Google Pixel 4 Release Date, Price, News and Rumors

Google launched the Google Pixel 3 and the Google Pixel 3 XL only a couple of months ago, but fans of Google and their smartphone lineup are already gearing up for what’s next: what will allegedly be the Google Pixel 4. The Google Pixel 3 was a fairly incremental upgrade as far as smartphones go, but fans have big hopes for the next iteration.

Between what is rumored to be an all-new design, high-end hardware and an upgraded camera system, the Google Pixel 4 could be the best and most anticipated phone this year. However, with so many rumors circulating, it can be difficult to keep them all straight — that’s why we constructed this comprehensive guide; to show you all of the current rumors of the Google Pixel 4. So without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Google Pixel 4 Release Date

We’re actually fairly confident of when Google will be launching the new Google Pixel 4 and Google Pixel 4 XL. The search giant holds an annual hardware event every year around October, and that’s generally when they showcase all of their new and upcoming products, including their new phones.

That said, we’re likely looking at an October launch date as well, as Google announces the products, and then launches them just a couple of weeks later, if not sooner.

This would also lineup with what Google has done in the past — the original Google Pixel, Google Pixel 2, and Google Pixel 3 have all been October announcements and launches. That said, expect to and start saving your pennies for a Google Pixel 4 launch in October 2019!

Google Pixel 4 Design

The Google Pixel 3 has had a pretty similar design to the original Google Pixel for a couple of years now. However, there are a lot of rumors circulating that the Google Pixel 4 is going to have an all-new design.

There’s actually been a variety of leaks and rumors around the Google Pixel 4’s design. The latest rumors actually come by way of Phone Designer on Twitter, which shows that the Google Pixel 4 might be looking at a more Galaxy S10 style design. It still has that slight two-tone design, but definitely looks more like a Galaxy S10 than anything.

There’s actually going to be a massive difference between the Google Pixel 4 and the Google Pixel 4 XL this time around. The Google Pixel 4 XL isn’t just a larger phone with a bigger battery anymore. This time, the Google Pixel 4 XL is actually rumored to have a dual-lens camera, whereas the original Google Pixel 4 will retain the single lens camera.

We’re supposed to see some alterations as far as the display goes as well. The Google Pixel 4 this time around, the smaller mode, could sit closer to 6-inches in display size, with the Google Pixel 4 XL looking more like it’ll be at 6.3- to 6.6-inches in size.

Phones are getting larger and larger every time a new one launches — we see this with the Galaxy S line of smartphones, as well as the Galaxy Note series. That said, seeing an increase in display size isn’t too far off here.

As far as design differences between the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL goes, it should be pretty uniform. There’s a chance that there could be some slight differences if Google doesn’t design the phone themselves. For the Google Pixel 2, HTC designed the Pixel 2, and LG the Pixel 2 XL, which ended up giving the phones some slight variations. Google designed the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, so we expect that trend to continue, which would make the Pixel 4 more uniform.

The only thing we’re personally wondering is how the dual-lens camera will affect the design choices.

Google Pixel 4 Hardware & Software

The Google Pixel 4 and the Google Pixel 4 XL will obviously be sporting all of the latest hardware inside. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 was seen in the last generation of Pixel devices. The successor to the Snapdragon 845 was announced in December — the Snapdragon 855 — so we will likely see that new chip in the Google Pixel 4 phones.

One of the interesting and big changes here is that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 is one of the first 5G-enabled chips. That said, the Pixel 4 lineup could be the first 5G-enabled Google phones, though that may be a feature reserved for the Pixel 4 XL. We could see the phones sporting up to 6GB of RAM as well.

These rumors are actually looking like they have some merit to them. The Google Pixel 4 has actually popped up on Geekbench, showing us an early leak of the smartphone. This leak refers to the Pixel 4 as Google Coral, and actually shows a Snapdragon 855 as well as 6GB of RAM in play.

The only thing that we’re not quite certain on so far is that Google, like Samsung, could start producing their own chips. Google has actually been filling vacancies inside their new “gChips” team. Reuters actually says that they’ve brought 16 new engineering veterans on board, as well as four talent recruiters.

That said, we may very well see an option this year in a Pixel 4 smartphone with Google’s own chipset. However, depending on how early in development the team is, this could be something we’re looking at for, say, the Google Pixel 5 in 2024.

In addition, the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL should have dual-SIM support, as well as larger storage options this time around. 256GB and 512GB sizes are getting pretty common, so it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to see that in the new Pixel 4 phones as well.

We’re also looking at some improved facial recognition. Right now, Google’s facial recognition isn’t advanced or secure enough to replace bank passwords or even approve payments. We could see some improvements in that regard this year, though based on design leaks, we won’t be seeing a facial recognition like Apple has.

Software will be fairly interesting, as the new Google Pixel 4 phones should be running the new Android Q software. The Developer Preview for the new software is already out, with a public beta and official announcement planned for May at the yearly Google I/O developer event.

The new Android software this time around is actually supposed to be fairly modest. There’s a couple new features planned, but it’s starting to sound like that there’s performance enhancements, better battery efficiency, and some more additions that are slowly uniting Android and Chrome OS together, though that latter part doesn’t necessarily affect the new Pixel phones.

Straight from the mouth of Google itself:

“In Android Q, the OS gives users even more control over apps, controlling access to shared files. Users will be able to control apps’ access to the Photos and Videos or the Audio collections via new runtime permissions. For Downloads, apps must use the system file picker, which allows the user to decide which Download files the app can access.”

In addition:

“In Android Q, the OS gives users even more control over apps, controlling access to shared files. Users will be able to control apps’ access to the Photos and Videos or the Audio collections via new runtime permissions. For Downloads, apps must use the system file picker, which allows the user to decide which Download files the app can access. For developers, there are changes to how your apps can use shared areas on external storage.”

That said, it’s definitely more performance and privacy focused this time around.

Google Pixel 4 Price

Naturally, with newer, better hardware, an upgraded camera, a better screen, and other improvements, we will — without a shadow of a doubt — see a price increase on the new Google Pixel 4 phones, especially if Google ends up enabling 5G technology on these smartphones.

The Google Pixel 3 and the Google Pixel 3 XL sit at $799 and $899, respectively. We could very well see a new Google Pixel phone at similar prices; however, with many smartphone suppliers bringing their phones well above the $1000 mark, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a Google Pixel 4 XL at above $1000.

If Google were to do this, we wouldn’t necessarily be shocked to find out about a third Google Pixel 4 phone, possibly a Google Pixel 4 Mini that holds a somewhat normal smartphone price, following suit with Apple and Samsung. A Google Pixel 4 Mini could potentially sit around $599 to $749, which keeps things fairly affordable for the average consumer.

Verdict

As you can see, there are a lot of rumors circulating around the new Google Pixel 4 smartphones. Even though the Google Pixel 3 just launched in October of last year, people are extremely excited for what Google is planning on bringing to the tablet next. And the improvements that we’re seeing rumored so far are actually looking really cutting edge.

That said, the only things that we can remain pretty confident on are the hardware and the software. Benchmark leaks are usually pretty reliable, and Google has already acknowledged the existence of Android Q. On the other hand, press renders and mock ups can change with the wind.

What would you like to see in the new Google Pixel phones? Sound off in the comments section below — we’d love to hear from you!