Strings of code inside Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 point toward a new Pixel feature called "Face Active Illumination." It will use the phone's screen to illuminate the user's face in low light and effectively allow Face Unlock in dark environments.
Google is working on a Face Active Illumination feature for Pixel phones
Strings of code found inside the Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2. | Image by Android Authority
Our colleagues and good friends at Android Authority have dug up strings of code during one of their usual APK teardowns and found something interesting. Inside the Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 code, there are several lines that shed light (pun intended) on the upcoming feature.
These strings of code show several scenarios for the feature, which is most likely named "Brighten screen in low light."
Brighten the screen in low light
According to the code, the feature will only brighten the screen when the user’s face is partially visible. That's the default setting. However, there will be a "complete darkness" mode, which will engage the feature even when it's pitch black.
There will be a one-time confirmation prompt when enabling the feature for the first time and a potential slider to adjust the intensity — from "comfortable" to "reliable." The former is gentler in order not to temporarily blind you while flashing the screen in complete darkness, while the latter sounds like the most accurate setting.
What's your personal experience with unlocking your Pixel phone with Face Unlock in low-light conditions?
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The feature in action
The Brighten the screen in low light toggle in the Face Unlock settings. | Images by Android Authority
The guys at Android Authority managed to enable the feature on their test device. You can see the toggle for the "Brighten the screen in low light" option under the Face Unlock settings. Users will be able to control how the feature behaves in different global phone modes.
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For example, you will be able to choose whether the feature is active when Do Not Disturb mode is enabled, during Bedtime hours, or while driving. The latter is especially important, as flashing light in your face during a nighttime drive could be very dangerous and lead to an accident.
Apple's implementation is still better
Face ID remains ahead of the pack, not only when it comes to security and accuracy, but also working in low-light conditions. The system uses a completely different approach and doesn't rely on visible light at all.
Face ID works in low light or complete darkness because it uses infrared light instead of visible light. An infrared flood illuminator and dot projector map your facial structure. If it fails in the dark, it is usually due to improper viewing angles, attention-aware requirements, or sensor blockages.
Pixel phones don't have IR front-facing camera and can't do the same trick. Actually, Google used a very similar system back on the Pixel 4. The phone featured two infrared cameras and an infrared illuminator for secure 3D face mapping and Motion Sense gestures, mimicking the iPhone more or less.
Google decided to ditch the system in the next generation and from Pixel 5 onward, the model relies on a simple selfie camera for facial recognition. There were rumors about Google adding an under-display IR front camera to the Pixel 11 family (Project Toscana) but these rumors turn out to be false.
No official rollout schedule yet
Face Active Illumination is still just lines of code inside an Android beta release. Google has remained silent about the feature and has yet to announce the change. The UI looks quite rough and unpolished at the moment, so it might take some time before your Pixel receives this Face Unlock quality-of-life improvement.
What's your personal experience with unlocking your Pixel phone with Face Unlock in low-light conditions?
Read more about interesting hidden smartphone features here:
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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