Product test
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: the most versatile member of the family
by Michelle Brändle
Pixel 4 tested: Beautiful photos alone are not enough
20.11.2019
Translation: machine translated
The Pixel 4 is Google's new flagship smartphone and offers you the hardware and many advantages in terms of software for the high price of a flagship. But overall, there are too many weak points to be completely convincing.
Optics and design
The Pixel 4 is available in two sizes: With a 5.7 and 6.3 inch display. The larger version is called the Pixel 4 XL and is identical to the Pixel 4 apart from the size and battery capacity. I was able to hold both in my hand at the launch. Although I have become accustomed to displays with a diagonal of more than six inches in recent years, the smaller Pixel 4 definitely felt better in my hand.
The difference between theory and practice: 90 Hz display
When you look at the front of the Pixel 4, you notice the wide bezels around the display by today's standards - especially at the top edge. The Full HD+ resolution ensures a high level of detail and the OLED display shines in vibrant colours. Compared to other displays, such as that of the OnePlus 6T, it is darker and more yellow - even during the day and not just in the evening when night mode is switched on.
In theory, I understand the advantages of the Pixel 4's 90 Hz display touted by Google, which is supposed to make animations and movements look smoother. In practice, the 90 hertz doesn't leave a particular impression on me. This is partly due to the fact that not every app supports 90 hertz and then continues to flicker across the screen at 60 hertz. But even when 90 Hz is safely active, the difference remains irrelevant to my eyes.
Small battery
This is very quick thanks to the USB-C port and quick-charging function with the supplied power adapter. An almost empty Pixel 4 is almost fully charged in just under an hour. Nevertheless, I expect the Pixel 4 XL to last longer with its 3700 mAh battery despite its larger display.
Radar should make the smartphone better
Technologically, it is impressive that the Google developers have miniaturised a radar system to the size of a smartphone. They have christened it "Soli" and use it for two things in the Pixel 4: facial recognition and a gesture control system called "MotionSense".
Fast facial recognition with a scratched image
Google naturally says that facial recognition with Soli is more secure than previous solutions on Android. So far, there have been no reports that researchers have managed to trick it. A comparison with Apple's FaceID from a security perspective is yet to be made. In practice, facial recognition has proven to be fast and reliable when unlocking the Pixel 4, but has already made negative headlines.
The Pixel 4's facial recognition does not check whether the person is awake and their eyes are open. In other words, if you are asleep, your children or other people in your home can unlock the smartphone. A software update should fix this flaw soon.
Gesture control recognises too many commands
Google is not the first manufacturer to integrate gesture control such as "Motion Sense" into a smartphone. The LG G8 was already able to do this in spring 2019 and understood even more gestures than the Pixel 4. LG solved its gesture control technology using a so-called time-of-flight camera and not a radar like Google. However, the technology did not make the G8 a bestseller.
Acoustically, the Pixel 4 with its two speakers delivers a decent stereo sound for a smartphone.
Android 10 with update guarantee
As with the Pixel 3, you can activate the voice assistant by pressing the smartphone. Google calls this technology "Active Edge".
The Pixel 4 comes with Android 10 pre-installed as the operating system and Google promises "operating system and security updates for at least 3 years". For comparison: Smartphones that are part of the Android One programme receive operating system updates for two years and security updates for three years. However, later than the Pixel models.
There are things I like about Android 10 on the Pixel 4. One of them is the option to mute notifications. They are then displayed, but the smartphone does not vibrate or make any noise. Unfortunately, this only works for entire apps and not individual chat groups, but can be changed at any time by swiping the notification downwards.
What I didn't like at all: The Pixel 4 suddenly rebooted four times in just under four weeks. In the middle of a phone call while I was on Instagram, in my trouser pocket while travelling and at night while I was sleeping. At least the alarm clock still rang in the morning and I've never seen a smartphone restart so quickly. But overall, the software doesn't leave a good impression.
The new gesture control in Android 10 is also a nuisance. To take a step back, you swipe inwards to the left or right of the edge. However, on the Pixel 4 without a case, the ball of my hand keeps hitting this area of the touchscreen and I cancel the back function even though I want to click on something with my thumb.
Camera: When the software paints photos
Google has dispensed with a wide-angle lens and, according to its own statements, is of the opinion that this is not as important as the zoom. However, unlike other smartphones with a dual camera, you cannot switch to the telephoto lens, but can only go up to a maximum magnification of ten times on the zoom scale, but do not notice when the lens is changed.
In the past, digital zoom was rightly considered useless. But it's not just me who has to change my mind when I see the magnification of the Pixel 4. Yes, the tenfold magnification is no longer quite crisp - but it's worlds better than what digital zooms used to deliver. The software does a great job here. It is important to use the zoom directly and not try to enlarge a section of the photo later. That doesn't look nearly as good.
Google refers to the Pixel 4's camera as "computational photography". This is a fitting term, as the software has a major influence on the final image, alongside the optics and the sensor. Incidentally, you can see how this turns out directly on the smartphone display for the first time. Google calls this technology "Live HDR" and, unlike in the past, you no longer have to guess what effects the HDR effect will have.
The always-on HDR effect is clearly noticeable in the sky and trees in the picture of Hamburg harbour above. Even direct backlighting is not an impossible task for the Pixel 4. If the sky is grey in grey, the camera cannot add any colour. In terms of colour, however, the permanent HDR effect is always a balancing act between natural-looking colours and gaudy effects.
In the dark, the software makes itself even more noticeable in the shot - and impressively so. The conventional recording is already impressive, but the night mode takes it to the next level. The longer exposure time of several seconds - the software compensates for slight movements of the hand - not only ensures better illumination, but also a higher level of detail.
The front camera delivers selfies with a resolution of eight megapixels. The HDR effect is also permanently active here. In the example photo, it brings out the clouds in the sky, but makes my face too dark.
The selfies look less impressive in the dark. If it weren't for the night mode, which is also available for the front camera. Although the level of detail is not as good as with the main camera, the brightness that night mode "conjures up" on the selfie is impressive.
The Pixel 4 camera does not offer a manual mode. However, you don't necessarily have to install a second camera app, but can also have the smartphone save unedited RAW images in addition to the edited JPEG images.
With all praise for the camera and the software, not everything is perfect. For example, the Pixel 4 only manages 30 frames per second for 4K videos and not 60 fps as is usual in this price range. And when I compare the image quality with the much cheaper Pixel 3a, the difference is too small or non-existent for me to pay twice the price.
Other features
The Pixel 4 features an NFC chip, for example for Google Pay, and Bluetooth 5.0 including AptX HD and LDAC. You can only connect headphones via USB-C cable. The 3.5 mm jack is no longer available and Google does not include an adapter or headphones in the box. You can use two SIM cards with the Pixel 4, but only insert one physically. The second is only available as an eSIM on the smartphone.
Conclusion: High expectations are not always met
Jan Johannsen
Senior Editor
Jan.Johannsen@galaxus.deWhen I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.
