Testing has revealed that smartphones from major brands including Samsung and Motorola can be unlocked using printed images of the owners face. Consumer experts have warned that this security loophole could be exploited by criminals to unlock devices and access personal information. Which?, the UK’s largest independent consumer organisation, has been carrying out lab tests on hundreds of phone models since 2022, assessing features from battery life to security features. While most smartphones now offer facial recognition to unlock mobile devices, Which?’s testing found that as many as 64% of phones – 133 devices since 2022 – could be tricked by a printed image. Phones that failed the organisation’s tests include top-of-the-range models such as the Oppo Find X9 Pro, which retails for upwards of £1,000. According to Which?, Samsung’s former flagship range of Galaxy S25 phones could all be fooled by a 2D photograph, while the some lower-priced Android phones also struggled, often relying on a standard 2D facial recognition system. Which? Found that the newest Google Pixel models and Samsung Galaxy S26 series passed their tests and Apple Face ID was considerably harder to trick. The non-profit says that some device cameras take flat pictures, which means they cannot always distinguish between a real person and a high-resolution photo. Most phones that failed Which?’s test did have an onscreen message warning that face recognition cannot be relied upon for security. Lisa Barber, Which? Tech Editor said: “These security flaws are far from isolated incidents. “The majority of Android phones we’ve tested in the last four years can be easily unlocked using a 2D image, and some manufacturers are still failing to adequately warn their users that this is the case. “We’d urge affected users to set up alternative methods of security, like a fingerprint or a PIN, which