How does face unlock work? In full trend - unlocking a Xiaomi smartphone by face

Most modern mobile phone users want to protect their data and device from being used by others. Due to this need, developers come up with a variety of blocking methods. So, in devices on Android based To protect personal data, a PIN code was first used, then a graphic key, which has been popular for a long time and is not inferior to the new unlocking method using a fingerprint scanner.

The latest innovation in device locking is the face unlock feature. This technology is no longer a new product, but has become popular and in demand among many equipment manufacturers only in Lately. Known for its quality mobile phones and affordable prices, Xiaomi also keeps up with the new standards: it has implemented this function in one of latest updates MIUI firmware 9 and 10 and added Face ID Xiaomi to those mobile devices that did not initially support it. What is Face ID, how to set it up and use it, which models support face unlocking - our new article is about all this.

Features and differences of Face ID Xiaomi

For the first time about the terms “Face ID”, also known as “Face Unlock” to a wide circle users became aware of this after the presentation of Apple's iPhone X. Xiaomi immediately adopted the technology and installed it on its latest phone models.

The main feature of Xiaomi face unlocking is that it does not require any additional devices, applications or scanners. One built-in webcam or front camera is enough. The technology is capable of working through neural networks. The accuracy of its operation is quite high, but still Face ID Xiaomi is slightly inferior in quality to a similar function on the iPhone X. This is explained by the difference in technical performance the above technology.

The facial recognition feature on an Apple device uses not only the webcam, but also special infrared sensors and additional technologies. All this together makes it possible to simultaneously process up to 30,000 different points of the face. The built-in program compiles its expanded structural depth map and image in the infrared radiation spectrum. And a special fragment of the neural core of the microprocessor represents the map in mathematical form, which in turn is compared with the already registered facial data. If they completely match, the gadget is unlocked. The technology is quite reliable. It will work even if the user wears glasses or grows a mustache and beard.

As for Face Unlock on Xiaomi, most often the technology uses only one scanner without all the additional sensors. The only exception is Redmi 8, which has an infrared sensor. Despite this, the scanner can recognize the depth of the face and detect the presence of accessories, such as scarves and hats. The problem only arises with facial hair, which the scanner was not trained to detect. An added bonus is determining whether a person's eyes are closed or not. If your eyes are closed, the mobile device will not be unlocked. This innovation was created by the developers so that it would not be possible to unlock the gadget by the face of a sleeping person. Unlocking by photo, which is important, will also not work.

Xiaomi models supporting Face ID

The in-demand facial recognition technology has become one of the significant challenges for brand developers. The manufacturing company is constantly trying to promptly offer its users the most modern and relevant technologies. For this reason, developers continue to actively work on the Face ID function with the goal that as many users as possible around the world can try and appreciate this security feature.

Currently devices model range There are very few Xiaomi that officially support the above technology. After extensive testing, the developers made available for free access a list of phones that offer face unlocking:

Redmi S2 (announced in Russia in March 2018)
Redmi Mix 2S (May 2018)
Redmi Note 5 (May 2018)
Redmi Note 5 Pro (May 2018)
Mi 8 (August 2018)
(August 2018)

At the same time, according to the developers’ message, the facial recognition function is currently supported only in five regions:

Russia
Hong Kong
Taiwan
Indonesia
Indochina

Xiaomi models that do not support Face ID

The list of the most popular models that do not support the technology is longer. This:

Mi Note 3: the model introduced in September 2017 was the first in the line to officially have working technology
Mi A1
Redmi 4X
Redmi Note 4
Redmi Note 4X
Redmi 5
Redmi 5 Plus

Despite the fact that the function is not officially supported on the above models, it is quite possible that some custom firmware will implement an analogue of the Face ID technology. In Internet resources, in particular on YouTube, you can find instructions on how to enable device unlocking using facial recognition for each model.

Also, the function may unexpectedly work due to new updates to the custom shell.

How to enable Face ID Xiaomi

What should you do if Face ID does not work on your mobile device, although the model suggests it? No need to worry and look for the nearest one service center. Let’s try to “teach” the phone to recognize a face on our own.

