Google Pixel 4 XL Black only (unlocked) – 64 GB
"Google's latest pixel has a successful camera again and is fluctuating in battery life again."
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Outstanding cameras
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Good performance
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Bright, sharp and smooth 6.3-inch screen
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Face unlock is quick
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Really helpful, intelligent software
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The battery life is not good
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Hardly any app supports Face Unlock
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Only 64 GB of storage space
The Google Pixel 4 XL was released over six months ago – some lives in smartphone years. Since then, the Galaxy S20, the OnePlus 8 Pro, has blinded us and distracted us from conversations about Pixel 4a and 5G phones. Does the Pixel 4 XL still hold? Should you consider yourself a 5G model? Let's find out.
Do you want a smaller phone? Check out our Google Pixel 4 test, which takes a closer look at the 5.7-inch model.
A minimalist and eye-catching design
I've been reviewing Google's Pixel phones since they were launched in 2016. There were two constants: a killer camera and an insufficient battery. This topic continues with the latest version of the company, Google Pixel 4 XL. It's fantastic in almost every department, from an excellent screen to brilliant software, but the battery is still behind the competition. It's not bad enough to stop me from fully using the phone, but power users are careful. This phone will have trouble keeping you going all day. However, there is a lot to enjoy before the last battery percentage disappears. Let’s take a closer look.
I like contrasts, bright colors and minimalist design, which means that the Pixel 4 XL is just right for me. I spoke to the designers about the process of redesigning the phone – this is the first major redesign of the Pixel line – and I'm happy with the changes that have been made.
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
Gone is the line on the back of the phone that separated two different textures. This also means that there are no longer two textures on the back. Instead, this two-tone design is achieved through the sides of the phone. There is a black band on the edges, which can be used to cover some components such as the USB-C connector, the speaker grille and the SIM slot. The back is also framed to highlight it. I also like the texture of this black band because it feels like you are touching a stable eggshell.
Gorilla Glass 5 is on the back, which is why we ask ourselves: Why aren't more phone manufacturers using Gorilla Glass 6? Is it too expensive to afford? Regardless, it is cleaner than ever, especially since there is no longer a fingerprint sensor, but now a "pixel square", as the designers call the camera module. In contrast to the iPhone 11 Pro, in which the triple camera system clearly stands out, Google has masked the lenses with a black filter, which makes the square module itself bolder and more pronounced. Paired with the black band on the edges, this phone is easy to spot, and the accented color of the power switch adds a bit more visual flair.
I can't stop staring at Pixel 4. It is beautiful and the design makes me show it off.
I've heard that others call the design boring – sometimes ugly. I clearly disagree, but you cannot deny that it is distinctive. I took pictures in a dog park in Manhattan and three people came up to me at different times and asked if I would use a Pixel 4.
If you want to buy one, choose the colors "Clear White" or "Oh So Orange" (the latter is a limited edition), because the colors "Just Black" are simply too simple. Even worse, the black is the only one with a glossy glass structure on the back, while the other two colors opt for a matt glass. The matte texture feels smooth and has the added benefit of hiding stains and fingerprints. The same does not apply to the glossy black option, which is also a dust magnet.
I can't stop staring at Pixel 4. It is beautiful, feels fantastic in the hand and the design makes me show it.
A 90Hz screen
Google has put more emphasis on the appearance of the screen on the Pixel 4 XL than on the Pixel 3 XL last year, which has a terrible notch that looks hideous. This time there is a large bezel at the top and a slimmer one at the bottom, which is not particularly modern, but acceptable. It is easy to forget as soon as you use the phone.
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
The other problem that Google has solved is the brightness of the screen. I'm having trouble reading the Pixel 3 XL's screen in sunny conditions, but that's no longer the case with the Pixel 4 XL. Is it brighter or more bezel-less than the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus? No, but I still had no major problems here.
