In summary: - Tech Advisor reports that 64% of smartphones tested since 2022 have facial recognition easily fooled by a simple 2D photo, affecting major brands like Samsung, Motorola, and Oppo. - This security flaw exposes personal data including photos and emails, though it cannot approve mobile payments or access high-security features like Samsung Wallet. - Users should opt for PINs or fingerprint systems instead, as Google Pixel and Apple iPhone models with 3D facial recognition offer better protection. UK-based consumer choice organisation Which? has highlighted a shocking shortfall in security that affects almost two-thirds of modern smartphones. Which? reports that of the 208 phones it has tested since 2022, a staggering 133 (that’s a clear majority of 64%) could have their facial identification systems fooled by a simple 2D photo. The list of brands that fell foul of this crude bypass method is extensive, including Asus, Fairphone, Honor, HMD, Motorola, Nokia, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Samsung, Vivo and Xiaomi. While the report points out that budget and mid-range models are the main weak points here, it’s not exclusively a cheap phone problem. Flagship handsets such as the Oppo Find X9 Pro, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 range all failed the test. The year 2024 was particularly bad in their reckoning, with 72% of the phones tested falling foul of the 2D photo hack. Android models that did pass this test include recent Google phones, such as the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 9, and Pixel 8, as well as the recent Samsung Galaxy S26 series. Apple’s iPhone range obviously passes with flying colours, having pioneered proper 3D facial recognition technology. The likes of the Honor Magic 8 Pro (pictured below), meanwhile, is one of precious few phones to adopt a similarly advanced biometric system. Chris