Google recently released their new version of the smartphone series, the Google Pixel 4. Famously known for being the smartphones with one of the best cameras on the market, this device will surely keep living up to its name! Google is finally joining the “multiple cameras” trend, but adding not only two, but three rear cameras on the device, placed in a slightly recognizable design (iPhone 11 anyone?) which has brought many mixed feelings. Some love it, some hate it!
Both the Pixel 4 and 4 XL (larger version) have a 12MP Dual Pixel sensor and a 16MP telephoto lens for 2x zoom, which allows wide-range portrait shots. Other important camera features are the Live HDR+ and Night Side Mode. The HDR+ allows users to preview the processing photo in the camera app before taking it.
A new feature called Dual Exposure controls will let users tweak shadows and highlights in a shot before taking the photo. It’s already possible to do this after the fact in photo editing apps, so this new feature will likely save users a lot of time.
So basically you’re looking at infinitely better HDR images with HDR+, better Portrait photos with its two lenses, even completing it with realistic bokeh, and absolutely stunning low-light pictures that puts the Pixel 4 in the category of SLR cameras.
Another exciting feature is the Pixel 4’s new-and-improved Google Assistant. The new smartphone’s assistant has the ability of working without being connected to the internet, which means it’s capable of being smart on its own. Terrifying or exciting? If you’re looking at it through a technological development and modern perspective, then you might me leaning towards the latter.
However, this non-internet assistant response does have its limitations. It will work perfectly for simple tasks like starting a timer, but for more complex things like asking about flight information or the weather, the Assistant will need to outsource that work to Google’s data centers.
The Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL run on Android 10. Some of the new features on this software are a shortcut to pull down the notification shade with a swipe of your finger, the new Pixel Themes app that will let you choose your font, wallpaper, accent color, and more, a new Recorder app on the Pixels that will transcribe the audio from each voice recording and allow you to search for it and three free months of Google One cloud storage for new members.
Regarding the device’s unlocking system, they’re sticking to face unlock and saying goodbye to their fingerprint reader. This is possible due to Google’s new motion-sensing Soli chip next to the front-facing camera sensor. The Pixel 4 phones come with two face unlock IR cameras, a dot projector, and a flood illuminator, which are similar to the sensors used on the iPhone 11.
The Pixel 4 and 4 XL also have a new feature called Motion Sense that will allow the phones to sense users’ motion. Using Motion Sense, users will be able to change a song, snooze alarms, and silence calls with a wave of their hand. However, this feature will only be available to a few selected countries.
As for the smartphone’s specs, both the 4 and 4XL share the same features. The both have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, 6GB of RAM, 64 or 128GB of storage, no microSD expansion, and, sadly, no headphone jack. For battery capacity, the Pixel 4 has a 2,800mAh cell, while the Pixel 4 XL has a 3,700mAh battery.
The new Google Smartphone comes in three neat colors: Just Black, Clearly White and Oh So Orange (limited edition). Find the Pixel 4 with a starting price of $799. Will you be buying your new Pixel phone?
