Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Google Pixel 4 will reportedly ditch physical buttons and display notch

By

Google has just released the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, but the rumor mill is already churning out unconfirmed information regarding its next flagship smartphone, the Pixel 4.

YouTuber Jon Prosser from Front Page Tech said that according to his sources, the Pixel 4 will undergo massive changes from its predecessors, starting with the removal of all physical buttons from the smartphones.

Recommended Videos

Instead of clickable power and volume keys, the Pixel 4 will reportedly have capacitive touch areas along its right side, creating an uninterrupted aluminum frame.

The reason for ditching physical buttons was not disclosed, but Prosser believes that it has something to do with the Active Edge squeezable frame. In previous Pixel devices, the feature was limited to certain parts of the aluminum frame that did not have physical buttons. By replacing them with capacitive touch areas, Active Edge may extend to the entire side of the Pixel 4.

In addition to the removal of the physical buttons, Prosser’s sources also claimed that the Pixel 4 display will not have a notch, but will instead have a hole-punch front-facing camera. The screen will have uniform bezels and a very thin chin, but will retain the front-facing stereo speakers of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3.

Meanwhile, the back of the smartphone will no longer have a fingerprint scanner, as the Pixel 4 feature in-display technology for fingerprint recognition. The device will also reportedly have a new dual setup for the rear-facing cameras, which will be aligned horizontally in the top-left corner instead of vertically.

All of this information remains only rumors until Google releases official confirmation. Prosser’s credibility should be noted though, as he previously provided leaks for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL that turned out to be accurate, and was also the first to confirm the existence of the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL.

The information provided by Prosser’s sources coincide with a sketch from earlier this year that claimed to be the first look at the design of the Pixel 4 XL. The drawing revealed a hole-punch front-facing camera and what looked like a horizontally-arranged dual-sensor rear-facing camera, with no indication of a fingerprint sensor at the back of the smartphone.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Aaron Mamiit
Aaron Mamiit
Contributor
Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…
Did you buy a Google Pixel 8a? These are the first 9 things you need to do
Google Pixel 8a in Aloe.

Ahead of Google I/O 2024, Google revealed the Google Pixel 8a, and it’s turning out to be one of the best phone values in a while. It boasts a beautiful OLED display that now sports a 120Hz refresh rate, the Tensor G3 chip, Gemini Nano, a larger battery, wireless charging, and a refreshed design with some fun new colors. In short, there's a lot to dig into.

There is definitely a lot to like about the Google Pixel 8a, and as such, we don't blame you if you aren't sure where to start. If you just picked one up, then make sure you do these things first!
Turn on Smooth Display

Read more
This is our best look yet at the Google Pixel 9 series
Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 XL leaks.

The Google Pixel 9 (from left), Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 XL Rozetked

When they finally launch, the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL will not have many surprises — at least not when it comes to their design. Rozetked has revealed a series of new images showing the front, back, and sides of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL, along with comparisons to previous Pixel models and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Read more
I have the Google Pixel 8a. Here are 6 things you need to know
A person holding the Google Pixel 8a.

The Google Pixel 8a is in my hand and will have been for a few days by the time you read this. It’s not long enough for me to give it our full in-depth review treatment, as the battery has only just settled down into everyday life and I’m still experimenting with the camera and features.

But there are some things I’ve quickly discovered about the Pixel 8a that you should know about. So, while we work on the review, take a look at what has already piqued our interest in Google’s newest, cheapest phone.
You're going to notice the bezels

Read more