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Phones · Google Pixel

Google Pixel 4 XL

6owners with an opinion
50%of verdicts positive
1/0positive/negative since 2024
0happy after 3+ years

Praised for repairability and reliability; criticized for performance and software.

What people wrote

Likes it
I got my entire family Pixel 4XLs when they were new. Every single one had the battery replaced once under warranty, and then they denied more batteries (it was actually the fragile connector). So I started replacing them myself. I even slightly modified the connector mount so it would stop failing. The third batteries ended up lasting years because of my modification. Finally, all 3 died around 2023 from motherboard problems apparently. Otherwise great phones. Sad that some weird hardware problems killed them all for most people.
Doesn’t like it
I agree with you about the build quality, but also from a software perspective. I've been a long time Pixel user, and have had the Pixel, Pixel 4 XL, and currently have the Pixel 6 Pro. On every device, there has been one or several glaring software bugs that haven't been fixed for months, or have required a really, really nasty workaround. A good example was the bluetooth stack on the Pixel 4 XL. We got a security software update one day, applied it, and then found that the bluetooth connection to loads of devices was suddenly broken. Google took months to get the issue fixed, despite a few hundred pages of complaints on their forums. Instead someone (not from Google) worked out that if you went into developer mode, you could swap out the bluetooth stack for a previous version, and it might work again. Is this sort of blasé approach to quality assurance and lack of urgency around fixing user reported bugs that really, really irritates me about Google's hardware devices. The 6 Pro is an ok phone but also has it's problems (painfully slow and somewhat unreliable fingerprint unlock). I think I've had enough and I'll probably give a Samsung device a try.
Likes it
Another anecdotal example here: Nexus 4, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 6 Pro – never had any issues whatsoever, all phones still alive and kicking at my grandparents' places. Yes, most of them tied to the wall now... but hey, they're fine for showing some photos and displaying current time or setting alarms. Interestingly, I also used Samsung's Note 9 and 10+, iPhone 12, iPhone 14 Pro Max – daily, also with no issues... other than disliking Samsung's software. (I was/am doing a lot of mobile work so I test a lot of phones) After years of doing this kind of testing, it's hard for me to believe that the entire batches of phones are so fundamentally broken... I'd rather bet on software issues, but who knows.
Doesn’t like it
I have a Pixel 4xl with the common battery ribbon connector problem. Google replaced the battery once within the first year, and then again a year later. Then, a year later the problem came back. I went to the same store, and was told Google would not fix the battery again.. that after 2 times it's a motherboard problem and that isn't under extended warranty like the battery. So I went on Amazon, bought a new battery for $18 including tools, and installed it as a first timer in 20 minutes. Works great. Not every consumer is able to do that. So Google just burns them.