Exclusive: Metalenz Has Figured Out a Way to Make Face ID Invisible
Metalenz has developed Polar ID, a facial authentication technology using optical metasurfaces and polarization data to enhance security and enable under-display sensor placement. The system can distinguish real faces from high-quality 3D masks and is set for mass production in consumer devices by 2027. Unlike current systems, Polar ID can operate invisibly beneath OLED displays without sacrificing performance.
- ▪Metalenz’s Polar ID uses polarization data to differentiate real skin from silicone masks, enhancing facial recognition security.
- ▪The technology is based on optical metasurfaces, which replace bulky traditional lenses with flat, nanostructured surfaces.
- ▪Polar ID is the result of a partnership with Qualcomm and is expected in smartphones and laptops by 2027.
- ▪The system can function under OLED displays, making facial recognition components invisible while maintaining performance.
- ▪Over 300 million Metalenz metasurfaces are already in use in consumer devices for depth sensing and autofocus.
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Julian ChokkattuGearMay 4, 2026 10:00 AMThis Company Has Figured Out a Way to Make Face ID InvisibleMetalenz’s Polar ID face-scanning technology works even when the camera is hidden under the display.Photo-Illustration: Jobanny Cabrera; Courtesy of Metalenz; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyWe're all too familiar with the notch—the unsightly cut-in that graced many smartphones for years, like the iPhone X or the LG G7.The notch has largely been replaced on today’s smartphones by floating punch-hole cameras that take up less space and look a little more futuristic, though notches are still prevalent on some laptops, like Apple’s MacBooks.On the iPhone, Apple calls its floating pill-shaped camera system the Dynamic Island, which debuted…
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