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Google Pixel 4XL Review: Discover the Pros and Cons

Google Pixel 4XL
  • Design
    (4)
  • Display
    (4.5)
  • Battery & Performance
    (4)
  • Features & Specs
    (4)
  • Price
    (3.5)
4
Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)

With the invention of Google Pixel 4XL, Pixel phone lovers now have a better choice of phone for their phone upgrade. The Google Pixel 4XL is with no doubt one of the exceptional phones that Google has ever produced. 

The phone comes with better catastrophic improvements and fascinating features. A pinch of experimental features with fully-improved cam makes you spellbound. The software and hardware of the camcorder are improved drastically. It is listed among the best phones of today and the strong competitor for other leading smartphone companies such as Samsung when it comes to smartphones. 

Personally, as a Google pixel 4XL user, I’m impressed with this handset. The phone is five stars rated when compared to other phones. Concerning its high-end specs, display, stylish design, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (14 nm) chipset, and extra features such as photo/video editing, water/dust resistance this phone is one of the best smartphones to buy.   

But what makes it prominent among other smartphones? Perhaps, the addition of a wide-angle lens along with portrait and night mode, two sliders Brightness and Shadow that allows you to preview the image tweaks before you capture it, and motion sensing are obvious changes that are distinguishable. 

Otherwise, the phone isn’t much different from its previous mobile models. Emphasizing the importance of modern technology thumbprint verification is replaced by Face ID feature which is overly problematic, causing us to admire the fingerprint feature instead. 

Soli radar technology named Motion Sense takes you into another world. With the help of this feature, you can have command over music and clock alarms through motions. But sadly, it is more annoying than face recognition as it requires many trials to function properly.  

So, what convinced me to review it? Mainly, its negative and positive points both encouraged me to pen down my experience with this smartphone. Although the device is more of a pragmatist’s flagship, still it neither has an impressive battery nor a camera. To the utter disappointment, Google’s largest handset is so simple and a non-iOS device in the market. 

In this Google Pixel 4XL review, you will discover the Pros and Cons of the Pixel 4XL, and why this Google phone might be or not be your best option of smartphone upgrade.

Review of Google Pixel 4XL

Google Pixel 4 XL - 64GB 128GB Unlocked White/Black/Orange Very Good Condition

Google Pixel 4XL Review: Design 

Camera-a mixture of good and average features. Unlike its rivals phone cameras, this one has dual-camera: main is 12.3MP with 7MP of front camera. The interesting thing about the Pixel 4 XL is its live HDR+ which makes you foresee the picture before shooting it. Google has successfully removed the ugly notch by hiding the selfie camera in the top bar.   

 Face unlocking and motion sensing 

Moreover, the front cam can not only be used for taking pictures instead it performs a couple of extra functions.  

Firstly, it can be used for unlocking a phone by face verification. Disappointingly it is not as efficient as Apple’s Face ID. Furthermore, it is not secure as Google itself has admitted via a disclaimer in the Face Unlock settings page that the phone can be unlocked even if the phone’s owner’s eyes are closed.  

Secondly, there’s a feature through which you can control your device with aerial hand movements. It seems a more attractive and effortless alternative to touch inputs especially, for disabled users. This also works improperly. However, both of these characteristics can be enhanced with updated software design in the future. 

Unimproved Video quality 

 Pixel 4 XL is capable of shooting a fine 1080p video at 30, 60, and 120fps. It’s a shame that the company hasn’t paid attention to improving the video features though they’ve invested a lot in the enhancement of photography.

Impressive refresh rate 

Google’s new phone has a 90Hz refresh rate. Google has its version dynamic, so when the battery percentage drops to 75% the device automatically switches to a lower refresh rate. But Google has launched a software that refreshes itself at the fast rate and remains active ‘in more brightness conditions’ 

It has a similar dimension as of Pixel 3 XL with a volume and power button on the top right corner. The back glass is either matte (in some shades) or shiny (in other shades). There’s also a SIM slot on the bottom right. But the absence of an SD card slot indicates that it doesn’t have a memory card for storage expansion.  

You can activate the Google Assistant by simply pressing the sides below the volume rocker. This may require more effort.  

Unlike other handsets that have premium design this phone has a simpler look and major improvement is seen in its hardware and software. USB-C port along with powerful speakers can be seen at the bottom of the device. Audio quality is loud, bass-filled, and clear as compared to other flagship devices.  

Google Pixel 3 - Pixel 3 XL - Pixel 4 64GB 4G LTE Unlocked Android Smartphone
Google Pixel 3 - Pixel 3 XL - Pixel 4 64GB 4G LTE Unlocked Android Smartphone
£149.99
eBay
Google Pixel 4 XL 2019 - 64GB 128GB Unlocked All Colours Good Condition
Google Pixel 4 XL 2019 - 64GB 128GB Unlocked All Colours Good Condition
£119.99
eBay
Google Pixel 4 XL - 64GB 128GB Unlocked White/Black/Orange Very Good Condition
Google Pixel 4 XL - 64GB 128GB Unlocked White/Black/Orange Very Good Condition
£129.99
eBay

Google Pixel 4XL Review: Display 

Screen an impressive trait 

It has a pretty Quad HD+ OLED display with a big screen size of 6.3-inch, has a 19:9 screen-to-body ratio, and is a bit heavy with 193g of weight but still can be handled one-handed. The front and the back of the cellular phone has Gorilla Glass 5 with aluminum frame. 

