This cool under-display face unlock tech could come to Android
9to5Google • • technology
Key Points:
- Metalenz has developed "Polar ID," an under-display face unlock system that hides most hardware beneath an OLED screen, using a flat lens with nanostructures to capture polarization data for secure facial recognition.
- This technology mimics Apple's Face ID but eliminates the need for visible cutouts on the display, allowing it to work effectively even in the dark and resist spoofing by 3D masks.
- Metalenz partnered with Qualcomm and plans to introduce "Polar ID" in smartphones and laptops starting in 2027, with under-display implementations expected by 2028.
- Google’s Pixel 11 will reportedly not feature under-display face unlock hardware this year, despite previous expectations, leaving Metalenz’s technology as a promising alternative for future Android devices.
- The "Polar ID" system requires only a slightly thinned section of the display, maintaining data quality better than current under-display camera solutions seen in devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold.
