The Google Pixel 4 is the eagerly anticipated flagship from Google. Following the Google Pixel 3 lineup, the Google Pixel 4 is expected to have all the bells and whistles that a flagship from Google would usually have. Now we have a look at two brand few features that are definitely likely to cause a stir.
The Google Pixel 4: What we know so far
Google usually launched its flagship Pixel devices in October and the Pixel 4 is likely to come out in October as well. We are also pretty sure that there will be Google Pixel 4 XL as well, just in case a regular Pixel 4 isn’t enough to fit in your hands. In terms of hardware, we’ve already seen leaked renders of what it might look like and Google themselves gave us a sneak peak of what the back of the Google Pixel 4 would look like. What we don’t know is what’s going on in the front. If the rumors are true, we could be looking at a display resolution of 2280×1080 for the Pixel 4 and 3040×1440 for the Pixel 4 XL.
Both Google Pixel 4 devices will likely be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (or possibly even a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ like the Asus ROG Phone 2). In terms of RAM, we can expect a bump up from 4GB of RAM to 6GB of RAM for both Pixel 4 devices.
They will also run the latest version of Android 10 Q and integrate fully with Google Assistant and whatnot. What got us really excited were two new features.
Look Ma, no hands: The Google Pixel 4 goes hands-free
Yes, that’s right. The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will have Face Unlock and Motion Sense. Face Unlock has been around for some time and each iteration of it is an attempt to streamline the face identification procedure.
By use of Project Soli, the Google Pixel 4 will make use of sensors and algorithms to recognize you. As such, the Pixel 4 will have 7 front sensors. These include two face unlock IR cameras, a dot projector, a flood illuminator, the front facing camera, and ambient light and proximity sensor. It will also have a Soli Radar Chip.
According to what Google says, the enhanced Face Unlock feature will be usable in almost any orientation. It’s not just for unlocking your phone though. You can also use it to authorize payments and apps as well. To improve accuracy of Face Unlock, Google has been carrying out field research to collect data from scanned faces.
The goal here is to ensure that Face Unlock works with a diverse set of faces. In fact, Google confirmed that they approached people on the streets offering $5 gift certificates if they allowed their facial data to be scanned. The participant data would be kept for 18 months. If they wish, the participant can request the data to be deleted. Google also confirmed that all facial recognition happens on the device. As such the user’s data is never saved or shared with other Google services. The Titan M Security Chip on the Google Pixel 4 devices will take care of that.
The Motion Sense feature also makes use of the Soli motion-sensing radar. By a simple wave of your hand in front of the phone, you can skip songs, snooze alarms, and even silence incoming calls. While it does seem a bit silly to be waving your hand in front of your phone when you’re walking or travelling in a bus, the feature is pretty cool to show off to your friends.
How much will the Google Pixel 4 be?
That is indeed a very good question. Thus far we have no hint of what pricing the Google Pixel 4 would be at. When the Google Pixel 3 came out, it started off at $799 and the Google Pixel 3 XL started off at $899. Then came the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL priced at $399 and $479 respectively. If Google is planning on launching a Google Pixel 4a and 4a XL as well, then with the mid-tier covered, they could very well place the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL at over $1,000.
Are you excited for the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL? Or would you rather have a Google Pixel 4a? We would love to hear from you.