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Pixel 4 Announcement Could Include a 5G Phone
October 14, 2019

The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are slated to be launched at an event in New York on October 15, 2019. The devices have been at the receiving end of far too many leaks, and for the most part, the launch event was expected to be without any major surprises. However, it seems that Google might just have one final surprise left up its sleeve, which hadn’t been leaked so far. According to a new report from Nikkei Asian Review, Google has begun test production of a 5G smartphone, one that could be unveiled as soon as next week alongside the two devices in the Pixel 4 series, and possibly a new smartwatch and a notebook. While the Pixel 4 will be available for consumers to purchase shortly after unveiling, sales of the 5G variant might be positioned closer to the launch of the next budget Pixel phone, the Pixel 4a, in 2020. Google’s 5G smartphone is currently being test produced in China, but mass production for phones destined for the US market might shift to Vietnam by the end of this year, to avoid US tariffs from the China trade dispute and to take advantage of the cheaper labor. The 5G phone is expected to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, which might not be the best choice for a 5G smartphone in 2020 considering the fact that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 is presumed to be right around the corner. A third Pixel device was hinted at  back in April 2019 when the codenames of the Pixel devices, coral, flame, and needlefish, were first spotted. While flame and coral ended up being confirmed as the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4 XL respectively. No new information was spotted regarding needlefishbut if the production timeline reported is correct, the 5G smartphone is a logical step as all major OEMs are moving in that the direction. But since Apple and Microsoft have not yet dipped their toes into consumer-ready 5G smartphones just yet, Google was not expected to jump in at this stage, so this report pushes Google ahead of Apple in the 5G race and maintains pressure on other major Android OEMs.

In other reports, after a deluge of feature reveals, including accessible Face ID, car crash detection, an updated Recorder app and touchless gestures, the Pixel 4 spec are  official -- and they pretty much confirm earlier spec rumors that, like everything else about the phone, were also leaked ahead of the official Pixel 4 event. According to the official spec sheet -- obtained by 9to5Google -- components include a Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM and up to a 90Hz display. Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL have an OLED panel size of 5.7-inch and 6.3-inch and battery (2,800 mAh vs 3,700 mAh). Both offer a choice of 64GB or 128GB storage. Under the processor information, both devices are labeled as having a "Pixel Neural Core," which appears to be the new name for the "Pixel Visual Core," as found in the Pixel 3; the imaging chip responsible for the Pixel's excellent low-light camera. According to 9to5Google, the device will come with a 1m USB-C to USB-Ccable, an 18W USB-C power adapter, a Quick Switch Adapter (female USB-A to male USB-C), a SIM tool and a Quick Start guide, which means it won't come with the USB-C headphone adaptor or USB-C earbuds that the Pixel 3 shipped with -- although this might only be the case in the US, as some countries legally require phone manufacturers to include headphones. There's very little left to know about the Pixel 4 now, and it seems that the official launch event on October 15th will act mainly as a demonstration of its new and improved features, rather than showcasing any big new reveal. From: Weibo