I just testing my XZ2c under Android and:

"Pickup gesture switches on the screen when you pickup the phone and allows you to avoid pressing a power button. It may require relatively faster movement, try with the different movement patterns if it does not work."

It's similar under Android. Usually, faster movement is required.
I think it's not an additional sensor but this function uses accelerometer and proximity sensor. So if you cover proximity sensor or it's dirty then this function has problems with working.