For those unaware, Motion Sense was the hallmark feature of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL smartphones, which enabled users to navigate the interface, and control various apps, using gestures without physically interacting with their device. It was enabled via Google's Soli motion-sensing radar tech.
On the flip side, this technology works on a 60GHz mmWave frequency band, for which Google didn't receive approval from the government as the frequency on which it operated wasn't legal in some countries, including India. Therefore, Google decided to skip India from the list of countries where the phones were available. This, in return, prevented Google from selling the Pixel 4 series in many countries across the world, adversely affecting its global sales.
According to 9to5Google’s Stephen Hall, sources from within Google suggest that the company might ditch the Soli chip with its next-gen flagship smartphone(s). If this turns out to be true, the Pixel 5 will lose out on 3D face unlock, amongst other things.
In yesterday's show, we also touched on some things we're hearing about Pixel 5 from sources — specifically that it will likely leave behind hobbies like Soli
— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) May 15, 2020
However, the omission of this tech means that Google will certainly be able to sell the Pixel 5 in more markets, including India. On the plus side, there's also a possibility that the Pixel 5 series will be more affordable than the Pixel 4.
