Design and Build

Google Pixel 4 XL is all-aluminum with Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and the back. This combination gives the phone a premium feel, but at the same time, it's very slippery. The dimensions are 6.3 x 3.0 x 0.3 inches (160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm), and the weight is 6.8 oz (193g), which is quite heavy. The colors to choose from are Clearly White, Just Black and Oh So Orange, and it contains face unlock and Motion Sense (Soli radar), although the two features lack accuracy. The designation IP68 ensures its protection against dust and water. The USB-C 3.1 port supports nano-SIM, but the disadvantage is that there is no headphone jack and there is no Active Edge.

• Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5
• IP68 rating (water and dust resistance up to 1.5m for 30 min)
• Face unlock, Motion Sense (Soli), no fingerprint sensor
• USB-C 3.1 port
• Physical nano-SIM

Pixel 4 XL Display

The Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3-inch P-OLED screen with 1440 x 3040 resolution (537 PPI), HDR, and a 90Hz refresh rate. The brightness level of the screen is 600 nits which is less than the Pixel 5’s 700 nits. Gorilla Glass 5 is used to shield the screen, and yet the bezels are too wide, and the forehead of the notch will look outdated. With the help of Motion Sense, the touchless aspect of the interface is improved, but the extent to which it is usable is troubling.

• 6.3-inch P-OLED
• 1440 x 3040 resolution, 537 PPI
• HDR support
• ~600 nits (peak)
• Gorilla Glass 5 protection
• 90Hz refresh rate

Performance and Software

The processor is Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) in this case. The CPU has 8 cores (1x 2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x 2.42 GHz Kryo 485, 4x 1.8 GHz Kryo 485), the GPU is Adreno 640, and Pixel Neural Core are present. In addition to it, the Pixel 4 XL has 6GB LPDDR4 RAM and memory options of 64GB ($899) and 128GB ($999), respectively, which are not expandable. Android 10 (upgradeable to Android 13) has been installed into the device, and it received software updates until October 2022, and after that, the support period of the device was over. The performance is great, still, it is slower than the Pixel 5 that has the 8GB RAM.

• Snapdragon 855 with 8-core CPU, Adreno 640 GPU, Pixel Neural Core
• 6GB LPDDR4 RAM
• Storage: 64GB, 128GB
• Android 10 (3 years updates, ended October 2022)
• Optimized for AI, photography

The Snapdragon 855 is powerful for its time, but 6GB RAM and expired updates limit longevity. Motion Sense and face unlock are gimmicky, with users preferring the Pixel 5’s simplicity.

Camera System

On the backside of the Pixel 4 XL, there is a dual rear camera with 12.2MP main (f/1.7, 27mm, OIS) and 16MP telephoto (f/2.4, 2x zoom). The 8MP front camera (f/2.0) has autofocus. The results from Google's software (Live HDR+, Night Sight) are outstanding in photo quality, but in video quality, the 4K 30fps one is only average. The telephoto feature is good for versatility, but the ultra-wide feature of the Pixel 5 is much more useful./p>

• Rear: 12.2MP Main (f/1.7, OIS), 16MP Telephoto (f/2.4, 2x)
• Front: 8MP (f/2.0, autofocus)
• Video: 4K 30 fps (rear), 1080p (front)
• Modes: Night Sight, Portrait Mode, Astrophotography
• LED flash

Battery and Charging

The Pixel 4 XL’s 3700mAh battery lasts about 10 hours of video playback or 8–10 hours in real-world use, poor for its size. It supports 18W wired charging (50% in 40 minutes) and 11W wireless charging (Qi). No charger is included. Users criticize the battery life, especially with Motion Sense enabled.

• 3700mAh battery
• Up to 10 hours video playback, ~8–10 hours real-world
• 18W wired charging (50% in 40 min)
• 11W wireless charging (Qi)
• No charger included (USB-C cable only)

Connectivity

The Pixel 4 XL supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Bluetooth 5.0. It includes nano-SIM, NFC, and Motion Sense but lacks 5G, UWB, and satellite connectivity. GPS supports GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. Connectivity is solid, but the lack of 5G is a major drawback in 2025.

• 4G LTE modem
• Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Physical nano-SIM
• No 5G, UWB, or satellite connectivity
• GPS: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo

Pricing and Availability

Launched at $899 for 64GB and $999 for 128GB, the Pixel 4 XL was announced on October 15, 2019, with sales starting October 24, 2019, via Google Store, carriers, and retailers. Discounts often drop it to $399–$599. The Pixel 5 ($699) offers better battery life and 5G, making the 4 XL less viable in 2025.