Earlier this week, Google gave us a full look at the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, along with the rest of the Pixel 9 series. But even after the big reveal, more details about the specs and features are still coming out—especially a significant security upgrade for the new Pixel Fold.
According to Android Police, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s face unlock feature is a big improvement over the original Pixel Fold. While the previous model also had face recognition (alongside fingerprint recognition), the new one is much harder to trick.
This means you can now use your face to unlock not just your phone, but also secure apps like password managers or banking apps. This adds an extra layer of security, giving you more peace of mind in case someone else gets a hold of your device.
To check out this upgrade on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, go to Settings, then head to Security & privacy, Device lock, and Fingerprint & face unlock. There, you’ll find the option to use your face to access the most secure apps on your phone.
A New Standard While many Android phones offer face unlock, they don’t all provide the same level of accuracy and reliability. For example, Apple’s Face ID on the iPhone 15 is known for being particularly reliable.
This difference comes down to the hardware and software in the phone. A standard front-facing selfie camera can recognize a face, but it can also be fooled by a photo of someone, making it less secure.
However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold likely includes an additional depth sensor that maps the contours of your face, making the technology much more robust. This is called class 3 biometric protection, the highest standard available, and it seems to be what’s included in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
