Hands-on with Pixel 4 and 4 XL: Google’s new phones only have minor differences

Android

Hands-on with Pixel 4 and 4 XL: Google’s new phones only have minor differences

Micheline Lykke

October 17, 2019

Hands-on with Pixel 4 and 4 XL: Google’s new phones only have minor differences

Like the iPhone 11, the Pixel 4 has a sq. digital camera array that homes the 2 rear cameras.
Angela Lang/CNET
It’s official: On Tuesday Google formally introduced the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. Finally! The Pixel 4 is among the most leaked-about telephones in current reminiscence. In truth, Google itself teased a photograph of the 4 and the 4 XL again in June on Twitter. The new Pixel telephones pack twin rear cameras, a 90Hz show, radar-powered face unlock course of and a slew of distinctive options like automobile crash detection and stay video captioning. In an Amazon-style autumnal windfall of merchandise, additionally unveiled on the 2019 Made by Google occasion in New York have been the Pixel Buds 2 wi-fi earbuds, Pixelbook Go Chromebook, Google Nest Mini good speaker and Nest Wifi good router. The Pixel 4 begins at $799 (£669) for a 64GB model and $899 (£829) for the Pixel 4 XL. Both can be found in black, white or orange, which Google calls “Oh So Orange.” In the US, you possibly can improve both telephone to 128GB for $100 extra. Preorders are stay and the telephones ship beginning Oct. 24. And for the primary time, you should buy the Pixel 4 straight from all main US carriers. While it is Google’s flip to take the telephone highlight, the 2019 stage is already full of recent opponents, together with Apple’s iPhone 11 and 11 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 and relaunched Galaxy Fold. The iPhone 11 and Galaxy S10E are two of the better-matched rivals to the Pixel 4 and each are $100 cheaper. Then there’s the OnePlus 7 Pro, which packs a 90Hz display screen just like the Pixel 4 however prices $130 much less. And in fact there are final 12 months’s Pixel 3 telephones, which Google has chopped $300 off.

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Pixel 4 vs. Pixel 4 XLNot an entire lot is totally different between Google’s two latest telephones: They each are available in the identical three colours, with the identical “Smooth Display” (extra beneath) and, most significantly, the identical cameras. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL do differ on a handful of specs, particularly the dimensions and worth.Price: The Pixel 4 XL goes to set you again $100 greater than the Pixel 4. The telephones begin at $799 (£669, AU$1,049) and $899 (£829, AU$1,279), respectively, for the 64GB base mannequin, as much as $899 for the Pixel 4 and $999 for the Pixel 4 XL should you improve to the 128GB model.Dimensions: The Pixel 4 XL is barely larger and heavier than the Pixel 4, measuring 6.3 by 2.9 inches to the Pixel 4’s 5.7 by 2.7-inch physique. (The two telephones have the identical 0.3-inch (8.2mm) depth.) Weight: The Pixel 4 XL’s bigger measurement makes it a bit heavier at 6.81 ounces (193 grams), whereas the Pixel 4 weighs solely 5.71 ounces (162 grams).Display: The Pixel 4 options an FHD show with 444 pixels-per-inch density, and the Pixel 4 XL is increased definition, with a QHD show and a pixel density of 537 ppi. But once more, each telephones characteristic a 90Hz OLED Smooth Display. Battery: The final massive distinction between the 2 telephones is the battery. The Pixel 4 makes use of a 2,800-mAh battery (which is definitely even decrease capability than its predecessor, the Pixel 3), whereas the Pixel 4 XL has a 3,700-mAh battery. A brand new industrial design The Pixel 4 comes with a brand new design and sq. digital camera component all belted in neatly across the sides by a slick-looking aluminum band. Good information: The Pixel 4 XL loses the Pixel 3 XL’s ugly notch and as an alternative has a brow bezel that homes the selfie digital camera and face unlock sensors. On the left, the Pixel 4; on the best, the Pixel 4 XL.
Angela Lang/CNET
The new Pixels are only a millimeter or so larger and a tad heavier than final 12 months’s Pixel 3 and 3 XL, giving the 4 and 4 XL a extra sturdy really feel than earlier Google telephones. There’s Gorilla Glass 5 on the back and front, and the telephones are rated IP68 for mud and water resistance. Both telephones have a Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM and wi-fi charging. On the underside you may discover stereo audio system and a USB-C port. Curiously, the batteries on the Pixel 4 and 4 XL are lower-capacity than those on the 3 and 3XL. Android 10 ought to assist maximize the battery’s effectivity, however I sit up for seeing how the telephones deal with in actual life, particularly with that high-refresh-rate display screen.

