They may have been released last year, but Google’s latest phones are still the best the company has produced yet: relatively fast and affordable, with plenty of power, slick software, and awesome cameras. But which one should you go for? Is the regular Pixel 4 the best option or should you go large with the Pixel 4 XL. We’re here to help with a detailed breakdown of the differences between these two phones, so read on to find out exactly how the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL measure up.
The Google Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4 XL both have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor with 6GB of RAM. That gives them plenty of processing power to run the latest Android games and apps, and makes for seamless and swift multitasking.
Since the Pixel 4 XL has a bigger screen to power you’d expect it to boast a bigger battery and it certainly does. The Pixel 4 makes do with a paltry 2,800mAh capacity, less than last year’s Pixel 3, while the Pixel 4 XL has a 3,700mAh capacity. Even taking the screen sizes into account, the Pixel 4 XL has a bit more stamina than its smaller sibling. Both support fast wired charging via the USB-C ports and Qi wireless charging.
Winner: Google Pixel 4 XL
Design and durability
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Google has tweaked its design for the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, but they look virtually identical apart from the fact that they’re different sizes. On the front, there’s a sizeable bezel at the top of the screen, but thankfully no notch. The bezel below the screen has been shaved down compared to the Pixel 3 and 3 XL. You’ll still find the power button and volume controls on the right edge and a USB-C port on the bottom. The glass back is now a single color, though the rounded frame is a slightly different tone to provide contrast. The camera module is a rounded square at the top left, which sticks out just a little. There’s no fingerprint sensor as the new Pixels support face unlock. They come in white, black, or a new orange color.
As glass phones with scuffable metal frames, the Pixel 4 and 4 XL are both begging for a protective case. They are IP68 rated, though, which means rain, spills, and even accidental submersion will not cause any lasting damage.
Winner: Tie
Display
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Pixel 4 screen is 5.7 inches, compared to 6.3 inches in the Pixel 4 XL. Both have a higher than usual refresh rate of 90Hz which makes everything look that little bit smoother. They’re also both OLED screens offering great contrast and good legibility in most conditions. But the other advantage that the 4 XL has is a higher resolution, which translates to 537 pixels per inch, compared to 444 pixels per inch for the Pixel 4.
Winner: Google Pixel 4 XL
Camera
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Perhaps the biggest upgrade for the Pixel 4 range is the move to a dual-lens setup. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL combine a 12-megapixel, 28mm wide-angle lens with a 16-megapixel, 14mm telephoto lens in the main camera. There’s a single-lens, 8-megapixel wide-angle lens on the front. The new telephoto lens enables you to zoom in on subjects with far more clarity than before. It offers 2x optical zoom, but using a hybrid approach combined with Super Res Zoom on the software side it can go further.
Google is also offering Live HDR+, so what you see on screen is an accurate representation of the final image. There are also new Dual Exposure controls, so you can manipulate brightness and shadows with different sliders, White Balancing for truer colors, and a dedicated Astrophotography mode for shooting the stars. You’ll also find improvements to existing modes in the Pixel 3 camera, such as Night Sight and Portrait Mode.
The Pixel 4 and 4 XL have exactly the same camera setup front and back, so there’s no separating them here.
Winner: Tie
Software and updates
You’ll find Android 10 with a Google touch running on the Pixel 4 and 4 XL and it’s the slickest, most elegant version of Android around. It’s easy to use, packed with useful features, and it feels refined.
Naturally, both these phones will get updates and new software features from Google quickly, before other Android phones. If you’re the sort that installs beta software, that means the latest developer build of Android — right now that’s the first beta of Android 11. No, it won’t have a fun name like Jellybean or Gingerbread, but it will bring new features. We’ll learn more at Google I/O shortly; for now, you’re fine with the existing OS.
