Project Toscana: Google To Be Developing Advanced Pixel Face Unlock

Google is reportedly working on a new facial recognition system, internally codenamed Project Toscana, aimed at addressing the primary limitations of current Pixel face unlock technology. According to sources cited by Android Authority, this advanced system is being designed for both future Pixel smartphones and Chromebooks.

The current face unlock feature on Pixel 8, 9, and 10 devices uses a standard front-facing camera combined with machine learning; while secure enough for banking apps and Google Pay, this method often fails in low-light environments. Project Toscana aims to solve this by maintaining high-speed recognition and accuracy regardless of lighting conditions. Early internal testing suggests the system matches the performance speed of Apple’s Face ID.

While Google’s Pixel 4 previously utilized bulky radar sensors and IR cameras, Project Toscana appears to favor a more streamlined hardware footprint. Recent tests involved:

• Pixel Prototypes: Utilizing a standard single hole-punch camera cutout.

• Chromebooks: Tested with external camera setups, suggesting a broader integration across Google’s hardware ecosystem.

There is ongoing speculation regarding whether the final hardware will be situated under the display or remain within a traditional cutout. Previous reports indicated Google was exploring under-display IR (infrared) technology for the Pixel 11 series, which aligns with the goals of Project Toscana.

Although Google has not officially confirmed the project yet, the maturity of the testing phase suggests a potential debut. Industry observers anticipate the technology could be unveiled as early as the Pixel 11 release in August 2026, with Chromebook integration possibly following later that year. Further details may emerge during the upcoming Google I/O keynote.

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