Copyright Digital Trends
What’s happened? Samsung’s upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S27 Ultra, is tipped to include a major overhaul of its facial-recognition system. As per leakster SPYGO19726 on X, the new system reportedly bears the name “Polar ID v1.0” and is said to use a polarized-light authentication method rather than the older 2D selfie-camera scan. The information surfaced via early firmware references and leaker comments, though it remains unconfirmed and certainly far ahead of the device’s expected launch in 2027. The leaked firmware contains references to “Polar ID v1.0” and a “BIO-Fusion Core” secure enclave. Rumored performance: unlock latency around 180 ms and improved resilience to sunglasses, masks, or poor lighting. The system may leverage Samsung’s ISOCELL Vizion front-sensor pairing with polarized-light technology, moving away from IR sensor methods. Why this is important: Biometric security has become a major selling point for premium smartphones, and Samsung has historically lagged behind Apple’s Face ID in accuracy and reliability. If the Galaxy S27 Ultra does adopt the rumored new Polar ID system, it could mark Samsung’s biggest leap in facial authentication in years, potentially enabling faster unlock speeds and greater spoof-resistance than existing 2D camera-based unlock methods. The upgrade also suggests Samsung is investing more heavily in secure hardware pathways like its rumoured “BIO-Fusion Core” secure enclave, a move that would benefit users who rely on face unlock for sensitive tasks like mobile payments and banking apps. With reports claiming improved performance in low light and better handling of glasses and masks, Polar ID could make face unlock more convenient day-to-day. All in all, it could signal a new era where Galaxy devices compete head-on with Apple’s biometric lead. Why should I care? If you’re in the market for a future flagship phone, the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s rumored facial-recognition leap might be worth waiting for. Current face-unlock systems can struggle in certain lighting, with glasses or masks, or be less secure than fingerprint or IR-based systems. As such, a genuine upgrade here means smoother access and fewer security compromises. That said, because this is still early, at least a year away, and unconfirmed, it shouldn’t dictate an immediate purchase decision. That said, if buying now isn’t urgent, holding off until more secure face-unlock tech arrives could be justified.
