The fourth version of Android Q’s developer beta includes a new “Face Authentication” entry in its settings menu, suggesting Google is planning to include native support for face unlock in the operating system. 9to5Google reports that the feature will support using your face to unlock the device, sign into apps, and make payments, similar to Apple’s competing Face ID technology. The final version of Android Q is expected to be released later this summer.
We’ve seen face unlock support appear on Android devices before, but it’s generally relied on manufacturers building their own support for it on top of the core operating system. Since each manufacturer has to build its own implementation, the results can be inconsistent. The face unlock feature on the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, for example, can be fooled with a video of your face playing on another smartphone.
