Leaked Google Pixel 4 promotional videos show off new features

A series of freshly leaked promotional videos for the Google Pixel 4 line reveal how Face unlock and Motion Sense will work on the new handsets. The former is believed to use a 3D mapping system to securely unlock the phone and verify the user's identity for mobile payments. The latter is a technology that relies on Google's own Soli radar-based chips that allows users to silence calls, skip streaming content, and dismiss alarms and timers using a wave of the hand.

Another video promotes the new look of Google Assistant that will debut on the Pixel 4 line. As we told you earlier today, Google has been able to reduce the size of its voice recognition and comprehension models from 100GB to 0.5GB allowing Google to move much of the functionality of the virtual digital helper on-device. This will allow Assistant to run faster. Besides activating Google Assistant by repeating the "Ok, Google" or "Hey, Google" hotwords, using Active Edge, the Assistant icon on the bottom of the screen, or the swipe gestures up from the bottom corners of the display, users might be able to awaken Google Assistant automatically by lifting the phone off of a desk or table.

The first video shows how a Pixel 4 user will verify his or her identity using Face unlock when making a purchase. The second video confirms that with Motion Sense, a Pixel 4 user can skip through streaming content with a wave of the hand. As we told you last month, this feature will first be supported by nine apps including Amazon Music, Deezer, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify, Spotify Stations, YouTube Music, and YouTube. The clip also shows how by waving a hand over the screen, a phone call can be silenced and an alarm or timer dismissed.

The last video shows the new Google Assistant interface. Instead of the screen that pops up from the bottom of the display when Assistant is activated (it takes up about 25% of the display and then becomes full screen), the new UI takes up a very small slice of the display (and then opens up to cover about 40% of the screen).

The new Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be introduced on October 15th during the Made by Google event to be held in New York City. Besides the new handsets, Google is also expected to unveil some new Google Nest smart speakers, a second-generation Pixelbook and possibly a second-generation version of the Pixel Buds.

Thanks to the popularity of the mid-range Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, the Pixel brand has strong momentum in the U.S. During the second quarter, Google sold 88% more handsets on a year-over-year basis. That was second only to the 152% increase achieved by OnePlus with the OnePlus 7 Pro. The mid-range pixels gave users the same outstanding image processing capabilities found on the high-end Pixel models but at a price starting at only $399 and up.

The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be equipped with a 5.7-inch and 6.23-inch AMOLED display, respectively. Both screens will refresh at 90Hz for buttery smooth scrolling and animations. Ambient EQ will adjust the white balance on the display based on the ambient lighting. Both models will be powered by the Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform (not the overclocked "+" variant) with 6GB of memory and 64GB/128GB of storage. In back, there will be a square camera module in the left corner containing a 12.2MP primary camera with an f/1.6 aperture and a 16MP Telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. In front, you'll find an 8.1MP selfie snapper on both models; a 2800mAh capacity battery will be found inside the Pixel 4 and a 3700mAh battery will keep the Pixel 4 XL's lights on. Color options will include Just Black, Clearly White and Oh so Orange, and Android 10 will be pre-installed.

Can Google ride the Pixel's momentum to take on Apple and Samsung in the U.S.? The first step takes place a week from Tuesday when Google makes its new high-end handsets official.