We have been considerably upset with the shortage of face unlock performance on the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Professional once they launched final 12 months – however as work continues on the Pixel 7, it seems to be as if the characteristic may make it to the older telephones too.

Sources talking to the often dependable 9to5Google (opens in new tab) say that Google engineers are engaged on a face unlock characteristic for the Pixel 6 that makes use of its fingerprint sensor. The concept is {that a} fingerprint scan might be utilized in mixture with a face scan, when the outcomes of the face scan aren’t conclusive sufficient.

That is not ideally suited, however it could imply face unlock might be dropped at each the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Professional with none further {hardware} – regardless of the Pixel 6 having an inferior selfie digital camera that may’t scan faces as shortly or as comprehensively.

The Pixel 7 too

Leaked advertising and marketing supplies prompt that Google initially deliberate to carry face unlock to the Pixel 6 Professional, however it did not make it in the long run. Issues over the accuracy of the characteristic and its influence on battery life are two potential explanation why.

Google hasn’t given up completely on face unlock for the Pixel 6 collection although, in line with numerous leaks and rumors which have emerged for the reason that gadgets launched in October 2021. It is doable that the identical fingerprint sensor backup possibility would additionally imply that the characteristic finally makes its technique to the Google Pixel 6a.

Primarily based on the knowledge 9to5Google has, face unlock remains to be a piece in progress for the Google Pixel 7 and the Google Pixel 7 Professional. We’re anticipating these telephones in October, so face unlock for the Pixel 6 is perhaps unveiled on the identical time.

Evaluation: one other Pixel miss

If Google needs its Pixel telephones to compete significantly with the Apple iPhone – and all of the indications are that it does – then it must be sure that it is on a par by way of each key characteristic being provided on telephones such because the iPhone 13.

With that in thoughts, not having face unlock as an possibility – or cobbling collectively a watered-down model of it that makes use of the fingerprint sensor, and launches a number of months after the telephone in query – is not a very nice look.

Apple has made Face ID (and Contact ID) so seamless and slick that they barely get a point out any extra, they’re simply that good. In the meantime Google veers from the superb face unlock featured on the Pixel four to the present mess we have got with the Pixel 6.

Let’s hope the Google Pixel 7 can proper some wrongs on this regard with a face unlock characteristic that truly works correctly – and with out the fingerprint sensor too. In a month or two we must always discover out whether or not Google has managed to tug it off.

• This is every thing we all know in regards to the Google Pixel 7 thus far