Google Announces the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, Available to Order Now

The standard Google Pixel 4 features a 5.7-inch screen with FHD+ resolution, while the Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3-inch screen with QHD+ resolution. Both devices offer a 90Hz refresh rate, which Google describes as a “smooth display” and include HDR+ technology with UHDA certification.

Shipping Begins October 21

The cameras have also received a significant bump over last year’s Pixel models. Now, the device features a second camera at the back, with one 12-megapixel main camera sensor in addition to a 16-megapixel 2X telephoto sensor. These cameras are capable of shooting 4K at up to 30 fps. Beyond this, other important specifications include a Snapdragon 855 SoC, 6GB of memory and a custom-designed Pixel Neural Core co-processor designed to bolster the functionality of Google Assistant and help with real-time audio transcription. Like most modern flagships, the 4 charges via USB Type-C, lacks a headphone jack and supports wireless charging—which should come in handy considering the smaller Pixel 4 has a relatively low capacity 2,800mAh battery. Google hasn’t yet released any information about the Pixel 4’s battery life, though it is known that high-refresh-rate displays tend to do a number on battery life. As with most Google Pixel devices, there is a huge emphasis on software, and these are no different. Both devices will ship with vanilla Android 10 installed, and come with a variety of software tweaks and new features that make for two extremely capable devices. One of the more quirky of these is automatic car crash detection, which allows the Pixel 4 to automatically contact emergency services should it detect a car crash. Pre-orders for both devices are open now, with the base model of the standard version coming in at $799, while the base Pixel 4 XL is priced at $899. Upgrading from 64GB to 128GB storage costs an extra $100 for both devices and Google has stated that both the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be available on all US carriers. Currently, both devices are available in three colors; ‘Just Black’, ‘Clearly White’ and the limited edition ‘Oh So Orange.’

More of the Same for More Money

Google’s Pixel XL bears similar specs to many of the other recently announced flagships, such as the OnePlus 7T and Samsung Galaxy Note 10. However, with the recently announced Snapdragon 855+, 90hz display Realme X2 Pro soon to be available for just $465, it leaves many wondering whether Google Pixel phones offer the same value they once did. Beyond unveiling the Google Pixel 4, Google also announced several other new products, including its second generation Pixel Buds, a smart speaker and router combo known as Nest Wifi, as well as its cheapest ever Pixelbook—the Pixelbook Go. What do you think about Google’s new Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL phones? Are they worth the ~$699 price tag? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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