Google Pixel 4 Review: Easier To Buy, Harder To Recommend

Code: MRMOBILE10

[GOOGLE PIXEL 4 REVIEW]

You’ve heard it time and time again from reviewers like me: “this phone has a great concept, but it falls down in the execution.” Well Google has always gone a little different with its smartphones so maybe it should come as no surprise that the Pixel 4 flips that around. The Google Pixel 4 is a wonderful execution … of some very confusing decisions. Join me for the MrMobile Google Pixel 4 Review!

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[ABOUT MRMOBILE'S GOOGLE PIXEL 4 REVIEW]

MrMobile's Google Pixel 4 Review was produced following six days with a Google Pixel 4 review device provided by Google. Preproduction device running pre-release software. Google offered travel and lodging assistance for some members of the media to cover the Pixel 4 launch event in NYC, as well as a photo tour to several Brookyn-area destinations. MrMobile does not produce paid or sponsored reviews; Google was not offered copy review or approval prior to publication, and no compensation was requested or provided in exchange for this coverage.

Special thanks to Android Central, which provided support critical to the production of this video. See Android Central's Pixel 4 Review.

[SOCIALIZE]

[DISCLOSURE]

#googlepixel4 #pixel4 #googlepixel #madebygoogle #smartphone #tech

[TheMrMobile]

Correction: Soli radar operates at 60GHz (not 60Hz, as stated in the VO). A minor error, but one that hertz just the same.

[taltigolt]

i love how brutally honest you are with sponsorships not like all other reviewers, i just love the way you care about your viewers.

[johnxantoro]

The battery alone completely and totally disqualifies this phone.

[Conceptcreator]

I am more then fine with the forehead of the pixel 4. however some things like 64gb with ufs 2.1... a small battery... it makes it really hard... also not full quality on drive for pictures and only for 3 months... so why is that even a thing? And a wide angle.... If you only have 2 sensors... then a wide angle is a must!

[thearousedeunuch]

Phone manufacturers: "We have no room left for the headphone jack."
Also phone manufacturers: "We added a radar and a second lens to our phone! Also, the battery is smaller now."

[DevinZA]

I feel like Michael is one of the only top tech reviewers that actually talks about the phone call quality on y'know... phone reviews.

[TheMrMobile]

[COMMENT FROM GOOGLE] Hey folks. Google got back to me with comment concerning some of the shortcomings I noted above. Here's the company's feedback (and my responses, where applicable):

[AUTOFOCUS ON SELFIE] "We made a number of changes to the front-facing cameras in Pixel 4 compared to Pixel 3. For example, because of the success of Pixel 3’s Group Selfie Cam, Pixel 4’s single front-facing Camera is a Group Selfie Cam. Compared to Pixel 3’s narrow default Camera, Pixel 4’s Group Selfie Cam has larger pixels with better dynamic range, and it also uses a fixed-focus lens. Fixed-focus lenses actually have some noticeable advantages over variable-focus ones -- for example, they have less natural bokeh, which makes it easier to get sharp-looking backgrounds as well as faces, and they’re always well-focused even in low light." (MrMobile: fair, but I'd have preferred the autofocus and the 97-degree option, which makes for a more versatile vlogging experience)

[BATTERY] "We recognize how important battery life is for users, and we work really hard to balance battery size and device dimensions, with new, helpful experiences for users. Pixel 4 is our most ambitious design yet. To maintain a great fit-in-hand, we shrunk the battery slightly from the prior Pixel 3 device. We then leaned more heavily on software to deliver all-day battery, and designed features accordingly." (MrMobile: I think we see how this worked out in the end.)

[LACK OF 4K60] "Pixel 4 supports 4k video recording on the rear can at 30 frames per second. We find that the overwhelming majority of users stick with 1080p, so we focus our energy on improving our quality in this mode versus enabling a 4k60fps mode that could use up to half a gigabyte of storage every minute." (MrMobile: the obvious counterpoint is that the phone should have *much* more onboard storage at this price point anyway.

Thanks to Google for the comment!

[Robenson]

When you spoke about the loss of the fingerprint reader and what it would mean for apps that use it...I was like 🤯🤯 didn't even think of that!
Keep the honest, practical, great quality videos coming and I'll keep watching to make great mobile decisions.

[nomanahmad]

“First, I had to charge the pixel on the back of my galaxy fold” 😆😆

[RationalLlama]

This is the most disappointing phone of 2019. Not a bad phone by any means but for the for price they are demanding, you can get much better phone for the money.

[tananuraj]

Why are phone manufacturers selling us things we don't want ?
Who asked for a stupid radar tech ?
Removal of headphone jack ?
Why not an ultrawide ?
And where is the damn fingerprint sensor ?
And then your asking for 799 for 64 gb ?
Have you lost it ?

[Kenshin]

It's a shame how the Nexus phones were the must have android phones. Ever since they changed it to the Pixel, something happened with Google where really the only positive about the phones is the camera.

[DavidSmith-wwuy]

The only person to do a pixel PHONE review and actually mention call quality...

[marcochavanne]

Yep. Knew the battery life was going to cripple it. I feel Google knew this and that's why they had a gag order on everyone until now.

So many other details that they got wrong, but if the phone can't even make it through a day, there is no need for further discussion.

[beerusthedestroyer]

These gimmicky gesture controls were in the old Samsung phones..they learned it in the hard way and quit

[okidoki]

Google can never get their hardware right.

[andreasreif]

I LOVE all the sets you created for this video. Especially that last hero shot of the Pixel surrounded by those other Pixels. It’s like a story in itself. Well done.

[JustAnAtheist]

Hey Google, I stopped using power bank long back.

[txmoney]

I’ll be skipping the Pixel 4 thanks to the horrendous battery life and price.
Google...you blew it.p

[FAALtheGOD]

Probably better off waiting for the Pixel 4A when they bring back the fingerprint scanner.