Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL review: mega-camera, 90 Hz display, face unlock

The new Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL are finally officially unveiled. And we are ready to share with you our first impression of

new products and detailed reviews. So, let's go…

Design and display

Unlike most modern flagshipphones, the Pixel 4 line does not have any revolutionary design elements. Moreover, many may even say that they look rather outdated from a purely design point of view, and they will be partly right. The phone has a smooth elongated shape that fits neatly in your hand.

The front panel with a thick bezel on top createsa rather asymmetrical impression, but its existence is justified by the presence of a large number of sensors. This top bar houses one of the most exciting new features — Soli radar chip that provides gesture control and helps speed up face unlock. The bump that houses the two cameras on the back is not only quite large, but it also closely resembles the bumps on the new iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max.

In terms of material, the Pixel 4 lineup featuresaluminum frame complemented by frosted glass on the back. Two-tone designs that combined gloss with frosted glass are a thing of the past. But that's not to say that the Pixel 4 has become boring — the new Oh So Orange color version looks pretty fresh. Apart from this new color, the phones are also available in Just Black and Clearly White color options.

The white and orange versions of the phone are slightlyrubberized, soft-matte surface, which is very nice to hold. The black model is more slippery with a glossy finish. Unfortunately, only a few seconds showed that the shiny rear panel of the novelty is quickly covered with fingerprints.

There is no fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 4; insteadUsers will have to rely on the more convenient face unlock feature (more on this later). The phones themselves are waterproof and have the coveted dual stereo speakers.

The smaller Pixel 4 comes with a 5.7-inch19:9 OLED display with FHD+ resolution, delivering a pixel density of 444 ppi. Meanwhile, the larger Pixel 4 XL features a 6.3-inch QHD+ OLED display with very high pixel density — 533 ppi. However, the most intriguing feature of the display is the smooth 90Hz refresh rate that we've already seen on devices like the OnePlus 7 and 7T.

Motion sense

New to the Pixel 4 line isMotion Sense user interface that allows you to control various aspects of your phone and most applications with gestures that you play in the air. Reportedly, the phone can "track the movement with millimeter accuracy at high speeds with great accuracy." Yes, it also works in extreme low-light conditions, because the technology is based on the reflection of electromagnetic waves. Motion Sense even works with the screen off. Thanks to the Motion Sense feature, you can easily scroll through songs, mute sounds, lower the volume of your phone, or mute your sound altogether.

Camera

Let's face it, the strongest sidePixel phones have always been about great performance and image quality. Chances are the Pixel 4 series will perform great. Unlike all previous Pixel generations, the Pixel 4 series comes with dual cameras on the back — regular and telephoto.

Pixel 4 and 4 XL come with 12.2 MP maina camera with an aperture of F1.7 and a telephoto lens of 16 MP with an aperture of F2.4. Both sensors are equipped with optical and electronic stabilization, as well as autofocus with two-phase detection. Super-Res Zoom works in tandem with a telephoto lens and allows you to zoom in without losing detail.

Software is key againrole in Pixels camera performance. Thanks to machine learning, you'll get a preview of what your HDR+ image will look like before you even take the photo. With Pixel 4, you can fine-tune brightness and the amount of shadow detail, helping you capture complex shots like sunset portraits. The portrait mode feature is again powered by machine learning, allowing you to use this mode for larger subjects.

«Filling»

Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL work on the chipsetSnapdragon 855 and also have 6 GB of RAM. This is much better than last year's Pixel 3, which had only 4 GB of RAM on board. As for the battery, the smaller Pixel 4 comes with a 2800 mAh battery, which is a pretty modest battery size for the 2019 flagships. Meanwhile, the large Pixel 4 XL has a 3700 mAh battery. Both devices support 18W fast charging, wireless charging is also supported.

Interface and Features

No surprises here — new Pixelscome with Android 10 right out of the box. The long-awaited dark mode, more parental controls. Google Assistant is now able to seamlessly move from task to task without the need for an active internet connection. It now also has a live transcription feature that allows you to create quick voice notes and notes on the go.

Another intriguing new feature — 3D Face Unlock, which will work similar to Apple Face ID. It works quickly and is very safe.

Price and Release Date

So, the most important question — how much will Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL cost and when will sales start? The US launch starts on October 24th.

Google Pixel 4 64GB/128GB — $799/$899

Google Pixel 4 XL 64GB/128GB — $899/$999