Nuked Google’s $ 799 pixel 4 had built-in radar. It ditches the sensor-laden forehead of its predecessor. The result is more screen, but Google’s’motion sense’ gestures and its answer to Apple’s face ID are totally gone.
Google hardware boss Rick Osterloh tells the verge that the project Soli radar and gestures will return.’they’ll be used in the future,’ he says.
A recent FCC filing suggests they might come to a new Nest thermostat. They’d appear in a new phone.
The pixel 5 was a gimmicky air gestures that never advanced. It was how the radar chip could detect your presence and fire up the phone’s facial recognition sensors – for a faster face unlock than Apple’s face ID had managed so far.
Google has been working on the Soli project for five years. Originally demoed the air gestures in speakers and smartwatches.
For now, you’ll unlock your $ 699-and-up pixel 5 with the same kind of rear-mounted fingerprint sensor you can get on the $ 349 pixel 4.
