Google Pixel 4 XL Smartphone Review: Longer battery life thanks to a larger battery
Since we ran our detailed test of the Google Pixel 4, the rumors about an affordable Pixel 4a have been coming hard and fast, and there were also several feature drops, where Google improved its smartphones with some new functionalities. In addition to looking simply at the Pixel 4 XL, which only differs from the Pixel in terms of its size, we therefore also take a look at the changes from software updates.
At a price of about 900 Euros (~$987; $899 in the US at the Google store, currently on sale at $599), the Pixel 4 XL has to be compared with the competing devices listed below. Below each of the charts, you can also add more smartphones from our database to the comparison.
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Comparison Devices
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
85.8 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2020 | Google Pixel 4 XL SD 855, Adreno 640 | 193 g | 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.30" | 3040x1440 | |
89.4 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2020 | Huawei P40 Pro Kirin 990 5G, Mali-G76 MP16 | 209 g | 256 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | 6.58" | 2640x1200 | |
84.6 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2019 | LG G8X ThinQ SD 855, Adreno 640 | 192 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.40" | 2340x1080 | |
84.7 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2019 | Sony Xperia 1 SD 855, Adreno 640 | 178 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 3840x1644 | |
87.7 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2020 | Samsung Galaxy S20 Exynos 990, Mali-G77 MP11 | 163 g | 128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | 6.20" | 3200x1440 |
Case - A waterproof Pixel smartphone
The Pixel 4 XL has a metal frame and a glass back. The latter is glossy in the color "Just Black" and correspondingly prone to fingerprints. On the other hand, in the color "Clearly White," Google uses a matte surface structure. The quality of the workmanship is very high, giving no reason for complaint. In addition, the Pixel 4 XL is dust and waterproof according to the IP68 standard. Compared to the smartphones from the competitors, the wide frame above the display stands out, which is due to the built-in sensors built-in underneath the screen.
The wide frame makes the Pixel 4 XL slightly larger than the Huawei P40 Pro, which at 6.58 inches also offers the larger display. At 193 grams, the weight is more comparable to that of the LG G8X ThinQ.
Equipment - No storage card reader in the Google smartphone
The equipment of the Pixel 4 XL is identical to that of the Pixel 4. Before buying it, users therefore also have to choose here between 64 or 128 GB UFS-2.1 storage, since it cannot be expanded by a microSD card. The Google smartphone also has a nanoSIM slot and supports the usage of an eSIM. The VoLTE and VoWiFi functions are fully supported.
There is a USB Type-C connection with the 3.1 standard for wired data transfer, and DRM Widevine L1 allows streaming of media content in Full HD resolution. The Camera2 API is also available at Full HD.
Software - New functions thanks to feature drops
The Pixel 4 XL also comes with a pure Android 10, with the manufacturer promising updates for the next three system versions. In addition to the common Android functions, in the Pixel 4 XL, Google again supports activation of Google Assistant with Active Edge, with the Assistant starting when you squeeze the smartphone edges.
Since the feature update from March 2020, users can activate Dark Mode system wide and triggered by time. Pressing and holding the power button will now open the Wallet menu, which stores bank and credit card details as well as ticket information. In terms of the latter, you can now also add information to Wallet via image, if the issuer does not support Google Pay.
The Motion Sense function now recognizes an additional gesture, allowing you to pause music via a tap movement. In addition, some new Emojis on the keyboard allow you to reflect a more diverse society. In Google Duo, some expanded AR effects can now also respond to face expressions, changing the image according to your personal settings.
Dependent on various factors, you can also set up some rules, such as setting the ringtone to mute at a certain WLAN or location.
Communication and GPS - Good locating with Google Pixel 4 XL
The Google Pixel 4 XL supports wireless connections in the GSM, 3G, and LTE nets. With the latter, download speeds of up to 1.2 Gb/s are possible with LTE Cat. 18. With Cat. 13, uploads can achieve a speed of up to 150 Mb/s.
At close range, NFC, Bluetooth 5, and Wi-Fi 5 are available. With our Netgear Nighthawk AX12 reference router, the Google smartphone achieves an average of 631 Mb/s when receiving and 317 Mb/s when sending data. Both values are good, but they are not outstanding.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Huawei P40 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 | |
Sony Xperia 1 | |
LG G8X ThinQ | |
Google Pixel 4 XL | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 | |
Huawei P40 Pro | |
LG G8X ThinQ | |
Google Pixel 4 XL | |
Sony Xperia 1 |
Using the GPS Test app, we can achieve a location accuracy of up to four meters outdoors. The Pixel 4 XL can use Galileo, Beidou, GPS, and GLONASS.