Pixel 4’s Smooth Display has a 90Hz refresh fee Some of the largest adjustments are on the entrance, with the Pixel 4’s new 90Hz OLED Smooth Display. Like the OnePlus 7 Pro and final 12 months’s Asus ROG Phone, this display screen refreshes 90 instances a second, making graphics and animations look easy and textual content seem sharp. For reference, nearly all of telephones bought at the moment have a 60Hz show, together with the newest telephones from Apple and Samsung. I ought to observe that Asus lately launched the ROG Phone 2, which has an OLED display screen with a 120Hz refresh fee, the primary on any telephone. Depending on what content material is onscreen, the Pixel 4 will routinely change between refresh charges to greatest optimize efficiency and cut back battery drain. So should you’re studying an e mail message, the show would possibly drop all the way down to a refresh fee of 60 instances a second, however should you’re scrolling via Instagram it would bump as much as 90 instances a second. You can preserve the Pixel 4’s show at a continuing 90Hz should you select. The Pixel 4 has a 5.7-inch display screen, which is bigger than the 5.5-inch one discovered on the Pixel 3, whereas the Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3-inch show, the identical measurement as final 12 months’s Pixel 3 XL. The new shows even have a characteristic known as Ambient EQ that adapts the display screen’s shade temperature to make colours look extra pure underneath totally different lighting conditions. It’s just like Apple’s True Tone shows on the iPhone and iPad. By the way in which, you possibly can flip Ambient EQ on or off.
Motion Sense radar for quick safe face unlock But it is the characteristic situated above the display screen that is actually spectacular. It’s known as Motion Sense and it makes use of a mixture of sensors, infrared and a tiny radar to allow you to unlock the Pixel 4 together with your face. The Pixel 4 and 4L are the primary Android telephones with face unlock that is safe sufficient for use for funds with Google Pay in addition to with password apps. That’s a great factor, as a result of Google nixed the fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. When I demoed face unlock it was fairly quick. Part of that velocity comes from the truth that the telephone’s radar detects your hand as you attain for it and preps the infrared cameras to unlock. Motion Sense will also be utilized in different cases. If you are listening to Spotify, for instance, you possibly can swipe via the air above the Pixel to skip to the subsequent observe. Google additionally has stay wallpapers that react to your hand motions. You may even swipe your hand via the air to dismiss a name or an alarm. In the demos I used to be proven, it labored constantly effectively. The Pixel 4 has two rear cameras and might {photograph} stars Perhaps the obvious design change is to the rear cameras. (Here’s what images from the Pixel 4 digital camera appear like.) And sure, that is cameras plural. All earlier generations of the Pixel solely had a single rear digital camera, however the Pixel 4 has two cameras nestled into its sq. digital camera array. The most important digital camera is identical 12-megapixel one discovered on the Pixel 3 and has the identical f/1.7 extensive angle lens. The new f/2.4 “telephoto” digital camera has a 16-megapixel sensor and offers 2x optical zoom. When I requested Google why it opted for a telephoto digital camera as an alternative of the extra fashionable ultrawide-angle digital camera like ones discovered within the Galaxy S10 household and the brand new iPhones, a spokesperson mentioned they thought that zooming in on a topic could be extra necessary to Pixel house owners. The twin digital camera system brings a bunch of enhancements and new options. Night Sight, which launched on the Pixel 3 and captures a sequence of photos to make low-light images brighter, is now able to taking images of stars. Yes, that is proper. You can now be an astrophotographer utilizing nothing greater than your telephone. The sq. digital camera array on the again of the Pixel 4.
Angela Lang/CNET
When taking HDR Plus footage, the Pixel 4 now reveals a stay preview of what the picture will appear like earlier than you are taking it. On the Pixel 3, you needed to wait a second or so for the telephone to course of the information earlier than seeing how your ultimate picture turned out. Google additionally added twin sliders that allow you to regulate highlights and shadows independently within the viewfinder preview as an alternative of simply the general publicity. Portrait mode images at the moment are created utilizing each rear cameras. Google claims that this improves the lower and edge blur of topics over earlier Pixel telephones. You now even have the choice to take wide-angle portrait mode pics. All these enhancements are powered by a brand new Neural Core chip that processes every part domestically on the Pixel 4. The twin selfie cameras of the Pixel 3 are gone, with Google choosing a single 8-megapixel digital camera with a wider default discipline of view. Video largely stays the identical however now’s able to stay real-time audio transcription that provides captions to your movies as you document them. In truth, Google launched its first audio recorder app constructed upon the identical know-how for fast audio transcription. Sorry. Otter.ai. Google Assistant is best built-in all through There’s a brand new model of Google Assistant that is higher built-in all through the telephone. You can nonetheless set off it by squeezing the edges of the telephone or by saying, “Hey, Google,” however you may also activate it by swiping up diagonally from one of many backside corners of the telephone. Google says that voice instructions are improved and that the telephones have higher app management, contextual instructions and sharing choices. Car crash detection with the Safety app The Neural Core that powers the cameras can be utilized by the Pixel 4 to detect automobile crashes. The characteristic is a part of the Safety app, which is presently solely out there within the US. If you’ve got been in a severe automobile accident, automobile crash detection will routinely name 911. Google mentioned that fender benders should not set off it. Check again with CNET as we check the Pixel 4 and 4 XL for our upcoming in-depth assessment. Pixel 4 specs vs. Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, OnePlus 7 Pro

