Galaxy S25 Appears to Have Improved Face Unlock

The Galaxy S25 series might not seem like a significant upgrade at first glance. However, Samsung has quietly implemented several improvements, including enhanced loudspeakers, support for 45W charging with the included cable, and potentially, a better face unlock feature.

Galaxy S25: Faster Face Unlock?

Many Galaxy S25 users reportedly and claim that the face unlock mechanism is faster and more reliable than on previous Galaxy S devices like the Galaxy S24 series, even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Some even suggest it works at wider angles now. Android Authority also notes this improvement.

The Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra all have a 12MP front camera, but unlike iPhones, they lack a dot projector, flood illuminator, or IR camera. This means they can’t create a 3D depth map of the user’s face, making the face unlock less secure and potentially ineffective in low light.

Despite these limitations, users are finding the face unlock works noticeably better than on previous Samsung phones. This is a welcome improvement, even though the company hasn’t officially announced it.

Watch a hands-on video of the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+:

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The Galaxy S10 5G was the only Samsung phone to have a 3D ToF camera on the front, which allowed it to create a 3D depth map of the user’s face for more secure face unlock. Samsung hasn’t used this technology on newer phones, unfortunately.


It’s great to see users experiencing improvements in the face unlock feature on the Galaxy S25, even with its hardware limitations.