Pixel 11 Pro's Face Unlock Leaves Competitors Behind

Google's Pixel 11 Pro stands out among Android phones for its Face Unlock feature. Introduced in 2023, this biometric unlock option uses a standard front-facing camera paired with machine learning models tuned to Google's custom TPU in its Tensor chips.

The result is secure enough to unlock sensitive apps and authenticate mobile payments, unlike many other Android phones that can only use face unlock for the lock screen. According to Joe Maring, writing for Android Authority, this feature 'puts a smile on my face every time I use it.'

Maring appreciates the choice between Face Unlock and the in-screen fingerprint sensor, depending on the situation. He prefers each option under different circumstances, saying 'one isn't necessarily 100% better than the other'.

Google's Tensor chips may not be the best performers in benchmark comparisons, but they enable features like Face Unlock that other Android brands cannot match. This is because those brands use non-specialized Qualcomm and MediaTek chips, which require significant investment to work with facial recognition hardware.