Pixel 4

My first weekend with the Pixel 4 XL, I was at 12% battery left, with 6h 53m SoT. And was off the charger a day and a half, like 35 hours.

So that's definitely better battery life than my Pixel 3 XL. It's not super great battery, but not bad either.

And that's with force 90hz on always.

So my 3 XL was averaging like 5.5h to 6h SoT before low % battery saver kicked in. My 4 XL goes to like 7h SoT before battery saver kicks in. So I'm getting a solid one hour to 90 minutes better battery life on my 4 XL. I'd say the Pixel 4 XL is a 7.5h SoT type of battery life phone. Which a few years ago, that'd be amazing battery life, but today that's just good.

My first three days with the phone and I'm having no problems at all getting through a full day. So far I haven't ended a day with less than 35% battery. And I've been on it a lot. And I'm also keeping 90hz on all the time.
 
My first three days with the phone and I'm having no problems at all getting through a full day. So far I haven't ended a day with less than 35% battery. And I've been on it a lot. And I'm also keeping 90hz on all the time.

Today is also my third day with the Pixel 4 XL and by coincidence I am also ending my day with 35% battery.

Have had to charge my battery only twice in the past three days. I got 11 hours of SOT leading up to my first recharge. As you can see in the screenshots, I have so far accumulated 8 hours 38 minutes of SOT going from a 100% charged battery to my present 35%. At this pace I should be getting 13 hours SOT leading up to my second recharge.

Have 90Hz turned off and running on 60Hz.
Screen brightness level is showing 57% brightness with Adaptive Brightness turned on.

Screenshot_20191027-222206.png Screenshot_20191027-222325.png Screenshot_20191027-222415.png
 
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I wanted to like this phone. I was hoping that it would be my personal phone to go along with my work iPhone. I just can't get over having to turn off the biggest selling points of the phone (sonar and 90hz screen) just to get a full day out of it. I might as well just get a Pixel 3 at that point.
 
I'm running forced 90hz, and have lift to wake and reach to wake to face unlock the phone.

And I get 7h SoT before battery saver kicks in at 10%.

So battery life is definitely better than my Pixel 3 XL.
 
https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/10/28/pixel-4-white-balance-bad-images/

Night Sight is amazing but I remember thinking when Google announced they'd eventually use the tech for all the Pixel Camera photos that this could easily backfire for edge cases and it looks like this is exactly what is happening. The AI logic decided that a certain color is simply wrong under some circumstances and tries to completely replace it leading to a completely wrong photo.

Normally software issues I'd say it'll be patched but I wonder how edge cases are accounted for in neural training.
 
https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/10/28/pixel-4-white-balance-bad-images/

Night Sight is amazing but I remember thinking when Google announced they'd eventually use the tech for all the Pixel Camera photos that this could easily backfire for edge cases and it looks like this is exactly what is happening. The AI logic decided that a certain color is simply wrong under some circumstances and tries to completely replace it leading to a completely wrong photo.

Normally software issues I'd say it'll be patched but I wonder how edge cases are accounted for in neural training.


"Edge cases" is a fancy way of saying, cases I will pretty much never encounter. I mean, I actually do have colored hue lights throughout my house, (over 40 bulbs by my last count), and when I worship the God Cthulu, I do bath myself in blood red lighting like the rest of you, but I generally prefer not to take photos of the ritual.
 
"Edge cases" is a fancy way of saying, cases I will pretty much never encounter. I mean, I actually do have colored hue lights throughout my house, (over 40 bulbs by my last count), and when I worship the God Cthulu, I do bath myself in blood red lighting like the rest of you, but I generally prefer not to take photos of the ritual.
Do you always talk like an apologist? This isn't even a deal-breaker for the Pixel 4 since they'll patch it for sure. It's okay to discuss things without knee-jerk defending.

The very first example was just a photo of a curtain in a cinema hall. That's not exactly a crazy situation.
 
