Google is afraid of Samsung, which is why the Pixel 4 is lackluster.

[straygator7]

Count me as one consumer for whom specs and battery size won't matter at all. I bought a P2XL in March 2018, despite the admonitions of a subset of smartphone enthusiasts who regularly post in these forums to declare, even before anyone has had an opportunity to experience using the device, that each iteration of the Pixel is fatally flawed, or deficient in certain specs, or overpriced compared to Samsungs, iPhones, and other flagship devices. Aside from the consistent complaints about insufficiency of the battery, inadequacy of the RAM, and lack of multiple camera lenses, they complained that the P2XL was garbage because it suffered from a blue-tinted display, and the P3XL was garbage because it had a notch. Yet many of the people who nonetheless purchased and use those Pixels found them to be excellent phones that functioned efficiently and smoothly for the ordinary purposes that mattered most to them.

Now, once again, some of the same posters have been lambasting the P4/4XL here based on the same perceived shortcomings regarding comparative specs, with added lamentations regarding the loss of a fingerprint sensor, and the discontinuance of the free unlimited photo storage, and the failure to include ear buds, etc. The persistent outcry seems to be: "Why can't Google provide what the people want? Why doesn't Google listen to what we keep telling them is missing in their Pixel phones?"

I'm sure that there are many potential purchasers who place a premium on specs; and for those folks, it's great that there are options that offer the features they desire and are more suitable for their usage. But it's error to assume that everyone has the same preferences. There are also many consumers who place a higher value on performance of the simple functions that are the important primary uses in their daily lives.

I love my P2XL because it is unfailingly reliable for all the things I want and need it to do -- calling, texting, taking lots of photos and a few videos (especially when traveling), mapping locations and using navigation, checking e-mail and a few websites when away from my computer, connecting to my TV/DVR to schedule recordings, and occasionally watching a game on the ESPN app or a YouTube video. My P2XL is 18 months old and I still get at least 1.5 days of normal usage on a charge; during times of light usage, I sometimes get through two full days. I might recall that the screen has a slight blue tint once every 3-4 months, but it hasn't diminished my enjoyment of the phone in the least.

When March 2020 rolls around and I've got two full years on the P2XL, unless I see a significant amount of negative reports from people who have actually been using the device, I will likely buy a P4XL, and keep the P2XL as a backup. I don't care that it doesn't have a wide-angle lens; for my purposes, the telephoto is much more useful. I don't care that the iPhone has a larger battery; for my normal usage, the Pixel 4XL battery will be ample. I don't profess to speak for anyone else; but please don't overlook the fact that there are some people for whom comparative specs are far less important than satisfaction with the normal daily user experience.

 

[anon(10641352)]

Count me as one consumer for whom specs and battery size won't matter at all. I bought a P2XL in March 2018, despite the admonitions of a subset of smartphone enthusiasts who regularly post in these forums to declare, even before anyone has had an opportunity to experience using the device, that each iteration of the Pixel is fatally flawed, or deficient in certain specs, or overpriced compared to Samsungs, iPhones, and other flagship devices. Aside from the consistent complaints about insufficiency of the battery, inadequacy of the RAM, and lack of multiple camera lenses, they complained that the P2XL was garbage because it suffered from a blue-tinted display, and the P3XL was garbage because it had a notch. Yet many of the people who nonetheless purchased and use those Pixels found them to be excellent phones that functioned efficiently and smoothly for the ordinary purposes that mattered most to them.

Now, once again, some of the same posters have been lambasting the P4/4XL here based on the same perceived shortcomings regarding comparative specs, with added lamentations regarding the loss of a fingerprint sensor, and the discontinuance of the free unlimited photo storage, and the failure to include ear buds, etc. The persistent outcry seems to be: "Why can't Google provide what the people want? Why doesn't Google listen to what we keep telling them is missing in their Pixel phones?"

I'm sure that there are many potential purchasers who place a premium on specs; and for those folks, it's great that there are options that offer the features they desire and are more suitable for their usage. But it's error to assume that everyone has the same preferences. There are also many consumers who place a higher value on performance of the simple functions that are the important primary uses in their daily lives.

