Samsung Galaxy S9 rumored to come with improved iris scanner and face recognition

by Plamen Dimitrov / Nov 20, 2017, 3:47 AM

Galaxy S9 concept (left) next to a Galaxy S8+

Samsung's next flagship could come with enhanced biometric authentication systems. According to a new report from ETNews, the tech giant is working on making the iris and face recognition tech of the Galaxy S9 faster with the help of software improvements.

The Korean media outlet also reports that the next members of the Galaxy S series will come with an 8MP front sensor that's identical to the one on the S8 and S8+. An unnamed industry observer has further mentioned that "there may be new add-ons through software applications" in addition to the speed enhancements of the two systems.

As you might know, Samsung's latest Galaxy S and Note devices feature facial and iris scanning in addition to fingerprint readers. Facial recognition has been available to Android devices since 2011 when it premiered with the Ice Cream Sandwich version of the OS under the name of "Face Unlock".

Back then, the feature was denounced as being unreliable and prone to vulnerabilities, but Samsung has managed to revive it with its latest flagships by introducing a superior selfie camera and making the authentication process notably faster. However, bypassing facial scanning on the S8 is fairly easy if you have a high-resolution photo of the subject and some persistence.

On the other hand, experts hail iris scanning as one of the most secure forms of biometric authentication that can be currently used with mobile devices. The process isn't as fast as facial scanning, but it is a lot more impregnable.

Still, Samsung isn't the only trendsetter when it comes to new biometric authentication systems. Apple's iPhone X features the new FaceID technology which makes a 3D scan of a user's face before granting access to the phone. It will be interesting to see where this rivalry will go and which technology will come out on top in terms of reliability.

Galaxy S9/S9+ renders

Disclaimer: The mockup images featured in this material have been created by PhoneArena and are based on preliminary information about the device(s) they portray, such as (but not limited to) factory CAD drawings and leaked live photos of the device(s). As such, the images found herein may not be fully representative of the final design of the device(s) they portray.

source: ETNews (translated) via The Android Soul

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23 Comments

1. haruken

Posts: 308; Member since: Nov 06, 2013

Thanks for clarifying that it's been on Android forever, before a certain fanbase starts talking about 'copying'....

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 4:00 AM 3

2. Icent55

Posts: 81; Member since: Nov 02, 2017

Just that it was dead cos it was wack at the time...i used it on my Gs2 2012...Google soon drop it since 2013...but because of samsung its back again so give props

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 4:24 AM 2

12. Phullofphil

Posts: 1832; Member since: Feb 10, 2009

Apple only came ups with using the 3dsystem. Though Samsung is not at all bashful about copying anybody, nothing happened yet. There s line has a huge fan base now, they don’t need to copy but they would. Apple is the only company making phone that does what they want to do when they want to do it . Whether it works or not they always seem to try to go for the user experience and not just throwing new technology into a phone. They do throw new technology into a phone but most of the time it has to be proven to be reliable first. Samsung makes great phone but they seem to build their phone around what they think their customers want instead of showing them. To each there own. Both are great

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 8:08 AM 0

3. Icent55

Posts: 81; Member since: Nov 02, 2017

Just like if no Samsung touch wiz which everyone criticize Andriod os wont be feature rich the way it is google keep riping off features from samsung skin and put them on d next os version...latest addition was 8.0 oreo picture in picture mode...riped off from samsung internet's browser pop up view since s7.

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 4:28 AM 9

15. AustinPaul

Posts: 155; Member since: Dec 13, 2011

That is unintelligible

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 10:44 AM 0

25. greyarea

Posts: 267; Member since: Aug 14, 2015

Yet look at all those up thumbs up. Almost as if Samsung has shills here.

posted on Nov 23, 2017, 10:38 AM 0

5. Settings

Posts: 2943; Member since: Jul 02, 2014

Duh! Any successor is always an improvement to it's predecessor! Disregard Apple for this for taking out the headphone jack.

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 4:41 AM 4

20. BuffaloSouce unregistered

Still crying about the headphone jack but it continues to be a top seller because millions of people who buy the iPhone 7 and above don’t consider it a deal breaker

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 4:35 PM 1

22. Settings

Posts: 2943; Member since: Jul 02, 2014

It's like saying iPhone X users misses the TouchID.

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 5:18 PM 1

6. ph00ny

Posts: 2069; Member since: May 26, 2011

Is iris scanning really that slow? Half of the times, i don't even see the screen for the iris scanning message before the home screen

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 5:09 AM 2

11. worldpeace

Posts: 3135; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

If you check on youtube, iris scanner is noticeably faster than faceID

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 7:16 AM 3

7. dmakun

Posts: 382; Member since: Jun 06, 2011

Iris scanning is pretty fast enough for me on the note 8

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 5:36 AM 3

16. aegislash

Posts: 1531; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

It'd be so much better if it worked right away, without having to swipe up from the lock screen first.

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 2:55 PM 0

18. cmdacos

Posts: 4333; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

What? Not true. I never need to swipe. I think it's an option somewhere

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 3:40 PM 0

24. MrShazam

Posts: 987; Member since: Jun 22, 2017

Remember, this isn't iOS. There's an option just for that on my Note 8 in Settings > Lock screen and security > Iris Scanner > Iris unlock when screen turns on. There's also an option, which I use instead, in Settings > Display > Navigation bar > Unlock with Home button. That makes my Note 8 go straight to the unlock screen once I press the pressure-sensitive home button, then the Iris scanner quickly unlocks it. If I want to read notifications on my lock screen or access them edge panels, I simply press the power button instead.

posted on Nov 21, 2017, 1:54 AM 0

9. willywanta

Posts: 502; Member since: Jun 04, 2014

so basically a Galaxy S8s

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 6:37 AM 0

13. emcdonald75

Posts: 168; Member since: Nov 07, 2012

Please have a dual stereo speaker setup! With improved sound quality! Amazing how the Google Pixel 2 XL has front firing stereo speakers but the iPhone X sounds better with its similar BoomSound setup. I need Samsung to copy the HTC BoomSound setup similar to Apple. Also, add slow motion video recording improvements (4K 240fps) and RCS messaging, like iMessage.

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 8:15 AM 1

14. Monkeyking

Posts: 14; Member since: Sep 30, 2017

Come on I need a Flat panel. Really hate the goofy curve panel. Or I will skip the S9

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 8:17 AM 0

19. cmdacos

Posts: 4333; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

Bye!!

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 3:41 PM 1

17. Heisenberg

Posts: 378; Member since: Feb 11, 2015

Pls who knows the best screen protector and pouch for s8 series.

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 3:12 PM 0

21. BuffaloSouce unregistered

Zagg is the top manufacturer of screen protectors but even they have trouble with the curved screen design

posted on Nov 20, 2017, 4:37 PM 0

23. MisterX

Posts: 59; Member since: Jul 02, 2015

I'm using a Zagg screen protector on my S6 Edge and no they don't have any trouble with the curved screen design you dufus! Been using it for years and no matter how many times I drop it still in great condition.. One drop did cause to have a few dead pixels but at least screen didn't break..