Max Lee is the man, always my fav to follow for detailed guides on rooting, he usually also links a website with written instructions and files.

Not 100% sure I'm ready to root my 4 XL yet? I used to be a major Root / ROM guy, until my Pixel 3 XL, first Nexus / Pixel I didn't root or ROM, and it worked great, and was still smooth. I just used Brave Browser for no ads while surfing online. My issue with rooting, is the monthly updates make it a big pain in the dick to keep the phone current. Every monthly security update, if rooted, it's a huge hassle for me, to unroot and flash the update, then re-root again. Seemed more trouble time consuming that I care for nowadays.
 
Max Lee is the man, always my fav to follow for detailed guides on rooting, he usually also links a website with written instructions and files.

Not 100% sure I'm ready to root my 4 XL yet? I used to be a major Root / ROM guy, until my Pixel 3 XL, first Nexus / Pixel I didn't root or ROM, and it worked great, and was still smooth. I just used Brave Browser for no ads while surfing online. My issue with rooting, is the monthly updates make it a big pain in the dick to keep the phone current. Every monthly security update, if rooted, it's a huge hassle for me, to unroot and flash the update, then re-root again. Seemed more trouble time consuming that I care for nowadays.
Yeah, I got tired of the root/ROM routine back when I had my OP 5T. Kinda the same way I felt about jail breaking my iPhones. Just more of a nuisance for me than a benefit. Stock Android is my favorite phone OS, now. It's easy, gets monthly updates, and works great.
 
Today was my first full workday with the phone, and I have to say I am utterly shocked at the battery life ( in a great way ). By now, after dinner evening time, my Pixel 3 XL would be in the 30% battery life left, currently my Pixel 4 XL is at 70% battery left. I have 3h 7m SoT, been unplugged off the charger since like 8:00am, it is now 8:45pm. Even I was shocked that as of like 10:30am this morning, my battery was at 93% still, which for my Pixel 3 XL never would be that high still late morning.
 
Not the review that Google is looking for, I would imagine. Not mine but this reviewer did own the Pixel 4 and makes some points about issues with BYOD Pixel 4 to AT&T that I was unaware of.

My $1,000 mistake: Here's why I’m returning the Pixel 4 XL to Google

The battery life is terrible and the camera is disappointing. But AT&T's failure to support a key feature was the last straw.


https://www.zdnet.com/google-amp/ar...ake-why-im-returning-the-pixel-4xl-to-google/
 
Not the review that Google is looking for, I would imagine. Not mine but this reviewer did own the Pixel 4 and makes some points about issues with BYOD Pixel 4 to AT&T that I was unaware of.

My $1,000 mistake: Here's why I’m returning the Pixel 4 XL to Google

The battery life is terrible and the camera is disappointing. But AT&T's failure to support a key feature was the last straw.


https://www.zdnet.com/google-amp/ar...ake-why-im-returning-the-pixel-4xl-to-google/

I guarantee you there's a way to either enable VoLTE and WiFi calling if AT&T supports it on the Pixel 4s they sell or a way to install their firmware for it; it's all the exact same hardware. Way back in the Nexus 6 days, carriers/Google implemented a "feature" on Android phones that would automatically download/install a carrier's specific firmware update upon installing their SIM card. If AT&T doesn't have that in place for the Pixel 4, then there's a way to manually install it I'm sure as long as someone has dumped the AT&T P4's system image file(s) online somewhere. It works like that on Samsung phones at least, as I've used Odin to flash different carrier firmware's (or the unlocked firmware in my case) on my wife's Note 9.

It's garbage they should have to jump through hoops to enable it in the first place like that, but it seems silly to return the phone for that when there's a way to fix it yourself, if not now then I'm sure XDA will have it out shortly.
 
