From passcodes and PINs to fingerprints and facial scanners, there’s a ton of ways to unlock your smartphone. But now, thanks to the new ZTE Grand S3 smartphone, you can add your eyes to that list. Meet the company’s new Eyeprint ID technology.
Unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the ZTE Grand S3 is a flagship smartphone by the Chinese smartphone maker — part of its 2015 lineup and Grand S series. What’s especially cool about this new edition isn’t just what’s under the hood but what it’s looking at. The phone uses Eyeverify technology to use your front-facing camera as a “fingerprint” reader for your eye. The software looks at the veins in your eye to determine a unique pattern, letting you unlock your phone with nothing more than a swift selfie. No word on whether it will also integrate letting you pay using your unique eyeprint.
Beyond that new technology, the Grand S3 has a few minor hardware upgrades from its older brother the Grand S2. The processor is now the just as fast (but more energy efficient) Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, there’s a bigger battery, and storage is boosted to 3GB. The phone’s photo features are also getting a boost: The rear camera is now 16 megapixels, and the front camera is much higher than before, at 8 megapixels, to handle the Eyeprint technology.
What isn’t in the new ZTE Grand S3, when compared with some of its competitors, are some premium features, notably a 2K display or Android 5.0 Lollipop. But look on the bright side: Since it has a lower resolution screen and a large, 3,100mAh battery, this smartphone probably has pretty good battery life, plus a lower price tag ($480) than other high-end devices. The Grand S3 is already available in China and will probably arrive elsewhere in the near future.
Stay with Digital Trends as we bring the latest news, hands-on reviews, and other updates from Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona.
