Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL (2019): Face Unlock and Camera Guide

Google Pixel model archive · 2019

Pixel 4 changed how a Pixel unlocked and added a telephoto camera. It is a distinctive generation, combining face recognition, a faster-refreshing display and an experimental radar-based control system with more ambitious night photography.

Official launch image: Google. View the original announcement.

Introduced 15 October 2019. Filed under the original announcement date. This retrospective guide was prepared in November 2026.

Generation at a glance

Pixel 4 and larger Pixel 4 XL
Rear wide and telephoto cameras
90Hz display and 6GB RAM
Face unlock; Motion Sense radar features

The generation that tried a different interface

Motion Sense used radar for selected interactions, while face unlock replaced the familiar rear fingerprint-reader approach. Camera changes included Live HDR+, dual-exposure controls and astrophotography through Night Sight. These are different kinds of improvements: some affect how a phone responds in your hand, others how you prepare a shot. It is worth separating them when deciding what made this release unusual.

Which version is which?

Pixel 4 and 4 XL are the main 2019 pair. The later Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a (5G) are separate products, not cheaper storage configurations of a Pixel 4. An XL name identifies the larger member of this launch family; the a and 5G labels need their own explanation.

Looking at one today

Check face unlocking, the front sensor area and the display at different brightness levels. Try both rear camera views, including focus and stabilisation. Motion Sense availability depended on country and feature support, so do not buy an imported example solely for a particular gesture shown in an old advert. A good battery matters more than a list of historical software tricks.

Pixel 5a and earlier no longer receive Android or security updates. Check Google’s current Pixel update schedule for the exact model.

Official Google sources

Original Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL announcement · Pixel software-support policy. Features and services may depend on language, country and software version. This is an editorial model guide, not a claim of hands-on testing.

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