In order to use modern Face ID technology on any Xiaomi device that supports this function, just follow our step by step instructions:

Unlocking your mobile device in an accessible way.
Go to “Settings” through one of the main screens or by lowering the curtain.
Let's scroll down. We find the column “Screen lock and password” or “Lock and protection” in the “System and device” section. Click.
Find “Add person data” and open it.

In the tab that appears, you must enter a password. Next, click on “Continue”.

Now you need to follow the instructions that appear on the screen of your gadget. The camera will be turned on, and you will need to place your face in the circle that appears.

We wait for the scanning and saving processes to complete (no more than 5-10 seconds).

If for some reason the save fails, the device will prompt you to try again. There's nothing wrong with this; it's a fairly common mistake.

If you cannot install the function due to the absence of the specified columns and windows, check again whether this technology is supported on your model. For example, on Mi 8 Face ID will be installed without the slightest problem, but on Redmi 5 face unlock will not work under any circumstances without additional settings even now existing firmware. This is what it looks like:

In conclusion, face unlock, or Face ID, is one of the most interesting additions to modern phones. Let's hope this technology will be available on more models in the near future. mobile devices Xiaomi.

Now you know what Face ID is on Xiaomi. We hope that our article was useful to you!

In 2017, the iPhone X was introduced with Face technology ID that recognizes the owner's face to unlock the screen. Soon, phones with facial recognition appeared in other manufacturers, but not everyone was able to repeat Apple’s success. Thus, when registering a face, Huawei warns that the technology is less secure than protection using a PIN code or fingerprint.

And Apple had difficulty with 3D scanning. The company's engineers assured that Face ID is reliable and safe, but there are a lot of videos on YouTube where users unlock someone else's iPhone using masks, or a son removes the block from his mother's smartphone. As of mid-2018, such smartphones do not always work accurately. But we took it away best phones with face scanning technology.

1st place – iPhone X

It costs from 70 thousand rubles. for the version with 64 GB of memory. When asked by face unlock what it was, Apple was the first to answer with its iPhone X. Among all the scanners, it is this one that has the most accurate recognition function.

Phone parameters:

Dual rear camera (at the time of release it was top-end with an f/1.8 aperture and 12/12 megapixel resolutions.
OLED display with a diagonal of 5.8 inches and a resolution of 2436x1125.
The new Apple A11 Bionic processor, which is superior in performance to the newer Snapdragon 845 and HiSilicon (from Huawei) and Samsung's Exynos.
Water protection.

The smartphone turned out to be successful, despite outdated technologies (with the exception of Face ID). But Apple engineers were able to make a breakthrough - a cool face unlock feature. Here it is implemented most optimally, which is why the device occupies a leading position in the rating.

There is nothing else remarkable about it: old OLED screens purchased from Samsung. Such displays were previously used in Samsung Galaxy S6, they are prone to burnout. On the plus side, the smartphone supports fast charging, however, the kit does not include a sufficiently powerful adapter. If you want to charge it quickly, pay an additional 2,500 rubles. for the adapter. In general, if it weren’t for Face ID, we wouldn’t recommend buying this smartphone.

2nd place – Xiaomi Mi8 Explorer Edition

It costs from $520. Absolutely new Xiaomi Mi8 is already on sale in the Middle Kingdom, and is just appearing in Russia. But some Russians, having made a request on the Internet for a smartphone with facial recognition from Aliexpress, have already ordered a flagship for themselves and managed to report it good feedback. Its basic version recognizes the owner's face using an infrared camera, but only the Explorer Edition can support 3D scanning technology - the most secure today. The Mi8 should unlock as quickly as the iPhone 10, and there should be no errors in facial recognition.

Options:

Front camera - 20 megapixel resolution.
The dual rear camera has a resolution of 3840×2160 and an f/1.8 aperture.
The AMOLED display has a resolution of 6.21 inches, resolution: 2248x1080.
Support for most bands, including the current Band 20 in Russia.
8 gigs of RAM, 128 GB of memory.
Processor: Snapdragon 845 (Adreno 630 video core).
3000 mAh battery, also a processor that supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+.

