The Google Pixel 4 series is finally here. The last leaked images that surfaced on the web turned out to be true so there is no more surprise on how the phone looks. What we’re more interested in today are the new features and the pricing. We’re actually intrigued with the new things Google is offering through the Pixel 4. There are two variants: the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4 XL. They look basically the same. The specs are almost the same but with a few differences.
Let’s start with the basics first–specs. The Pixel 4 comes equipped with a 5.7-inch OLED screen, 90Hz refresh rate, Full HD+ resolution, Snapdragon 855 processor with Pixel Neural Core, 64GB or 128GB onboard storage, 6GB of RAM, Face unlock, Titan M Security Module, and a 2800mAH battery!!. When it comes to the imaging department, there is a dual rear camera system that includes a 12MP Dual Pixel wide camera and a 16MP telephoto lens. The 8MP front-facing camera is ready for your endless selfies.
When it comes to pricing, the phone starts at $799 for the 64GB model. The 128GB model is $899. Color options are as follows: Just Black, Oh So Orange, and Clearly White.
Meanwhile, Google Pixel 4XL boasts a 6.3-inch screen with 90Hz refresh rate, 3040 x 1440 resolution, 3700mAh battery, and stereo speakers. The rest of the specs are the same as the Pixel 4. The Pixel 4 XL starts at $899. Both phones will be available beginning October 24 (Not in India).
The Pixel 4 boasts an industrial design. Unlike the iPhone 11 that feels solid and made from a single material, the new Pixel appears to be a combination of many parts. The back is glass while the phone’s build is a metal frame.
Hands-On
The square camera module is present but with an obvious bulge. It’s not triples but only dual rear shooters. The camera performs well with upgraded features like Live HDR+, Super Res Zoom, and Night Mode. Other major features include the Motion Sensor using the Soli radar chipset, 90 Hz screen as rumored before, Ambient EQ, 18W fast-charging, Qi wireless charging, and face recognition.
PIXEL 4 and 4XL DESIGN
The devices look like previous offerings from Google, with some slight design changes.
The Pixel 4 now has 5.7-inch OLED screen – slightly larger than the 5.5-inch Pixel 3, while Google’s Pixel XL keeps the same 6.3-inch OLED display as last year’s model.
The phone is held together by an aluminum band, with a matte-glass or glossy rear panel (depending on the color). Gorilla Glass 5 is also on the front and back of the handset.
This design isn’t going to feel as premium as Samsung’s Note 10 or Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro, but that won’t be noticeable unless you’re a cowboy who doesn’t use a protective case.
The ugly notch Google copied off Apple has been removed, with the company opting for a forehead bezel that houses the selfie camera and face unlock sensors Along with a radar sensor.
The body will use the same material found in most flagship smartphones in 2019, glass on the back and front to allow for wireless charging, and an aluminum frame for durability.
It will come in three colors, Just Black, Clearly White, and Orange. White and Orange have a matte finish hybrid coating while the black is glossy material (which means it is a fingerprint magnet). Both the front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass 5.
Display
The Pixel 4 XL had a small screen size decrease from 6.3 inches to 6.23 inches. The Pixel 4 will actually be larger at 5.7 inches. Both have OLED panels (produced by Samsung) with support for HDR and always-on display. As far as the resolutions are concerned, the Pixel 4 has the same resolution as its predecessor but the Pixel 4 XL actually has a higher 3040 x 1440 (the Pixel 3 XL was 2960 x 1440).
The screen uses the P3 gamut for the first time (the same used by iPhones), allowing for higher color accuracy. It will also support HDR10 content on YouTube and Netflix.
The “forehead” is as large as the Pixel 3, but the chin is one of the smallest in the industry. Fans of symmetry may not like it, but the extra sensors for Soli and secure face unlock are packed into that top bezel, and at least they didn’t use a notch.
Both Pixel 4 devices are able to output games at 90 fps, 30 more frames per second than the standard screen. To enable, you must turn on Smooth Display, a feature which allows Android to dynamically adjust the refresh rate based on the running apps. Playing a game, 90 Hz will turn on. Making a call, the screen will adjust to 60 Hz.
The Pixel 4 also has a feature known as Ambient EQ, which is essentially Google’s version of Apple’s True Tone. Based on the surrounding lights, the display will automatically adjust the white balance for improved viewing experience. The screen will appear more consistent and be one less feature iPhone fans can claim they have over the Pixel devices.
