PATREONItems tagged with pixel 4 xl
When Google releases a new iteration of its popular Android operating system, we expect to see the typical generation-over-generation features and security enhancements that make the experience more powerful and capable. Also, if we’re lucky, we might even expect see some performance gains from time to time as Google's mobile OS is optimized to fully harness the increasingly more powerful mobile platforms that are being shoehorned into evermore sophisticated smartphone designs. But what we weren’t expecting with the release of Android 11, however, is what appears to be a notable regression in performance compared to Android 10. This realization isn’t something that we sought...
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Well, it has been a remarkably short run for Google's Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones, as the company confirmed this morning that both Qualcomm Snapdragon 855-powered devices have been discontinued. This is frankly an odd move from Google considering that the previous Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 flagships were on sale for roughly 18 months following their introduction -- the Pixel 4/Pixel 4 XL are being given the boot after less than a year. Google's actions are even more perplexing given that the replacement for the Pixel 4 series -- the Pixel 5 -- hasn't even been officially revealed, and is on track to arrive in the fall. “Google Store has sold through its inventory and...
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When you spend top dollar on a flagship smartphone, you not only expect premium build quality, but also that the device will give you at least a few trouble-free years of use. However, this isn't the case for some Google Pixel 4 XL owners that are reporting a rather alarming design flaw with their devices. First brought to our attention by the folks over at Android Police, the back glass panel on some Pixel 4 XL devices are starting to separate from the phone's chassis. For those not familiar with the Pixel 4 XL, like many smartphones that have wireless charging capabilities, the back panel is glued into place. For whatever reason, the glue is starting to fail on these phones, which is causing...
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Had the Coronavirus pandemic never occurred, Google would be getting ready to release its Android 11 Beta 1 release tomorrow, as originally planned. That's not going to happen—the launch event has been postponed without a followup date, so for the time being, the Android 11 Preview 4 build is the latest one. Well, for most people. Pixel 4 owners are apparently the exception. As spotted by XDA-Developers, the Android 11 Beta 1 build (RPB1.200504.018) has found its way to some Pixel 4 phones as a 736MB download, and with it comes a glimpse of some upcoming features, changes, and improvements that Google is currently working on for the final release. One of the improvements involves the Quick...
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Google hasn’t didn’t exactly have the hit it expected when it launched the Pixel 4 family late last year. As the latest in its line of flagship Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 4 promised a high-performing Snapdragon 855 SoC, vibrant 90Hz OLED display, facial recognition technology, and a new camera system. However, according to a fresh reporting by The Information, there was a lot of turmoil going on behind the scenes during the development of the Pixel 4, and even recently as the launches of the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5 loom. Before the Pixel 4 even launched to the public, Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh reportedly had misgivings about the device, especially with regards to its...
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The Google Pixel 4 family of smartphones have been on the market since the fall of 2019, which means that the discounts are starting to pile up on these Android flagships. Both the Pixel 4 and its larger Pixel 4 XL sibling were near the top of the class when they debuted, and are still very competitive devices despite the arrival of new stars like the LG V60 ThinQ and Samsung Galaxy S20. The latest round of discounts brings the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL down to prices that we've never seen before for unlocked models. In the case of the Pixel 4, it's now priced at just $499 (compared to the previous low of $549), while the Pixel 4 XL will set you back just $100 more at $599. Both of...
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The first smartphones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 SoC are just now hitting the market here in the United States, which means that now is the time to score some great deals on last year's Snapdragon 855 flagships. Yesterday, we saw a deal on the Samsung Galaxy S10+, and today we've got deals on the Google Pixel 4/Pixel 4 XL. Online retail giant Amazon is discounting both smartphones by hundreds of dollars, with the Pixel 4 (64GB) coming in at just $549, which is down from its normal price of $799. The Pixel 4 is available at this price in both Clearly White and Just Black colors. Stepping up to the 128GB version of the Pixel 4 raises the price by $100 to $649. If you want the...
