With only two cameras and solely conventional 12 megapixel sensors, the Pixel 4 scores only weak in terms of hardware features. However, the image quality of these two cameras is very good, as Google calculates the resulting image from a series of photos. This technique excels particularly in low light situations. A specialty of Google are the excellent digital negatives (DNGs). But in the overall assessment, the Pixel does not exceed the mark “satisfactory”, as it receives zero points in the tele and super wide angle assessments for the lack of according cameras.
Wide angle (main camera) – 1.7/4.38 mm lens
(35mm equivalent: 27 mm), 12 MP sensor, JPEG 12 MP
Twelve megapixels are okay for the main camera by today’s standards, but are hardly a top configuration. Thus, in bright light, the Pixel does not match its competitors from the 50 MP class and above. But for a 12 MP sensor, its image quality is very good. Particularly in decreasing light, the pixel turns out to be a champion and offers surprisingly clear images. Certainly, a limit is reached here at some point, but due to the computing of various shots resulting in one image, the Google phone delivers more details in its photos than most of the other candidates. Obviously, also the competition calculates images from more than one shot – but Google does this job particularly well. Yes, there is some detail lacking, but on the other hand the images are not killed by de-noising or similar measures.
Normal focal length – 2.4/5.84 mm lens
(35mm equivalent: 43 mm), 12 MP sensor, JPEG with 12 MP
The normal lens – the Pixel’s second camera – also takes shots at a resolution of 12 MP. As the focal length corresponds to a 43 mm lens as a 35 mm equivalent, from an optical point of view, it is a normal lens, even if frequently designated as a tele lens. At the same imaging scale, the normal lens scores a little weaker than the main camera. Its images offer moderately low Dead Leaves results with accordingly less detailed structures and also fall behind sooner in decreasing light. When making night shots, the main camera scores a little better, but all in all also the normal lens is among the best in our test in this category.
|
Device |
Google Pixels 4 |
|
Average market price |
600 Euro |
|
Functionality |
|
|
Image formats |
JPEG, RAW |
|
Focusing |
Phase AF |
|
ISO sensitivity |
ISO auto |
|
Exposure control |
Auto |
|
Shutter speed, Exposure correction |
auto, available |
|
White balance |
auto |
|
Features |
|
|
Display |
OLED, 5,7", 2280 x 1080 Pixels |
|
Internal memory, Memory card, USB |
128 GB, –, USB 3.1, Type C |
|
Video |
3840 x 2160 Pixels, 30 F/s |
|
Size, Weight, Battery capacity |
147 x 69 x 8 mm, 162 g, 2800 mAh |
|
Test results |
|
|
measured at |
5000 | 200 | 5 Lux |
|
Wide angle (main lens) |
|
|
5000 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
1,7/4,4 mm, 4032 x 3024 Px, ISO 65, 2 ms |
|
200 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
1,7/4,4 mm, 4032 x 3024 Px, ISO 103, 40 ms |
|
5 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
1,7/4,4 mm, 4032 x 3024 Px, ISO 166, 1000 ms |
|
Image stabilization |
IS |
|
Resolution Center High/Low (LP/IH) |
1512 / 1643 | 1512 / 1589 | 1785 / 1280 |
|
Resolution Edge High/Low (LP/IH) |
1759 / 1146 | 1820 / 1106 | 1305 / 1164 |
|
Resolution Corners High (LP/IH) |
1730 | 1660 | 1270 |
|
Dead leaves High/Low (LP/IH) |
989 / 960 | 987 / 1056 | 946 / 856 |
|
Artefacts High/Low |
35 / 37 | 35 / 30 | 37 / 43 |
|
Noise (VN)/Color accuracy (deltaE) |
1,9 / 12,4 | 1,9 / 14,6 | 1,6 / 17,4 |
|
Distortion (%)/Vignetting (%) |
0,3 / 16 | 0,3 / 16 | 0,3 / 17 |
|
Points |
73,9 | 73,3 | 68,7 |
|
Score Wide angle lens |
94 |
|
Normal lens (2x zoom) |
|
|
5000 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
2,4/5,80 mm, 4032 x 3024 Px, ISO 40, 8 ms |
|
200 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
2,4/5,80 mm, 4032 x 3024 Px, ISO 230, 42 ms |
|
5 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
2,4/5,80 mm, 4032 x 3024 Px, ISO 1076, 333 ms |
|
Image stabilization |
IS |
|
Resolution Center High/Low (LP/IH) |
1286 / 930 | 1164 / 785 | 1032 / 650 |
|
Resolution Edge High/Low (LP/IH) |
1265 / 932 | 1126 / 749 | 967 / 602 |
|
Resolution Corners High (LP/IH) |
1237 | 1085 | 895 |
|
Dead leaves High/Low (LP/IH) |
706 / 664 | 791 / 658 | 517 / 353 |
|
Artefacts High/Low |
38 / 46 | 44 / 56 | 66 / 77 |
|
Noise (VN)/Color accuracy (deltaE) |
1,5 / 12,4 | 1,9 / 9,8 | 3,6 / 17,2 |
|
Distortion (%)/Vignetting (%) |
0,3 / 11 | 0,3 / 13 | 0,3 / 9 |
|
Points |
61,9 | 57,4 | 41,5 |
|
Score Normal lens (2x zoom) |
73 |
|
Tele lens |
|
|
5000 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
– |
|
200 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
– |
|
5 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
– |
|
Image stabilization |
– |
|
Resolution Center High/Low (LP/IH) |
– |
|
Resolution Edge High/Low (LP/IH) |
– |
|
Resolution Corners High (LP/IH) |
– |
|
Dead leaves High/Low (LP/IH) |
– |
|
Artefacts High/Low |
– |
|
Noise (VN)/Color accuracy (deltaE) |
– |
|
Distortion (%)/Vignetting (%) |
– |
|
Points |
– |
|
Score Tele lens |
0 |
|
Super wide angle lens |
|
|
5000 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
– |
|
200 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
– |
|
5 Lux - Lens, Res., ISO, Exposure |
– |
|
Image stabilization |
– |
|
Resolution Center High/Low (LP/IH) |
– |
|
Resolution Edge High/Low (LP/IH) |
– |
|
Resolution Corners High (LP/IH) |
– |
|
Dead leaves High/Low (LP/IH) |
– |
|
Artefacts High/Low |
– |
|
Noise (VN)/Color accuracy (deltaE) |
– |
|
Distortion (%)/Vignetting (%) |
– |
|
Points |
– |
|
Score Super Wide angle lens |
0 |
|
Score 5000 | 200 | 5 Lux |
53 | 51 | 43 |
|
Overall score camera qb |
50 |
Google Pixels 4
50
satisfactory
SAMPLE PHOTOS
Wide angle (main camera) – 1.7/4.38 mm lens (12 MP JPEGs)
Full Light (5000 Lux)
Low Light (200 Lux)
Night Shot (5 Lux)
Normal focal length – 2.4/5.84 mm lens (12 MP JPEGS)
Full Light (5000 Lux)
Low Light (200 Lux)
Night Shot (5 Lux)