Google introduced the Pixel 4 and 4 XL smartphones, the new fully wireless Pixel Buds and the Pixelbook Go laptop. The main feature of the new smartphones is the radar, which allows the smartphone to determine the user’s presence nearby, as well as recognize gestures. The presentation was broadcast on the Google YouTube channel.
Pixel 4 and 4 XL
As before, the company introduced two smartphones that differ primarily in screen size. The main difference from other smartphones was the Soli radar installed in the upper frame. Along with it, there are infrared sensors for scanning the face and unlocking the smartphone. Thanks to the radar, the smartphone will track the user’s presence nearby and, as soon as he raised his hand to the device to take it, the smartphone activates a face scan system.
Journalists who tested the smartphone after its presentation note that the screen manages to unlock in time for the moment when the person has the smartphone in his hand in the usual way. In addition, the radar allows the smartphone to recognize hand gestures. Thus, the user can switch songs or play with virtual characters on animated desktop wallpapers.
One of the problems with using the radar in the Pixel 4 is that in many countries its frequencies are regulated. Google noted that in some countries the functions related to the radar will not work, although it has not disclosed a complete list of countries. At the end of September, XDA users analyzed the code of the Motion Sense application, which is responsible for working with the radar, and found 53 countries in which the function will work. At the same time, the Soli radar operates at frequencies from 57 to 64 gigahertz.
The younger Pixel 4 model has an OLED screen with a diagonal of 5.7 inches and a resolution of 1080 by 2280 pixels, while the older version of the Pixel 4 XL has a diagonal of 6.3 inches and a resolution of 1440 by 3040 pixels. Smartphones also differ in battery capacity: 3700 milliampere-hours for Pixel 4 XL and 2800 for Pixel 4. Both models use 6 gigabytes of RAM and 64 gigabytes of read-only memory, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, as well as a separate processor to speed up the Pixel Neural Core neural network computing Thanks to which smartphones have received several new features.
The most noticeable of them is that now the HDR effect is applied not only to the photos taken, but also to the image in the viewfinder in real time. Probably, the algorithm of researchers from Google, which we talked about in 2017, is used for this. In addition, a neural processor allows the smartphone to recognize English-speaking speech independently, without accessing the company’s server. Google has integrated a voice recorder application into the Pixel 4 and 4 XL, which not only records audio, but also decrypts it in real time.
Another difference between the new smartphones from the Pixel 3 and 3 XL is the dual camera module, which consists of a 12.2-megapixel main camera and a 16-megapixel camera with a telephoto lens, providing dual optical zoom. In addition, the camera uses algorithms for digital zoom, allowing you to get eight-fold increase.
The cost of devices starts at $ 799 for the younger version of the Pixel 4 and $ 899 for the Pixel 4 XL. The devices will go on sale on October 24.
New Pixel Buds
Google introduced the second version of the Pixel Buds wireless headphones. First of all, they became completely wireless: now these are two separate, not connected by a cord, headphones, charging inside a small case. Headphones have an in-ear design and are equipped with a protrusion for fixing in the auricle. Built-in batteries allow them to work for five hours, and the case increases the operating time to 24 hours.
Pixel Buds in the background record sounds around. This allows you to activate the voice assistant Google Assistant for a keyword without touching the headphones, as well as adjust the volume of the music in accordance with the volume of the surrounding sounds. Headphones will go on sale in 2020 at a price of $ 179.
Pixelbook go
Google’s new laptop runs on Chrome OS. It is equipped with a 13.3-inch with a resolution from FullHD (1920 by 1080) to 4K (3840 by 2160). As a processor, users can use several chips from Intel Core m3 to i7. The Pixelbook Go can be set from 8 to 16 gigabytes of RAM and from 64 to 256 permanent.
In the presentation, Google emphasized the portability of the device, noting that its weight is from 1061 grams, and the battery provides up to 12 hours of real use. Pixelbook Go sales will begin on October 28 at a price of $ 649.
In May, Google introduced the Pixel 3a and 3a XL smartphones, positioned as a more affordable alternative to older models. They use a less powerful processor, as well as cheaper screens and body materials, but the company has left the same camera module as in the older model, and also promises to update them to the latest version of Android over three years.