Google Unveils Pixel 4 With Radar Face Unlock and Dual Cameras
Google officially launches the Pixel 4 and 4 XL, bringing radar-based face unlock, gesture controls, and a dual-camera system to its flagship smartphone line.
Google officially unveils the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL after months of relentless leaks and premature pre-orders. The flagship devices introduce a radar-based face unlock system that Google claims is the fastest on the market, activating as the user reaches for the phone. This same radar chip powers Motion Sense, a sophisticated gesture recognition feature that distinguishes intentional hand waves from accidental movements to perform tasks like skipping songs or interacting with live wallpapers.
The Pixel 4 retains the familiar Active Edge squeeze feature to launch an upgraded Google Assistant and adds a remarkably accurate new recording app. This app transcribes conversations in real time entirely on-device, meaning it functions even in airplane mode without uploading private audio to the cloud. All Motion Sense processing is also handled locally, giving users the ability to disable the radar features completely for enhanced privacy.
Breaking from its past single-camera stance, Google finally embraces a multi-camera setup on the back of the Pixel 4. The new square camera array houses 14 and 16-megapixel wide and telephoto lenses, combining optical and digital zoom for impressive close-up shots. When paired with Google's advanced computational photography, this dual-camera system significantly improves low-light performance over previous Night Sight capabilities and positions the device as a top smartphone camera competitor.