Got a question about the Google Pixel 4? Ask Me Anything!

[MishaalRahman]

Hey XDA,

I've had the smaller Pixel 4 since Google handed out review units at the Made by Google 2019 launch event in New York last week. I plan on spending a few more days with it before writing up a full review, but if you have any questions about the device feel free to ask and I'll try to answer to the best of my ability.

I have the 64GB white Pixel 4. I'm using it on T-Mobile in the U.S.

 

[frawstme]

Does TWRP for the pixel 3 work on it?

But really, is battery life atrocious? I use my phone for work and i'm consistantly on it. Currently on pixel 2 regular with stripped out OS and I still have to charge it about halfway through the day

 

[Alcolawl]

Thanks for taking some of your free time to do this, Mishaal.

I've ordered the same exact phone you've been using for a week or so now. I'm very excited to own another Pixel device again. I have just a few quick questions about the phone:

1. In your experience, how long does the battery last after a typical weekday/workday?
2. Can you comment on screen legibility outside during a sunny day? Will I yearning for a High Brightness Mode enabled kernel in the future?
3. Any other quirky behaviors with network or bluetooth connectivity? I've found that my LG G7 very much dislikes certain bands of the 5 GHz spectrum. Additionally, it seems to get less cell signal strength when compared to other devices in the same location.

 

[thex2]

1. How is the speaker quality? If you have any experience with the Nexus 6, how does the speaker quality of the Pixel 4 compare to the Nexus 6? If you have any experience with the Pixel 3, how does it compare with the Pixel 3?
2. Do you have a photometer? If so, can you measure the brightness of the infrared light that is frontward facing and tell us whether it's on 24/7? I'm guessing it is for the face unlock and also the hand waiving movements. It'd be interesting to know how powerful that is since our eyes can't see it, but could still be harmed by it (if powerful enough)... which I doubt Google would do, but you never know.
3. If you have a photometer, could you tell us the intensity of the LED light on the back for flashlight mode?

Thank you.

 

[MishaalRahman]

Thanks for taking some of your free time to do this, Mishaal.

I've ordered the same exact phone you've been using for a week or so now. I'm very excited to own another Pixel device again. I have just a few quick questions about the phone:
In your experience, how long does the battery last after a typical weekday/workday?
Can you comment on screen legibility outside during a sunny day? Will I yearning for a High Brightness Mode enabled kernel in the future?
Any other quirky behaviors with network or bluetooth connectivity? I've found that my LG G7 very much dislikes certain bands of the 5 GHz spectrum. Additionally, it seems to get less cell signal strength when compared to other devices in the same location.

Battery life is as bad as we all expected =\

3 hours SoT for heavy usage (Google Maps navigation + music streaming + Google Camera + light gaming in COD Mobile)...

to up to 5 hours SoT for light usage (social media like Reddit, web browsing in Chrome, local music playback in Google Play Music, etc.)

This is NOT a phone you can take on vacation and expect to last you a full day. You will definitely need a charger or power bank handy.

(Note: I tested with all the standard/advertised features enabled, including AOD, Now Playing, Motion Sense, 90Hz, Adaptive Brightness etc. I also have really good signal in my area so that's not a problem)

---

Brightness is too damn low outside! I live in sunny Texas and struggle to see the screen outside. Not sure if HBM exists on this phone since it uses an LG panel.

---

No issues yet with connectivity. Haven't used it long enough to come across said issues, though.

 

[MishaalRahman]

How is the speaker quality? If you have any experience with the Nexus 6, how does the speaker quality of the Pixel 4 compare to the Nexus 6? If you have any experience with the Pixel 3, how does it compare with the Pixel 3?
Do you have a photometer? If so, can you measure the brightness of the infrared light that is frontward facing and tell us whether it's on 24/7? I'm guessing it is for the face unlock and also the hand waiving movements. It'd be interesting to know how powerful that is since our eyes can't see it, but could still be harmed by it (if powerful enough)... which I doubt Google would do, but you never know.
If you have a photometer, could you tell us the intensity of the LED light on the back for flashlight mode?


Thank you.

1) Speaker quality. I have the Pixel 3 XL I can compare it to, so I'll have to get back on that.

2&3) I don't have a photometer, sorry. Dylan Raga should be able to check that for us, though

 

[bobby janow]

@MishaalRahman You mention SOT heavy use and light use. How about just walking around browsing now and again, pictures when the mood strikes, and a phone call and text now and again? Not that concerned about SOT more like daily use. Will it last a full day?

Also there has been some question about the biometric regarding bank and app authorizations from fingerprint to face unlock. Does face unlock work for banking?

TIA

 

[MishaalRahman]

@MishaalRahman You mention SOT heavy use and light use. How about just walking around browsing now and again, pictures when the mood strikes, and a phone call and text now and again? Not that concerned about SOT more like daily use. Will it last a full day?

Also there has been some question about the biometric regarding bank and app authorizations from fingerprint to face unlock. Does face unlock work for banking?

TIA

If you describe yourself as a light user, then it should last you a full day. However, poor signal and high brightness for extended periods could easily cause you to run for the charger. It can last a full day, but I wouldn't plan on it reliably lasting a full day unless you really know your routine.

