even the Apple iPhone 14, the latter having its own TrueDepth sensor setup. Hence, it could largely be a software based implementation similar to most Android phones; it could work only when the selfie camera gets enough light to see your face.

Software based face unlock systems are said to be unsafe, and could confuse between faces. However, it makes for a decent alternate way to unlock the phone quickly. Given that Pixel 6 series devices had issues with the fingerprint sensor, it could be a failsafe solution for users to use it for unlocking.

Other than this, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are also expected to have dual eSIM connections that could be active simultaneously. This feature was supposed to debut with Android 13 but the Pixel 7 series phones will get to debut it.

Both the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will come to India this year as Google’s flagship phones. The Pixel 7 series is expected to take on the Apple iPhone 14 series as well as the Samsung Galaxy S22 series.