Teardowns show possible Android Q support for facial biometric payments and app sign-in

Details of the new biometric facial authentication features coming to Android have been revealed by teardowns of Android Q Beta 4, according to a teardown by 9to5Google.

The teardown shows strings for “face authentication” for device unlocking, app sign-in and payments among the OS setting. Similar evidence of native biometric support was found in Q Beta 2 and 3 by XDA Developers earlier this year.

Android Police was unable to find the same indications on its Beta 4 testing devices, but offered a couple of possible explanations for this, but screenshots show an icon thought to be related to facial authentication, and also suggests the new Android version will provide an option for requiring the user’s eyes to be open for facial biometrics to work.

The facial recognition capabilities of Android devices have not been as well received as Apple’s Face ID, particularly after security researchers showed they are easier to spoof. The mobile OS has continued to move forward with its biometrics features and support, however, achieving FIDO2 certification in February.

Article Topics

access control  |  Android  |  biometric payments  |  biometrics  |  facial recognition