Google Pixel 4

The Google Pixel 4 is already the fourth generation of Google's own phones. This is what an Android smartphone should look like according to Google. New this year is a radar with which you can control it by hand gestures and a camera with which you can capture the stars.

Not the best good looking

Of course with a Pixel phone you'll get a good camera but Google will try something different this year. You have to praise them for that because mobile phones look a lot like each other lately. There's still a lot to be said about the elaboration and application, but more about that later. The Pixel 4 has a 5.7 inch screen which is compact for today's standards. The bar underneath the screen at the bottom has disappeared, at the top it's still there. Not much attention has been paid to the design. It is difficult to identify it from a row of phones. There is also little colour choice available; black and white.

Just a very good camera

He doesn't like the look of it so it's time to look at the camera. There the Pixel always knows how to impress. The Pixel 4 doesn't disappoint either. Even with only 2 camera sensors. Still there is the 12.2 megapixel camera, f/1.7 lens, optical and electronic image stabilisation. This year he gets help from a 16 megapixel camera with telephoto lens for 2x zoom. It is the first time a Pixel gets a 2nd camera on the back and the choice for a zoom lens is a striking one. Many other manufacturers opt for an ultra-wide-angle lens that in practise is more useful than zoom. Moreover, Google has proven with processing power alone to be able to zoom on the sensor alone. However, we can complain what we want, the fact is that the Pixel shoots 4 studioworthy photos. Even at nite thanks to the Nite Sight which allows you to take great photos without flash. Even of the stars, something they call 'astrophotography' on Google.

Main Google Pixel 4 specifications

• Compact 5.7 inch OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate
• 12.2 + 16 MP camera with 2x Super Res Zoom, Nite Sight and Astrophotography
• 8MP selfie camera above the screen with Motion Sense radar user input
• Stereo speakers
• IP68 waterproof aluminium body but with relatively fragile coating on the trim
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor at up to 2,84 GHz with 6 GB RAM memory (RAM)
• Choice of 64 or 128 GB non-expandable memory
• Questionable battery capacity of 2800 mAh but with 18 Watt fast charge

Motion Sense: big bet

And then back to the beginning. There is still space above the screen, which is used for Motion Sense, amongst other things. This is a technique for recognising hand movements. Thanks to radar, these movements are recognised and you can browse thru music and mute your alarm clock. Helped by Motion Sense, the Pixel 4 now also supports secure face recognition, even in the dark. Google is doing a little Apple work here because it completely exchanges fingerprint recognition for facial recognition. That will take some getting used to for Pixel fans, but also for Motion Sense. In practise it doesn't add much and then the technique seems like a fair guess. It does leave its mark on the appearance of this Pixel 4 and possible future Pixel 4 fans want to stick to it.