Smartphones are evolving at a very rapid pace. While bezel-less 18:9 displays seem to be the new trend in the form factor of current and upcoming devices, face unlock is a feature that is slowly gaining traction, thanks to the iPhone X. While not as secure as a fingerprint sensor, unlocking your device with your face certainly makes things easier. If you’re in the market looking for a new smartphone with face unlock, well, fret not, as we’ve got you covered. Read on, as we bring to you our list of 10 best smartphones with face unlock feature that you can buy right now:
1. Apple iPhone X
The Apple iPhone X is by far the best smartphone to buy if you intend to use Face Unlock as a secure measure rather than a gimmick to unlock your device. Sure, the device is the costliest device on this list, but rightly so, considering the technology that it uses. The Face ID on the iPhone X uses True Depth camera system which uses a bunch of sensors to create a 3D model of the user’s face made up of 30,000 invisible dots.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at $999; Rs. 85,400)
2. OnePlus 5T
OnePlus recently brought about a refresh to its previous flagship OnePlus 5, with the OnePlus 5T. While the new 18:9 screen was the most talked about feature, it also came with OnePlus’ own implementation of Face Unlock. Unlike Apple, the device uses the front camera for its facial recognition along with OnePlus’ security algorithms. From what it seems, OnePlus 5T has the world’s fastest face unlock, and in our tests, the feature did prove to be secure enough as well.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at $569; Rs. 32,999)
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Samsung is primarily known for shipping devices with the Iris Scanner, it has been shipping Face Unlock as well. While both cannot be enabled at the same time, the Iris Scanner is targeted more towards security while the Face ID is targeted for ease of use. Samsung’s implementation also makes use of the front camera only, but it’s still not as fast (or as consistent as the OnePlus 5T). If you’re looking for a more secure biometric option, the device’s Iris Scanners should serve you better.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at $929.99; Rs. 67,900)
4. Honor View 10
Huawei’s subsidiary brand, Honor, has rolled out the all-new Honor View 10, a budget version of the Huawei Mate 10. The device goes head-to-head with the OnePlus 5T and also comes with Face Unlock. While the base implementation is the same, making use of the front camera for face recognition, the device also comes with an integrated NPU that allows for machine learning. The system basically learns from multiple scans and makes the overall scanning process much more secure.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at Rs. 29,999)
5. Samsung Galaxy S8
If the Galaxy Note 8 isn’t your right size, the Galaxy S8 might be the one for you. While there are talks for Galaxy S9 debuting next month at MWC 2018, the S8 is still a great device to use. The face recognition on this is the same which is present on the Galaxy Note 8, making use of the front camera on the device. Plus, with the upcoming discounts on the device, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is a steal at its price point.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at $634.98; Rs. 52,990)
6. Samsung Galaxy A8+
Samsung usually reserves its best features for its flagship series, but the Galaxy A8+ is a sign that it is ready to enter the budget-flagship segment and tackle OnePlus and Honor. The Galaxy A8+ also comes with the face unlock feature, which makes use of the device’s front camera for facial recognition. And unlike what many people feel, the feature is actually much secure than Google’s Smart Lock.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at Rs. 32,990)
7. LG V30
The LG V30 is the company’s current flagship device, and it packs in a ton of features. Apart from a fingerprint sensor, the device also features both a voice unlock and a face unlock feature. The V30 also packs in some serious hardware, all packed in an exquisite body waiting to be unlocked by your face. Also, unlike the Q6 that we will be talking about in a while, the LG V30’s face recognition is quite secure.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at $749; Rs. 44,990)
8. Vivo V7+
Launched back in September 2017, the Vivo V7+ is one of the rare devices to feature the ability to use your face to unlock your device under just Rs. 22,000 or $350. Just simply go to the Settings and tap on the “Fingerprint, Face and Password” menu to set up the Face ID on the device. Oh, and in case you’re wondering about the quality of the sensor, Vivo is the sister company of OnePlus, so the V7+ essentially shares the same technology which is found on the OnePlus 5T.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at $637; Rs. 21,990)
9. LG Q6
LG was one of the first adopters of the Face unlock technology, improving upon Google’s implementation of the Smart Lock. Launched last year in July, it is the cheapest phone on this list. That being said, the price cut does come with a con as well. The face unlock feature on the device, although being one of the fastest, is not that secure. There have been reports of the device being fooled by a photograph as well, so the LG Q6 might not be for you if you intend to use Face ID as a secure measure.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at Rs. 12,990)
10. Oppo F5
Lastly, we have the Oppo F5 on this list. The Oppo F5 features a front camera that makes use of AI technology as well, which is used for both “beauty shots” as well as face unlock for the device. According to the company, the accuracy of the facial recognition is on par with devices such as Galaxy Note 8 and its sister company’s best device, the OnePlus 5T. Also available under the Rs. 22,000 ($350) price tag, the Oppo F5 offers the same features as the Vivo V7+ but in a slightly different design language.
Buy on Amazon: (Starts at Rs. 19,990)
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