Pixel 4 XL full review: best Android experience, stellar back camera, but phone is not without its issues
- Big plus points for the Pixel 4 XL come in the form of a great back camera and new functions such as auto transcription and speedy facial recognition
- Average battery life and slightly outdated looks might put existing Pixel users off from upgrading
With intensifying competition and a narrowing lead on features from other smartphone giants such as Apple, Samsung and Huawei, how does the latest Google Pixel 4 fare? We checked out the Pixel 4 XL – here’s our take on it.
Design and hardware
The Pixel 4 family finally has a dual-camera set-up. This comes in the form of a telephoto lens and a square camera bump on the left-hand corner on the back of the phone. Design-wise, the Pixel 4 XL bears a close resemblance to the Pixel 3 XL but is slightly narrower and a little thicker and taller.
The Pixel 4 XL forgoes having a notch on the front, going instead with a thick “forehead”. This is necessary due to additional sensors needed for Google’s Motion Sense radar technology which detects nearby gestures and motions, and the associated sensors for the new infrared-based face unlock system. The Pixel 4 family also ditches the fingerprint reader and loses the dual front-facing camera that made the Pixel 3 family a stand out – more on that later.
The chassis is made of aluminium with a matt finish, a hybrid coating that feels solid but not slippery. Gorilla Glass 5 fronts the vibrant 6.3-inch QHD+ OLED display, and the back is similarly swathed with the same – which makes the phone a fingerprint magnet unless you use a case.
The display is touted as having a refresh rate that can go as high as 90Hz, although Google says it defaults to 60Hz for apps that won’t benefit from a higher refresh.
