Google's Pixel 4 series finally had its official reveal at its annual hardware event, following multiple rounds of leaks. The new line of smartphones has some new features in tow, but one perk that the previous generations had was noticeably lacking in the new devices - the unlimited, full-resolution storage in Google Photos.
The incentive offered Pixel owners a lot of convenience as they can upload images and videos for free on Google Photos, all in their original quality. Essentially, Google Drive will allow you to store countless 4K videos as you wish.
With the Pixel 4 series, however, Google decided to leave out this feature, meaning users will have to be contented of compressed, though still high-quality uploads unless they pay for additional cloud storage.
Google made no mention of unlimited storage at its Oct. 15 showcase, and even if you check out the product page for the Pixel 4, you will only see a disclaimer indicating that free storage is only limited "high quality" photos and videos that could be "compressed or resized."
In a bid to replace the incentive, Google is bundling the Pixel 4 with a three-month trial of Google One that comes with 100GB of cloud storage. The trade-off is a bit of a downer, and it's possible for potential buyers to see this a deal-breaker, most especially to those who already own Pixel handset and want to upgrade. As for Pixel 3 owners, they're still enjoying the Google Photos incentive and will continue to do so for three years more, ending on Jan. 31, 2022.
It appears the search giant has decided to tone down on the promotions now that the Pixel is entering its fourth year. So, if you want to own a Pixel 4, be prepared to pay $2 each month for 100GB to enjoy your Google One subscription.
It's also worth noting that Google also ditched fingerprint sensor in favor of facial recognition system. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL both have an embedded chip beneath the front bezel that allows for ease of control by simply waving a hand over the device. What's great is that the flagship series has Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 855 chips and more RAM.
As for the Pixel 4 camera, it's been upgraded for sure. There are two: a 16-megapixel telephoto lens and a regular 12-megapixel snapper. New camera modes are also added that should night photography and astrophotography. Google also revealed that Portrait Mode has been made better and will make tricky subjects easier to shoot, as it's more accurate in identifying the edges.
