SAMSUNG

Korean giant patents solution that offers under-screen 3D face unlock

The technology to put the front camera under the screen has been around for years, but the solution has yet to become popular. The cameras are now nearly invisible, like on the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra, but still don't take as good pictures as traditional ones.

Samsung is one of the few players that has ever used under-screen cameras, for example in the Galaxy Z Fold series. It has now been discovered that Samsung has applied for a patent for a solution that offers 3D face unlock via two separate sensors under the screen.

One camera is at the top and the other at the bottom. By placing the sensors farther apart, more of the user's face can be captured and in depth, which increases security and, for example, prevents someone from just holding a photo.

The patent also mentions that face unlocking can change the amount of light on the screen, which in turn changes the user's pupil size – another way to detect cheating through photographs. Apple is the only manufacturer offering secure face unlock on phones since 2017.

Several Android manufacturers have temporarily created their own secure equivalents, such as Google and LG. Apple's long-term goal should be to put all the front sensors under the display, but perhaps Samsung will be the first to offer secure face unlock without obscuring parts of the bezel.

However, a patent application doesn't necessarily mean the technology will actually be released on a smartphone, but the chance is there.

mundophone