Samsung plans to apply its next-generation Polar ID facial recognition technology to the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra, according to a report by tech media Wccftech today. This new technology is reportedly superior to Apple’s Face ID.
According to reports, the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra will feature Polar ID, utilizing polarized light to achieve facial recognition rather than the 3D depth modeling technology that Face ID relies on. This technology does not require the screen to reserve large openings for complex components, meaning that there will be no notches or pill-shaped cutouts on the display.
In terms of principle, the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra emits infrared light towards the user’s face, filtering the polarization state of the reflected light through a super lens. A dedicated sensor then captures facial information and polarization data simultaneously. Finally, the phone’s secure isolation zone compares the identified polarization map with the stored reference data, and if they match, the phone unlocks.
Because organic materials such as skin reflect light in a completely different polarization state than inorganic materials, the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra utilizes Polar ID, making it virtually impossible to be fooled by photos, masks, or other means.
Furthermore, leaker @phonefuturist claims that this technology does not require complex components, reducing its size by 50% compared to Face ID. This means Samsung can continue to use the punch-hole screen solution on the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra ahead of Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
