Google Pixel 4, Pixel 4XL All You Need To know ~ News Australian

Google Pixel 4, Pixel 4XL All You Need To know

You probably already know about Google's new smartphones, the Google Pixel 4 and Google Pixel 4 XL.

Google finally announced both smartphones at its Made By Google 2019 event, and we have all the details here.

Google phone Assistant, but speed up

The new and improved Google Assistant is deeply integrated into the Pixel 4 software, allowing much faster response times. Both new phones incorporate an integrated version of Google's language models in their data centers. This means that Google Assistant interactions will take place on the device without the need to send requests to Google's data centers before receiving a response.

Of course, there are limits - for simple tasks such as starting a timer, the Assistant will do it entirely on the device. For more complex tasks such as requesting flight or weather information, the Assistant will need to outsource this work to Google's data centers.

The Assistant on Pixel 4 phones now supports streaming conversations, a first for smartphones. This will allow you to ask the wizard a follow-up question without having to repeat the famous Google OK all the time.

Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL phones run on Android 10. Not much changed aesthetically, but there are a few new additions to this year's Pixel.

Pixel Launcher now has a shortcut to lower the notification shadow by dragging your finger. There's also a new Pixel Themes application that allows you to choose your font, wallpaper, accent color, etc.

Google also pre-installs a new Pixel Recorder application, which will transcribe the sound of each voice recording and allow you to search for it. Sounds pretty convenient.

The Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL come with three months of free storage in the Google One cloud for new members. Unfortunately, Google does not include free unlimited original-quality photo backups in Google Photos, unlike Pixel, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3.

A + display

Apparently, Google has nailed the display on Pixel 4 and 4 XL this year. DisplayMate gave Google an A+ rating and an award for the best display on a smartphone.

The Pixel 4 and 4 XL displays are 90Hz screens - Google calls them smooth screens - and can be toggled between 60 and 90Hz in the settings menu.

The popularity of higher refresh rate screens has increased recently, and we're pleased to see that new Google phones support this feature.

Sweep to the right with Motion Sense

According to Google, Pixel 4 and 4 XL have the fastest face-unlocking system of any smartphone. This is made possible by Google's new Soli motion-detection chip, located next to the front camera sensor.

This year, Google has abandoned the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor to include secure face recognition. The Pixel 4 phones come with two unlockable infrared cameras, a spotlight, and an illuminator.

These sensors are similar to those we have seen in devices such as the iPhone 11 and the LG G8. Using these sensors, the Pixel 4 will be able to create an accurate model of your face, verify that it is you and unlock your phone.

In addition, the Pixel 4's Soli chip will proactively activate the face unlock sensors to allow you to quickly get into your phone.

That's not all Google's motion-sensing Soli chip will be able to do.

Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL have a new feature called Motion Sense that allows phones to detect users' movements. Using Motion Sense, users will be able to change a song, suspend alarms and silence calls with a wave of the hand. Unfortunately, this feature is only available in some countries.

The Pixel line has never been on the high-level specifications.

Elsewhere, Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL share the same specifications. Both have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC (unfortunately not the Snapdragon 855 Plus), 6GB of RAM (two gigabytes more than Pixel 3), 64 or 128GB of onboard storage, no microSD extensions and no headphone jacks. Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer a pair of headphones in the box this time either.

What we're not happy about are the battery capacities of Pixel 4 and 4 XL. The Pixel 4 has a 2,800 mAh cell (115 mAh less than the Pixel 3), while the Pixel 4 XL has a 3,700 mAh battery (270 mAh more than the Pixel 3 XL). These 90Hz displays are known for their durability.

Also, considering that the Pixel 3 hates battery life, we hope Google does something to ensure that Pixel 4 users can make it through the day without needing to charge in the middle of the day.

Live HDR+, astrophotography and learning-based white balance

Google finally jumps on the double-camera bandwagon. The Pixel 4 and 4 XL are equipped with a rear-facing 12MP dual-pixel sensor and a 16MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom.

This will give wider portraits, as there are now two lenses to capture depth information. There is also a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor on the rear for accurate distance and depth detection.

Live HDR + is a new feature of Pixel 4 and 4 XL. This will allow users to preview the HDR + processing in the camera application before taking the picture. A new feature called dual exposure controls will allow users to change the shadows and highlights of a photo before taking the picture.

It is already possible to do this after the fact in photo editing applications. This new feature will, therefore, save users a lot of time.

Google is also focusing (ha) on a better white balance. Pixel 4 offers white balance based on automatic learning in all photo modes, not only in Night Sight mode as in Pixel 3. This will result in more accurate colors, not just in Night Sight mode.

Google is working on improved astrophotography in Pixel 4. With Night Sight, Pixel 4 darkens and dims the sky using digital photography. You can read more about astrophotography in Pixel 4 here.

Both cameras will be available for pre-order as of today, with shipping scheduled for October 24th. The price of Pixel 4 starts at $799. They will be available for purchase unlocked through the Google Store, as well as from all major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT & T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, and Google Fi.

Unfortunately, Google is not bringing the Pixel 4 line to India this year.