The Official : I just cant do it.

[onthecouchagain]

Yeah, there's no way to spin it. The Pixel 4 models are some nice updates and upgrades, but all in all, it's a lackluster showing from Google in the smartphone world. Soli-gestures sound like a disaster. Based on MKBHD's early impressions, he said he got it working about 10% of the time. That's abysmal for a key flagship launch feature.

The Pixel 4 still feels like a half hearted attempt by Google at smartphone hardware. Either Google cannot or is unwilling to do better -- I'm not sure which. It'll be interesting to see battery results in reviews and tests, and it'll be interesting to see if the device sells well or if we'll see another early price drop.

I have one preordered, but I'm not betting big on the Pixel 4 in any way. Not even in the camera department. The competition has caught up, and in the case of video, way surpassed Google's camera. The only thing it runs away with is the Google Assistant, and frankly, that's not enough to separate it from the pack for most people. Even software updates hasn't been all its cracked up to be; I often feel more like a beta-tester than a fortunate user that gets updates first.

I don't blame anyone for holding out for deals or straight up passing on this device.

It will be really interesting to see how much marketing Google puts behind the phone this time around, too...

 

[gebco]

My 2XL is chugging along fantastically. The camera is great, fingerprint sensor works quickly, battery lasts me all day. The 4 doesn't provide enough to push me yet. I'll wait until the updates stop by which point the 4 will be discounted or the 5 will be available. Or maybe another Android One phone.

 

[the_boon]

I'd hold on to the 3 XL if I had one and just do the developer options trick to hide the notch because that thing is horrendous.

 

[onthecouchagain]

According to MKBHD's video, brightness is still an issue in this A+ display; doesn't seem like it's bright enough outdoors in sunlight. That's super unfortunate and kind of sad. This has certainly been an annoyance with my Pixel 3 outdoors in sunlight.

 

[Guyinbox]

According to MKBHD's video, brightness is still an issue in this A+ display; doesn't seem like it's bright enough outdoors in sunlight. That's super unfortunate and kind of sad. This has certainly been an annoyance with my Pixel 3 outdoors in sunlight.

I was surprised how much i liked the regular iPhone 11's screen compared to my 3xl. I didn't notice a difference in sharpness 99% of the time, but it was so much brighter than the pixel. Going back to the 3, i realized i had to set the brightness slider at about 85% to get the same level as i was using on the iPhone at around 50%. I'd take the iPhone 11 screen over the 3xl any day.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I was surprised how much i liked the regular iPhone 11's screen compared to my 3xl. I didn't notice a difference in sharpness 99% of the time, but it was so much brighter than the pixel. Going back to the 3, i realized i had to set the brightness slider at about 85% to get the same level as i was using on the iPhone at around 50%. I'd take the iPhone 11 screen over the 3xl any day.

Brightness seriously matters.

 

[ImTurningViolet]

Not going to response point by point but I've jumped back and forth between Android and iOS a few times, prior to getting the Pixel 3 XL I was using an iPhone X. Both have pros and cons, I'm not a 'fanboy' of either but I thought I would share my perspective for what it is worth.

Apple does get some things absolutely right, they often aren't the first to market with ideas and I know a lot of people give them stick about that but generally speaking when they release a new feature they are polished, face unlock being a great example of this.

As you rightly say the integration between the Apple Watch and the iPhone is fantastic, the biggest thing I miss from my iPhone X is my Apple Watch, rather than feeling like a device that connected to my phone it felt like an extension of my phone and for me that is what it should feel like.

For me the problem with iPhones is just how controlled everything is, this does have it's benefits, generally speaking everything just works because the software and hardware were built for one another, every element of the UI is controlled and app developers have a few phone models to build apps for rather than thousands.

But, an iPhone has never felt like my phone, it feels like it's Apple's phone that they are reluctantly allowing me to use.

Little things like control of the home screen, icon packs, launcher options etc make a huge difference to me, if I get tired of my phone a few changes here or there and it feels like a different phone but with an iPhone it gets old quick especially if you go from one iPhone to another iPhone. For me buying a new phone is one of my highlights during a year and with an iPhone within 5 minutes of getting it out the box I often feel disappointed because no matter how great the hardware is iOS is dull. With Android you have so much granular control but with iOS your options are basically on or off if you are even that lucky, if you want to use your device in a way other than what the ghost of Steve Jobs wants you to use it then it won't end well for you.

Now that's how it feels for me and I'm obviously not everyone else, again Apple's approach has plenty of advantages but for me if I'm spending the best part of £1,000 on a phone I want it to feel new and unique and for me the flexibility that Android phones provide delivers just that.

This is exactly why I hated the year I had an iPhone. Coming from Android, there was a lot of "why can't I do that?"

Anyway, I just recently got the 3XL but man I hope Google listens and at the very least bumps up the battery and reinstates original quality photo uploads. I couldn't afford to go all out on the 4XL but I had been hoping to grab it on sale some time.

 

[Robisan]

It appears Osterloh still has no idea how to run a hardware division. Yet another year of head-shaking design decisions and sales offers. Good luck to the early adopter beta testers of the gimmicky soli gestures and the sure-to-be-bumpy transition to face ID. Like every other Osterloh product release, chances of a non-trivial issue glitch-free product rollout are right around zero.

