Hands On With the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL
Google’s latest Pixels are here. We take a look at their new designs and features.
After months of anticipation (and loads of leaks), Google announced its Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones on Tuesday at an event in New York City. We got a chance to spend a bit of time with the phones and check out some of their most notable new features.
A New Design
A few subtle changes make the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL feel more refined than Google’s previous handsets. A single sheet of glass in black, orange, or white replaces the semi-textured back on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, along with a new square camera stack that houses two lenses (and makes the phone a little wobbly when placed on a flat surface). A textured black aluminum frame makes the phones easier to hold without dropping.
A Better Display
Google made some major updates to the display with the Pixel 4 lineup. For starters, the Pixel 4’s 5.7-inch screen is slightly larger than its 5.5-inch predecessor. Both phones have a 90Hz variable refresh rate that adjusts depending on your use. We put it to the test while scrolling through images and didn’t experience the typical lag you find on many other phones. Google also added Ambient EQ, a feature that adjusts the color of the display based on your surrounding environment.
Dual Cameras for Better Photos
The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL now have a dual camera stack. The main lens comes in at 12.2MP with optical image stabilization (OIS) and an f/1.7 aperture, while the new 16MP telephoto lens has an f/2.4 aperture (along with OIS).
In addition to the new camera setup, Google has made some updates to its imaging software. Night Sight now includes an astrophotography feature, allowing you to take crisp photos of the night sky. And Live HDR+ provides more accurate previews of your photos through the viewfinder.
Farewell, Fingerprint Sensor
Google has ditched the fingerprint sensor and replaced it with Face Unlock, which uses built-in radar and the front-facing camera to unlock the phone, authorize purchases, and complete secure logins. We tried it out and it worked seamlessly; simply pick up the phone, bring it toward your face, and it unlocks automatically.
A New Google Assistant
Google Assistant is getting a major refresh on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. For starters, many of the most common tasks are much faster since they are now processed on the handset itself instead of in the cloud. We noticed features like setting timers or alarms happen almost instantaneously.
In addition, Google Assistant can now understand requests in context to the apps you’re using, so if you’re in Maps and want to find the closest grocery store, simply squeeze the sides of the phone (this triggers Google Assistant) and say, “Search for grocery stores nearby.”
One of our favorite new Google Assistant features is the ability to easily share within apps. For example, if you see a video you want to share with a friend in Chrome, simply say, “Share this video with (your friend’s name).”
Go Hands-Free With Motion Sense
Earlier this year, the LG G8 launched with support for a series of gestures that allow you to use the phone without touching it, but simply by making gestures in front of it. While it’s a good idea in theory, it barely worked in practice. So we were a bit skeptical when we saw Google’s previews for Motion Sense a few months ago.
Fortunately, it appears our skepticism was unfounded. Instead of relying on cameras like the G8 does, the Pixel 4 uses radar to track gestures. You can easily turn off an alarm, skip songs on Spotify, or silence your ringer with just a swipe of your hand. The Pixels can also detect when you’re nearby to activate the display or turn it off when you walk away.
Coming to Every US Carrier
The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be available through every major carrier in the US, at $799 and $899, respectively. The phones are available for preorder now and will be online and in stores on October 24.
Originally published at https://www.pcmag.com on October 16, 2019.
