A key security upgrade for the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has just been revealed

Earlier this week, Google did a comprehensive job of unveiling the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (and the rest of the Pixel 9 series), but more specs and features are coming to light after the event – including a key security upgrade for the successor to the Google Pixel Fold.
As reported by Android Police, the face unlock feature on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a step up from the original Pixel Fold. While the previous foldable also had face recognition (alongside fingerprint recognition), on the new model it’s harder to fool.
That means you can use your face to unlock secure apps (such as password managers or banking apps), as well as to unlock the phone itself. It’s a little bit of extra peace of mind should someone else gain access to your phone.
You can verify the upgrade on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold by opening Settings and heading to Security & privacy, Device lock, and Fingerprint & face unlock. On that screen you’ll find the option to use your face to get into the most secure apps on the handset.
Different class
While plenty of Android phones offer face unlock, they don’t all offer the same degree of accuracy and reliability – the sort of accuracy and reliability you get with Face ID on Apple handsets such as the iPhone 15, for example.
It’s all down to the hardware and software built into the phone. A standard front-facing selfie camera can recognize a face, but can also be tricked with a picture of someone – making it a less-than-impregnable protection measure.
With an extra depth sensor to measure the contours of a face, the technology is much more robust. This is known as class 3 biometric protection, the highest there is, and it seems likely that this is what the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has.
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Head over to our Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold hands-on to find out about our early impressions of the device, and we’ll be following up with a full review soon. We’ve also been spending time with the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL as well.
You might also like
Earlier this week, Google did a comprehensive job of unveiling the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (and the rest of the Pixel 9 series), but more specs and features are coming to light after the event – including a key security upgrade for the successor to the Google Pixel Fold.…
Recent Posts
- Best Action Cameras (2025), Tested and Reviewed
- Hades II just keeps getting better
- The iPhone 16e is here, and I just can’t believe how expensive it is
- A data center in every home! Energy company wants to heat your water for (almost) free but there’s a catch
- Like the Crucial T705 but more affordable? Micron 4600 PCIe Gen5 SSD comes painfully close to its award-winning sibling
Archives
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2018
- October 2017
- December 2011
- August 2010