There are few reviews for the Explorer Edition, but the 3D scanning system speaks to the effectiveness of facial recognition technology.

3rd place – Samsung Galaxy S9+

It costs 55,000 rubles. The phone uses two scanners at once: the iris of the eye and the face. They work (unlike the S8 - the previous version) in the dark. The accuracy and speed of face recognition is high, but does not reach 100%. There is also a peculiarity: everything works quickly when unlocking only by face, but if you add iris scanning for reliability, the smartphone begins to think, and the block is removed within 2-3 seconds.

Options:

Cool rear camera with f/1.5 aperture, two modules (12+12 megapixels) and 4K video recording.
Supports super slo-mo mode (shooting at 960 FPS).
Amoled display with a diagonal of 6.2 inches and a curved screen, resolution: 2960x1440.
Branded Exynos processor (less cool Snapdragon for other countries).
Battery – 3500 mAh; The processor has support for fast charging.
6 gigs of RAM, 64 GB of memory.

Judging by the reviews, the face unlock function works fine. Samsung itself with face recognition is powerful and productive, but there are disadvantages: large, high price, camera with a protrusion, fingerprint-collecting glass on the back panel, insufficiently powerful flash.

4th place – Huawei P20 Lite

It costs 15,000 rubles. According to reviews, face scanning in the P20 Lite is fast - with daylight almost instantly, in 1-2 seconds.

Options:

IPS display - 5.84 inches diagonal, resolution 1080x2240.
A very cool camera - today it is the best in the world. U Pro version three cameras in total.
Aperture – F/1.8, module resolution: 12 and 20 MP.
The excellent HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor is the coolest at the time the phone was released.
Battery 3400 mAh.
128 GB memory, 4 GB RAM.

According to customer reviews, it is distinguished by a fast and fairly accurate scanner, which very rarely makes mistakes. The smartphone itself was also successful - with a good camera, autonomous, powerful, and with a wide range of accessories: the set includes headphones and a case.

The disadvantages include 4 GB of RAM, which is not enough for a flagship, protruding cameras and lack of protection from dust and moisture. If you are looking for a quality device with face unlock function, Huawei P20 is an excellent choice.

5th place – OnePlus 6

Smartphone with facial recognition price – 35,000 rubles. Chinese phone OnePlus received, judging by the reviews, good technology facial recognition that works even in the dark. You don't have to look directly at the camera to make it work. OnePlus is a smartphone without any special features, but it has top-of-the-line hardware.

The engineers managed to ensure its performance and normal interaction. OnePlus operates without slowdowns, freezes, or stupid errors, and is made in a monolithic body, which customers appreciate. “Sixth” is no exception.

Options:

Dual camera with optical stabilization, 16 and 20 megapixel resolution, 4K video shooting, f/1.7 aperture.
Amoled display (diagonal 6.28 inches, resolution 2280x1080). In the ranking of shovel smartphones (screens from six inches) it is in second place.
64 GB memory, 6 GB RAM.
Processor: Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630 graphics.
Battery capacity 3300 mAh; Supports OnePlus Dash Charge fast charging.

OnePlus 6 works uninterruptedly quickly, fits perfectly in the hand, it is distinguished by the quality of everything: gsm and other modules, made without cracks and backlashes from good materials. Disadvantages: there is no normal protection from water (should be in a flagship), low battery capacity, while optimization of energy resources allows it to “live” without recharging for at least a day.

Xistore

The path of modern technology is becoming wider and more intricate every day. The fork in modern progress are various methods of identity authentication. We are all accustomed to using identity verification systems: for example, not so long ago, an overwhelming number of users used a password or PIN code to enter the system, but now, instead of a password, most of us simply put our finger on a fingerprint scanner and the system instantly reacts and recognizes the “owner” "

Technologies do not stand still and Xiaomi is moving in parallel with them. At the September presentation, the Mi Note 3 smartphone was shown. One of the main features of this device recognition of the owner by face became possible. This feature works with older systems, in other words, you can combine a fingerprint, a good old password and a face scanner.

