Samsung’s next ultra-premium flagship could see its biggest biometric leap in years, with early leaks pointing to a brand-new face authentication system.

The technology, dubbed ‘Polar ID v1.0’, is said to replace the traditional 2D selfie-camera scan with a polarised-light authentication system.

Unlike current infrared or camera-based methods, Polar ID is expected to map a user’s unique skin polarisation signature, enabling faster, more secure facial recognition even in poor lighting or when wearing sunglasses or masks.

Firmware references also mention a new ‘BIO-Fusion Core’, which is believed to be a secure enclave dedicated to biometric data processing.

Unlock speeds are rumoured to be around 180 milliseconds, potentially making it one of the fastest and most secure implementations on any Android phone.

If accurate, this could mark Samsung’s first genuine challenge to Apple’s long-dominant Face ID, which has led the market since its debut in 2017.

The upgrade would bring Samsung’s Galaxy devices closer to parity in biometric reliability and payment-grade authentication, areas where Android phones have historically lagged.

Industry watchers note that Polar ID technology originates from US startup Metalenz, which has previously announced partnerships with Samsung and Qualcomm.

Metalenz claims its system can detect the full polarisation state of light, offering a level of spoof resistance that even advanced 3D masks cannot defeat.

While the Galaxy S27 Ultra is not expected until early 2027, the leak hints at Samsung’s long-term investment in secure, AI-assisted hardware design.

If Samsung delivers on these rumours, the S27 Ultra could finally give Android users the Face ID rival they have long been waiting for.