The resolution of 3,040 × 1,440 is sharp and black is beautifully deep, although the colors are not as saturated as on Samsung phones. The 6.3-inch screen size doesn't feel too big either, although I have big hands.
The large screen is ideal for watching movies and shows, especially thanks to the HDR10 support. Shows like Disenchanted and Peaky Blinders look crisp with vibrant colors that pop, though admittedly ultra-dark scenes aren't as easy to see as on the Galaxy Note 10 or iPhone 11 Pro.
The screen's spotlight feature is the 90 Hz refresh rate we saw on the OnePlus 7T, and it's fantastic. This means that you see 90 frames per second (FPS), which is more than the conventional 60 frames per second on most smartphones. However, the pixel is not always updated at 90 Hz. It is sometimes updated with the typical refresh rate of 60 Hz when the screen brightness is low. This strange fact undermines one of the outstanding features of the phone.
Since the smaller bezel is slimmer than its predecessor, the front-facing speaker has been moved to the bottom edge. It's a shame, but luckily audio still sounds good and can fill a small space without sounding too distorted at high volume. There is no headphone jack. So if you're in the wireless earbud market, you should consider Google's Pixel Buds 2.
Face unlock is great
It took me a day or two to get used to the loss of the fingerprint sensor on the back of the Pixel 4 XL. I used it not only to unlock the phone, but also to swipe to pull down the notification drawer. Although I miss this feature, I also appreciate Google's addition of Face Unlock. This is one of the reasons why the bezel at the top of the screen is so big: there are a variety of sensors, including Google's Soli technology, that the company has been working on for several years.
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
Soli uses radar to identify 3D objects, and the Pixel 4 detects when your hand is approaching the phone, so the Face Unlock camera can be activated to quickly unlock the phone or the volume of calls and alarms decrease when you have your hand approaching the phone. Practically! You can also use it for gestures to control some functions of the phone. However, we will come back soon.
Face Unlock is snappy and precise, and I think it's great that it goes straight to the home screen instead of swiping up. There are times when I have to tap the screen to make sure the camera is looking for my face. Otherwise, I had no problem accessing the phone.
Android has a new BiometricPrompt API that allows apps to support fingerprint sensors and facial recognition systems for Android 9 and Android 10 devices. It took developers some time to add support. At the start I complained that there are hardly any apps that support this. Nowadays most major apps do this, including banks like Citibank and American Express, Passwork Keeper like LastPass and 1Password, shopping apps like Dashlane and Venmo, and more. If you're curious, Android Central has a fairly extensive list.
Another problem with Face Unlock has been fixed recently: At launch, Face Unlock could be unlocked even when your eyes were closed. This is a security risk as someone can easily take your phone and point it at your face to unlock it even if you close your eyes to stop it. The April 2020 security update provides the option that the eyes must be open. With Face Unlocked, however, there is one peculiarity that still exists: there is no way to add an alternative face or look. You can do this on Apple's iPhone using Face ID. I know a colleague who uses Pixel 4 and it is difficult for her to identify her face after applying makeup.
Helpful gestures
I mentioned soli technology earlier – well, it's a sleeper hit. It's great to turn down the volume when I approach the ringing phone, be it during an alarm or a phone call, but I'm an even bigger fan of Motion Sense. With this new feature, you can move your hand left or right over the phone to turn off an alarm, mute a call, or even switch tracks while listening to music.
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
At launch, Motion Sense was incredibly limited on the Pixel 4XL, although Google looked at other types of gestures it could integrate to add value. When I speak to other reviewers, I feel like a minority, but I find Motion Sense works well for me, and I used it to clear morning alarms by just waving my hand. I also love changing tracks with it while working and listening to music. I can do all of this without lifting the handset, and that's pretty good.
