Google's "Project Toscana" Will Upgrade Face Unlock

According to Android Authority, Google's secret Project Toscana is upgrading the face unlock on future Pixels and even Chromebooks.

Per our source, Google recently tested Project Toscana with UX testers in Mountain View, CA. Our source used Project Toscana on a Pixel phone with a single hole-punch camera cutout and on two Chromebooks with external cameras (of which the circuitry and motherboard were exposed, so not the final design).

Reportedly, the unlock feature worked just as quickly as Apple's Face ID and in varying light conditions, suggesting some kind of infrared hardware.

Face Unlock on current Pixels just uses the regular camera for unlocking, so it struggles in low light conditions.

Google previously shipped infrared hardware that would create a 3D representation of your face in the Pixel 4. This approach is similar to what iOS has with Face ID, and the source of the much-maligned notch. The hardware allows Face ID to work well in low-light conditions and makes it much more secure, since an attacker needs a 3D representation of your face and not just a 2D image in order to fool it.

The feature was canned in one generation though, and Pixel 5 and 6 users only had fingerprint unlock. A neutered version of Face Unlock was added back in the Pixel 7, but it could only be used to unlock the device and not for things like confirming payments.

In the Pixel 8, Face Unlock could again be used for payments and signing in to apps, but the secure hardware is still lacking. This is the reason GrapheneOS doesn't support Face Unlock:

Android Authority had reported on a previous leak from Google's chips division indicating that they were considering adding the secure hardware back under the display this time, avoiding the ugly notch.

Apple is possibly adding under-display Face ID in the iPhone 18, according to a leak utilizing "micro-transparent glass panels."

To give an idea of how much more secure Face Unlock with proper hardware could be, Apple puts the chances of a random person being able to unlock Face ID at 1 in 1,000,000, while they estimate Touch ID at 1 in 50,000. Android's biometric security guidelines define the highest Class 3 security level for face unlock to allow for the same 1 in 50,000 failure rate.

Android Authority says it's likely we'll see the new hardware in the upcoming Pixel 11 pegged for release this August.

As for the Chromebooks, it seems bizarre that Google would be adding such a big upgrade to an operating system they plan to discontinue, but perhaps the feature will crop up in the new Aluminium OS machines when they release.