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Not long after the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL launched back in November 2019, it was revealed that the smartphones' face unlock facial recognition system could unlock your device even if your eyes were open. This is a step back in security compared to Apple iPhone's Face ID, which requires your eyes to be open and focused on the phone’s display to unlock [this feature is also on by default on iPhones]. Needless to say, this security lapse would allow someone with access to your phone to unlock it if you were sleeping, unconscious, or even dead. Google responded that it would work diligently to improve its face unlock feature, and provided the following statement...
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Anyone in the market for a premium Android smartphone with one of the best cameras on the market will want to check out the deals Amazon has going on the Google Pixel 4 and Google Pixel 4 XL (our full review) this weekend. We've seen more substantial discounts off the MSRP, but right now, there's a discount and a $200 gift card in the mix, making these some of the best deals overall for these devices that we've seen yet. Amazon is offering the Google Pixel 4 with 64GB of internal storage unlocked for $699 currently. Amazon says that is an $80.89 discount. On top of that discount, you also get a $200 gift card to buy whatever you want on Amazon. It's almost like getting a smartphone...
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Google's Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are among the best Android smartphones that you can buy these days, which is why we're always on the lookout when they go on sale. Over the past few months, we've seen excellent deals from retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, and even straight from Google via its Google Fi MVNO service. During Black Friday, Amazon was selling the Pixel 4 for just $599, which was $200 off its regular price tag. Today, however, the discounts keep rolling as the Pixel 4 in Clearly White can now be had for just $571. If you want Just Black, you'll just pay a dollar more. Unfortunately, Oh So Orange is currently out of stock at Amazon, although we'll update this piece if it reappears...
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Google is pushing out its first "Pixel feature drop" to Pixel 4 XL and and Pixel 4 owners, and with comes a handful of new features and improved capabilities, such as better facial recognition when using your mug to unlock your handset. What exactly is a Pixel feature drop, though, and how does it differ from Google's regular updates? Well, Google seems to be taking a page from Microsoft (sort of) with how it keeps its latest generation Pixel handsets updated. With the release of Windows 10, Microsoft committed to pushing out major feature updates twice annually, in addition to its usual monthly security patches (and out of cadence emergency patches for zero-day threats, as necessary). Google's...
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Amazon has unveiled some new Black Friday deals this week with big discounts on Google's latest smartphones - the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4 XL. These two smartphones haven't been out that long, and enthusiasts who want a pure Android experience might want to check out the deals. Amazon is offering the Pixel 4 with 64GB of storage space for $599, a discount of $200 off the normal $799 price tag. The version with 128GB of storage is on sale for the same $200 discount making it $699. All three available colors are eligible for the deal, including the Just Black, Clearly White, and Oh So Orange. The orange color is only available in the 64GB version. Google Pixel 4 Smartphone, 64GB - $200 off...
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Without question, Google's Pixel 4 XL has been the most leaked smartphone of 2019 prior to its official launch. Heck, even Google teased the device and a key feature or two along the way, so it goes without saying, the hype was big for this fourth generation Pixel. Google tries to set the bar for Android ecosystem partners with respect to industrial design and new enabling technologies with its Pixel phones. And in fact, the new Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL bring with them a couple of firsts for made by Google devices, specifically a 90Hz display and wireless charging. The premise is that hopefully these new features are "done right" so to speak, or at least that the technology has matured enough to...
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The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are the latest flagship smartphones from Google, and there are plenty of deals to be had if you're looking to make an upgrade. One especially hot deal is coming from Verizon, which is the largest wireless carrier in the United States. Verizon is piling on the discounts and even giving out freebies to customers, including up to $750 in discounts/credits and free Amazon hardware. The first part of the deal comes with a $200 prepaid Mastercard that is given to new customers that switch to a Verizon Unlimited plan with a new line of service when purchasing a Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL. Once you checkout with your new smartphone and service, Verizon directs you...
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A video that has racked up nearly 20,000 views shows a possible problem with Google's recently introduced Pixel 4 XL handset. In the video, the Pixel 4 XL is shown lagging in certain situations, such as opening up Spotify and loading the Settings menu, while a OnePlus 7 Pro situated next to it performs the same tasks much quicker. What makes the video a bit more interesting is that it was not taken by a random user—Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii recorded the clip and uploaded it to his Twitter account. Here it is, embedded below... I have some upsetting news. After only 2 days, the Pixel 4 XL is already showing signs of major lag, in loading apps and settings as well as major...