Pixel 4

Pixel 4 XL

Pixel 3

Pixel 3 XL

OnePlus 7 Pro

Display measurement, decision

5.7-inch FHD+ 90Hz OLED

6.3-inch QHD+ 90Hz OLED

5.5-inch OLED; 2,280×1,080 pixels

6.3-inch OLED; 2,960×1,440 pixels

6.67-inch 90Hz AMOLED; 3,120×1,440-pixels

Pixel density

444 ppi

537 ppi

443ppi

522 ppi

516ppi

Dimensions (inches)

5.7 x 2.7 x 0.3 in

6.3 x 2.9 x 0.3 in

5.7 x 2.7 x 0.3 in

6.2 x 3 x 0.3 in

6.4 x 2.99 x 0.35 in

Dimensions (millimeters)

147.1 x 68.8 x 8.2mm

160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2mm

145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9mm

158 x 76.7 x 7.9mm

162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8mm

Weight (ounces, grams)

5.71 oz; 162g

6.81 oz; 193g

5.2 oz; 148g

6.5 oz; 184g

7.27 oz; 206g

Mobile software program

Android 10

Android 9 Pie

Android 9.0 with OxygenOS

Camera

16-megapixel (telephoto), 12.2-megapixel (extensive)

12.2-megapixel

48-megapixel (extensive), 8-megapixel (telephoto), 16-megapixel (ultrawide)

Front-facing digital camera

8-megapixel

Dual 8-megapixel

16-megapixel

Video seize

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

Storage

64GB, 128GB

128GB, 256GB

RAM

6GB

4GB

6GB, 8GB, 12GB

Expandable storage

None

Battery

2,800 mAh

3,700 mAh

2,915 mAh

3,430 mAh

4,000 mAh

Fingerprint sensor

None (Face unlock)

Back cowl

In-display fingerprint sensor

Connector

USB-C

Headphone jack

Special options

IP68; Qi-certified wi-fi charging; 18W quick charging

IPX8; wi-fi charging assist; Pixel Buds USB-C headphones within the field

IP68; wi-fi charging assist; Pixel Buds USB-C headphones within the field

Warp Charge 30T characteristic; fast charging

Price off-contract (USD)

$799 (64GB), $899 (128GB)

$899 (64GB), $999 (128GB)

Now all the way down to: $499 (64GB); $599 (128GB)

Now all the way down to: $599 (64GB); $699 (128GB)

$669 (128GB/6GB); $699 (256GB/8GB); $749 (256GB/12GB)

Price (GBP)

£669 (64GB)

£829 (64GB)

£739 (64GB); £839 (128GB)

£869 (64GB); £969 (128GB)

£649 (128GB/6GB); £699 (256GB/8GB); £799 (256GB/12GB)

Price (AUD)

TBD

AU$1,199 (64GB); AU$1,349 (128GB)

AU$1,349 (63GB); AU$1,499 (128GB)

Converted: AU$960 (128GB/6GB); AU$1,000 (256GB/8GB); AU$1,080 (256GB/12GB)

Originally printed Oct. 15.