On our mandatory bike tour, the Google smartphone shows a similar accuracy as our Garmin Edge 500 reference device. During the long straight run, the deviation is slightly higher, whereas the Pixel 4 XL offers the more accurate route recording in curves.
Telephone Functions and Voice Quality - A clear connection
The Google Pixel 4 XL transfers the voice of our conversation partner with a good volume, reliably filtering out surrounding noises. Both sides are easy to understand and we did not notice any additional noises or anything like that. The phone app offers the usual functions, allowing you to quickly access contacts and favorites in addition to the dial pad.
Cameras - A very good dual camera
The Pixel 4 XL has the same camera equipment as the smaller model. The results of our test images are therefore very comparable, so for a detailed impression of the camera performance, we refer you to our test of the Google Pixel 4. Google's feature drops did not change anything in the image quality, but they do offer an additional function for the selfie camera. Users can now add a bokeh effect after the fact and control it via a slider, allowing you to adjust the intensity to your liking. The result is very convincing.
The 2x optical zoom is also on board again, and the processing via software also delivers excellent results. While the quality is not quite as high as in the Huawei P40 Pro, for example, the main camera with 12 MP plus 16 MP delivers very good pictures overall. The same also goes for the video function, which also allows you to take recordings in 4K. However, the frame rate is then limited to 30 fps, but you can make recordings in lower resolutions at up to 60 fps.
The recordings of the ColorChecker Passport show that the Pixel 4 XL reproduces colors brighter than they should be. At an illumination of 1 Lux, the Passport is hardly recognizable anymore.
The Google smartphone reproduces our test chart with a lot of details and strong colors. In the bottom corners, some slight brightening of the image is noticeable. In the low-light recording, only the outlines of the objects can be recognized.
Accessories and Warranty - The Pixel 4 XL with an OTG adapter
Included in the box of the Pixel 4 XL are a USB charger with the corresponding USB Type-C cable, an OTG adapter, and a SIM tool. The manufacturer's shop also offers the Pixel stand with wireless charging function, some headsets, and cases.
Google offers a warranty period of 24 months to buyers.
Input Devices and Operation - Fast face recognition but no fingerprint sensor
The touchscreen of the Pixel 4 XL offers a very comfortable surface, allowing you to effortlessly perform drag-and-drop operations. Touch input is also registered reliably. For text input, you can use GBoard, Google's keyboard app, which can be individually adjusted and operated without any problems.
Pin number and patterns, as well as face recognition, are available to unlock the smartphone. The latter works very reliably, but it still responds to faces with closed eyes. However, Google plans to improve on this flaw with a coming update.
Display - A Pixel smartphone with a bright display
Google uses a 6.3-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 3040x1440 pixels in the Pixel 4 XL. With the activated light sensor, it offers an average brightness of 555 cd/m², but without the sensor it is only 413 cd/m². In the APL50 test, the Android smartphone achieves 676 cd/m². With the feature drop from March, the adaptive brightness was also improved. This is now supposed to offer a more powerful illumination in very bright surroundings. We will still test whether the Pixel 4 now also offers better brightness values compared to the Pixel 4 XL.
The display of the Pixel 4 XL shows PWM starting from a brightness value below 62%. At 367.6 Hz, the frequency is also fairly low, which might lead to some problems for users with sensitive eyes.
|
Brightness Distribution: 95 %
Center on Battery: 557 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.9 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 3.5 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
99.9% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.18
Google Pixel 4 XL P-OLED, 3040x1440, 6.3" | Google Pixel 4 OLED, 2280x1080, 5.7" | Huawei P40 Pro OLED, 2640x1200, 6.6" | LG G8X ThinQ OLED, 2340x1080, 6.4" | Sony Xperia 1 OLED, 3840x1644, 6.5" | Samsung Galaxy S20 AMOLED, 3200x1440, 6.2" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen | 36% | 32% | -30% | 36% | 28% | |
Brightness middle | 557 | 554 -1% | 584 5% | 570 2% | 541 -3% | 745 34% |
Brightness | 555 | 550 -1% | 576 4% | 581 5% | 543 -2% | 740 33% |
Brightness Distribution | 95 | 94 -1% | 95 0% | 90 -5% | 99 4% | 97 2% |
Black Level * | ||||||
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.9 | 0.8 79% | 1.1 72% | 6.27 -61% | 0.8 79% | 2.67 32% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.1 | 1.4 77% | 2.3 62% | 9.75 -60% | 1.7 72% | 4.52 26% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3.5 | 1.3 63% | 1.8 49% | 5.7 -63% | 1.2 66% | 2 43% |
Gamma | 2.18 101% | 2.22 99% | 2.16 102% | 2.37 93% | 2.2 100% | 2.092 105% |
CCT | 6127 106% | 6213 105% | 6355 102% | 7309 89% | 6601 98% | 6240 104% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 367.6 Hz | ≤ 62 % brightness setting | |
The display backlight flickers at 367.6 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 62 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 367.6 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
As typical for OLEDs, the display of the Pixel 4 XL also offers an excellent contrast ratio and a black value of 0 cd/m². In addition, the CalMAN analysis shows that the color portions are displayed relatively balanced on the screen. However, the DeltaE and DeltaE 2000 deviations are slightly elevated and are only surpassed by the LG G8X ThinQ in our test field.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
2.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.2 ms rise | |
↘ 1.6 ms fall | ||
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 10 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
3.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 2 ms rise | |
↘ 1.6 ms fall | ||
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 10 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). |
The Pixel 4 XL can be used easily outdoors. However, the image content can only be recognized with some slight difficulties in direct sunlight.
