Google appears to be exploring an advanced face-unlock system internally called Project Toscana that could bring an iPhone-style, Face ID-like experience to Pixel phones and Chromebooks, according to recent reports. The reporting suggests Google is testing the idea on prototype hardware rather than relying on software tweaks alone. If it ships, it could narrow a long-running gap between Google’s and Apple’s biometric experiences and potentially bring stronger face-based sign-in to Chromebooks.
What Project Toscana Actually Is
Project Toscana is a hardware-based face-unlock system that Google has been developing in secret. The project is being tested on a Pixel phone equipped with a single hole-punch camera and on two Chromebook prototypes fitted with external cameras and exposed circuit boards. That testing setup suggests Google is experimenting with new sensor configurations rather than simply refining the algorithms behind its existing camera hardware, and that the company is willing to rework physical components instead of relying only on software updates.
The choice to test across both product lines signals that Google wants a single biometric system that works whether someone is unlocking a phone in their hand or logging into a laptop on a desk. Current Pixel face unlock, which relies on a standard RGB camera, has long frustrated users with inconsistent performance in dim rooms or harsh backlighting. Project Toscana appears to target those exact weaknesses, with early reports describing Face ID-like reliability across varied lighting conditions. If that level of performance holds in real-world use, it would mark a substantial shift from the more fragile, camera-only approach used on recent Pixels.
Hardware Over Software: Why the Approach Matters
Google’s earlier attempts at face unlock on the Pixel relied heavily on machine learning running against images from a single front-facing camera. In general, camera-only face recognition can struggle with depth perception and challenging lighting, and it may not meet the same anti-spoofing standards as systems that use dedicated depth or infrared sensors. Apple’s Face ID, for example, uses a dedicated sensor array (TrueDepth) to capture depth information, which is one reason it’s widely viewed as more robust than basic camera-only approaches.
Project Toscana’s emphasis on hardware upgrades suggests Google may be adopting a similar sensor strategy, even if the exact components are still unknown. The use of exposed boards and external cameras on the Chromebook prototypes points to modules that are not yet miniaturized for consumer devices, a typical sign of early-stage hardware validation. If Google does integrate infrared or depth-sensing elements into future Pixels, the cost and design tradeoffs would be significant, especially for mid-range phones and budget Chromebooks where margins are tight. The single hole-punch form factor on the test Pixel, however, hints that Google is trying to keep the front of the phone visually clean rather than adding a wide notch like early iPhones, suggesting careful industrial design work to hide more complex sensors behind a familiar layout.
Android’s Biometric Security Tiers
Android defines tiers of biometric strength, and the tier a face-unlock system qualifies for affects what it can be used for on the device. The highest tier, designated Class 3, is intended for “strong” biometrics and includes requirements around spoof resistance and secure handling of biometric data. In practice, stronger classifications are typically required for higher-risk actions such as authorizing payments or unlocking access to sensitive apps, while weaker implementations may be limited to convenience features.
The current Pixel face unlock has historically fallen short of Class 3 requirements, which is why Google still defaults to fingerprint sensors for high-security tasks and often restricts face unlock to convenience features like waking the phone or bypassing the lock screen. If Project Toscana’s hardware upgrades push face recognition into Class 3 territory, it would mean Pixel owners could use their face for everything they currently need a fingerprint for, including mobile payments and password managers. That is a meaningful quality-of-life change, especially on devices where the under-display fingerprint reader can be finicky with wet or dry fingers. It would also bring Google’s biometric offering closer to Apple’s, where Face ID has served as the primary biometric authenticator on iPhones for years and is trusted for sensitive operations.
Cross-Device Ambitions and the Chromebook Angle
The decision to test Project Toscana on Chromebooks, not just phones, reveals a broader ambition that goes beyond catching up to a single competing feature. Chromebooks have never offered face unlock as a login method; users rely on passwords, PINs, or, on select models, fingerprint readers placed on the palm rest or power button. Adding secure face recognition to Chrome OS would simplify the login experience for the millions of students, enterprise workers, and casual users who rely on Chromebooks daily. It could also enable faster transitions between locked and active states in shared environments like classrooms and offices, where typing a password each time a lid is opened adds friction and encourages weak, easy-to-type credentials.
A unified biometric system across Pixel phones and Chromebooks would also strengthen Google’s ecosystem pitch at a time when cross-device continuity is increasingly important. Apple already offers a consistent biometric experience with Face ID on iPhones and iPads and Touch ID on MacBooks, letting users move between devices without changing how they authenticate. Google, by contrast, has offered a fragmented mix of fingerprint sensors on Pixels, no biometric login on most Chromebooks, and various software-based sign-in shortcuts. Project Toscana could close that gap, giving users a single trusted identity method that follows them from pocket to desk. For IT administrators managing fleets of Chromebooks, a hardware-backed face unlock that meets Class 3 standards would also simplify compliance with security policies that currently require multi-factor authentication workarounds or external security keys for high-risk workflows.
What Remains Unknown
Despite the testing evidence, several key details about Project Toscana remain unconfirmed. Google has not issued any public statement about the project, and no leaked internal documents have surfaced to clarify the specific sensor technology being used. Whether the system relies on infrared projection, time-of-flight depth sensing, stereo cameras, or some hybrid approach is still unclear, and that choice will determine how compact, power-efficient, and spoof-resistant the final implementation can be. The timeline for a consumer launch is also unknown; prototype testing on exposed boards can indicate the work is still in an early stage, and Google has a history of adjusting or even shelving hardware plans based on cost, reliability, or strategic shifts.
There is also a question of cost and product segmentation. Adding dedicated face-unlock hardware to every Pixel phone and Chromebook would increase component expenses, and Google would need to decide whether to absorb that cost or pass it to buyers through higher prices. One possibility is that Toscana-class face unlock debuts only on flagship Pixels and premium Chromebooks, leaving mid-range and education-focused devices with fingerprints or passwords. Another open question is how Toscana will coexist with existing biometrics: Google could position it as the primary method with fingerprint as backup, or allow users and administrators to choose based on their threat model. Until Google speaks publicly or announces a device that clearly includes Toscana hardware, the project remains a promising but speculative answer to one of the most visible gaps in the Pixel and Chromebook experience.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