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I guarantee you there's a way to either enable VoLTE and WiFi calling if AT&T supports it on the Pixel 4s they sell; it's all the exact same hardware. Way back in the Nexus 6 days, carriers/Google implemented a "feature" on Android phones that would automatically download/install a carrier's specific firmware update upon installing their SIM card. If AT&T doesn't have that in place for the Pixel 4, then there's a way to manually install it I'm sure as long as someone has dumped the AT&T P4's system image file(s) online somewhere. It works like that on Samsung phones at least, as I've used Odin to flash different carrier firmware's (or the unlocked firmware in my case) on my wife's Note 9.

It's garbage they should have to jump through hoops to enable it in the first place like that, but it seems silly to return the phone for that when there's a way to fix it yourself, if not now then I'm sure XDA will have it out shortly.

I would agree that AT&T is just doing something on their end. It looks like a nice upgrade from the 3/XL.
 
I guarantee you there's a way to either enable VoLTE and WiFi calling if AT&T supports it on the Pixel 4s they sell or a way to install their firmware for it; it's all the exact same hardware. Way back in the Nexus 6 days, carriers/Google implemented a "feature" on Android phones that would automatically download/install a carrier's specific firmware update upon installing their SIM card. If AT&T doesn't have that in place for the Pixel 4, then there's a way to manually install it I'm sure as long as someone has dumped the AT&T P4's system image file(s) online somewhere. It works like that on Samsung phones at least, as I've used Odin to flash different carrier firmware's (or the unlocked firmware in my case) on my wife's Note 9.

It's garbage they should have to jump through hoops to enable it in the first place like that, but it seems silly to return the phone for that when there's a way to fix it yourself, if not now then I'm sure XDA will have it out shortly.
the issue is that it should have worked outside the box without you having to fiddle with the firmware or rooting your phone. It is absolutely garbage, like you said, that one should keep a phone like that at $1000.
 
My Pixel 4 XL, is giving me best battery life of a smartphone I've had in years. I'm totally shocked reviewers say it's so bad. Unless I have my settings tweaked so much just right, I'm afraid to change anything.

Right now I'm getting like 7.5h to 8h SoT, which absolutely blows my Pixel 3 XL out of the water. This is giving me like 50% better battery life, and I could easily call this 2 day between charges.

Last night after being off the charger from 8:00am to 11:30pm, I plugged the phone at bedtime, with 59% battery left.
 
My Pixel 4 XL, is giving me best battery life of a smartphone I've had in years. I'm totally shocked reviewers say it's so bad. Unless I have my settings tweaked so much just right, I'm afraid to change anything.

Right now I'm getting like 7.5h to 8h SoT, which absolutely blows my Pixel 3 XL out of the water. This is giving me like 50% better battery life, and I could easily call this 2 day between charges.

Last night after being off the charger from 8:00am to 11:30pm, I plugged the phone at bedtime, with 59% battery left.

Keep it up Z. Glad to see it is everything you want and more as that is a rarity for you and your revolving door of phones over the years.
 
So got my 4XL yesterday. I'm on pace for about 7 hours SoT if my usage remains the same. Phone has been off the charger since 610am EST. Right now 44% left with 4 hours SoT.

I haven't really tweaked it much at all other than making animations go away.

This is my first Pixel device. Haven't had a Nexus since Nexus 6. I didn't realize how much I missed stereo speakers on a phone.

The one thing I did learn from getting this phone though is that while I loved my 6T the proprietary crap OnePlus did carried over to the 3.5mm to USB-C dongle which is incompatible with Pixel apparently. /sigh have to order a new one to use my nice B&O headphones until I can get a pair of Pixel Buds.

That's some bullshit right there and why I hate proprietary shit so much.

Overall this phone is fucking awesome. End of line.
 
Keep it up Z. Glad to see it is everything you want and more as that is a rarity for you and your revolving door of phones over the years.

Thank you. I was very worried battery life would be shit on this phone, per all the YouTube reviews. But not sure what settings I tweaked just right, but man, the battery life is way above my expectations. Blows my Pixel 3 XL battery out of the water, significantly better. And everything else is just so good on this phone. I also have forced 90hz on all time.

