Google Pixel 4 Review

Google Pixel 4 runs on the latest version of the Android operating system i.e., Android 10. You will get the stock Android experience. The new version of Android brings plenty of new features such as Google Assistant built right in the core and new gesture controls. Just like the performance, the software part is up to the mark and is better than most Android smartphones out there.

Since we’re looking at the stock Android experience, there are no bloatware or unwanted apps baked right into the user interface. The entire experience is clean, minimal, and smooth. The new Google Assistant lets you do much more than the previous version. For instance, you can now open any apps and do in-app searches using the Assistant. Apart from squeezing sides or using the hotword, you can fire up the Assistant by swiping up on the bottom right corner of the screen. Furthermore, the Assistant is now context-aware, meaning you can give the second command within 15 seconds without using ‘Hey Google’ again.

The traditional navigation button, now replaced with a slim bar by default, looks beautiful and consumes less space. Once you get along with the new navigation gestures, you will appreciate it. It is also worth mentioning that the company is now not offering free unlimited Google Drive storage, which is a bit of a bummer for most buyers out there. Ignoring that, the overall software experience is top-notch, and we don’t have even a single complaint in this department.

The significant change in the Pixel 4 lineup is the addition of a brand-new feature called MotionSense. As the name suggests, you can now use some predefined simple hand gestures movement to attain a particular task. Unlike other devices, Pixel 4 does not use a selfie camera for gestures but instead makes use of the radar chip. You won’t notice any notch/ cutout as the chip is located inside the top bezel of the screen.

The all-new radar chip features a broader field of view allowing the device to recognize gestures from far away. Well, Motion Sense uses three detection stages, namely Presence, Reach, and Gesture. First of all, the device will detect whether you are near the phone or not. If you are, the device will power on the always-on display. Similarly, when you move away, the display will turn off. When you move your hands to pick up the phone, the device will display the lock screen and will activate the Face Unlock feature.

Lastly, the device will recognize the gestures meaning you can wave your hand over the phone to do a particular task. As of now, the feature is limited to a few basic tasks such as music playback and controlling alarm or incoming calls. It would be interesting to see what Google has in store for us in terms of gesture controls.

The Pixel 4 is backed by a small 2,800mAh battery with the support of 18W fast charging along with QI wireless charging. Well, the smartphone does not offer even a decent battery life during our usage. I can say that it is the weakest element of the device. We rarely got throughout the day on a single charge. In fact, during our heavy usage, the device would live till the afternoon. If you’re buying this device, then you might need to carry a power backup along.

Thankfully, it does come with fast charging support. With 18W rapid charger, the device can go from zero to 50% in just 30 minutes. To fully charge, the device will take around 53 minutes if you use the bundled charger and cable. You can also charge your device wireless if you want. I found the feature to be very useful, especially while sitting on the desk.

For audio, there is a stereo speaker located at the bottom with a loud and clear output. Well, there is nothing impressive in the speaker, but it will do the job for you nicely. Sadly, there is no 3.5mm headphone jack on the device, meaning you will either have to rely on wireless products or type-c earphones. Alternatively, you can also buy the Type-C to 3.5mm dongle, which the brand should have bundled it in the first place. Coming to the cellular connectivity, you will not face any significant issue with the connections, earpiece, and microphone.

For biometrics, there is no physical as well as an optical fingerprint sensor on this device. The smartphone maker has instead gone with the Face Unlock, which is quite fast and accurate. I can vouch that it is one of the fastest Face Unlock on any Android smartphone. Sadly, Face Unlock does not work with most of the apps out there, including banking ones.

As for connectivity, all the standard features include dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE & aptXHD, GPS, and USB Type-C port for charging. There is NFC, which you can use for mobile payments or one-tap pairing requests.