Samsung's new flagship devices have both a front-facing 8-megapixel camera and an iris scanner. These work in tandem for "Intelligent Scan", which combine the secure identifying nature of your eye's unique makeup with a camera that detects your face. Samsung believes its iris scanner isn't as effective in bright light as it is in the dark, thus it's included the more traditional camera backup this time. With the new system, the S9 tries to sign you in with your eyes by default, but when that fails, it will use facial recognition. Samsung says the technology is learning-based, which means it should improve its ability to latch on to your face as you continue to use it.
This is the marquee feature for Samsung when it comes to ID and security: it plans to use this like Apple does for app purchases and feature logins. The company says Samsung Pass will be up first, offering identification for websites through its own Internet app. (Which means you'd have to use that over, say, Chrome on Android.)
We're still putting this Intelligent Scan feature to the test ahead of reviewing the device in full, but remember; facial scans don't offer the security necessary for keeping your phone locked. Samsung has also kept its fingerprint sensor, although it thankfully moved it further away from the camera this time.
To be honest, the company's packed nearly every security option in here. You can unlock its newest phones with a pattern, PIN, or password; the iris scanner, fingerprint scanner or face recognition; and Intelligent Scan (that aforementioned blend of iris and face scanning).
