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
Death666Angel - Sunday, November 10, 2019 - link
Custom ROMs are a thing, do your research before to get a phone that is well supported and you can have unlimited* software support. I can get an Android 9.0 ROM for my Moto G 2013.And if you buy the right phone, something like a Pocophone from last year or a Xiaomi Mi 9 variant now, you can get a top of the line specced phone (S855, 6 GB RAM, 64+ GB ROM, 1080+ AMOLED, 48 MP tripple cameras etc.) for half the price of the entry level iPhone 11, get good custom ROM support and even decent normal support for a year or two and if you don't anymore, you can buy the newest thing from them and have paid less than one iPhone for 2 phones in the end. You can even get their entry level phone with a slower SoC and if you don't game you won't notice the performance difference in Facebook or Youtube, and then get 3 phones for the price of one iPhone.
Spunjji - Monday, November 11, 2019 - link
I'll take 3 years of support on my OnePlus device for roughly 1/2 to 2/3 of what an equivalent-spec iPhone would have cost. The battery's already tired after that length of time, and even if you keep your iPhone a year or two longer I'm still winning on cost.Sharma_Ji - Sunday, November 10, 2019 - link
Well, what?Google only released latest security patches along with updates to all their pixel phones on 5th of nov and does this each month.
It's a rarity that some OEM pushes those before google does, essential only does simultaneously.
And when other's do, they still get 1st of each month .
Sharma_Ji - Sunday, November 10, 2019 - link
Well, what?Google only released latest security patches along with updates to all their pixel phones on 5th of nov and does this each month.
It's a rarity that some OEM pushes those before google does, essential only does simultaneously.
And when other's do, they still get 1st of each month .
phoenix_rizzen - Monday, November 11, 2019 - link
The Galaxy S7 I am typing this with received 2 full OS upgrades, and is running the Aug 1 2019 k installed in Sept). It has received security updates every other month for the past year, so I'm expecting the next one in the next or so.My wife's Galaxy A8 (2018) has already received an OS upgrade and gets security updates every other month as well. We've had it for just over a year now.
Our old Galaxy S6 received OS upgrades, and the last security update it received was for late 2018.
IOW, Samsung update process has greatly improved the past few years. You get 2 full OS upgrades and at least 3 years of security updates.
ahamling27 - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
Um, OnePlus?flyingpants265 - Saturday, November 9, 2019 - link
For me, the real choices haven't changed much since the beginning. Samsung, LG or Nexus 4/5/HTC Desire/OnePlus. Either the latest flagship, or a decent Google-only device. Not a cheap plastic mid-tier phone (unless that cheap phone is also a Nexus5-type phone with at least flagship CPU.) Pixel 4 should be $400 total.. So should be 50% off.Spunjji - Monday, November 11, 2019 - link
You missed OnePlus in your final assessment. They don't do much to the OS, and I've found the small things they do very useful. They don't do Qi either, but their Dash charge and superior battery life serve the same practical function.I consider them to be an ideal replacement for the Nexus line that Google ditched.
Jonahtrav - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
Back in May of this year I bought a pixel 3a just to give it a try and I so enjoy the experience I sold my iPhone 8 plus and waited for the pixel 4 to come out and I've been watching reviews and I have to say up kind of disappointed in this phone. Recent review I watched was YouTuber by jerry-rig which tested the durability of the pixel for it failed miserably cracks in 4 areas...yeah I know I know I'm going to stick it in the case but you know it's a back pocket and you sit down in your car forget to take it out take it out after you sit down and madewell cause a problem but after watching that review I don't think I'm buying a mix before going to keep my pixel 3 a.... In the battery was the first thing I thought what a disasterPeachNCream - Friday, November 8, 2019 - link
Underwhelming, but some of the feature decisions can be explained. 64GB base storage encourages people to make more use of cloud alternatives so Alphabet has greater access to perform analytics on user uploaded information. It's hard to pilfer information from over someone's cellular data plan without that catching attention and motivating the IT security types to go poking around at what you're doing. Encouraging users to put information out there of their own free will means analytics will attract a lot less attention.Face unlock is downright alarming stuff that would do Eric Schmidt's decade-old walk right up to the creepy line (his own words back when he was the CEO of Google) expected justice. All that sensor equipment can capture a significant amount of data and put facial analysis of other photographs from other sources into a more useful context. Alphabet is leaning forward here and I would expect the mothership's repository of highly personal data to increase somewhat from this and the addition of Fitbit biometrics collection -- but it's all beneficial to society so it's okay, right?
As for RAM, I don't see a significant disadvantage in only including 6GB. I rarely see utilization go beyond 900MB on my current phone. Maybe being a bit behind on OS versions has something to do with it though. The only problem here is that Google is offering less memory and less storage for a similar price after showing up late to the party.