Initially, you need to enter information about your face into the database. To do this, you need to go to “Settings”, then select “Lock screen and fingerprint”, and after all these steps click on “Manage facial data”.

After this, the system will ask you to enter the password that you set earlier or create one. After which a warning will appear that this method unlocking is less secure compared to a finger scanner or password.

As soon as we read the warning and click on the “Next” button, the system will launch the camera and the process of scanning the user’s face will begin.

The last step is to configure the unlock. The first switch allows you to use your face to unlock the smartphone, and the second will allow unlocking at the moment when the screen lights up with a new message.

Unlock speed and ease of use

In terms of response speed, face unlock showed the result of the first generation Touch id, or the speed of the fingerprint scanner, as on the Redmi line. These results show that although it is inferior in speed to the finger scanner in the Mi series of smartphones, its speed will be sufficient for most users. I would also like to note that even though the function is in Beta testing, it still works correctly and clearly. During testing, the sensor worked in 10 out of 10 cases.

You can use face unlocking either in conjunction with a finger scanner or independently as a separate system. No matter how our editors tried, we were unable to unlock the device using a photo. Another advantage of the system is that it will not work if the user’s eyes are closed. In other words, while you sleep, you can rest assured that the device will not give away your secrets. A nice bonus will be that the operation of the scanner does not depend on whether your mouth is covered with a scarf or not - warmth and comfort in winter will not suffer. But in the summer you will have to take off your sunglasses, since due to the fact that your eyes are closed, the system may not react. However, owners of glasses with diopters do not have to worry - the smartphone will catch every ray of your gaze.

I would like to note that this feature will not be exclusive to Mi Note 3... This feature will be supported by devices of the Mi line, namely Mi5, Mi5c, Mi6. And this is probably not the whole list! The number of supported devices will only grow.

Be at the forefront of progress with Xiaomi and Xistore!

First automated systems Facial recognition appeared in the 70s of the last century and is now used even in video surveillance systems, reminiscent of those seen in spy action films. This feature is also not new for smartphones - geeks with a good memory remember that Face Unlock appeared in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwitch, there were even implementations for Symbian. True, the technology has gone through a thorny path of development - the first examples gave a large number of false positives, the computing power was not the same...

The function experienced its second and truly widespread distribution in 2017. By depriving the iPhone X of the usual fingerprint scanner and equipping it only with the Face ID module, Apple “reinvented” face unlocking. Android manufacturers were not forced to wait; comparable solutions appeared quickly. Many companies decided to add face unlocking first of all to flagships, although in the case of Huawei it all started with mid-segment devices - and went on sale without Face Unlock, but became the first smartphones to receive the corresponding software update, and now almost all are relevant Huawei phones can be unlocked using face scanning.

How it works?

In humans, recognition of faces and images is “hard-wired” by nature - a separate part of the brain is responsible for this. Implementing the same using software is not so easy. Any facial recognition is divided into three stages:

detection
leveling
recognition

As part of the detection, the software “finds” faces in the photo - the colors of neighboring pixels, contrast, dark and light areas of the image are compared. As part of “alignment,” the software divides the found faces into specific nodes. They determine the shape of the eyes, the distance between the eyes, the length of the nose, the width of the cheekbones, and so on - these data allow you to create a so-called fingerprint or 3D model of the face. At the end software compares the newly received data that arrives every time you try to unlock your smartphone with the saved data. Unlocking occurs if the owner's identity is confirmed.

Setting up Face Unlock

Setting up Face Unlock is as simple as possible. If you just bought a smartphone, the device will prompt you to select protection methods when setting it up for the first time. At the same time, in addition to face unlocking, you must always specify an additional password, PIN code or pattern - they will have to be entered after rebooting the device, if the device has not been used for a long time, or after several unsuccessful attempts face unlocking - we’ll further figure out in what cases this can be encountered.

If you already use a smartphone, then the desired settings item can be found either through a search in the settings or by going to the “Security and Privacy” section, then “Face Recognition Unlocking”.

