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
Camera - Low Light Evaluation
Night-time photography was starting with the Pixel 3 and the introduction of Night Sight, one of Google’s fortes. The new Pixel 4 is able to improve in this aspect through a few different means: A new and improved camera sensor, a larger lens aperture to capture more light, and a new Night Sight algorithm that promises to improve and iterate upon the existing implementation.
[ Pixel 4 ] - [ Pixel 3 ]
[ S10+ (S) ] - [ S10+ (E) ]
[ iPhone 11 Pro ] - [ Mate 30 Pro ]
[ P30 Pro ] - [ G8X ] - [ Xperia 1 ]
Starting off with the first sample, the differences to the Pixel 3 are quite minor. Besides the different colour of the lighting, the overall composition of the scene and details are pretty much the same between both phones. There is a difference in noise levels between the two, but it’s hard to conclude any one is better than the other.
The Pixels still lead Samsung’s devices, but Apple and Huawei are ahead of the Pixel 4 in terms of detail retention.
[ Pixel 4 ] - [ Pixel 3 ]
[ S10+ (S) ] - [ S10+ (E) ]
[ iPhone 11 Pro ] - [ Mate 30 Pro ]
[ P30 Pro ] - [ G8X ]
In the next shot the differences between the Pixel 4 and 3 are more evident. The new phone has better dynamic range and thus is able to resolve more information in the darker shadows of the scene, such as the main buildings facades.
Apple’s night mode didn’t trigger here which leaves Huawei’s devices as the contenders.
[ Pixel 4 ] - [ Pixel 3 ]
[ S10+ (S) ] - [ S10+ (E) ]
[ iPhone 11 Pro ] - [ Mate 30 Pro ]
[ P30 Pro ] - [ G8X ]
[ Xperia 1 ]
We’re only seeing minor differences in the P3 <> P4 comparison here. The P4 has slightly better shadow detail and noise handling. Google, Samsung and Huawei all produce great results as Apple falls behind here as again Night Mode doesn’t trigger.
[ Pixel 4 ] - [ Pixel 3 ]
[ Galaxy S10+ (S) ] - [ Galaxy S10+ (E) ]
[ iPhone 11 Pro ] - [ Mate 30 Pro ]
[ P30 Pro ] - [ G8X ] - [ Xperia 1 ]
The darker it gets, the more evident the improvements of the Pixel 4. The new phone here holds a clear edge over the Pixel 3. The result is actually not that far off from the Exynos S10, with the Pixel having slightly better noise handling. The Snapdragon S10’s night mode seems to continue to be algorithmically inferior. The iPhone 11 is able to get a lot of detail out of the visible areas, but algorithmically isn’t able to extract much light out of the shadows which remain pitch black. Of course, Huawei’s large RYYB sensor is able to capture a stupid amount of light.
[ Pixel 4 ] - [ Pixel 3 ] - [ Galaxy S10+ (S) ]
[ Galaxy S10+ (E) ] - [ iPhone 11 Pro ]
[ Mate 30 Pro ] - [ P30 Pro ]
[ G8X ] - [ Xperia 1 ]
The phones here are quite in line. The Pixel 4 has an edge in detail which it shares with the Huawei phones, with Apple and Samsung closely behind.
[ Pixel 4 ] - [ Pixel 3 ]
[ Galaxy S10+ (S) ] - [ Galaxy S10+ (E) ]
[ iPhone 11 Pro ] - [ Mate 30 Pro ]
[ P30 Pro ] - [ G8X ] - [ Xperia 1 ]
The Pixel 4 is able to get a little bit more light than the P3 but it’s not too much a major upgrade. Google lags behind Apple in terms of detail here as the iPhone is able to get a much sharper picture, although lacking details in the darker areas where the sensor just doesn’t pick up any light.
[ Pixel 4 ] - [ Pixel 3 ]
[ Galaxy S10+ (S) ] - [ Galaxy S10+ (E) ]
[ iPhone 11 Pro ] - [ Mate 30 Pro ]
[ P30 Pro ] - [ G8X ] - [ Xperia 1 ]
This last shot again showcases the Pixel 4’s better light capture ability as it’s able to notably turn down the ISO levels compared to the Pixel 3, with the resulting shot being significantly sharper. The Pixel 4 is far ahead Samsung and Apple, only trading blows with Huawei.
Low-Light Conclusion – Excellent Upgrades
Overall, the low-light ability of the Pixel 4 is closely tied to how Night Sight performs. Google’s camera here is excellent and the algorithm tweaks are augmented by new main sensor which is able to reduce noise levels more significantly. The differences between the Pixel 4 and Pixel 3 grow the darker it gets as the latter’s sensor just isn’t able to capture enough light.
Google and Apple are battling with each other over their implementations. Sometimes Apple gets the better and sharper shots, however this only ever rarely happens as Night Sight generally provides the better results and isn’t limited by an uncontrollable automatic activation such as on the iPhone 11. Samsung Exynos devices are closely following the Pixel 4 in terms of quality. Huawei generally still has the low-light leadership amongst current flagships.
One aspect that I didn’t test in this review was astrophotography. The reason for this was pretty stupid but also very revealing of the feature’s real-world usability: I wasn’t able to get out of my city’s light pollution area and 90% of the nights since I’ve had the phone were under cloud cover. Whilst I’m sure there’s other people who’ll be able to take advantage of the feature for some good shots, it’s also pretty much a gimmick given its very limited usability.
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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.