Performance
As always, Google Pixel phones are the purest Android experience on the market. There’s no third-party interface overlay or third-party editions of “Mail” or “Web Browser,” and Google will deliver the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL pre-loaded with Android 10.
Google loaded the Pixel 4 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 CPU, 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. In addition, this is Google’s first 90 Hz screen. A faster refresh rate should mean smoother video, games, and app interactions, but I don’t know if average users will notice. In general, my brief experience using the device was good. It didn’t stutter or pause through any operation and was generally a pleasure to use.
As we said, Google Pixel 4 is a good, pure Android/Google experience, but the Pixel has never led in design or, aside from photography, overall features. This phone does go a big step further with gesture capabilities, but it also hews pretty closely to Google’s strategy of pushing the envelope strategically without trying to run away with the ball.
By steering clear of shock and awe, Google put the science and technology behind features like Gesture Control, HDR+ Live, and Night Sight in the spotlight. Maybe it did suck a little excitement out of the day, but, ultimately, the Google Pixel 4’s performance will speak for itself.
Battery
Surprisingly, the battery in the Google Pixel 4 will be reduced. Despite the increased screen size and the higher refresh rate, the battery will slightly smaller at 2,800 mAh battery.
The opposite is true for the Pixel 4 XL. Its battery increased to 3,700 mAh, around an 8% increase. Both models support wireless charging via the Qi standard and fast wired charging using USB Power Delivery and include an 18 W USB PD charger in the box.
Camera
The Google Pixel 4’s camera features are as impressive as ever, with both the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL bringing seriously awesome camera specs to the table.
During Made by Google event, we got a bit more information about what to expect from them. Both phones have multiple cameras with 12.1-megapixel main and 16-megapixel selfie cameras, which lets the compete with the iPhone 11’s feature set, though there isn’t a wide-angle lens to tie it all together. The cameras can handle great video as well, with 4K up to 30 fps and 1080p at 120 fps.
The phones will use optical zoom with the second camera as well as the same “Super Res Zoom” tech introduced with the Pixel 3, and you’ll get some higher-quality photos thanks to the “software-defined camera.” It uses the Pixel Neural Core’s software learning techniques to track motion and faces, and helps to deliver the best focus and exposure possible in sunlight or nighttime shots.
It also features dual exposure, which should help you figure out the best way to approach having to take photos in direct sunlight. The Pixel 4 gives you a slider to adjust the brighter and darker parts of your photo even when it’s too bright to make it a more balanced image overall. With that in mind, it’s great at low light photography as well. This should pair well with its portrait style mode, which is similar to that of what the iPhone offers. Finally, Pixel 4 includes HDR+, which should help in defining both bright and darker shots, which you can gauge before you take a shot, with Google’s Live HDR+ feature in mind.
Security
The Pixel 4 is the first Android phone in the US with secure face unlock. Using an array of sensors, the Pixel 4 can detect your face no matter how you hold your phone. Unlike the iPhone, there is no need to swipe up to unlock your phone. Instead, once you face your phone and the Soli sensor recognizes that you may want to unlock your phone, it will unlock. And your face data, along with any other sensitive transactions, are stored locally within the Titan M security chip for ultimate protection.
Other Features
Voice Recorder With Live Transcription
The fine folks at Google have created a wonderful voice recording application that includes live transcription services. The demoed showed off during the latest Made by Google showcased some very impressive transcription services, all of which work right off the device.
On top of offering transcription as you talk, the voice recorder application also allows you to search for specific words or phrases and can then take you to those direct moments when in voice recordings. This ensures you can always find what you’re looking for in the various recordings that you take.
It’s really cool to see Google taking such efforts to make use of your smartphone that much easier, and to be honest, the voice recording application the tech giant showed off appears to be the most comprehensive we’ve seen on a phone yet. It also is all handled on the device, as during the demo the phone was in airplane mode, which means it wasn’t connected to any kind of network.
It’s insane to see how far technology continues to expand and evolve, and the idea that ten years from now, we’ll be seeing even greater strides is mind-boggling to think about. For now, though, we know that the Pixel 4 has quite a lot of great features that fans of the phone series will enjoy and find useful, but the voice recording software has to be one of the biggest standouts we’ve seen. Being able to search for phrases or words you’ve spoken in a voice recording is fantastic, and being able to view the transcription, live as it happens, well let’s just say Google has done a great job with it if it really works that well.
