These days, our secrets are stored in smartphones. From personal photos to banking details, everything is stored on these devices. Users use Face ID to keep them safe and secure so that no one can access them. Face ID is considered a more secure method, but a new report has raised concerns. It states that Face ID on Android phones can be circumvented using photos. Android devices with Face ID can be unlocked by showing a photo instead of the real user’s face. This raises several questions about the device’s security.
According to a media report, Face ID protection on approximately 133 devices can be bypassed using a photograph. This list includes high-end phones from Samsung, Motorola, and Oppo. The report claims that even premium models like the Samsung Galaxy S25, Oppo Find X9 Pro, and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra failed the test. Devices from companies like Honor, HMD, Nokia, Nothing, OnePlus, Realme, Vivo, and Xiaomi also failed. These devices can be unlocked by showing a photo printed on paper or on a second screen, without requiring the actual user’s face.
According to the report, this issue is caused by the facial recognition system used in these devices. Most devices use a basic 2D system, which compares a photo taken with the front camera to a photo saved in the setup. Therefore, if the two photos match, most devices will unlock. This raises concerns. If someone has your photo, they could unlock your Android phone by showing it.
Many companies, including Apple, use a 3D system for FaceID scanning on their devices. The phone analyzes the shape and depth of the face, making it extremely difficult to trick. This is why iPhones, Google Pixel smartphones, and Samsung’s latest Galaxy S26 series devices, which use 3D mapping, couldn’t be unlocked using a photo.