Is facial recognition supported by VeridiumID on Android?
Yes, when the Android device provides facial recognition as a strong biometric.
Android devices can offer different types of biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition. However, not every biometric implementation provides the same security level.
Android classifies biometrics as:
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Class 3 – Strong
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Class 2 – Weak
Why? Android Class 2 (Weak) biometrics cannot authorize security-sensitive cryptographic key operations protected by the Android Keystore, while Class 3 (Strong) biometrics can.
For security-sensitive authentication, VeridiumID relies on biometrics that Android exposes as Class 3 / Strong. Android reserves this classification for biometric implementations that meet its stronger security requirements.
Why can I unlock my phone with my face, but not use it with VeridiumID?
A phone's Face Unlock feature does not automatically mean that facial recognition is a strong biometric.
Many Android phones use the standard front-facing camera for facial recognition. The manufacturer may allow this mechanism to unlock the screen, while Android still considers it unsuitable for stronger cryptographic authentication.
This is common on Samsung Galaxy devices. Samsung itself notes that its Face Recognition is less secure than PIN, iris, or fingerprint authentication.
Fingerprint sensors, on the other hand, are commonly implemented as strong biometrics. This is why fingerprint authentication may be available to VeridiumID on a device where facial recognition is not.
Can facial recognition be enabled through VeridiumID configuration?
If Android exposes the device's facial recognition as a Strong biometric, VeridiumID can use that capability where native biometric authentication is configured.
If the device exposes facial recognition only as a weaker biometric, there is no VeridiumID setting that can change its security classification. The classification is determined by the device manufacturer and Android implementation.
In that case, another supported strong biometric, such as fingerprint, can be used.
Are there Android devices with strong facial recognition?
Yes. Some Android devices provide facial recognition suitable for stronger authentication, but the options are limited so far.
Examples include:
These are examples rather than a VeridiumID-certified device list. Biometric capabilities can depend on the exact device model, region, Android version, manufacturer software, and how the biometric is exposed to Android applications.
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Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro – Google states that Face Unlock meets Android's highest biometric class and can be used with compatible banking and payment applications.
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Google Pixel 9 family and later supported Pixel devices – Google's current documentation states that on Pixel 8 and later devices, Face Unlock can be used to sign in to applications and approve purchases.
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HONOR Magic5 Pro, HONOR Magic6 Pro and Magic7 Pro – provide dedicated 3D facial recognition that HONOR documents as supporting secure payment.