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Face Unlock is one of the most convenient methods of biometric authentication. Simply look at your device and it’s unlocked. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, which were announced today, have this functionality. However, the Pixel 8’s Face Unlock will actually be more useful than the Face Unlock on other Pixel devices.
While Face Unlock is convenient, it’s not the most secure method, according to Google. It’s possible for a person to fool the Face Unlock method. This is why you weren’t allowed to use it for certain tasks. For top security, you’re always required to use your fingerprint or a PIN/password.
The Pixel 8’s Face Unlock is not classified as more secure
Google has three classifications for device security, and they’re Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. They define how secure a biometric form of identification can be. Class 3 is referred to as Strong, and that includes fingerprints. Class 2 is referred to as Weak, and Face Unlock is under that. Lastly, Class 1 is referred to as Convenient.
Well, according to a new tweet from Android analyst Mishaal Rahman, the Pixel 8’s Face Unlock is now classified as Class 3. This means that it’s eligible for in-app authentication. You’ll be able to use it to authenticate different actions within apps.
That’s not all, since it’s a Class 3 method, you can use Face Unlock with banking apps and Google Wallet. Previously, when you tried to use Google Wallet after using Face Unlock, you’d be forced to use your fingerprint before being able to make the purchase. Now, that won’t be necessary on the Pixel 8.
We’re not sure what Google did to the camera hardware or software to make this possible. However, this addition should make using these phones more convenient. Not everyone likes to have to authenticate more than once on their phone.
If you’re interested in getting one of these phones, you can pre-order them today. Follow the links below to put in your pre-order.