The function has additional settings- notifications on the lock screen can be displayed hidden until the smartphone “recognizes” the owner or can be open to everyone. After unlocking, you can remain on the lock screen - then you will have to additionally swipe or immediately go to the last one running application, using which you blocked your smartphone.

Suitable smartphones

Now Face function Unlock is supported by all current Huawei smartphones(and Honor too), even the budget ones - these are models that entered the market in 2018 and at the end of 2017. Y5 2018 is still waiting for an update, which should “arrive” in mid-August. Otherwise, the Y6 2018, Y6 Prime 2018, mid-segment devices (P Smart, Mate 10 lite), the flagship P20 line of three models, last year’s flagships P10, P10 Plus and Mate 10 already have Face Unlock - it was either “out of the box” "or added through appropriate updates.

Face Unlock - influence of lighting and other factors

Fingerprint scanners have long become a common means of unlocking - you just need to put your finger on it. But if your hands are wet or wearing gloves, the scanner will not work. A smartphone with a scanner on the back is inconvenient to use in a car if the device is in a holder. Face Unlock is more convenient in this regard - you just need to press the power key or double-tap on the screen to turn on the backlight, if such a function is supported. It’s even more convenient with the P20 and flagships - they can be activated when you pick up the device.

Face unlocking works a little slower than the usual fingerprint scanning, but not so much that it causes discomfort - Huawei says that during recognition, data is collected from 1000 points on the face, and identification takes 0.8 seconds. If the smartphone runs on a Kirin processor, then the user’s “portrait” is stored in a special protected area of the processor (TEE - Trusted Execution Environment).

When using a fingerprint scanner, the main thing is to have clean and dry hands, and the operation of Face Unlock depends on lighting. When initially registering, it is important to choose a location with adequate lighting, but it is important to avoid backlight or direct bright lighting.

In real use, the main limiter is insufficient lighting conditions - even the flagship Huawei P20 Pro copes poorly with recognition in complete darkness. If you bring the device closer to your face, especially if a light screen saver is installed, then the brightness AMOLED screen It’s enough to illuminate the face and recognize it, but it’s much easier to use a fingerprint scanner.

In real conditions, if you are walking along a night street normally illuminated by lanterns and signs, Face Unlock works. If you are walking down a dark alley where the only source of light is the moon and “that window on the third floor” - no.

Face Unlock does not work well if you are wearing dark sunglasses

There is also protection - if you bring the phone to the user with your eyes closed (for example, when you are sleeping), it will not unlock. Also, unlocking most likely will not work with opaque sunglasses - both with the Y-series and with the flagship, it only worked in 20-30% of cases. If you wear prescription glasses with clear lenses, there will be no problems. Scarves and hats have almost no effect on recognition speed. Crashes will only occur if you “hide” your mouth and nose.

It definitely doesn’t work that way...

Unlock speed of 0.8 seconds concerns first of all budget models. On the flagship, face recognition involves a special NPU processor module, which allows for faster image recognition, while on other models the load falls on the main processor, so the response speed depends on the performance of the hardware. In a direct comparison, the advantages of the top-end device are obvious, but in a real comparison, the second of time it takes for Face Unlock to work on the budget Y6 Prime 2018 is not annoying.

And this is how it works...

All that can be said in the end is that unlocking using face recognition is very convenient in practice. Paired with the usual fingerprint scanner, it allows you to almost forget about entering the main password or PIN code, which most users do not like to do. It’s doubly nice that companies add it not only to flagships, but also to the most affordable models, which makes modern technologies available to many users.

For the first time, the function of unlocking the screen using pictures taken with the front camera of a smartphone appeared in the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. More precisely, not even in a smartphone, but in operating system Android 4.0.

So Xiaomi and Apple are not pioneers. But the Cupertino people set the standard for the future. Will a copyist from the Middle Kingdom be able to at least bring his result closer?

Why does Xiaomi need its own Face ID?

Unlocking using the front camera often appears among the specifications of Android smartphones. This is usually a simple photo comparison that can easily be fooled with a simple, average quality photograph. For example, by bringing up another smartphone with a photo on the screen. In addition, it requires you to turn on the screen.

