As expected, Google announced the Pixel 4 series devices yesterday. Being the most leaked smartphone in the history of smartphone leaks, not much was left out before the official announcement. But surprises did come, anyway. Like any other flagship devices, these devices feature IP68 water resistance.
The Pixel 4 and 4XL nailed it on the display, featuring 90Hz refresh rate displays (Smooth Displays). You can still revert it to 60Hz for convenience purposes. These displays support both HDR and Always-on display plus a new Ambient EQ. The major difference between the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4 XL is majorly around the display size.
The Google Pixel 4 sports a 5.7-inch 1080p OLED panel while the Pixel 4 XL has a more prominent 6.3-inch display with QHD+ resolution. There are no notches here or popup selfie cameras – you get a legacy uniform top bezel.
As usual to Google smartphone hardware, cameras were also part of the pitch. Both Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL have similar camera hardware. The primary shooter is a 12MP f/1.7 lens with Dual Pixel Autofocus.
The primary snapper features both EIS and OIS. Google insisted on the new Pixel devices featuring an improved camera quality due to its camera tweaks and not any of that camera hardware. In addition to the primary sensor, Google has baked in a secondary 16MP telephoto lens also with OIS and EIS.
New additional details on the new devices is the new improved Night sight for astrophotography.
For video shoots, Pixel 4 devices can capture 4K footage at 30fps and 120fps slow-motion videos at 1080p. On what may sound like a deal-breaker to some, Google has not included an ultra-wide-angle lens, yet. In response to the matter, the company argued that the telephoto lens is much better; you don’t need an ultra-wide lens. What may seem like a third camera sensor at the back of the device is a spectral + flicker sensor.
“So, while wide-angle can be fun, we think telephoto is more important,” the company said in yesterday’s Made by Google Event.
On the front of the device, there is an 8MP selfie camera with a 3D sensor for face unlock. The front of the device is quite busy, stacked in with a new soli sensor which makes it easy to take control of the Pixel 4 using hand gestures.
A 2800mAh battery powers the Pixel 4 while the Pixel 4 XL depends on a 3700mAh battery, both supporting 18W USB Power Delivery fast charging.
Under the hood is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 SoC aided with 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage (non-expandable).
The Pixel 4 series comes in three different colors, Oh So Orange – the most amazing color, Clearly White and Just Black – from the best to the good. One distinguishable thing between the color variants is that the Black option does not have a matte finish like the other variants. The black option instead has a glossy finish, which is, for no doubt, a fingerprint magnet.
Pixel 4 and 4XL will start shipping on October 22nd and will be selling at $799 for the Pixel 4 64GB variant and $899 for the Pixel 4 XL 64GB model.
