Google Pixel 4 XL review

The competition

The Pixel 4 XL starts at $899 in the US. At this level, it is $100 below the iPhone 11 Pro and $200 more than the entry-level iPhone 11. All these phones start at 64GB of base storage and are non-expandable. This year, we have seen killer camera performance from the new iPhones. Both cameras are great and each one performs better than the other in key areas.

This year, all iPhones have excellent battery life, but we can't say the same about the new Pixels. While Google was busy adding a telephoto camera to its lineup, Apple added an ultra-wide-angle camera to each new iPhone this year. If you're looking for a polished software experience with an excellently balanced camera setup, great battery, and software, look no further than this year's iPhones.

Apple iPhone 11 • Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Earlier this year, Google received much praise for the Pixel 3a duo. It offered a smooth software experience along with power-efficient hardware and excellent battery endurance. If you're after a Pixel that can keep up with you all day and you are not necessarily in need of extra horsepower for games, and an exceptionally great camera for the price, the Pixel 3a XL is the perfect budget alternative.

Google Pixel 3a XL

If you're looking something with many more features and customization, take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+. Samsung's flagship duo is packed with camera features, new shooting modes, an S Pen, and attractive-looking hardware. The Google Pixel can seem overpriced by comparison.

If you're looking for better value, perhaps a Samsung Galaxy S10+ could be of interest. It has the same size display, but Samsung's displays are second to none with excellent image, comfortable visibility in direct sunlight, and longer battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Note10

Given the 90Hz display feature on the Google Pixel, it will inevitably be compared to the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro. All phones have 90Hz screens, but the smoothness in display and hardware is seemingly more apparent on OnePlus devices. It's a little ironic that an OEM can create a better UI for Android than Google itself.

OnePlus' cameras have come a long way, and they have shown great potential and can probably match the Pixel in daylight photography. Otherwise, Google's cameras are well-executed with an excellent image quality, but what's missing is a well-executed 90Hz display.

OnePlus 7T • OnePlus 7T Pro

The verdict

The Pixel 4 duo is off to a rocky start. Reports of the company's shortcomings have been making headlines in tech news. The 90Hz display doesn't always render at 90fps while Google's new Face unlock works with the user's eyes closed when it shouldn't. These features have one thing in common - they are going to be addressed in a future update.

However, these are things that should have been addressed before launching the phone in the first place. Motion Sense is also a dud, it feels unfinished, and it's a shame that Google believed that this would be worth hyping up in its current state. As much as Google upsold the Motion Sense feature for "getting stuff done", we don't believe they add up to the value of the phone.

Face unlocking, although quick, reliable, and arguably more convenient than a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, is no longer supported by the same apps that supported Pixel Imprint. We don't believe a new technology is worth temporarily inconveniencing the customer for the sake of having said technology.

The Google Pixel is supposed to be Google's own interpretation of Android. Given the state of incohesive features, poor battery life, and half-baked Motion Sense, perhaps this is how Google feels about its own platform: It needs other OEMs to make its own platform better.

Google has been taking note of what others have been doing. With Pixel 4, it has added more layers to the software like more advanced customization of icons and colors, as well as well-improved gesture control, and Google Assistant's voice commands feel near-instantaneous. The instant-transcription voice recording app was a nice addition, but we were left wanting more.

The Google Pixel really excels in the camera department, but Google doesn't seem too worried about the competition when it should be. It feels like Google is relying solely on its camera prowess to push sales of the Pixel 4 and 4 XL while merely getting by in other aspects like display technology (we want a brighter AMOLED display) but more specifically, battery life.

The Pixel 4 XL is the best that Google has to offer and if you don't mind paying a premium price and overlooking a couple of shortcomings at launch, then you'll be a happy camper with Google's new phone. If you'd rather get the most out of your $899, you might want to consider getting something else or wait until the phone is discounted (which usually happens around Black Friday).

To avoid ending this review on a low note, we will say that we really like the new design of the phone. The soft-touch glass feels amazing, the textured metal frame is great, and the Pixel's display is better than ever. The Google Pixel's camera is amazing and its tendency to capture every range of exposure with detail makes it a joy to shoot with.

Pros

• Gorgeous, color-accurate display.
• Unique textured design.
• Quick and reliable Face unlock.
• Great camera performance.

Cons

• Wonky 90Hz display execution at launch.
• Half-baked Motion Sense features.
• Below average battery endurance.
• We're missing the ultra-wide camera.
• No fingerprint reader while the competition has already gone through a few generations of under-display readers.
• Face unlock can be triggered with eyes closed and it's not yet supported by banking apps.
• No bundled cable earbuds or an adapter.
• Limited market availability (even more so due to the Motion Sense radar).