Motion Sense
Pixel 4’s Motion Sense feature uses a miniature radar sensor that allows you to use the phone without having to physically touch it.
The feature means it can sense when you’re reaching for the phone and will initiate face unlock, likewise It will also turn off your screen when you’re not around.
“New Quick Gestures” let you control your device without having to touch the screen. Say you are running on the treadmill and want to skip the song, it’s as simple as swiping your hand across the front of the device.
Time will tell if this is a gimmick or a useful feature. I can see a little of both.
Pixel 4 and 4XL In A Nutshell
Body
- Frame: aluminum, glass (Gorilla Glass 5)
- Finish: Just Black, Clearly White, Oh So Orange (limited edition)
- Height: 5.78 inches (Google Pixel 4), 6.31 inches (Google Pixel 4 XL)
- Width: 2.71 inches (Google Pixel 4), 2.97 inches (Google Pixel 4 XL)
- Depth: 0.32 inches (0.37 inches with camera bump)
- Weight: 5.71 oz (Google Pixel 4), 6.81 oz (Google Pixel 4 XL)
- Dust/water resistance: IP68
- Operating temp: 32º to 95º F
- Android Version: Android 10
Display
- Screen size: 5.7 inches (Google Pixel 4), 6.3 inches (Google Pixel 4 XL)
- Screen resolution: 2280 x 1080 (Google Pixel 4), 3040 x 1440 (Google Pixel 4 XL)
- Total pixels: 2,462,400 (Google Pixel 4), 4,377,600 (Google Pixel 4 XL)
- Pixel density: 443 ppi (Google Pixel 4), 534 ppi (Google Pixel 4 XL)
- Screen type: OLED
- HDR: yes
- Notch: no
- Screen-to-body ratio: Unknown
- Aspect ratio: 19:9
- Minimum brightness: 2 nits
- Maximum brightness: 445 nits
- Refresh rate: 90 Hz (Unknown for touch-sensing)
- Color temp: 6,610 K (P3), 6,640 K (sRGB/Rec. 709)
- Color gamut: P3
Performance
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
- Chip size: 7 nanometer
- CPU frequency: 2.84 GHz (1x Gold), 2.41 GHz (3x Gold), 1.78 GHz (4x Silver)
- CPU cores: 8 Cores (4 Gold + 4 Silver)
- GPU: Adreno 640
Battery
- Battery Capacity: 2,800 mAh (Google Pixel 4), 3,700 mAh (Google Pixel 4 XL)
- Wired charging: yes, USB Power Delivery
- Wireless charging: yes, Qi charging
Camera
Front Camera
- Resolution: 8 MP
- Aperture: ƒ/2.0
- Pixel size: 1.22 µm
- Zoom: None
- Flash: Yes, screen flash
- Image stabilization: yes, EIS
- RAW support: Yes
- Object detection: Unknown
- Formats: JPEG, RAW
Rear Camera
- Resolution: 12 MP (wide-angle), 16 MP (telephoto)
- Sensor size: Unknown
- Aperture: ƒ/1.7 (primary), ƒ/2.4 (telephoto)
- Zoom: 2x optical and 8x digital
- Autofocus: dual pixel phase dection (primary), phase detection (telephoto)
- Flash: dual-tone LED
- Image stabilization: yes, OIS and EIS
- RAW support: yes
- Lens cover: sapphire crystal
- Object detection: Unknown
- Formats: JPEG, RAW
- Max frame rate: 60 fps for 1080p, 30 fps for 4K
- Slow motion: yes, 1080p at 120 fps and 720p at 240 fps
- Time-lapse: yes, Unknown
- Photos: yes, 5 MP
- Zoom: yes, up to 6x digital zoom (1080p at 30 fps) and 8x digital zoom (1080p at 60 fps and 4K at 30 fps)
- Flash access: yes, see above
- Image stabilization: yes
- Object detection: Unknown
- Autofocus: yes
Audio
- Audio: stereo
- Formats: H.264
- 3.5 mm headphone jack: no
- Stereo speakers: yes, stereo speakers
- Mics: 3
Sensor
- Accelerometer: yes
- Ambient light: yes
- Barometer: yes
- Color temperature: yes
- Compass: yes
- Laser: yes
- Pedometer: no
- Proximity: yes
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz + 5.0GHz 2×2 MIMO
- Bluetooth: 5 + LE (HD codecs: AptX, AptX HD, LDAC)
- NFC: yes
- Cellular: nano-SIM, eSIM
