Google Pixel 5 Vs Pixel 4 Vs Pixel 4XL – Should You Upgrade?

Last Wednesday, Google launched the new Pixel 5 alongside the Pixel 4a 5G, with both being the first Pixel phones with 5G wireless capabilities. I’m sure some of you are already considering an upgrade either from the Pixel 3 to a 4 or from the 4 to a 5.

No matter which of the Pixels you want to use next, this video will help make your decision easier as I compare this year’s Pixel 5 to the Pixel 4 and in some cases the 4xl which were released last year. I’ll be comparing specs, design, price and other features I believe will help you make the right decision. So without much ado, let’s dive in.

Specs and Features

In terms of specs, the Pixel 5 got an upgrade in some areas and a downgrade in other aspects of the phone. The Pixel 5 comes with a 6 inch OLED screen with 2340 by 1080 resolution while the Pixel 4 sports a smaller 5.7 inch pOled with 2280 by 1080 resolution. The Pixel 4xl on the other hand features a larger 6.3-inch pOled display with a resolution of 3040 by 1440.

It might interest you to know that the Pixel 4xl has a QUAD HD+ panel whereas the Pixel 4 and 5 have full hd+ displays. All 3 phones however have a 90Hz refresh rate.

When it comes to processor power and performance, the Pixel 5 is powered by the Snapdragon 765G which is a downgrade compared to the Pixel 4 and 4xl with both sporting the Snapdragon 855. The difference between these two processors is minimal as both can handle various simple tasks.

The Pixel 5 got an upgrade in the memory department with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage capacity. The Pixel 4 and 4xl came short with both offering 6gb of ram and 64gb storage with the option to upgrade to 128GB storage capacity – that’s if you want to pay more.

Last year, the Pixel 4 came with just 2800mah battery which is not enough juice for a smart phone in this era. The 4xl got a 3700mah battery but still not a match to the 4080mah battery power the Pixel 5 has. So yes, we can say the Pixel 5 got an upgrade in the battery department.

Pixel phones have never had a problem when it comes to camera quality because that’s the phone’s main selling point. All previous Pixel phones over the years have the best camera which is powered by Google’s awesome camera software. The story is not different from this year’s Pixel 5 which comes with a 12.2mp rear camera the same as the Pixel 4 and 4xl, with an f1.7 aperture to give you that sweet background blur in portrait mode. For selfies, the Pixel 5, 4, and 4xl all got an 8mp camera with an F2.8 aperture.

The Pixel 4 and 4xl had an extra 16mp telephoto lens which has now been replaced with a 16mp ultra-wide-angle lens in the Pixel 5. You can still get your zoom shots on the Pixel 5 with Google’s Super Resolution zoom software.

Other features on the Pixel 5 include Google’s Pixel imprint fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone which denied the Pixel 5 motion sense feature. The Pixel 4 and 4xl have 3d face unlock for unlocking the phone and also motion sense that allows you to snooze alarm and silence calls without touching your phone.

The Pixel 5 supports 5G whereas you only get 4G LTE on the Pixel 4 and 4xl.

Design

We all know Google is not big on design when it comes to their Pixel phones but I think they still try to give us something good. At first glance, Pixel 5 and 4 look very similar but a closer look reveals some differences such as the punch-hole display on the Pixel 5 which the Pixel 4 lacks. The Pixel 5 also has an aluminum back with the Pixel 4 sporting a glass back. Both are great if you asked me but you should know that aluminum is more durable.

In terms of colors, Pixel 5 comes in just black which is my favorite and sorta sage. The sorta sage color is greenish though I doubt a lot of people will like it. Just black and clearly white are the main colors the Pixel 4s come in plus a limited edition color called Oh So Orange.

Price

The Pixel 5 was launched with a $699 price tag which I believe is the right price considering the specs it comes with. The Pixel 4s are however expensive with the 4 selling for $799 and the XL version going for $899. One good thing to note is that you might get the Pixel 4 or 4xl for less due to the fact that they’ve been on the market for about a year now.

So, should you upgrade?

I believe the answer to the question could be a yes or no. Yes, you can upgrade if you want a phone that supports 5G, has longer battery life with a modern design together with some new extra features.

You don’t need to upgrade to Pixel 5 if you already own a Pixel 4 or 4xl. You can upgrade to Pixel 4 or 4xl if you own a Pixel 3 or 2. However, if having some new features, more RAM, and reverse wireless charging means a lot to you, then you can upgrade to the new Pixel 5.

You can also upgrade to Pixel 5 if you want to enjoy new android updates from Android 12 to 14 because Google will end updates for the Pixel 4 with Android 13.

The displays and processor power of the Pixel 5 and 4 should not really influence your decision because unless you’re superhuman, you won’t see much difference between an OLED display or a pOled display. And as for the processors, the Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5 can perform all the activities u undertake with ur phone the same as the Snapdragon 855 in the Pixel 4s. But then, if you plan on playing very high demanding 3d games on your phone, then you will need the Pixel 4.

So, guys, that brings us to the end of my Pixel 5 and 4 comparisons. Do you plan on upgrading or do you even think an upgrade is necessary? Share your thoughts in the comments. Remember to subscribe and as always, catch you in the next video. Bye