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We are planning to post a full review of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL very soon. In the meantime, a thorough teardown of the larger handset has emerged, revealing how Google went about designing its latest flagship from an engineering standpoint. It also reveals a special radar chip related to Project Soli, which is what gives the Pixel phones their interpretative mojo (as it relates to gesture input). To quickly recap, the Pixel 4 XL sports a 6.3-inch display with a 3040x1440 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and 6GB of RAM, and wields 128GB or 64GB of onboard storage. For snapping photos, there's an 8-megapixel selfie camera in the front, and...
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Google has issued a statement explaining what situations warrant the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL automatically downgrading the display's native 90Hz refresh to 60Hz. The statement follows reports of the newest Pixel phones switching to the lower refresh rate when the brightness level is below 75 percent, which will be addressed in a future software update. The response is Google's equivalent of saying the refresh rate quirk as it relates to screen brightness is not a bug, it's a feature. However, it's not a feature users are happy about. Google's intentions are at least in the right place—the idea is to dynamically adjust the refresh rate to save battery life. What's curious about this behavior,...
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Google's flagship Pixel 4 lineup has been out a week now, and as anticipated, the new phones debuted with 90Hz displays. The higher refresh rate puts the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL in gaming phone territory, even though these are not classified as gaming handsets. Interestingly, however, it's been discovered the brightness level dictates whether the 90Hz setting actually works. Outside of playing games that can support framerates above 60 frames per second, a 90Hz refresh rate can make scrolling and navigation on a smartphone even smoother. However, it can also drain a battery faster than a 60Hz setting. To contend with that, Google employs an algorithm to dynamically switch the refresh rate, dropping...
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Google recently launched its Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, which are its two newest flagship Android smartphones. The Pixel 4 family brings a number of new features to the table including 90Hz displays, Face Unlock, and radar-driven motion/gesture sensing tech, but one of the most talked about features of any Google Pixel phone to date is its namesake, the camera. Or in the case of the Pixel 4, its cameras, plural. While our full review of the Pixel 4 XL will be forthcoming shortly, we thought that we'd give you a brief preview of what this new high-end smartphone has to offer with its new cameras. For the first time ever, the Pixel is offering two rear cameras: a 12.2MP primary sensor with an f/1.7...
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The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones debuted earlier this week, and already there is an issue with the devices that may make those who are security conscious uncomfortable with one of its key features. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL both support Face Unlock to authenticate the device. Google has confirmed that its face detection tech will unlock the device for people even when their eyes are closed. Apple's Face ID system, for instance, won't work if the user has their eyes closed by default and are actively looking at the display. Face Unlock working with the eyes closed isn't a flaw with the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. Google designed the facial detection system to work purposefully with eyes closed. The...
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Google went official with the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones yesterday at its hardware event (you can read our coverage here). There are multiple preorder offers out there for those wanting to buy a Pixel 4 smartphone, including direct from Google and via Amazon. Starting off with Google's perks, anyone who preorders a Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL via Google Fi will get a $100 Fi service credit (valid through October 26th). The Pixel 4 starts at $799 on Fi, and for those approved, the smartphone can be financed for $33.30 per month. There are some caveats to the $100 service credit deal, however. The Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL do have to be activated with Fi within 30 days of shipment. That means...
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Following a barrage of leaks, rumors, and speculation, the Pixel 4 series has now been given a proper unveiling and is available to preorder starting at $799 for the Pixel 4, and $899 for the Pixel 4 XL. And while perhaps lacking in surprises, these look to be enticing smartphone options for the money. Google Pixel 4 And Pixel 4 XL Specs And Pricing Let's kick things off with an overview of the pertinent specs. The Pixel 4 arrives with a 5.7-inch FHD+ OLED display (19:9 aspect ratio, 444 ppi) while the Pixel 4 XL goes a little bigger and sharper with a 6.3-inch QHD+ screen (19:9 aspect ratio, 537 ppi), both with a 90Hz refresh rate (gaming phone territory). It's already received an A+ rating...
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