Google Pixel 4 XL: Unleashing Motion Sense and Dual Cameras

Google Pixel 4 XL (2019): Flagship with Motion Sense & Dual Cameras | Full English Details & Specs

Brand: Google

Category: Premium flagship smartphone, focusing on innovative Motion Sense, advanced computational photography, 90Hz display, and pure Android experience for tech enthusiasts and photography lovers.

Core Value: Exclusive Motion Sense (Project Soli radar) for gesture control, dual rear cameras (wide + telephoto), 90Hz smooth display, secure Face Unlock, stock Android with long-term updates, and Qi wireless charging.

Launch Timeline: Announced on October 15, 2019; released globally on October 22, 2019; discontinued in 2020.

Core Specifications

1. Display & Design

Display: 6.3-inch P-OLED, QHD+ (3040×1440), 19:9 aspect ratio, 537 ppi, 90Hz refresh rate, Always-On Display, 100% DCI-P3, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 81.3% screen-to-body ratio.
Body: 160.4×75.1×8.2mm, 193g, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5)+aluminum frame, IP68 dust/water resistance, no fingerprint sensor (Face Unlock only), colors: Clearly White, Just Black, Oh So Orange.
Models: G020P, G020, GA01181-US, GA01182-US, GA01180-US.

2. Performance & Storage

SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm, Octa-core: 1×2.84GHz Kryo 485 + 3×2.42GHz Kryo 485 + 4×1.78GHz Kryo 485, Adreno 640 GPU).
RAM/Storage: 6GB LPDDR4X; 64GB/128GB UFS 3.0, non-expandable (no microSD slot).

3. Cameras (Dual-Lens Flagship Imaging)

Rear Cameras:
- 12.2MP wide (Sony IMX363, f/1.8, 28mm, 1.4μm pixels, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS + EIS).
- 16MP telephoto (f/2.4, 48mm, 1.0μm pixels, PDAF, 2x optical zoom, EIS).
- LED flash; features: Night Sight, HDR+, Portrait Mode, Google Lens, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@240fps slow-mo.
Front Camera: 8MP wide (f/2.0, 84° FOV, 1.12μm pixels), HDR+, 1080p@30fps video.

4. Battery & Charging

Battery: 3700mAh Li-Po, non-removable.
Charging: 18W wired (PD 2.0), Qi wireless charging (up to 10W), reverse wireless charging (up to 5W).

5. Connectivity & Software

Connectivity: 4G LTE (Cat18), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX HD), NFC, USB-C 3.1, no 3.5mm jack, eSIM + Nano-SIM (hybrid).
Software: Android 10, upgradeable to Android 13; 3 years of OS updates, 3 years of security patches.

6. Unique Features & Sensors

Motion Sense: Project Soli radar for gesture control (skip tracks, silence calls).
Face Unlock: Secure 3D facial recognition (no fingerprint sensor).
Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, ambient light, Active Edge (squeeze for Google Assistant), Project Soli radar.
Audio: Stereo speakers, active noise cancellation with mic.

7. Launch Price (Global)

MSRP: $899 (US, 64GB); $999 (128GB); ~€899 (Europe).

Key Features & Differentiators

Motion Sense: Industry-first Project Soli radar for touchless gestures, setting it apart from competitors.
Dual Cameras: 12.2MP wide + 16MP telephoto for 2x optical zoom, enhancing portrait and zoom capabilities over single-lens Pixel 3 XL.
90Hz Display: Smooth scrolling and gaming, a first for Pixel flagships.
Face Unlock: Replaced rear fingerprint with secure 3D facial recognition for faster access.
Software Purity: Stock Android with timely updates, exclusive Google features (Assistant, Photos, Lens).
Wireless Charging: Added Qi and reverse wireless charging, a premium upgrade from Pixel 3 XL.

Series Significance

The Pixel 4 XL marked Google’s bold push into hardware innovation with Motion Sense and dual cameras, while retaining its software and camera strengths. It solidified Pixel’s reputation for computational photography leadership and pure Android, though its battery life and lack of fingerprint sensor drew mixed feedback. It laid groundwork for future Pixel features like enhanced gesture controls and dual-lens setups.