At first, I didn’t even know Android phones had a face unlock feature. I always thought that was something reserved for iPhones—specifically Face ID. And to be honest, iPhones don’t even feel complete without Face ID these days. It’s such a big part of how they work. So I just assumed Android didn’t have that kind of advanced tech.
But out of curiosity, I decided to check my phone settings one day and saw the option for face unlock. I was a bit surprised, but I went ahead and set it up. The setup process was simple enough, and once it was done, I started using it. But truth be told, I didn’t get used to it immediately. I was already so used to unlocking my phone with my fingerprint that I kept forgetting the face unlock feature was even there.
Over time, though, I started noticing a few things. First of all, the face unlock on Android isn’t as sharp or fast as I expected. Unlike iPhones, where Face ID is quick and almost instant, Android face unlock often takes a few seconds before it finally recognizes your face and opens the phone. And in those few seconds, if you're in a rush, it can feel like forever. It’s even worse when the lighting is bad. If the room is dark or you’re outside at night, it really struggles to scan your face properly. That’s one thing I found very frustrating.
Another thing I noticed is that some apps, especially banking apps, don’t support face unlock on Android. For example, I use the Opay app regularly, and it doesn’t accept face unlock for authentication. You either use your fingerprint or enter your PIN manually. That alone shows that the face unlock feature on Android isn’t seen as strong enough for sensitive or secure tasks.
I also heard that some Android phones with basic camera-based face unlock can be tricked with a photo. I’ve not tested that personally, but the fact that it’s even possible makes me a bit uncomfortable using it as my main security method.
So even though it’s a cool feature and sometimes convenient—especially when your hands are dirty or wet and you can't access the fingerprint button—I still don’t think it’s something I can fully rely on. For me, the fingerprint sensor still feels more secure, more responsive, and more widely accepted.
In the end, I think the face unlock feature on Android is more of a nice extra than a must-have. If you use it, that’s fine. But depending on it alone? I’m not so sure that’s a wise idea—at least not for now.
Thanks for reading.