In March, Google added the ability to pause and resume music. What Motion Sense needed – and still urgently needs – at this time is more gestures and actions. Can you use it to scroll photos after you've transferred them to a Chromecast-enabled TV, for example? Nah. There are many potential use cases for this, and I hope that Google will continue to improve functionality instead of simply abandoning it like many of its other projects. There is a game called "Headed South" that supports this feature. It would be cool if it were adopted in other apps when Google opened the API.
A story of two cameras
Google has long believed that only one camera was required to deliver great photos, building on its expertise in computer photography as other manufacturers continue to add multiple cameras for versatility. This is beginning to change as the 12.2-megapixel main lens of the Pixel 4 with an aperture of 1: 1.7 is now paired with a 16-megapixel telephoto lens (1: 2.4), which is a 2x offers optical zoom. Still, Google continues to show us that you don't need 48-megapixel cameras to take stunning photos. This is the goal of most Android manufacturers.
Nevertheless, Google should have followed Apple's path and added a triple camera system here, as I never had the feeling that the zoom functions on pixel phones are missing. Google introduced a feature called Super Res Zoom on the Pixel 3 that uses artificial intelligence to clean up digitally zoomed photos and deliver a quality that is surprisingly comparable to telephoto shots from other phones. It would have been really nice to combine this with an ultra wide angle camera for more varied shots. Ah great. I have to hope that the Pixel 5 comes with this type of setup. Rumor has it that it will.
The image sensor for the main lens is the same as that for last year's pixel, except that the aperture is a little wider, so better photos should be taken in low light and the dynamic range improved. The camera app also feels much faster than ever.
The telephoto lens ensures optimal quality for enlarged pictures, but we have seen telephoto lenses on cell phones for a long time – Google couldn't have at least opted for a 3 × optical zoom lens like the Huawei P30 Pro? As the smartphone market develops, this stands out as a sore point: the Huawei P40 Pro has a 5x optical zoom, which leaves the Pixel 4 XL in the dust. It's a shame.
Regardless, the quality looks good. Unlike some cell phones, Google's excellent night vision mode works with the telephoto lens. So you get good quality photos regardless of the time of day. As you can see below, it towers above the iPhone 11 Pro and the Samsung Note 10 Plus with 5x digital zoom, with slightly stronger details and more depth.
Pixel 4 XL. Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
iPhone 11 Pro. Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
Galaxy Note 10 Plus. Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
There's a certain type of look that Google's pixel phones capture – a lot of contrast, as well as cooler and darker tones. It's a style I've always enjoyed, but not for everyone. For example, you might prefer the brighter and warmer photos from iPhone 11 Pro. Still, I think the latest iPhone outperforms the Pixel 4 in general in terms of image quality and versatility (which helps extra ultra-wide angle lens), though that's not always the case. There are times when the Pixel 4 takes a much more appealing photo with better details, making it a fairly close competition.
However, there are some improvements that improve the camera experience. The first is Live HDR +, which allows you to see what the photo will look like after processing – before you even tap the shutter button. This is handy because I don't have to wait a few seconds to see the result and can frame the photo if necessary.
The new double exposure mode also offers more creative controls that let you adjust shadows and brightness before taking a photo. There's also a learning-based white balance that tries to identify the scene you're in and uses lifelike colors in all photo modes. However, dark scenes are still best in night vision mode.
Speaking of which, night vision mode has some of the most notable improvements. Night Sight takes multiple pictures at different exposures and stacks them for a more detailed and brighter photo in low light. The colors are still somewhat saturated, but they continue to impress and deliver stunning photos from the darkest scenes. Even crazier, if you have a tripod, point the phone at the sky and night vision mode triggers “astrophotography mode”, which sets an exposure time that can take up to four and a half minutes.
You can take some stunning photos like the following taken by my colleague in Scotland. You can see my attempt in the gallery above that I took in New York City with its heavy light pollution, but it's still an amazing photo considering that the normal camera gives a spotty mess with no details.