Pixel 4XL is also IP68 water/dust resistance certified. Ambient EQ automatically fixes the display color according to the surrounding conditions. Overall, the OLED front display is gorgeous, which supports HDR giving you an unforgettable media experience. 

The headphone jack is missing but there is a pair of two stereo speakers, 3 microphones, and also supports active noise cancellation. For receiving calls on speaker it has a loudspeaker too. 

Screen- 90Hz refresh rate ensures its smooth functioning 

Google’s new phone has a 90Hz refresh rate. Google has its version dynamic, so when the battery percentage drops to 75% the device automatically switches to a lower refresh rate. But Google has launched a software that refreshes itself at the fast rate and remains active ‘in more brightness conditions’. Like all Google screens, it’s genuinely a pleasure to use.  

Google Pixel 4XL: Battery and Performance 

 Battery- a power machine. It has a hefty battery capacity of 3,700 mAh with an 18W fast charger. The devices charge fastly and offer long-lasting battery life. This massive battery can last up to one whole day. It also supports Qi wireless charging.  

However, using high-end specs can decrease the battery quickly. So, in my opinion, the company needs to pay attention to improve the battery capacity. If 90Hz display, camera, and adding a radar means that you won’t be able to use mobile without charging for a full day then such features should be removed. 

Performance- works like a horsepower 

 When tested through Geek bench 5 it showed a score of 3,090 on single-core and on multi-core, it scored 2,582 which defines that its functioning is surprisingly better.

Storage- another great feature 

Google has Snapdragon 855 chipset and Adreno 640 graphics chip which is enough for performing fast tasks of all types, for example, playing PUBG. It has 4GB of RAM with 32/128GB of memory space. It doesn’t support a micro SD card for manually increasing the internal space, but the good point is it has UFS 2.0 storage for reading and writing speeds. 

Google Pixel 4XL Review: Price and Availability 

  • Release Date: Oct 24, 2019
  • Status: Available 
  • 64GB Price: $899/£829/AU$1,279 
  • 128GB Price: $999/£929/AU$1,429 

It was released on October 24, 2019. Google 4 XL 64 GB costs around $899/£829/AU$1,279 and for 128GB you have to pay $999/£929/AU$1,429. It is now officially available worldwide in three colors; just Black, Oh so orange, and Clearly White.  

Google Pixel 4XL: Features and Specs 

Build: 

  • OS: Android 7.1  
  • Dimensions: 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.5mm 
  • Weight: 193g 
  • SIM: Nano-SIM 
  • Colors: Just Black, Oh so Orange, Clearly  

Display 

  • Technology: AMOLED Capacitive Touchscreen, 16M colors, Multi-touch 
  • Size: 6.3 inches 
  • Protection: Gorilla Glass 5 
  • Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels 

Features 

  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Compass, Fingerprint, Face ID, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer 
  • Audio: 3.5mm Audio Jack, Loud Speaker 
  • Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM 
  • Games: Built-in, Downloadable 
  • Torch: Yes 
  • Extra: Active noise cancellation, IP67 dust/water resistance, Photo/Video editor 

Camera 

  • Main:  12.3MP  
  • Front: 8MP, Video 
  • Features: Dual LED flash, HDR, Panorama, Video

Battery 

Capacity: (Li-Ion Non-removable) 3,700 mAh, fast battery charging 18W, Reverse wireless charging, USB Power delivery 

Memory 

  • Built-in: 32/128/GB Built-in, 4GB RAM 
  • Card: No  

Processor 

  • CPU: Quad-core 
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (14 nm) 
  • GPU: Andreno 530 

Google Pixel 4XL: Pros 

  • 90Hz refresh rate 
  • Motion sense feature 
  • Simple design 

Google Pixel 4XL: Cons 

  • The display is very dim 
  • Absence of thumb identity sensor 
  • Face unlock is finicky 

Buying Guide: 

If the product suits you, then you should buy it without wasting time. There are few irritating things on the cellular phone however if you can cope up with it and it doesn’t matter for you much then, fortunately, this is the perfect choice to make.  However, there are still good competitors which you can avail like iPhone 11 Pro Max, Samsung Note 10 Plus, and Google Pixel 3a XL.

Conclusion 

Having read this Pixel 4XL review, I am sure you can now decide if this phone is for you or not, and I can’t rule out the fact that it’s a good choice of a smartphone to make. Especially with the great cameras, big screen, latest Android version with upgraded hardware, and processor.

I hope you found this review helpful? Thanks for reading.

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Zeeshan Yousaf

Zeeshan Yousaf is the founder of the Tech Guru Guy blog. He writes articles about the latest technology gadgets such as laptops, smartphones, home security, tablet devices, headphones, and much more. He has been at the forefront of technology for the past 10 years, working diligently to create quality content for his audience. He is addicted to reading books and watching movies, but not as much as he loves posting content on his blog. He also enjoys playing cricket and table tennis. You can always contact Zeeshan via Tech Guru Guy's contact page.

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