The first quarter of 2018 will be jam-packed with new flagship releases, including the launch of Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus smartphones. In spite of the tech firms with bigger names regularly updating their hardware, OnePlus remains unfazed by the competition as the handset maker is set to unveil its new OnePlus 6 handset this year. The upcoming OnePlus device is said to boast an advanced face unlock feature to match the intelligent scan technology of the Galaxy S9.

The OnePlus smartphones are not be dubbed as the "flagship killer" for no reason. Based on the recent reports, the OnePlus 6 will target Apple's 2017 iPhone X flagship, as well as the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, which are expected to launch at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) this February. Android Marvel reported that the new OnePlus handset will have its own take of the iPhone X's Face ID system, a biometric authentication that uses advanced scanning technology to read the user's facial features.

After the iPhone X launch, Apple's rival companies have started to devise their own facial recognition technology for their respective premium devices. As for Samsung, the South Korean tech giant will introduce the new intelligent scan technology via Galaxy S9 that combines the currently existing iris scanner and the Galaxy S8's facial scanner. While the S9 has yet to boast this powerful feature, the OnePlus 6 is about to steal its thunder by having an improved Face Unlock, which uses a front-facing infrared 3D camera module. It is expected that this new infrared sensor will work even in low-light environments.

Interestingly, the OnePlus 6 already has the edge over its Samsung Galaxy S and iPhone rivals, as its facial recognition scanner will not require a notch area on the top display, unlike the iPhone X's design. With this, the users can expect a true all-screen display from the OnePlus 6, having the top and bottom bezels trimmed.

The OnePlus 5T already featured the Face Unlock technology, although there are more ways for it to become more secure. On the other hand, the facial recognition technology of the Samsung Galaxy S8 was met with criticism, as it was found out that its 2D facial scanner can be fooled by using the user's picture to unlock the phone.

The OnePlus 6 is expected to arrive towards the second quarter of 2018, possibly around June, which is the same month that the OnePlus 5 was launched.