About face unlock app support: Support is very, very limited right now. Only a few password manager apps and Tasker support it. I don't believe any banking apps do. It will take some time for apps to get on board. Not that it's difficult for them to do so.

 

[thesebastian]

Battery life vs the Pixel 2:
Do you know if it's same, worse or better by any chance?

 

[MishaalRahman]

Battery life vs the Pixel 2:
Do you know if it's same, worse or better by any chance?

I only used the larger Pixel 2 XL that generation so I can't say for sure, sorry.

 

[_Yacub_]

Hello,
Can we expect to see any support for facial mocap applications on the Pixel 4?

 

[thex2]

Battery life at 60hz vs 90hz?
The youtube reviews state the outdoor brightness is insufficient due to the 90hz display. if you switch it to 60hz, do you get more brightness out of the display to make it sufficient for outdoor use?

 

[Alcolawl]

Battery life at 60hz vs 90hz?
The youtube reviews state the outdoor brightness is insufficient due to the 90hz display. if you switch it to 60hz, do you get more brightness out of the display to make it sufficient for outdoor use?

The refresh rate of the panel shouldn't effect the brightness at all. I asked about screen brightness on the previous page, but apparently the brightness in the sun is disappointing. Additionally, because it's an LG panel, there may be no way to boost the brightness in the sun with a custom kernel like you could in the past with HBM on Samsung OLED panels.

 

[HotDogWithMustard]

Storage question

Hey there, thanks for answering our questions. Do you have the 64GB or 128GB version? How much of that storage is user accessible?

 

[MishaalRahman]

Hello,
Can we expect to see any support for facial mocap applications on the Pixel 4?

Yes, but you'll have to wait a few weeks for developers to update their apps to a) target API level 28 or higher and b) switch to using the BiometricPrompt API.

Battery life at 60hz vs 90hz?
The youtube reviews state the outdoor brightness is insufficient due to the 90hz display. if you switch it to 60hz, do you get more brightness out of the display to make it sufficient for outdoor use?

No, the maximum brightness won't change.

The refresh rate of the panel shouldn't effect the brightness at all. I asked about screen brightness on the previous page, but apparently the brightness in the sun is disappointing. Additionally, because it's an LG panel, there may be no way to boost the brightness in the sun with a custom kernel like you could in the past with HBM on Samsung OLED panels.

Interestingly, the brightness level of the display seems to affect what refresh rate the phone runs at, lol: https://www.xda-developers.com/google-pixel-4-90hz-display-only-works-at-high-brightnesses/

Dylan Raga believes there may still be a HBM toggle since he found one on the Pixel 3 (and that had an LG panel).

Hey there, thanks for answering our questions. Do you have the 64GB or 128GB version? How much of that storage is user accessible?

64GB model. "System" files take up 14GB of storage.

 

[mikey.wetzel]

3D photos on facebook

Have you been able to post a 3D Photo on facebook yet? I know firsthand that it works on Pixel 3.

 

[thesebastian]

I only used the larger Pixel 2 XL that generation so I can't say for sure, sorry.

It's still too early to say...but forcing 90Hz all the time I'm getting I think...20% more battery life than my 24 months old Pixel 2.

My pixel 2 was factory reset a month ago.
And this is vs my Pixel 4 on the first evening , night (sleeping) and morning+afternoon

I still got 10-11% drain overnight. So I haven't started to check what's draining...if Motion Sense, some system service etc.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

 

[pbigband]

How would you compare the smaller Pixel 4's battery life against Pixel 3XL ? (I would compare to the 3XL because it's the one with worse battery life for last year's models, I own both 3 and 3XL)

Maybe both the SOT and typical Standby Time + your regular bahaviors on smartphone.

Thanks in advance man, I am really considering the smaller one this year.

 

[Spookymyo]

I've seen the post in the questions and answers section on root. But it is far from clear. Is there going to be a step by step guide on rooting? Not everyone that uses xda is a tech expert.

 

[MishaalRahman]

Have you been able to post a 3D Photo on facebook yet? I know firsthand that it works on Pixel 3.

Sorry..I'm not a Facebook guy. According to cstark27, HDR+ works in the front camera in Snapdragon. The telephoto lens also works.

How would you compare the smaller Pixel 4's battery life against Pixel 3XL ? (I would compare to the 3XL because it's the one with worse battery life for last year's models, I own both 3 and 3XL)

Maybe both the SOT and typical Standby Time + your regular bahaviors on smartphone.

Thanks in advance man, I am really considering the smaller one this year.

I would say an average SoT of 4 hours with Motion Sense + AOD + Now Playing + Ambient Brightness is possible, with enough standby time to get you through a full day. But that 4 hours of SoT is NOT heavy usage - I would say a few pics + music + social media. It gets harder to last the full day if you add GPS navigation and gaming into the mix.

I've seen the post in the questions and answers section on root. But it is far from clear. Is there going to be a step by step guide on rooting? Not everyone that uses xda is a tech expert.

Sadly, it will take some time for TWRP to support the Pixel 4 due to the partition changes in Android 10. That means rooting will require patching the boot image of each release manually and fastboot flashing it. We can do a tutorial, though I'm kind of short on time personally. I'm sure plenty of forum users will have such threads up.