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Samsung Galaxy S21 might unlock using your voice
- Samsung reportedly plans to revive Bixby Voice unlock as a Galaxy S21 feature.
- It could be exclusive to the phones, at least at first.
- The feature wouldn’t be the most secure, but could be convenient.
You might have one more way to unlock the Samsung Galaxy S21 (aka Galaxy S30) when it arrives in 2021. SamMobile sources claim Samsung is bringing back Bixby voice unlock for the Galaxy S21 as an alternative for times when the fingerprint reader isn’t an option.
Just how it would differ from before isn’t clear. However, Samsung is reportedly planning to debut voice unlock solely on the Galaxy S21 until its One UI version (possibly 3.1) is ready for other devices. You would choose Bixby from your phone’s lock screen security settings.
Read more: The best phones with in-display fingerprint scanners
As SamMobile explains, this wouldn’t be the most secure sign-in option. Someone with a high-quality recording of your voice could theoretically unlock your phone. Fingerprint readers or the old iris scanner are typically harder to fool. Voice would be more secure than the basic face unlock on many Android phones, though, and could be helpful for moments when you can’t touch or even look at your phone.
Samsung wouldn’t rely heavily on voice unlock to sell the Galaxy S21. If rumors are accurate, the new lineup would lean on camera upgrades, such as second-generation 108MP sensor in the Ultra as well as improved 4K and 8K video recording. You could expect a next-generation Snapdragon chip, and the Ultra might introduce S Pen support that might mark the end of the Galaxy Note line.
You might not have to wait long to see the feature, either. Multiple rumors suggest the next Galaxy might debut as early as January. While there’s a chance Samsung could fall back to its usual February or March release schedules, it could be just a matter of weeks before you find out if the report is true.