- Fast and super smooth
- Very deep vibrant colors on the screen
- Loud and crisp stereo speakers
- Narrower width is great makes phone easier to hold one handed
- Highest build quality for a Pixel phone
- Face Unlock, along with raise to wake, is so effortless, and fast. Pick up the phone and just look at it, and boom, you instantly in the homescreen. No tapping anything, or pressing a button, or swiping up, none of that needed, just pick up and look at it, and your in your phone immediately.
- Monthly security updates like clockwork direct from Google.
- Great battery life
 
My Pixel 4 XL, is giving me best battery life of a smartphone I've had in years. I'm totally shocked reviewers say it's so bad. Unless I have my settings tweaked so much just right, I'm afraid to change anything.

Right now I'm getting like 7.5h to 8h SoT, which absolutely blows my Pixel 3 XL out of the water. This is giving me like 50% better battery life, and I could easily call this 2 day between charges.

Last night after being off the charger from 8:00am to 11:30pm, I plugged the phone at bedtime, with 59% battery left.

What settings are you using to achieve this?
 
What settings are you using to achieve this?

- Turned off all location crap, no GPS on ever, unless actually using Maps, no apps using locations, and never scanning or searching.
- Turned off AoD ( Always on Display )
- Screen timeout set to 30 seconds
- Apps shutdown upon closing them
- Ambient EQ off
- Nearby Songs and that fluff all off, no squeeze to activate and that crap
- Motion Sense on, but only have Reach to check Phone enabled
- Smooth Display off, but Forced 90hz on
 
- Turned off all location crap, no GPS on ever, unless actually using Maps, no apps using locations, and never scanning or searching.
- Turned off AoD ( Always on Display )
- Screen timeout set to 30 seconds
- Apps shutdown upon closing them
- Ambient EQ off
- Nearby Songs and that fluff all off, no squeeze to activate and that crap
- Motion Sense on, but only have Reach to check Phone enabled
- Smooth Display off, but Forced 90hz on


I assume you run dark theme as well?
 
Hmm that's exactly why I'd like the Pixel 4 to have a larger battery. What's the point of all the neat features of a Pixel if it's all going to be turned off?

I *like* having the AoD (and I miss it on the iPhone 11). I like not having my apps shutting down. I like the phone using my location so it can send me reminders based on it.

On my Pixel 2 XL, I kept all that stuff on and still get 6-7 hours of SoT easily.
 
I'm getting crazy battery doing this though. Easily 8+ hrs SoT, last night almost 9hrs.

I never have location on ever, I don't want my GPS running in the background so people can track me. Plus it's just a useless battery hog, even if the phone had a 4,500mAh battery, I still wouldn't enable it. Only way I would ever enable GPS to be always running and location on all apps, I would want a phone with a 10,000mAh battery, or whenever engineers create a whole new battery technology, that allows phones to last for days. Otherwise no thanks.

The only cool, gee whiz feature I have off is AoD, everything else is on; Motion Sense, Face Unlock, Force 90hz display, Raise to wake, Wave hand over phone to turn on, all that is on, and the phone is a joy to use, and just so smooth and fluid, with a beautiful vibrant display.
 
What I mean is that it's not crazy battery life if you go to that degree. But it's perfectly fine to use the phone the way you'd like to.
 
What I mean is that it's not crazy battery life if you go to that degree. But it's perfectly fine to use the phone the way you'd like to.


I'm still using the phone full on, except the GPS location stuff, I haven't really gimped the phone otherwise, everything else is all enabled and working great;

- Force 90hz on
- Motion Sense on
- Gestures on
 
Been trying hard to get used to the gesture navigation, but so used to a dedicated Back button, it's one of the things I've always like about Android going back a decade, of always having a back button, and one of the reasons I hate iPhone, because they never has one.

