The Google Pixel series has been offering a great experience with Android, which was the intention of Google. The first and second Pixel were welcomed in the market. Yet, that wasn’t the case with pixel 3. It received mixed feelings, thanks to its lack of RAM and its huge notch. Google, however, solved the issues with Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL.
Check out Google Pixel 4XL on BestBuy.com
Google Pixel 4 XL is a beautiful phone with simplicity. Still, most people feel it’s less impressive than their previous counterparts. Some of its standout features are unreliably functional. But there are still so many interesting things that make it a good catch.
Specifications
Google Pixel 4XL | |
Starting price
CPU |
$899
Snapdragon 855 |
RAM | 6GB |
Display (Resolution) | 6.3-inch AMOLED (3040 x 1440) |
MicroSD | NO |
Front camera | 8-MP (f/2.0) |
Rear cameras | 12.2-MP main (f/1.7); 16-MP telephoto (f/2.4) |
Battery size | 3,700 mAh |
Battery life | 9:42 |
Weight | 6.8 ounces |
Size | 6.3 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches |
Colors | Just Black, Oh So Orange, Clearly White |
Pros
- Gorgeous design
- Excellent selfie camera
- Vibrant 90Hz screen
- Great hardware changes
- Amazing software updates
- Great camera
Cons
- No original quality uploads
- Battery life is not great
- No ultra-wide camera
- Face unlock isn’t consistent
- 64GB base storage is inexcusable
- Motion senses does nothing much
Features and Benefits of Google Pixel 4XL
Display
Among the few things differentiating the Google Pixel 4XL from the Pixel 4 is the screen size. Google’s large phone has a 6.3-inch AMOLED screen with a 3040 x 1440 resolution.
Fortunately, both the Pixel 4 Models come with an important feature (a 90-Hz refresh rate). And it’s not any ordinary 90-Hz refresh rate. It’s the kind you experience with the OnePlus 7T.
Google’s version is dynamic such that when the phone’s screen is static, it switches to a lower rate. This helps save charge that’s lost when the screen keeps refreshing at a high rate. To understand the joy of using a screen with a high-resolution power, you’ll just have to experience it. With the screen, zooming and gaming are so easy and smooth.
The OLED screen is gorgeous, with the HDR support that shows photos and streaming videos with more clarity. The Ambient EQ feature taps the sensors involved to automatically adjust the display’s color temperature to mimic its environment.
Camera
Main Camera
- 1.0μm pixel size
- 77-degree FoV
- 12.2MP sensor
- ƒ/1.7 aperture
- OIS + EIS, PDAF
- 1.4μm pixel size
2x tele camera
- 16MP sensor
- ƒ/2.4 aperture
- 1.0μm pixel size
- 52-degree FoV
- OIS + EIS, PDAF
The Pixel 4 camera is an improvement from Pixel 3, and it’s better than the iPhone 11 Pro. But the change is not as significant as many were hoping it would be. There is a second camera, but it’s more of a 2x telephoto lens rather than wide-angle.
According to Google, although wide-angle lenses are fun, they consider zoom more important. But the Pixel 4 camera system isn’t versatile like other phones out there such as Apple iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.
The 2x tele lens helps in zooming in shots at optimal quality. And also contributes to Super Res zoom for better in-between zoom ranges and helps with portrait mode improvements.
The best part of a Pixel 4 camera is the astrophotography mode. When in the night mode, if the phone detects that the light is low, and the sky is visible, it automatically switches to the astrophotography mode.
The Pixel 4 captures details better than Pixel 3. It handles the white balance better, thanks to a machine learning-based algorithm. And it also improves selfies, portrait modes, and HDR.
Another great feature of the Pixel 4 is live HDR+. It allows you to have a preview of the resulting photos before taking the shot.
The fact that it’s possible to see HDR in real-time means Google was able to add the local adjustments when you click.
While previous devices balanced exposure to the area you select, that action has been improved to reveal brightness and shadow filters. So, you can now adjust elements of your pictures before you take the photo, which is impossible with a traditional camera. Google is definitely focused on solving the problems that come with traditional cameras.
Face Lock: how great is it?
Google Pixel 4XL has an excellent face lock. It even performs perfectly when it’s upside down. Your face data is locally stored in the Pixel’s secure Titan M Chip. It uses a flood emitter, two near-infrared (NIR) cameras, and a dot projector, which gives an iPhone-like face lock experience.
The Pixel 4’s face unlock is good thanks to the motion sensors and Pixel Neutral Core. Since the phone senses that you’re about to pick it up before you touch it, the NIR cameras will be already searching for your face before you even reach out to it. The face lock is definitely better than that of the iPhone 11.
You’ll also not have any issues with motion-detecting the hand, although people had mixed feelings on this. The problem is that if the radar doesn’t detect your hand before picking the phone, the face lock will be a bit slower.
Similar to the iPhone, the pixel 4 face unlock is secure for opening apps and making mobile payments.
One setback of the pixel face lock is that it doesn’t use the eye as the opener. This can be a threat as your phone can be opened when you’re unconscious, sleeping, or worse against your will. The lack of a fingerprint scanner is not foolproof. Therefore, we can conclude it’s a great experience, but it may not be the best biometric option for everyone.
There is also a biometric login for some apps. Unlike other App developers like Apple, Google doesn’t have the power to pull some strings to force app developers to use a new biometric method even when it’s authentic.
