New Pixel 4 XL details reveal an iPhone feature coming to Google's new phones
Last Monday, we passed along some more details about the Google Pixel 4XL including some new information on Face unlock and Smooth Display. The latter is Google's name for the 90Hz rate that the Pixel 4 XL screen will refresh at. This will make scrolling on the screen buttery smooth while improving the experience of playing mobile video games on the phone. Nextrift, the same source of this information, published some more info today (via Android Authority) based on the Pixel 4 XL it was able to obtain. The device, even though it is running pre-release software, is able to give away more details about the phone.
While we've heard plenty about the new features on the Pixel 4 XL such as Face unlock and Motion Sense (the radar based technology that allows users to control aspects of the phone with hand gestures), we haven't heard anything about whether the new model will retain Active Edge. This is the feature that allows users to squeeze the sides of the phone in order to activate Google Assistant. And yes, it is part of the Pixel 4 XL. But perhaps the biggest news about Assistant is that it now runs on-device. That makes it much faster. And with Continued Conversation, Google Assistant will answer follow up questions and additional tasks without having to say "Hey Google" in between each one.
Face unlock will not be as secure as Pixel 4 XL owners might have hoped for
The Pixel 4 XL will come with a new feature for the display called Ambient EQ. Similar to Apple's True Tone, Ambient EQ will adjust the white balance of the display based on the ambient lighting. Speaking of the display, the Pixel 4 XL will carry a 6.23-inch AMOLED screen with a 1440 x 3040 (QHD+) resolution. With a 19:9 aspect ratio, the screen will be slightly thinner and taller than the Pixel 3 XL's screen which had an aspect ratio of 18.5:9.
The Pixel 4 XL will be available in Just Black, Clearly White and Oh so Orange
While Google is said to be using some type of 3D mapping system for the Pixel 4 XL's Face unlock (and without a fingerprint scanner it is the only biometric security option on the phone), there is a troubling disclaimer that reads, "Your phone can be unlocked by someone who looks a lot like you, say, an identical sibling." This might not make Pixel users feel totally comfortable about using Google Pay on the device. On the other hand, depending on who conducted the test, Apple's Face ID has at times blocked a twin from accessing the other twin's iPhone.
Ambient EQ matches the white balance of the phone's screen with the ambient lighting
The Pixel 4 XL will be powered by the Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform and will sport 6GB of memory along with 64GB/128GB of storage. On the back there is a square module with a 12.2MP primary camera and a 16MP telephoto camera. A third spectral sensor is rumored to be onboard to capture certain beams that normally cannot be detected by the human eye such as X-rays, Infrared and utlraviolet light. There is a front-facing 8.1MP selfie snapper and a 3700mAh capacity battery keeps the lights on.
The Pixel 4 XL and the smaller Pixel 4 are expected to be unveiled on October 15th during the next Made by Google event. The phones are expected to be available in three colors: Just Black, Clearly White and Oh, so Orange. While we might not know the official pricing of the phones until the event, if everything remains the same we could see the Pixel 4 sold for $799 and up and the Pixel 4 XL at $899 and up.
Active Edge is back
Both phones will be pre-installed with Android 10 and as usual they will be updated to the latest version of Android for three years. Security updates will be sent out for 18 months after the Google Store stops selling the device. Right now, they haven't even started selling the phone.
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