I love my P2XL because it is unfailingly reliable for all the things I want and need it to do -- calling, texting, taking lots of photos and a few videos (especially when traveling), mapping locations and using navigation, checking e-mail and a few websites when away from my computer, connecting to my TV/DVR to schedule recordings, and occasionally watching a game on the ESPN app or a YouTube video. My P2XL is 18 months old and I still get at least 1.5 days of normal usage on a charge; during times of light usage, I sometimes get through two full days. I might recall that the screen has a slight blue tint once every 3-4 months, but it hasn't diminished my enjoyment of the phone in the least.

When March 2020 rolls around and I've got two full years on the P2XL, unless I see a significant amount of negative reports from people who have actually been using the device, I will likely buy a P4XL, and keep the P2XL as a backup. I don't care that it doesn't have a wide-angle lens; for my purposes, the telephoto is much more useful. I don't care that the iPhone has a larger battery; for my normal usage, the Pixel 4XL battery will be ample. I don't profess to speak for anyone else; but please don't overlook the fact that there are some people for whom comparative specs are far less important than satisfaction with the normal daily user experience.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

FYI 4 hours and 38 minutes of screen on time since the last full charge on my Pixel 4 XL and I'm at 43% battery left. I'll easily get 6-7 hours of screen on time. I'm more than happy with that...

 

[Jeremy8000]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

FYI 4 hours and 38 minutes of screen on time since the last full charge on my Pixel 4 XL and I'm at 43% battery left. I'll easily get 6-7 hours of screen on time. I'm more than happy with that...

Was reading in a blog comment of a user running his 4 XL locked into 90Hz refresh, had about the same SOT and had about 30% left, with no services disabled, screen left at full but on adaptive brightness, mixed use.

Thanks for this. Everyone's use is different, but I will put more anecdotal stock in people's reports of actual data associated with their experience than those simply saying it's bad/subpar/good/trash/etc, which offers no frame of reference for anyone but themselves.

 

[anon(10641352)]

Was reading in a blog comment of a user running his 4 XL locked into 90Hz refresh, had about the same SOT and had about 30% left, with no services disabled, screen left at full but on adaptive brightness, mixed use.

Thanks for this. Everyone's use is different, but I will put more anecdotal stock in people's reports of actual data associated with their experience than those simply saying it's bad/subpar/good/trash/etc, which offers no frame of reference for anyone but themselves.

FYI I was using it the whole time purposely TRYING to use it more and doing different things than I would normally do. I signed into games I haven't used in years, setup all my apps, setup my home screens, browsed the web on my phone rather than computer, etc. The phone wasn't just sitting on the table with the screen on.

I'm happy with the battery so far.

 

[Jeremy8000]

FYI I was using it the whole time purposely TRYING to use it more and doing different things than I would normally do. I signed into games I haven't used in years, setup all my apps, setup my home screens, browsed the web on my phone rather than computer, etc. The phone wasn't just sitting on the table with the screen on.

I'm happy with the battery so far.

Reality is, the battery is usually taxed more in the first few days than nearly any other time, as the CPU, network, etc are dealing with the extra burden of downloading, installing, configuration of apps, and the novelty effect inciting more general use.

Sounds like Google did far more right with this phone (at least the 4 XL) than they did wrong.

 

[anon(10641352)]

Reality is, the battery is usually taxed more in the first few days than nearly any other time, as the CPU, network, etc are dealing with the extra burden of downloading, installing, configuration of apps, and the novelty effect inciting more general use.

Sounds like Google did far more right with this phone (at least the 4 XL) than they did wrong.

I agree. YouTubers are all about getting views and let's face it nothing "sells" like bad news...

 

[Golurk]

I agree. YouTubers are all about getting views and let's face it nothing "sells" like bad news...

Great point there. Most media is negative...something to do with brain chemistry just means it’s more likely to attract our attention. Similar reasoning goes for clickbait (loads of exclamation marks, capital letters etc). Personally I don’t like YouTube reviews, not only because they are mostly biased/poorly executed but also because I like being able to read at my own pace.

 

[cardboard60]

Sidebar:. When Microsoft introduced the DUO last week, it went with Android, rather than intro another OS. The reason, you heard Panos say it....APPS, it's all about the apps. Google is about apps and service. Keep that in mind. The only Samsung app î use is Samsung Pay. The rest are either Google or other.
End Sidebar:

I do not like Duos.