Simon Hill / Digital Trends
Portrait mode is also a little better now, and although the blur application for a subject has been improved over the performance of Pixel 3, there is still plenty of room to grow. You can notice some sections of hair around my dog and other people can look a little confused in some photos. So you should be aware of the background when taking portraits. The less happens in the background, the better.
These results are still among the best you can get with a smartphone and can compete with those captured on Apple's iPhone and Huawei phones.
Google's Pixel 4 XL has an 8 megapixel front camera with an aperture of 1: 2.0 and takes some excellent selfies, especially in portrait and night vision mode. Unlike the Pixel 3 with two cameras on the front that allow you to switch between a wide-angle lens and a normal lens, the Pixel 4 XL's only lens is a wide-angle lens, so you can still shoot a lot in the scene behind you. or take group selfies without trying to fit everyone.
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Pixel 4 XL night selfie - 2nd
Pixel 4 XL Portrait Selfie - 3rd
Pixel 4 XL selfie
The Pixel 4's camera has improved, perhaps not significantly compared to its predecessor, but in the right areas that make it one of the best camera phones currently available to buy. Note that Google can no longer save Google Photos in full resolution for free and indefinitely. You can still upload your photos in high resolution for free, but not in the original resolution.
The latest software: machine learning FTW
The next best part of owning a Pixel phone is software. Of course, the latest version of Android 10 runs on the phone with current security. This is a huge advantage as Pixel phones are among the first to get updates when developing Android from Google. This means new functions and improved security. Google promises this type of support on the phone for three years, which is more the case than almost all Android phones.
If you're the way beta software installs, one advantage of a Google-made gadget is the ability to install the latest Android developer build – currently it's the first beta of Android 11. No, it's not going to be fun make names like Jellybean or Gingerbread, but it will bring new features. We'll find out more at Google I / O shortly. At the moment the existing operating system is fine.
Android 10 offers great features like a system-wide dark theme, an improved gesture navigation system and more transparency about which apps access your location data and other sensors on the phone. You can check out the best features of Android 10 by looking for more details.
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
What makes me come back to pixel phones outside of the camera are some of the helpful features supported by machine learning. Now the playback is still available so that the phone can show you the name of the tracks played in your area (even without an internet connection). Then there is a call screen that checks potential robocalls so you don't have to speak to a telemarketer. The motion sense gestures also fall into this category of helpful functions that have only a minor impact on my daily use of the phone.
A new app called Personal Safety gives you security and allows the phone to alert your preset emergency contacts in an emergency, and the Pixel 4 can even detect car accidents using sensors on the phone. It can then make calls to emergency services and send your location if you are unable to work. Helpful indeed, although I can't test it closely to see how well it all works.
My favorite new addition is the recorder app, which can be used to transcribe interviews in real time. It uses machine learning on the device so no data is sent to Google and you don't need an internet connection for this to work. The transcription is not perfect, but it is pretty good and excellent for people like me who do a lot of interviews and hate the manual transcription process afterwards. This app found its way to the Pixel 3, Pixel 3a and Pixel 2 cell phones in December.
Live Caption is another one of those additions that I never thought would be necessary. Subtitles are automatically generated for each video with audio, and all of this happens on the device. I used it when I was on the subway and didn't want to put on my earphones but wanted to understand what was going on in a video. Live Caption's mostly accurate subtitles saved the day.
In a "Pixel Feature Drop" in December, Google improved some of the Pixel 4 XL's best features, including the call screen with A.I. support, background blur in photos, and duo video calls. It's nice to see these features continue to improve.
Google Assistant continues to hide
Also impressive is the new Google Assistant, which used to be run with algorithms that required more than 100 GB of storage space and have now shrunk to less than 500 MB. That means it's faster, works more often on the device, and some tasks like opening an app or setting a timer don't require an internet connection.
