Metalenz Develops Invisible Face ID Technology Using Metasurfaces
Original: Exclusive: Metalenz Has Figured Out a Way to Make Face ID Invisible
Why This Matters
Could enable secure face authentication on Android devices while reducing camera cutout sizes
Boston startup Metalenz announced Polar ID facial authentication technology at Display Week 2026, using optical metasurfaces to enable secure face scanning through under-display cameras, set for consumer deployment in 2027.
Metalenz unveiled Polar ID, a facial authentication system using metasurfaces technology that can work with cameras hidden under smartphone displays. The company's flat-lens system uses nanostructures on a single lens to bend light rays, replacing bulky traditional multi-lens elements. Over 300 million Metalenz metasurfaces are already used in consumer devices for time-of-flight sensors. The Polar ID system captures polarization data to distinguish real faces from 3D masks, as human skin creates unique polarization signatures compared to mask materials like silicone. This makes it more secure than Google's Pixel face unlock, which can be spoofed. Metalenz partnered with Qualcomm in late 2023 for scaling, with consumer deployment planned for 2027 in laptops and smartphones.