 

[bp3dots]

Really ? Specs are what people compare in everything they buy. So when someone goes in to buy a phone and they compare the battery sizes of say the S10E and Pixel 4 it won't matter? Or if 1 has expandable storage and 1 doesn't?

Really. A lot of experience selling phones (and other things that have similar kind of brand/features competition) tells me how the buying public evaluates things. Sure, some folks like us care about 3700 vs 3500 batteries, but average folks just want to know if it's likely to last all day. 2 vs 3 cameras? Look at a picture on both phones, half the people will tell you they can't tell a difference.

Price and apps are way bigger considerations for most folks.

 

[dsignori]

Really. A lot of experience selling phones (and other things that have similar kind of brand/features competition) tells me how the buying public evaluates things. Sure, some folks like us care about 3700 vs 3500 batteries, but average folks just want to know if it's likely to last all day. 2 vs 3 cameras? Look at a picture on both phones, half the people will tell you they can't tell a difference.

Price and apps are way bigger considerations for most folks.

Very true.

 

[ScottsoNJ]

Really. A lot of experience selling phones (and other things that have similar kind of brand/features competition) tells me how the buying public evaluates things. Sure, some folks like us care about 3700 vs 3500 batteries, but average folks just want to know if it's likely to last all day. 2 vs 3 cameras? Look at a picture on both phones, half the people will tell you they can't tell a difference.

Price and apps are way bigger considerations for most folks.

Apps? Why would apps be a thing since mostly all androids go through the Google Play

 

[imma_rage_quit]

Apps? Why would apps be a thing since mostly all androids go through the Google Play

Because if Samsung built their own OS they wouldn't have nearly as many apps as iOS or Android...

 

[cardboard60]

A lot of people dont even know much about phones.
They make phone calls.
Text and take pictures.

 

[imma_rage_quit]

A lot of people dont even know much about phones.
They make phone calls.
Text and take pictures.

First thing you've said that I've agreed with...

 

[imma_rage_quit]

A lot of people dont even know much about phones.
They make phone calls.
Text and take pictures.

This Pixel 4 XL gets terrible battery life right? RIGHT?!? GTFOH

 

[Golurk]

Really. A lot of experience selling phones (and other things that have similar kind of brand/features competition) tells me how the buying public evaluates things. Sure, some folks like us care about 3700 vs 3500 batteries, but average folks just want to know if it's likely to last all day. 2 vs 3 cameras? Look at a picture on both phones, half the people will tell you they can't tell a difference.

Price and apps are way bigger considerations for most folks.

The battery capacity thing is kind of a problem when the Pixel 4 has a teeny battery and a sub-par battery life. There is a correlation between battery capacity (e.g 2800mAh) and battery life (e.g 3 hours of gaming screen time).

Specs do matter and the public/consumers will pay attention to them, but it depends heavily on marketing. Google’s marketing for the Pixels doesn’t really mention any specific specs, while Samsung’s and Huawei’s mention them a lot more.

 

[SupraLB]

Looks like Google could have enabled RCS messaging with a simple click of a button, already installed on every phone. Yet, they didn't want to upset their carriers who want to do it themselves......just like they don't want to upset Samsung which is 50% of all their business. Another example of Google holding back.

 

[imma_rage_quit]

To be fair you can activate RCS on ANY Android phone not just the Pixels. Don't try and make it something it's not...

 

[bp3dots]

The battery capacity thing is kind of a problem when the Pixel 4 has a teeny battery and a sub-par battery life. There is a correlation between battery capacity (e.g 2800mAh) and battery life (e.g 3 hours of gaming screen time).

Specs do matter and the public/consumers will pay attention to them, but it depends heavily on marketing. Google’s marketing for the Pixels doesn’t really mention any specific specs, while Samsung’s and Huawei’s mention them a lot more.

If it's really a not all day kind of battery, that could be an issue. But also probably an easy bump to an XL that won't have the same problem. There's obviously a limit when a phone is substantially worse than it's competition that people will just avoid it.

3 hours gaming time is more likely to be a factor for a power user than your average person.

 

[Mike Dee]

Looks like Google could have enabled RCS messaging with a simple click of a button, already installed on every phone. Yet, they didn't want to upset their carriers who want to do it themselves......just like they don't want to upset Samsung which is 50% of all their business. Another example of Google holding back.

Sorry..... Not buying either theory.