The user interface not only looks much better and takes up less screen space, but the best addition is the continued conversation. This feature is available on Google Nest devices and allows you to continue speaking to the wizard without having to constantly trigger it. After running a query, the bottom of the phone lights up with the colors of the wizard. This indicates that the phone is still listening if you want to ask something else. It's excellent and makes me use the wizard more often, especially with Active Edge, the "press the phone to trigger the wizard" feature, which is still available on Pixel 4.
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
The wizard has improved in many other ways. For example, if you're in an app like Google Maps, you can just press the phone and ask the assistant to search for nearby restaurants. The query is carried out automatically via Maps instead of Assistant. Do you see a photo you like? You can ask the assistant to send it to someone in your contacts, and you can even reply to incoming text by triggering the assistant and saying "Reply to John" before dictating your answer.
I'm using Google Assistant a lot more now. I am sure that Google will be happy if more data about me is retrieved. However, there are more robust options that allow you to control how much of your data is stored. But in the end, I use Assistant because it's really helpful, and that's more than I can say about most other language assistants.
Snappy performance
The Pixel 4 XL has 6 GB of RAM and is powered by the same chip in most 2019 Android flagship phones: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. In December, Qualcomm introduced the next generation 865 chip that you can find in the OnePlus 8, the Galaxy S20 series and some Chinese phones from Xiaomi and Oppo. If you're looking for the latest and greatest, this isn't the case right now – but it doesn't matter. The phone had no problems handling the apps I normally use and opened them quickly. Switching between apps and even multitasking is a biting affair.
Here are some benchmark results:
- AnTuTu 3DBench: 362.158
- Geekbench 5 CPU: 606 single core; 2,056 multi-core
- 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 4,007 (volcano); 4,564 (OpenGL)
For comparison, here are some numbers from the Galaxy S20:
- Geekbench 5: 905 single core; 2,753 multi-core
- 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 5,198 (volcano)
The Pixel 4 XL's results don't differ much from those of other phones that use the same processor as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, and it remains at the top level of the powerful smartphones. However, the more modern chip is significantly faster (and of course much more expensive). Oh, and the iPhone 11 Pro still has a considerable head start.
Games like PUBG: Mobile, Altos Odyssey, Pako: Forever everyone without problems. You have no problems with the performance of this phone.
I am not a fan of the storage capacity that you get for the basic pixel 4 XL: 64 GB. That's far too little for a $ 900 phone, especially if $ 350 phones like the Nokia 7.2 offer the same amount. Google, you need to expand storage options and make 128 GB the default.
A missing battery
All of the amazing features of this phone are overshadowed by the battery that Google packed into the phone. At a time when most Android manufacturers use batteries with more than 4,000 mAh, Google's use of a 3,700 mAh cell is a joke. It can get you through a medium to heavy duty workday, but I often hit 30% around 5:30 p.m., sometimes even less. It's not bad for light to medium users, but not as good for power users.
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
If I wanted to extend my night and go to a restaurant or bar, my phone would die around 9:30 p.m. or 10:00 p.m. if I didn't have a portable battery with me. I'm not sure why Google can't determine the battery life of its Pixel phones, as this is a problem for every single Pixel phone I've ever checked. Throw in a bigger battery, Google! Do what Apple did this year and make your phone fatter. It is not difficult. Thanks to the amazing battery life, I reached 20% on the iPhone 11 Pro Max around midnight, and I wish the Google phone could do the same.
Fortunately, using a Qi charger on your desk while at work or a portable battery can fix the problem. However, it's not great that you have to stick to these lengths.
In our standard video playback test, in which we play a 1080p YouTube video with maximum brightness via WiFi, the Pixel 4 XL lasted 9 hours and 31 minutes. This is respectable, but falls behind competitors like the iPhone 11 Pro with 12 hours and 30 minutes and the OnePlus 7T Pro with 12 hours and 19 minutes.
On the iPhone 11 Pro Max, I reached 20% of the battery around midnight. I wish the Google phone could do the same.
