The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are Google's most fascinating phones and would have been even more interesting if they'd come loaded with both fingerprint and face unlock capabilities. Rumors suggested that was a possibility and new evidence confirms that Google was working on face unlock. Even though the Pixel 6 series didn't launch with face unlock, there is a possibility that this easier authentication option might become available as part of a future operating system update.
Google is the developer of Android and Pixel phones benefit from that close association by being among the first to receive new updates. Beyond those standard updates, Google also provides Pixel owners with several device-specific updates. Typically every three months, these updates add new features rather than fix bugs. Google calls it a 'Pixel Drop' and these drops have brought such notable abilities as Hold for Me, Now Playing, and Extreme Battery Saver in the past.
While the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro might never gain the ability to unlock the phone with a glance, it was definitely a feature being considered and there is a possibility that Google might add it with a future Pixel Drop. Android developer, Mile, tweeted the discovery of a public note in the Android source code, as spotted by XDA-Developers. The note starts by explaining that its purpose is to add a power hint to face unlock. Face identification is an intensive load on the processor and it needs more power to reach maximum speed. Apparently, this July 9, 2021 note indicates that more power than was necessary was being allocated for this task. Perhaps the power usage concern is what led to delays or even the cancellation of face unlock on the Pixel 6 series.
Google Might Add Face Unlock To Pixel 6
Google might add face unlocking capability to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro in the future. This would help to address complaints that the under-display fingerprint reader is too slow. Google acknowledges that sunlight and screen protectors can interfere with the reliable use of the fingerprint reader, so face unlocking would solve this problem, at least when the user isn't wearing a mask. Potential problems related to face unlock are power drain, which seems like something Google should be able to solve. The Now Playing and always-on display features keep the phone active without overly draining the battery, so waking the camera quickly when motion is detected might allow low-power readiness for face unlock.
The bigger issue might be a lack of confidence about the identity of the person in front of the phone. Apple uses an IR projector to capture the depth of facial features for its Face ID, but the Pixel 6 doesn't seem to have any dedicated depth detection technology on its selfie camera, making it difficult to avoid being fooled with a printed photo. Google is a master of machine learning and given sufficient processing power, checking for subtle movements in the facial features of a living person might be enough to detect the photo trick. It isn't known whether Google will continue working on this or if it was abandoned as impractical. However, face unlock was at least being considered for the Pixel 6 series around the middle of the year.
Source: Mile/Twitter, Google Git