Swiping to go back is the dumbest fucking idea ever. So stupid. Like when in Messages, I'll swipe to go back, but then erase a text by accident. Or having to swipe more than once to have it actually work.

I liked the Android 9, two button navigation, wish we could go back to that. Right now I went old school to the 3 button nav, it's ok, but it sure as hell is quicker and works every time, compared to the lake gesture based navigation.
 
Been trying hard to get used to the gesture navigation, but so used to a dedicated Back button, it's one of the things I've always like about Android going back a decade, of always having a back button, and one of the reasons I hate iPhone, because they never has one.

Swiping to go back is the dumbest fucking idea ever. So stupid. Like when in Messages, I'll swipe to go back, but then erase a text by accident. Or having to swipe more than once to have it actually work.

I liked the Android 9, two button navigation, wish we could go back to that. Right now I went old school to the 3 button nav, it's ok, but it sure as hell is quicker and works every time, compared to the lake gesture based navigation.
Hold on a sec... Are you saying that you don't even have the back and home buttons on your 4XL?

Screenshot_20191030-155251.png
 
Nope. That's the good Android 9, two button system. Now on Android 10, it's only the iPhone like Gesture based navigation, or the old school 3 button layout. For some reason that Android 9 navigation isn't an option now.
That's nuts! You just gave me another reason to stick with my 3XL. I have Android 10 on my 3XL and it has the buttons.
 
Yup, they took that away. You have to swipe in from either the left or right edge to do a back now and for some people it's difficult (I didn't have trouble on my 2 XL but it caused other problems).
 
Yup, they took that away. You have to swipe in from either the left or right edge to do a back now and for some people it's difficult (I didn't have trouble on my 2 XL but it caused other problems).
Every time I reconcile myself to accept the changes Google has made on the 4XL (loss of fingerprint scanner, weak battery) a new one is revealed. Google is making it very easy for me to tell them to go fornicate themselves with the new Pixel. :rage:
 
Android 10 was really depressing to me in many ways. When I got my iPhone 11, I suddenly saw that most of l what I thought were pointless "changes for the sake of changing" were actually "changes to make it more like iOS".

I'm quite eager for the Pixel 5 though. Since it'll have a larger battery, maybe even the non-XL version could be in my future.
 
Nope. That's the good Android 9, two button system. Now on Android 10, it's only the iPhone like Gesture based navigation, or the old school 3 button layout. For some reason that Android 9 navigation isn't an option now.

I used the gesture navigation for a few months on my last pixel so I was used to it. People said it would take a few days to acclimate but honestly it took closer to a month. Right now it's second nature and runs super smooth on the pixel 4 XL. Just remember that you can go back by swiping in from EITHER side of the screen, which is nice because a lot of the time you're likely holding the phone with one hand and its convenient to swipe back with whatever hand you're using. The other gesture which takes a moment to acclimate to was the pull up and slight pause to enter the recent apps changer. That takes a a little time to adjust to. But here's a pro tip and not really mentioned that often. If you swipe right at the bottom of the screen, it jumps right back into the last used app. I use that a lot and find it handy.


Like you I was also a 2 button navigation person and didn't like that they changed it. I would have considered using the 3 button option but I thought the the newest version of the assistant is only available on gesture based navigation? Anyway, doesn't matter anymore as I'm now used to gesture. Give it a little time.
 
Maybe the small 4 has poor battery life, but the Pixel 4 XL has outstanding battery life, absolutely zero worries. I dare say it's almost a 2 day phone. Best battery on a phone I've had in quite awhile.

And people on XDA and Mac Rumors Forums reporting the same excellent battery life. Most getting 7h+ SoT
 
Android 10 was really depressing to me in many ways. When I got my iPhone 11, I suddenly saw that most of l what I thought were pointless "changes for the sake of changing" were actually "changes to make it more like iOS".
Every time I look at my 11 Pro Max next to my 3XL I wish there was some way to install Android on the iPhone.
 
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