It's a shame that Google didn't choose to upgrade its fast-charging technology either. The Power Delivery 2.0 standard continues to be used instead of the newer PD 3.0. You can fully charge the Pixel 4 XL from zero to 100% in about an hour and a half, but you won't get the juice burst when you first connect it to the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, which is helpful in an emergency.
Price, availability and warranty information
The MSRP for the Pixel 4 XL is $ 900, but if you want the smaller Pixel 4, it costs $ 800 less. Both phones have been available from all major U.S. providers and several retailers since October 24, 2019.
However, the phones are currently on sale. The Pixel 4XL costs $ 600 and the Pixel 4 $ 500. This doesn't necessarily make them a better deal than when they were released, as their hardware is a bit dated compared to other phones. Nevertheless, the price cut lowers these phones in the mid-range market.
Google offers a standard limited warranty that protects the phone from manufacturing defects one year from the date of purchase.
Our opinion
Do you want the hottest, the fastest, the newest? There's always something better, and today the Pixel 4 XL isn't one of those things. That said, it could still be the phone for you. Als das Pixel 4 XL herauskam, gab es kein Android-Handy, das ich lieber verwenden würde als das Pixel 4 XL, da es eine hilfreiche, intelligente Software und eine Killer-Kamera bietet. Auch der 90-Hz-Bildschirm hilft. Dies bedeutet jedoch, die ganztägige Akkulaufzeit der Wettbewerber zu opfern – und an einen tragbaren Akku gebunden zu sein.
Das heißt, die schnellsten, neuesten und heißesten sind oft auch die teuersten. Die Galaxy-Linie startet bei 1.000 US-Dollar und steigt beispielsweise von dort aus an. Das Pixel war ursprünglich bei 899 US-Dollar gelistet, aber Google hat den Preis auf 799 US-Dollar gesenkt. Dank einer Vielzahl von Pixel-Smartphone-Angeboten können Sie es heute für rund 500 US-Dollar finden – ein hervorragender Wert für ein immer noch sehr beeindruckendes Gerät.
Gibt es eine bessere Alternative?
Ja. Sie sollten auf jeden Fall das OnePlus 8 in Betracht ziehen, das dem OnePlus 7T in jeder Hinsicht überlegen ist. Es hat einen Rockstar-Akku mit 4.510 mAh, eine Warp-Geschwindigkeit, wird schnell aktualisiert und verfügt über eine anpassbarere Software. Und bei 700 US-Dollar ist es ein echtes Schnäppchen – obwohl es einen kleineren Bildschirm hat.
Darüber hinaus hat das iPhone 11 Pro Max bedeutende Vorteile, wie eine noch bessere Leistung, eine vielseitige Kamera und eine beeindruckende Akkulaufzeit, aber es kostet wesentlich mehr. Wenn Sie sich nicht besonders für die Kamera eines Telefons interessieren, werden die Samsung Galaxy Note 10 und Note 10 Plus in jeder Hinsicht zufriedenstellen und dennoch solide, abwechslungsreiche Aufnahmen liefern – wenn Sie eine zu einem Schnäppchenpreis finden. Weitere Informationen finden Sie in unserem Leitfaden zu den besten Smartphones.
How long it will take?
Der Pixel 4 XL hält zwei bis drei Jahre, wenn nicht sogar ein wenig länger, bevor der Akku abnimmt. Es hat eine IP68-Wasserdichtigkeit, sodass Sie sich keine Gedanken über Einbrüche im Pool machen müssen, aber es ist in Glas eingewickelt, sodass Sie immer noch einen Koffer schnappen möchten.
Should you buy it
Ja. Das Pixel 4 XL ist vielleicht nicht das beste Android-Handy des Jahres 2020, es fühlt sich etwas veraltet an und wird durch seine unterdurchschnittliche Akkulaufzeit behindert. Es ist eine gute Wahl für Android-Fans, die ein großartiges Handy ohne Flaggschiff-Preisschild suchen.
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