There might be hope still that the Pixel 6 series could get the Face Unlock feature at some point.
Face Unlock is a common security feature on Android devices, which allows users to unlock their handsets in a hands-free fashion, with their own faces. However, the feature has been missing from Pixel devices since the Pixel 4, in favor of a fingerprint sensor unlock. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro both notably have onscreen fingerprint sensors, which have been under scrutiny as of late for slow performance.
Reports indicate that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, were expected to have a Face Unlock feature until right before their release, but Google pulled the functionality at the last minute. However leakster, @mile_freak07 shared details on Twitter discussing that evidence of the Face Unlock feature remains in the Pixel 6 series source code under the codename “Tuscany.”
It might be possible that the feature had too many bugs to be included in the final iterations of the devices. It is also possible that the feature could have potentially caused necessary battery drain to the handsets, leading to its ultimate demise from the feature-set. All that is really known is that up until July, the Pixel 6 series was meant to have a Face Unlock feature after several generations of the function being missing from the Pixel product line.
Media reports speculate that Google could add the Face Unlock feature back to the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, but the likelihood of this seems uncertain due to Face Unlock not being a necessary feature to the overall functionality of the devices. Google appears more focused on improving and marketing its in-display fingerprint sensor so all of its attention will likely go into that functionality. There is always the opportunity to reintroduce Face Unlock with future Pixel models, especially with Google now dipping its toe into the flagship smartphone arena.
Some noted if Google were to add Face Unlock as an additional update it would have to do so through the Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro camera, which would make for a less secure feature. However, waiting for future devices would allow the brand to include the security safeguards to truly make the functionality worthwhile.