The iPhone is not like that at all. Xiaomi does too.

Xiaomi's own Face ID was presented as a killer feature of the sub-flagship Mi Note 3 (). Somehow it was necessary to show that a strange mid-range smartphone could really lay claim to a place in the top echelon. The camera is excellent appearance and the screen is beyond praise. But it turned out not to be a flagship, but a long-lived mid-ranger with an excellent camera. Although I really liked it.

Face ID could save the smartphone: a feature worthy of a flagship. They swung at the sacred thing, the iPhone X! In current form Xiaomi Face Mi Note 3 received ID first, and then all other Xiaomi smartphones. How? WITH system update(For Mi Note 3, the function appeared in MIUI 8.5).
A little strange, because real Face ID does not work without a hardware basis, special camera and unique software. Has Xiaomi really managed to get by with just a neural network that scans photos? Apparently yes.

How does real Face ID work?

As you know, Apple Face ID- not just a software function. Complex, and above all - hardware. To recognize the owner's face, TrueDepth cameras are used, scanning the structural map of the face.

To create it, 30,000 are used, created into the TrueDepth system by the projector. They are scanned with an infrared camera and then an IR image is created. Then it is transferred to a separate module of the Secure Enclave processor, in which the match is checked and the face is compared with the previously specified point structure of the owner’s face.

Thanks to this, iPhone X will recognize the owner, even if he grows a beard, and will add glasses to his image. Whatever - twilight, poor lighting or darkness are also not a problem for real Face ID.

Conditions for proper operation Apple's facial recognition system is quite small: the gaze must be directed towards the camera. That's all. You can change clothes, makeup, grimace. The smartphone will be unlocked no matter what.

What can Xiaomi answer to this?

How does Xiaomi's Face ID work?

Initially, you need to enter information about your face into the database. After this, the system will ask you to enter the password that you set earlier or create one. After which a warning will appear that this unlocking method is less secure compared to a finger scanner or password.

After this, the system will ask you to enter the password that you set earlier or create one. After which a warning will appear that this unlocking method is less secure compared to a finger scanner or password.

You can use face unlocking either in conjunction with a finger scanner or independently as a separate system.

I checked it, it works. Convenient, but...

Once the image has been entered into the settings, you can begin testing. The test took place in 2 stages, a month apart: for the sake of the experiment, I had to grow a beard.

The first feature of Xiaomi Face ID is that you don’t need to turn on the screen. All you need to do is point the front camera at your own face. I picked up the phone, didn’t do anything with it - and the first time the photo was not recognized. The second attempt was successful. Unlocking is instant.

As expected, facial hair became an insurmountable obstacle. Subsequent tests showed that it was the mustache. If you cover your chin with a scarf, the screen will unlock. The mustache, which grew after the first frame was taken, turned out to be a hindrance.

If you close your eyes, Mi Note 3 also refused to unlock the screen. Apparently, this is how the unlocking protection works when the owner is sleeping.

But if you add a photo of yourself wearing oversized glasses to your smartphone and then take them off, the recognition system refuses to recognize the owner. Both the first and the second time. Interestingly, on the contrary (the picture was taken without glasses, the unlocking attempt takes place with glasses) the unlocking is almost instantaneous.

I was not able to deceive the system using a photograph. A similar face also does not produce results. Although the twins will probably be able to use each other's smartphones.

The only real enemy of Face ID created by Xiaomi is poor lighting and darkness. His work uses the usual front-camera, which does not work in the IR spectrum. Therefore, to unlock the screen you need enough light to take photos. Bringing the screen close to your face is a bad option.

For the necessary illumination that the proprietary Face ID requires, a completely different measure. Can you take a clear selfie? Then the smartphone will be unlocked. Otherwise, only a fingerprint or password.

Instead of results. Everything works, but Xiaomi is ashamed

Unfortunately, less than ideal work ruined the innovation (one might say) in the bud. Xiaomi has cut out the facial recognition function from all global (multilingual international, for the European market) firmware