The viewing angles of the Google Pixel 4 XL OLED panel are extremely stable, not showing any distortions or color distortions even at very steep viewing angles.
Performance - A good system performance in the Google smartphone
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and 6 GB of working memory in the Pixel 4 XL ensure a smooth system operation. A Qualcomm Adreno 640 graphics unit is responsible for displaying the image content.
In the benchmarks, the Pixel 4 XL convinces with a good system performance, overall placing in the middle of our test field. However, many competitors do slightly better in terms of the GPU performance.
PCMark for Android | |
Work performance score (sort by value) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL | |
Huawei P40 Pro | |
LG G8X ThinQ | |
Sony Xperia 1 | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (10330 - 14439, n=19) | |
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL | |
Huawei P40 Pro | |
LG G8X ThinQ | |
Sony Xperia 1 | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (8342 - 11440, n=19) |
GFXBench 3.1 | |
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL | |
Huawei P40 Pro | |
LG G8X ThinQ | |
Sony Xperia 1 | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (27 - 58, n=20) | |
Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 166, n=172, last 2 years) | |
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL | |
Huawei P40 Pro | |
LG G8X ThinQ | |
Sony Xperia 1 | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (35 - 71, n=20) | |
Average of class Smartphone (8.3 - 341, n=172, last 2 years) |
AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL | |
Huawei P40 Pro | |
LG G8X ThinQ | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (376698 - 451559, n=8) |
In the browser benchmarks, the Pixel 4 XL achieves mixed results. While it does very well in Octane v2 and WebXPRT 3, the values turn out more mediocre in the rest of the tests. However, the browser can be navigated smoothly in everyday operation, and media content and web pages are loaded quickly.
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
Huawei P40 Pro (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
Sony Xperia 1 | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (84.4 - 120, n=17) | |
LG G8X ThinQ (Chrome 78) | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 (Chrome 80) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL (Chrome 80) |
WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=79, last 2 years) | |
Sony Xperia 1 (Chrome 75) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (90 - 129, n=20) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL (Chrome 80) | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 (Chrome 80) | |
LG G8X ThinQ (Chrome 78) | |
Huawei P40 Pro |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=204, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL (Chrome 80) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (17011 - 33918, n=21) | |
Huawei P40 Pro (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
LG G8X ThinQ (Chrome 78) | |
Sony Xperia 1 (Chrome 75) | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 (Chrome 80) |
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
Samsung Galaxy S20 (Chrome 80) | |
Google Pixel 4 XL (Chrome 80) | |
LG G8X ThinQ (Chrome 78) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (1852 - 2611, n=19) | |
Sony Xperia 1 (Chrome 75) | |
Huawei P40 Pro (Huawei Browser 10.1) | |
Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=163, last 2 years) |
* ... smaller is better
While the internal storage of the Pixel 4 XL offers good read and write rates, it is not quite able to keep up with the current competitors from Samsung and Huawei.
Google Pixel 4 XL | Huawei P40 Pro | LG G8X ThinQ | Sony Xperia 1 | Samsung Galaxy S20 | Average 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AndroBench 3-5 | 83% | 16% | -23% | 100% | -15% | 234% | |
Sequential Read 256KB | 871 | 1775 104% | 705 -19% | 750 -14% | 1542 77% | 696 ? -20% | 1867 ? 114% |
Sequential Write 256KB | 197.4 | 395.7 100% | 497.1 152% | 206.9 5% | 670 239% | 224 ? 13% | 1451 ? 635% |
Random Read 4KB | 142.2 | 228.1 60% | 160.5 13% | 147.3 4% | 205.3 44% | 137.2 ? -4% | 279 ? 96% |
Random Write 4KB | 164.2 | 271.8 66% | 30.2 -82% | 24.16 -85% | 228.1 39% | 84.7 ? -48% | 311 ? 89% |
Gaming - Suitable for gaming with good graphics
The graphics performance of the Pixel 4 XL is sufficient to display modern games smoothly even at higher setting levels. The games we tested always ran smoothly even at high graphics settings. The touchscreen was very responsive to input and the position sensor could also be used reliably for controlling the game.
