AI Image
Google Pixel's solution for Face Unlock in the dark is a bright screen
9to5Google • • technology
Key Points:
- Google is developing an upgrade for Pixel phones' Face Unlock feature called “active illumination,” which increases screen brightness to improve facial recognition in low-light conditions.
- The new option, found in the Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2, is labeled “Brighten screen in low light” and automatically boosts screen brightness to help Face Unlock work reliably in the dark.
- Users will have granular control over the feature, including settings for brightness levels (Reliable or Comfortable) and conditions under which the screen can brighten, such as Bedtime mode, Do Not Disturb, or driving detection.
- The feature may temporarily alter certain accessibility settings like extra dim, remove animations, or color inversion when activated, and aims to balance usability with user comfort in dark environments.
- Google has not announced a timeline for the feature’s official release, but it represents a practical, if somewhat inelegant, solution to Face Unlock challenges in dark settings.
