Face Unlock on Pixel 11 series works better in low light

Since the Pixel 8, Google’s camera-based face recognition has supported Android’s highest biometric standard. The Pixel 11 series now offers Face Unlock that “recognizes you more easily in low light.”

Google quietly mentions this update on the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Fold product listings: “Face Unlock is now faster, more secure, and more accurate in low light.” This improvement is “compared to Pixel 10 phone series.” It appears at the end of a carousel that highlights Titan M3, built-in VPN, Call Screen, Scam Detection, and Satellite SOS.

The standalone “Pixel Safe” page does not add much more detail: “Get into your phone safely and quickly, even in darker surroundings. Face Unlock now recognizes you more easily in low light, helping ensure you are the only one who can access your private information.”

After the Pixel 4, Google reintroduced Face Unlock with the Pixel 7. It was upgraded a year later to support tap-to-pay transactions and signing into apps, like banking clients. At the time, Google credited Tensor G3 and advanced machine learning algorithms with making this possible, but never went into detail. The Pixel 11 update looks to be getting the same treatment.

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This update should help address the limitation of Google’s camera-only approach, but dedicated hardware is ultimately needed to match the quality of Face ID on the iPhone, which works in all lighting conditions.

Google’s work on IR-powered Face Unlock was expected to debut on the Pixel 11 at some point, but rumors several months ago said it would not be available in time.