Nevertheless, Google continues to update these phones. In a December 2019 “Pixel feature drop,” Google improved some of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL’s best features, including the A.I.-powered Call Screen, background blur in photos, and Duo video calling. It’s nice to see these features continue to improve. They’re also guaranteed to get swift and regular security patches.
Winner: Tie
Special features
Google Pixel 4 | (Don’t) hold the phone: new features coming to Pixel 4
Both the Pixel 4 and the 4 XL come already loaded with several new features that’ll leave you feeling excited. Some of them include things like audio assistance—users can turn the volume down on their device by using a specific hand gesture. A person could also stop an alarm or even answer a call through the Motion Sense feature. This technology allows users to open their smart device without punching in a passcode or waiting for the phone to read their fingerprint. Instead, the device employs facial recognition software to recognize a user and unlock for them. The newest update for Google Assistant comes with some new features; The virtual assistant can now react to several commands in a row, without users having to say “Hey, Google” for every single command. The phone also utilizes tech called “Active Edge,” which allows users to squeeze both sides of the Pixel to talk to Google Assistant.
Winner: Tie
Price and availability
When the phone launched, the Pixel 4 reached about $799, while the 4 XL was about $899. After releasing several discounts and deals, Google dropped the price for both devices; the Pixel 4 has a price tag of $499 and the 4 XL costs $599. That said, in the smartphone industry, this price drop is actually a relatively small amount. You’ll save $100, but that’s pretty much it. Both phones are available from Google or any other popular provider.
Overall winner: Google Pixel 4 XL
Side-by-side, the Pixel 4 and the 4 XL function very similarly. They have a superior processing power, exciting features, and comparable software. The biggest differences you’ll notice are the 4 XL’s larger screen and extended battery life. For that reason, we chose the Pixel 4 XL as our winner, although the Pixel 4 is still an excellent phone and a fantastic choice for anyone who likes a smaller phone or wants to save an extra $100.
With the excitement of the Google Pixel 8a launch, it might have passed a little unnoticed that Google also launched a new Pixel Tablet — though not exactly. For one thing, the “new” Pixel Tablet is the exact same device as the “old” Pixel Tablet. We mean that literally: same specs, same look, same screen. The only difference with the newly launched Pixel Tablet is that it’ll be sold without its charging/speaker dock, unlike the previous model, which included it.
At $399, the new Pixel Tablet is $100 cheaper than the earlier model, but that’s to be expected — both because it doesn’t come with any hardware refresh and also because it cuts the dock. It's also worth noting that it will not be launched with any new first-party accessories like a keyboard or stylus, which were previously rumored for the tablet.
The Google Pixel 8a price just leaked. Here’s how much it’ll cost
And so concludes the saga of Google Pixel 8a leaks, merely days ahead of its expected unveiling at the I/O developers conference. Earlier today, insider @OnLeaks (in collaboration with Smartprix) shared more marketing renders of the upcoming budget phone, complete with its asking price in tow.
It seems Google is going to charge $499 for its next phone, at least the 128GB base storage variant, that is. For the 256GB storage variant, buyers will have to shell out $599. That’s the same asking price as the Google Pixel 7a, which arrived last year and won plaudits for its terrific mix of raw firepower, camera prowess, and feature-loaded Pixel software experience.
A new Google Pixel Tablet is coming, but it’s not what you think
It's been almost a year since the Google Pixel Tablet went up for preorder, leading many Android tablet fans to wonder when the inevitable Pixel Tablet 2 will arrive. A new rumor suggests that Google could release a new Pixel Tablet as early as next month, but it's probably not what you were expecting or hoping for.
According to @MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter), Google is planning to "relaunch" the Pixel Tablet without the charging/speaker dock included in the box. As you'll likely recall, the speaker dock is the Pixel Tablet's standout feature. You can use the Pixel Tablet on its own as a traditional Android tablet when you want, and when you're done, you throw it on the dock to transform it into a smart display. The idea of Google selling the Pixel Tablet without its claim to fame is an interesting one.
