Google is developing an advanced face unlock feature that will put it on a par with Apple iPhone.

Android Authority says the new face unlock feature dubbed “Project Toscana” will radically improve the performance of face recognition on Google Pixel phones in low light, according to its source.

“Google recently tested Project Toscana with UX testers in Mountain View, CA.” says the report.

“Our source used Project Toscana on a Pixel phone with a single hole-punch camera cutout and on two Chromebooks with external cameras (of which the circuitry and motherboard were exposed, so not the final design).”

The source says the new feature worked as quickly as FaceID on the iPhone. It did apparently work on a Pixel with a punch-hole cutout, with a likely single camera sensor, says Digital Trends.

That suggests Project Toscana could work with a larger range of Android smartphone camera configurations.

Currently, the Pixel 8 and onwards uses machine learning for face login to secure apps but it fails to perform adequately in low light conditions.

If all goes to plan, Project Toscana will deliver sufficient security for Face ID to be used when logging into banking apps in low light conditions.