Every new smartphone iteration comes with a myriad of updates designed to improve the user experience in some way, from aesthetics to functionality. Of particular interest is the evolution of the smartphone authentication experience. From passcodes to fingerprint technology to facial recognition, smartphone security changes can be traced alongside our growing dependence on these devices.
Ten years ago, smartphones offered access to contacts, as well as a calendar and the internet; today, more than three billion users across the globe trust smartphones with some of their most sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, passwords and location tracking. As smartphones become increasingly integral to every facet of daily life, manufacturers are tasked with protecting personal data while still maintaining a positive user experience.
In fact, biometric authentication has become one of the key strategic differentiators between iOS and Android devices. Biometric authentication involves the use of a measurable biological characteristic to unlock your phone, authorize payments and verify anything else that would otherwise require a secure password. As Apple doubles down on Face ID and Android manufacturers commit to in-screen fingerprint sensors, it is important to understand how we arrived at this pivotal junction and what it means for consumers.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 was one of the first major Android flagship devices to feature facial recognition in the form of iris scanning technology. Today’s Samsung devices offer four different forms of biometric authentication: facial recognition, iris scanning, fingerprint scanning and Intelligent Scan -- a combination of facial and iris scanning. Likewise, Google offers fingerprint scanning on the Pixel 2 as its primary login but also provides the option to set up a “trusted face” if users prefer the ease of facial authentication. While Android manufacturers are offering users a choice in biometric authentication, Apple made a statement by abandoning fingerprint sensors altogether and fully committing to Face ID on its latest devices.
Though not the first facial recognition software of its kind, Apple’s Face ID is currently the most advanced and user-friendly application of this technology. That is not to say it is without challenges. Family members with similar features can fool Face ID, and hackers have claimed to get past it, too, using advanced 3D scanning and printing technology. Face ID has, however, proven significantly more challenging to bypass than most Android iterations, many of which have been fooled with photographs and other 2D renderings.
As Apple omits Touch ID altogether, Android manufacturers have recognized an opportunity to differentiate by taking this cast-off fingerprint feature and enhancing it with new technology to cater to customers who are not fully sold on the idea of facial recognition. By elevating a security feature with which many consumers are already familiar, Android manufacturers hope to gain a competitive edge.
Vivo Global was the first Android manufacturer to include fingerprint sensors under the screen of their X21, which launched earlier this year. Despite receiving mixed reviews, these embedded fingerprint scanners will almost certainly appear on other 2019 Android devices. This technology offers many advantages. First, it is much easier to refine from a security standpoint, compared with the complexities of 3D face mapping and the various pitfalls associated with facial recognition. Secondly, most modern smartphone users are familiar with the technology in some form, so there is virtually no learning curve required for user adoption. Third, Apple is not using it, which provides the perfect opportunity to differentiate while still allowing for edge-to-edge display.
With the rise of augmented reality (AR), there is little chance of Android manufacturers abandoning 3D sensing altogether. In addition to honing this technology for use in gaming, shopping, social media and other apps, many manufacturers will continue working to achieve the functionality of Face ID, while still offering in-display fingerprint technology. Future Android devices will likely offer several biometric offerings, as seen on many of today’s Samsung devices.
From a security standpoint, biometric authentication is more secure than a four-digit PIN or passcode. Plus, Face ID and fingerprint scanners both provide a convenient security option to users who did not previously have any kind of passcode out of inconvenience. Even biometrics, however, are not unbeatable.
At the end of the day, smartphone manufacturers have a challenging task at hand: create authentication offerings that combine great user experience with advanced security. While no biometric login is perfect, consumers should rest assured this is a top priority for manufacturers, especially given the current climate around privacy and data security. The competition that exists between smartphone manufacturers will only benefit the consumer, as manufacturers continue to innovate and push one another to create devices with a better user experience and top-level security features.
