Google Pixel 4 XL

The Google Pixel 4 XL, released on October 22, 2019, presents a solid, if not groundbreaking, smartphone experience. It measures 160.4mm in height, 75.1mm in width, and 8.2mm in depth, weighing 193 grams.

Build Quality

The Pixel 4 XL has a substantial feel due to its weight. The phone uses a glass and aluminum build, and is available in Clearly White, Just Black, and Oh So Orange. It is not a foldable device. While the materials feel premium, the design language is somewhat understated compared to competitors.

Screen Quality

The 6.3-inch P-OLED display boasts a 1440 x 3040 resolution (537 ppi), a 90Hz refresh rate, and HDR. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. While it doesn't feature the latest LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, the 90Hz refresh rate offers smoother scrolling and animations compared to the standard 60Hz. The display is described as "Frameless" and includes features like Always-On Display, HDR support, and multi-touch functionality. It lacks HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision certification.

Camera Performance

The Pixel 4 XL is equipped with a dual-camera system on the rear. The primary camera is a 12MP shooter utilizing the Sony IMX363 Exmor RS sensor, featuring an f/1.7 aperture and 1.40µm pixels with dual-pixel phase detection autofocus and both optical and electronic image stabilization. The secondary camera is a 16MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture and 1.0µm pixels, also featuring optical and electronic image stabilization. The camera system features a spectral and flicker sensor. The front-facing camera is a 16MP Sony IMX481 sensor with f/2.0 aperture and 1.22µm pixels. It incorporates NIR flood emitter, dot projector, and two NIR cameras for improved face unlock. The device captures 4K video at 30fps with EIS, and can achieve 1080p recording up to 120fps with EIS. The camera includes features like digital and optical zoom, dual-LED flash, and OIS. Additional shooting modes include RAW capture, panorama, HDR, and face detection.

Software Experience

The Pixel 4 XL launched with Android 10 and has received updates up to Android 13. Google's clean Android experience is present, with smooth performance. Features like face unlock are used as a biometric option, and the phone supports a variety of sensors including accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, and barometer. It includes NFC and supports Dual SIM functionality using both Nano SIM cards and eSIM.

Battery Performance

The phone contains a 3700mAh Li-Polymer battery, supports 18W fast charging, but lacks wireless charging capabilities. The battery is non-removable.

Connectivity Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE and APT-x. It also supports USB Type-C 3.1, including OTG and mass storage capabilities. GPS includes A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo. The device supports a wide array of 4G LTE bands including B71 (600).

Hardware The Pixel 4 XL is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) chipset, with an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 640 GPU. It has 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM. The device is available in 64GB and 128GB storage options, without a microSD card slot for expansion. It includes stereo speakers and 3 microphones. The device doesn't include a notifications LED, cooling system, or gaming buttons.

Value for Money As a 2019 flagship, the Pixel 4 XL's current market value sits in the medium price range. The pricing varies across different sources for the 6GB/128GB variant, and can be found at multiple price points. The device is no longer on the cutting edge, but still delivers a solid camera experience, smooth performance and software experience, making it a potential option for those seeking value.