The Google Pixel 4 XL Review: Stuck In The Past In 2019
by Andrei Frumusanu on November 8, 2019 11:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Mobile
- Smartphones
- Pixel 4
- Pixel 4 XL
Video Recording
Video recording on the Pixel 4 is a relatively simple topic as Google hasn’t changed much to the formula other than the inclusion of the new telephoto module. Even this one addition isn’t quite fully supported by the cameras as Google’s 60fps recording mode is only available for the main camera sensor. Another omission, is the lack of a 4K60 recording mode. It’s quite unfortunately that Google still hasn’t been able to expand the recording features over the past few years.
In terms of video quality, it’s relatively ok. Stabilisation and bit-rates are competitive. I would strongly recommend to switch over to HEVC recording in order to save storage space. Dynamic range of the capture on the other hand isn’t really up to par with what we see from the competition, and the Pixel 4 largely falls behind in this aspect.
What’s really unfortunate is the audio recording quality. Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t seem to have any good wind noise cancellation. It wasn’t particularly windy when I was recording the samples, yet the wind noise is particularly distinct in the recordings.
Speaker Evaluation
The speaker setup on the Pixel 4 has changed substantially compared to the Pixel 3. Google is no longer using two front-facing speakers, opting for a more traditional earpiece + bottom firing speaker setup.
This does cause some problems and represents a downgrade for the new Pixel. While last year the Pixel 3’s stereo bias was actually biased towards the earpiece speaker as the stronger and louder unit, this year it’s very much extremely biased in favour of the bottom firing speaker. Volume isn’t an issue as the phone gets plenty loud.
The audio quality of the phone isn’t bad, however there’s a notable lack of mid-range and especially lack of lower mid-range which unfortunately leads to a less “full” audio playback and the phone doesn’t really compete with either Samsung or Apple’s devices in terms of audio playback ability.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
159 Comments
View All Comments
milkywayer - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
I'm perfectly fine with the design. I love my pixel 4 XL. Ultimately all my phones go into a case on day 1 anyways. The screen is big and the display is nice. What I'm upset about is the terrible #@&#a@ battery life. They could've done so much better. It's almost 2020. Wtf Google.hammer256 - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
Gah, their ads for the phone is so annoying too. Not that I'm willing to spend more that $300 for a phone anyways...milkywayer - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
The Pixel 3a is perfect in that range. Someone in the family uses and loves it. Goes on sale often now for $300. And the camera, screen, speaker all are perfect in that price range. And darn it's super light weight too compared to my heavy pixel 4 XL because some douche execs still believe that glass and heavy weight somehow makes stuff "premium".hammer256 - Sunday, November 10, 2019 - link
I was definitely tempted by it, would have been a great deal for 300 bucks, just like the original Nexus 5. That was a good phone...Spunjji - Monday, November 11, 2019 - link
I loved my Nexus 5 - the only things about it I really had a problem with was the limited storage and slightly sub-par battery life.I'd happily buy the exact same thing again with the equivalent current-gen internals (better SoC, more RAM, more storage, updated camera sensor, marginally improved battery). Hell, I'd pay up to $600 if they threw in a decent OLED display and better speakers.
Instead, we keep getting the same warmed-over overpriced nonsense.
ToTTenTranz - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
There are some references to Galaxy S11 in page 5 (camera daylight).Is this an exclusive access that anandtech got from a future phone?
;)
Jcaro14 - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
The Pixel 4 XL is an excellent device. Definitely built for the user experience and not for the tech snobs and spec chasers. The Pixel 4 is hands down the best way to experience Android.ToTTenTranz - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
Ok Google...Ironchef3500 - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
+1nikon133 - Sunday, November 10, 2019 - link
The gist of it, eh :)At this stage I am hoping that Nokia or someone else will release Android One flagship-class phone.
I understand that this is more about software/experience than hardware, but just as iPhone - good as it might be - feels overpriced for me, this actually feels worse.