Emissions - Stereo speakers in the smartphone
Temperature
In our test, the Google Pixel 4 XL reached surface temperatures of up to 36.4 °C (97.5 °F). With this, it never gets too warm to hold it in the hand. While using it, we also did not notice any limitations that could be traced back to the temperatures being too high inside.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.4 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.2 °C / 83 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The speakers of the Pixel 4 XL produce a good volume and a wide sound spectrum. While the lower notes are slightly underrepresented, we liked the sound overall. You can connect a headset via Bluetooth 5.0 or the USB Type-C port.
Google Pixel 4 XL audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.9% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (15.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 11% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 82% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 31% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy S20 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 72.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 72.8% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 72.8% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (120% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 87% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 96% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - A larger battery and a longer battery life
Power Consumption
Our measurements attest the Google smartphone with a maximum power consumption of 9.09 watts under load. The average power consumption is lower than those of most other competitors in our test field.
The included charger is rated at 45 watts.
Off / Standby | 0.02 / 0.45 Watt |
Idle | 0.83 / 1.24 / 1.25 Watt |
Load |
4.98 / 9.09 Watt |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy |
Google Pixel 4 XL 3700 mAh | Google Pixel 4 2800 mAh | Huawei P40 Pro 4200 mAh | LG G8X ThinQ 4000 mAh | Sony Xperia 1 3330 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S20 4000 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -16% | 4% | -16% | -7% | -22% | -14% | -19% | |
Idle Minimum * | 0.83 | 1.01 -22% | 0.92 -11% | 1.1 -33% | 1 -20% | 0.9 -8% | 0.939 ? -13% | 0.885 ? -7% |
Idle Average * | 1.24 | 1.63 -31% | 1.41 -14% | 1.49 -20% | 1.48 -19% | 1.5 -21% | 1.506 ? -21% | 1.451 ? -17% |
Idle Maximum * | 1.25 | 1.69 -35% | 1.47 -18% | 1.76 -41% | 1.56 -25% | 2 -60% | 1.799 ? -44% | 1.608 ? -29% |
Load Average * | 4.98 | 4.67 6% | 3.35 33% | 4.2 16% | 3.76 24% | 4.8 4% | 4.61 ? 7% | 6.55 ? -32% |
Load Maximum * | 9.09 | 8.78 3% | 6.37 30% | 9.2 -1% | 8.48 7% | 11.5 -27% | 9.04 ? 1% | 9.92 ? -9% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
In our WLAN test, the Google Pixel 4 XL achieves a runtime of 10 h 23 m. With this, it lasts considerably longer than the Pixel 4, also leaving the Sony Xperia 1 behind. This means that the 3700-mAh battery is used efficiently.
Using the included quick charger, the Android smartphone is completely recharged after about 1.5 hours. The Pixel 4 XL also supports wireless charging.
Google Pixel 4 XL 3700 mAh | Google Pixel 4 2800 mAh | Huawei P40 Pro 4200 mAh | LG G8X ThinQ 4000 mAh | Sony Xperia 1 3330 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S20 4000 mAh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | ||||||
WiFi v1.3 | 623 | 460 -26% | 743 19% | 930 49% | 441 -29% | 726 17% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - The slightly better Pixel smartphone
The Google Pixel 4 XL offers everything that the smaller Pixel 4 also can offer. In addition, there is a longer battery life and a larger display. Buyers can also expect the same camera performance, and the hardware also offers an identical performance. On the other hand, the same also goes for our points of complaint, such as the storage being only 64 GB and the lack of a storage card reader. While there is only space for a single nanoSIM card, users can also use eSIM.
With the longer battery life and the brighter display, the Pixel 4 XL has a clear advantage compared to the smaller model.
Since the introduction of the Pixel 4, Google has delivered various updates, which in addition to installing the security patches also removed some smaller bugs and brought some performance improvements. The large feature drop from March also added a bunch of new functions. However, users need to be actively interested in them. The adjustable bokeh effect for selfies is one of the more commonly usable features. With the rules of adjusting the system settings according to the current location or WLAN, users will need to actively become more involved. In addition, the relatively important update of the face recognition system is still missing, where closed eyes don't lead to successful unlocking of the smartphone anymore. But Google will definitely still deliver this.
Google Pixel 4 XL
- 08/31/2022 v7 (old)
Mike Wobker