Google Pixel 4 XL review

29 Oct 2019
The Google Pixel 4 duo was not Google's best-kept secret. We saw pictures of the phone weeks before the event, and we even learned about Face unlock while Google teased the Motion Sense features ahead of its event. The Google Pixel 4 XL represents everything that Google has learned in the first four iterations of the Google Pixel, including a mid-cycle and mid-range Pixel 3a which was very well received.

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When Google announced Pixel 4 series I thought it was so mediocre, but then reading this review made me realise how pathetic this thing really is. So Google put an average sized battery since it's Google and needs to compromise something for no reason, used 90Hz display for show-off but ended up as such a mess due to very poor calibration and such low max brightness, opted for face unlock ONLY that has no compatibility whatsoever with banking apps and was forced to clock down the CPU so that they could stop their small battery from draining in half a day. Camera was their last saving grace but they threw that away as well by not putting a larger sensor or ultra wide lens and limiting the video recording to 4K30. Like, what did they want to achieve with this product?

Honestly at this point the only device I recommend Pixel 4 over is Mate 30 Pro, a phone that has no official Google app support and comes with very limited availability outside China. Note 10+ is better than Pixel 4 in every single way apart from the still image quality from its main camera, iPhone 11 Pro obliviates this poor iPhone wannabe and OnePlus 7T Pro is a cheaper but better alternative to Pixel 4 series as it's comparable to Pixel in some area but does many things better. Google should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this mess ffs.

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    • Anonymous
    • ICd
    • 30 Oct 2019

    Aakash7T, 30 Oct 2019I was eagerly waiting for the Pixel 4. As soon as the Launc... moreDid the same. I had used my neighbor's 3XL and was waiting for the P4/XL. Went for the 7t instead. Best smartphone experience I've ever had.

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      • Extreme_Boky
      • Xr0
      • 30 Oct 2019

      dPreview managed to produce the best looking photos of any phone tested, quite stunning in fact for a phone camera. The price justifies itself just by having this phone as a travel camera, in my opinion. I am not sure what happened here... Anyway, I provided the link for those who'd like to have a look
      The link: https://www.dpreview.com/samples/1317603536/pixel-peeping-the-everyday-explore-our-google-pixel-4-sample-gallery?utm_source=self-desktop&utm_medium=marquee&utm_campaign=traffic_source

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        • Anonymous
        • MkE
        • 30 Oct 2019

        "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."

        This sentence describes current state of Google. Oneplus is doing a remarkable job polishing stock android even further, why can´t Google do the same?!

        This has got to be the worst flagship batery performer of 2019. I like Android but for the asking price i´d go for the iPhone instead

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          • Ayva
          • gqw
          • 30 Oct 2019

          All of those cons and it still gets 4 stars?

            they don't sell on those markets not because they are stupid, but because they sell a pixel with custom software. The price you pay includes that. If that software doesn't work well on some countries, usually because of the language, they just don't sell it because it would not be fair to them. If you don't mind with those short comes there are lots of ways you can get your pixel from those stores.

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              • Tom
              • ABG
              • 30 Oct 2019

              "When we disabled the 90Hz feature, we saw the Pixel 4 XL score a couple of hours higher on the web browsing test,"

              Can you please give exactly number? Or add graphic with result 60hz

              Thank you

                That's just disappointing. I really wanted to upgrade from my 2 XL this year, but I feel like I'll either hold on to it way longer than expected, or might seriously just pick up a OnePlus and call it a day.

                Thanks for some of the image comparisons with the OnePlus, those are really helpful!

                Great, Excellent job as always!

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                  • Anonymous
                  • ABG
                  • 30 Oct 2019

                  Hello!

                  Can you add graphic with battery life 90hz on/off instead enigmatic "couple hours more web browsing"

                  Thank you

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                    • Gnu
                    • svt
                    • 30 Oct 2019

                    When s11 will be released in february, it will literally destroy Pixel 4.

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                      • Julian M
                      • MwP
                      • 30 Oct 2019

                      4/5 seems awfully generous given the phone's shortcomings (especially for the price it goes for) - had this been any other brand, I suspect it would have been shot down.

                      Honestly, this year's Pixel sounds like a pretty bad purchase.

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                        • Quame
                        • fuv
                        • 30 Oct 2019

                        Best camera on any phone = iPhones 11, 11 pro & pro Max.
                        Best all around smart phone = OnePlus 7t( software updates, hardware & price)

                          • Q
                          • Quame
                          • fuv
                          • 30 Oct 2019

                          This phone is making the iPhone 11 pro max look like a bargain. 90h?!... The only phone wealth buying because of that refresh rate should be the OnePlus 7t. Don't buy this phone everything about it is old school except the "👋"chip, Gimmick! At best.for that price get yourself a OnePlus or iPhone, cus they are the best of both worlds

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                            • Gnu
                            • svt
                            • 30 Oct 2019

                            As a Pixel user, who swiched from Samsung Galaxy, i feel very dissapointed, maybe even more than Zorg in Fifth Element 🤬

                            Low RAM, low and slow internal memory, outdated processor, really poor batteries, stupid and outrageous price.. No no no!. And where is that mytical G optimalisation? Pixels loose with other smartphones eith S855. What the duce? The last thing, how come a global company like Google cant sell its devices all over the world? Why there is no online shop? .. o there are shops but, living in Poland, Czech rep. or other place, I cant order a phone from UK, Italy or Germany. Those shops are restricted only to those countries, why there is no international online store? So or, people in Google are stupid and they dont want earn more money and gain marketshare, or they dont consider pixels as a serious product..

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                              • Anonymous
                              • s3Z
                              • 30 Oct 2019

                              when will pixel 4 appear in your program to compare photos and videos?

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                                • Noncy
                                • Nue
                                • 30 Oct 2019

                                Samsung note 10+ is a much better phone

                                  Poor camera performance, Poorer battery, NO

                                    As I have mentioned earlier, this is really a sorry facing launch of SD 855 in October that too with 64 & 128 GB editions alone matching iPhone 11 Pro Max price. Very very expensive for what it offers. I like its design though

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • Jb$
                                      • 30 Oct 2019

                                      Great overview. Every pros and cons are there. For an unfinished phone like Pixel 4, the cost of it should have been at least 200 USD less. Google lost the title for the camera king, but they don't care. People do. Google think 3700 mah battery is enough. People don't. I have been on Pixel phones for years, but will skip this line this year. The value of this phone is awful. Hey Google, wake up! There is competition! And you are loosing!

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                                        • Koksownik
                                        • mNR
                                        • 30 Oct 2019

                                        Mate 30 Pro is way better, iphone 11 with deep fusion too. Very poor zoom - even in 2x photos not looking good. Main camera photos lacks of detail and oversaturated colors. No any progress over Pixel 2 and 3. I'm waiting for unbanned Mate 30 Pro, at this moment best camera in my opinion. Second one is iphone 11. Pixel 4 overall is not very bad, but i expected much more. I'm disappointed.

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