Quite simply, under current management I wouldn't buy any new Google hardware product until it's been released to the public for at least a month or two, so you know exactly what problems you may be buying (or after they've been remedied by updates).

 

[Guyinbox]

Overall, this seems like a good year to hold onto my 3xl. Battery life sucks, but there's not enough on the 4 to make the upgrade worthwhile. It's a bummer the soli gestures look so bad.

Next big release is the S11, which is supposed to make big leaps for Samsung in the camera dept. At least I know Sammy will give around $600 off for my 3xl too.

 

[cardboard60]

Seems a lot of people like me was saying google could of done better on the pixel 3 xl last year.
Now with the 4xl.
They removed features like the finger print sensor.
Could of had a bigger battery.

And didn't offer what people wanted .
And they want a premium price for it.

My question the 2and yr in a row.
Who is designing Google's phones.
And short coming again.
I will not sugar coat a device to buy it.
If it's a yr behind.
It's not a flagship device.

 

[ptkelly]

If you notice color and race so easily and it offends you, you have a problem in your brain. Not the other way around

If you don't notice race, color, or preferred gender above all else, like character, honesty, loyalty, and decency then you're a racist, fascist alt-right troglodyte and Antifa will hunt you down once they have the power.

I awaiting delivery of a Huawei p30 Pro. I'm holding onto my Pixel 3 much like Lunus holds on to his blanket. I don't know if you read Peanuts but Linus won't trade in his blanket on a new $900 blanket, either.

If I want a camera that takes great pictures I have my Pixel 3. What I'm hoping for, and what seems promising in the Huawei p30 Pro is a phone with a camera with which I can take great pictures. As a really smart point-and-shoot camera, the Pixel 3 is, for me, fine. I don't really want a better point-and-shoot camera.

And, I'm 78-years old so my kids won't even know I pissed away $5000 on toys in my last few years. I'm even looking forward to learning an OS that is as far from basic Android as Chrome OS is from basic Linux.

I'll still read the Pixel 4 forum and see how things are going.

Oh, and I decided in 1982 that Apples desire to control the hardware, software, and the user was offensive and have only bought one thing from them. It was an emergency, for me, and I bought a USB-C to USB-A adapter for $40. My contacts with Apple over the years has been with customer service when I was helping friends with problems. The last time was when a hard drive needed replacing in a friend's 3-month old Power Mac. I think that was the name. Apple absolutely refused to send us a hard drive. It could only be installed by an authorized site and the nearest was a one-day drive across the Big Island. "You don't think an Apple user can work four screw, two cable, and set the switches to match the existing hard drive?" Crickets from Apple.

 

[osubeavs728]

Seems a lot of people like me was saying google could of done better on the pixel 3 xl last year.
Now with the 4xl.
They removed features like the finger print sensor.
Could of had a bigger battery.

And didn't offer what people wanted .
And they want a premium price for it.

My question the 2and yr in a row.
Who is designing Google's phones.
And short coming again.
I will not sugar coat a device to buy it.
If it's a yr behind.
It's not a flagship device.

They did do better. Just because they didn't do what YOU wanted doesn't mean they didn't do better.

 

[Gdwheel]

Unless and until gestures can be used with third-party launchers, like Nova, I will not only pass on the P4, but 10/Q altogether. Last time I checked they were still not working -- perhaps I missed an update. Google is making some decisions that have really turned me off. They are trying to ruin what makes Android great.

 

[swebb]

Ah yes - that was one other thing that unnerved me - only having the Face Unlock as the only security feature.

There isn't the option to have a PIN as backup?

 

[Mooncatt]

There isn't the option to have a PIN as backup?

There should be, even if only as a backup. I know with fingerprint sensors you still have to set a backup password/PIN in case the reader fails or something. They also require you to enter that backup password/PIN with a reboot and won't allow you to use the fingerprint. I think people are a bit hyper focused on biometrics and forget traditional methods still work.

 

[anon(661246)]

They did do better. Just because they didn't do what YOU wanted doesn't mean they didn't do better.

You mean what most other people want too

 

[osubeavs728]

You mean what most other people want too

We hear this every year. Yet the only thing people can supply that shows that to be true, is pointing to the same 50 people bouncing from forum to forum complaining about the same thing, claiming the sky is falling and they'll never buy another Google product again. So, no I didn't mean that.

 

[osubeavs728]

Deleted

 

[aecgda]

My 3XL has been an excellent phone and battery is usually around 50% at the end of the day. If you're using a phone more than that then I suspect you shouldn't be and I'd try to find other ways to spend your time apart from looking at a screen. The 4XL looks a great phone too and I'll be getting one.

 

[dsignori]

They did do better. Just because they didn't do what YOU wanted doesn't mean they didn't do better.

While true, I do wonder how many people “wanted” only a 2800Mah battery, “wanted” only 64gb base storage, “wanted” the FPS removed, “wanted “ Google to remove Google Photos unlimited original photo storage, ‘wanted” a telephoto lens over a ultra wide, “wanted’ them to no longer provide earbuds or even an adapter with the phone anymore.

If I was a betting man, I’d wager most folks might not have wanted the above. I do think Google had a chance to do lots of things better. Feel free to disagree of course, this is just my opinion.