Switching to face unlock means that without any other finger sensor, you will not be able to use your identity to unlock certain apps until the developers decide to upgrade. You can still use the pin, but that feels like a step backward.
Audio
- 3 microphones
- Noise suppression
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
- Stereo speakers
Buy Pixel 4XL from BestBuy.com here!
Pixel 4 has great audio systems. It doesn’t have a headphone jack, but you can connect via Bluetooth or pick a smart Google dongle if you’re into headphones. The phone supports AAC, SBC, LDAC, and aptXHD connect, but there isn’t aptX Adaptive. All the same, you won’t experience any issues, and your audio will handle whatever you want.
The phone has a bottom-firing speaker and stereo speakers on the earpiece. They’re louder than Pixel 3 and have a great sound overall. It trembles better and has deeper bass than pixel 3. Even at high volumes, there is only a little distortion.
Video
The pixel 4 is clearly not invested in videos as it is in photography. The iPhone 11 has 60fps on its front-facing camera. Pixel doesn’t even support this on its main camera.
Google Pixel 4XL shoots great 1080p video at 120, 60 and 30fps. This is a huge turn off for a phone that’s trying to position itself with its camera abilities.
You only need to click on the menu and select between a 1/4 and 1/8 toggle that subsequently switches you between Full HD video and HD. OIS and EIS do mean that the video is smooth and stable.
It is sad that Google is not trying to catch up in videography, leave alone pushing its new ground.
Battery
This is probably one of the greatest setbacks of Google Pixel 4XL. The battery life is hardly adequate compared to today’s standards. Google says that the phone lasts an entire day, especially with the enabled-by-default Adaptive Battery, which limits the background that isn’t frequently used. However, the experience was different.
In one instance, the phone went from 100% to 50% in only eight hours under very typical conditions. This includes activities such as listening to the audio, streaming content, and shooting photos. But mostly just using the internet and texting. This means you’ll need to charge your phone at least once a day, which can be a bit disappointing.
And that’s with the 2800mAh for the Pixel 4 and the 3700mAh for the 4XL. There is a large group of customers who will opt for the 4XL option to have the battery last for long, which is about a day or so.
Fortunately, the Google Pixel 4XL comes with an 18W fast charger in the box. This isn’t much of a win because many Android phones are leading with higher rate chargers. A good example is the 30W WarpCharge 30T in the OnePlus 7T series.
Performance
Google Pixel 4XL comes with a Snapdragon 855 chipset. Even though it’s not as advanced as the mid-year upgrade Snapdragon 855 Plus, it isn’t a deal-breaker. The phone is fast enough for all tasks, especially with the Adreno 640 graphics chip, it powers games such as PUBG without any problems.
Although the Pixel’s 4 RAM pales compared to the android flagships, there were no issues when it came to memory or performance. And if Apple got away with a 4G RAM in its fast series, the Pixel 4XL should just be fine.
One setback of the phone is the storage issue. It starts at 64GB, which is insulting in 2020. With a few videos, phones, and apps, a third of the storage is gone. The next tire has 128 GB, which is the baseline of all other Android apps launched from 2019.
Even worse, the phone doesn’t come with an SD card. It seems like a technique to lure users to their monthly cloud storage subscription. On the bright side, Google allows you to upload unlimited photos into the cloud through Google Photos storage for free. With this option and deleting images, you’ll no longer have space issues.
Software and New Features
- Android 10
- Pixel feature drops
- 3 years OS and security updates
- New Google Assistant
- On-board language processing
Google has made major improvements to speed up the Android version adoption with its Android One programs. But it only takes months, if not a year before other phones get the updates. This means Google has a huge advantage in kicking Android 10 out of the box. It’s safe to say the Pixel 4XL software is fluid and smooth.
The Google Pixel 4XL has a few new features that you will like. The most important one is the New Google Assistant. Google has moved its Assistant Language processing on their gadget. This makes it more fun and faster than before.
There is a catch, though. You can’t use the assistant if you’re already using G-suite or traditional three-button navigation. This is a huge disappointment for people who use G-suite for school or work. But Google is working to resolve the issue.
Another impressive feature is the new record app. It’s swift, and you can even search or transcribe your speech in real-time, including when you’re offline. The app also shows you the timeline of your recordings with phrases or searched-for words.
FAQ
Can you get an extra warranty or insurance for the phone?
No
Does Pixel 4 have a micro sd slot?
No, but you can take advantage of the Google cloud storage
What is in the box?
USB-C cable (USB 2.0), Power adapter (USB Type-C 18W), Quick Switch Adapter, SIM tool
Will it work with sprint?
It’s an unlocked US SKU, and so it’s compatible with sprint.
What Do Customers Say About Google 4XL Pixel?
The phone is rated 4.3 out of 5. Many customers love the features, especially the face recognition. One of them also said the volume is double that of Pixel 2, and he could hear the notifications from the other room.
Although there were few people who complained about the battery, some customers testified to the battery lasting for one and a half to two days. But all of them recommended the phone.
Should I Buy Google Pixel 4XL?
This is a tough question. Pixel 4 has its strengths and weaknesses. But it’s still one of the best smartphones in the market. It has great software, and design is bold, performance is impressive, the camera is fantastic as usual, etc.
On the other handle, the phone comes with shortcomings such as a limited storage space of 64GB, and the videography isn’t very great.
But generally, if your budget allows, the pros of the phone are more than the cons. So why not?