Metalenz has developed Polar ID, a face-scanning technology that works with cameras hidden beneath smartphone displays, potentially eliminating the need for visible camera notches.
The startup's innovation uses specialized optics to enable facial recognition through display layers, addressing a long-standing design constraint for smartphone makers.
Polar ID represents a shift in how manufacturers approach biometric security. Current Face ID systems require visible openings or notches to function properly. Metalenz's solution allows the camera hardware to sit behind the screen without performance degradation.
The technology could reshape smartphone design, enabling truly edge-to-edge displays without compromises to security features. Major manufacturers have pursued similar goals for years, with mixed results.
Metalenz specializes in computational imaging and metalens technology—flat optical components that manipulate light using nanostructures. The company previously developed depth-sensing solutions for AR applications.
No timeline for commercial implementation has been announced. The development comes as smartphone makers continue competing on design aesthetics while maintaining robust biometric authentication systems.
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