Google Pixel 4 Leaks Suggest Punch-Hole Selfie Camera and Total Lack of Physical Buttons

[Defthand]

They shouldn't be trying to make a dent in the hardware space. They should be trying to showcase Android and creating a direction for the Android O.E.M.'s to follow.

That approach has lost buy-in from the more independent brands. The brands—notably foreign—have their own visions for the OS and its UI. I'll be glad if Google abandons Android in favor of its own OS.

Pundits told Apple to quit its measly hardware efforts and license the OS instead. Aren't you glad time proved them wrong?

 

[Baymowe335]

The 3a and 3a XL have been some of the most praised phones in the last year. I personally love my 3 XL. You have no idea what the hell you're talking about.

Maybe, but they aren't selling. Read the thread. I know more than you think. Google just told us the Pixel 3 sucks and the numbers prove their Hardware business is a rounding error, likely <3% of Google's total sales.

Google is an Ad business and a great one, but they can't make successful hardware. A good camera clearly doesn't sell a phone, particularly when tons of phones have good cameras.

Come back with 1 fact and try again or you're just pontificating.

BTW, I own GOOGL shares, so I do think it's a great company. They just aren't a successful hardware player.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Google has removed he headphone jack since the Pixel 2. Not sure why the complaints now.

The render features a headphone jack. Hence I said it was gross.

 

[Khedron]

Their cameras and software SUCK for video, based on everything I've read. To me, that negates any advantage the camera may have for specialty situations like night shots.

In contrast, the iPhone takes outstanding video. It's also fast enough to edit it efficiently.

iPhone video is completely unusable in low light conditions

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Which hw/sw features in particular?

Hardware:
Headphone jack (I know...it ain't coming back) --This is a BIG one. Possible dealbreaker
Fingerprint reader (also not coming back) --I could use an iPhone 8 though
Stylus (I use a Note for a reason) --not a dealbreaker though
No notch
USB-C --Dealbreaker. NOT buying anything "lightning". Ever.
MicroSD --less important these days, but still convenient if I'm buying, not leasing, the phone

Software:
Back button --This is a BIG one
Close all
Home screen customization
Themes (I personalize most of my stuff)
Dex

I have been tempted by the Xrs, though (I really, really want the mac integration), and a couple of great features from Android already made it into iOS (split screen multitasking was a VERY big one for me).

Maybe this year iOS 13 will woo me back...

 

[mikethemartian]

Then you don't understand Jony Ive, or large scale industrial design for a mass market consumer product at all. They don't start out with "How can we make a phone with no buttons."
They start with "what problem do we have" then "what would solve that problem". If the answer was "no buttons", then the question would become "how do we make a phone with no buttons, and what other problems does that create, and how do we solve/mitigate those problems."

Google doesn't have a mass market consumer product. They have what barely amounts to an expensive hobby. They can do things that make no practical sense whatsoever, without risk of alienating customers. Can't alienate customers you don't have. The only people who buy the Pixel are tech hounds who buy and try everything, reviewers, YouTubers, and some others. A few million people world wide, total.

Those might be the tenets of good industrial design in general but my guess is that Ive just wants to get rid of the buttons.

 

[SirithX]

But it's not in reality. I don't care what specs you want to give or reasons it's just as good. The Pixel doesn't sell. It's failed for a company Google's size. It's so small, it almost doesn't deserve to be included.

Again, of $36B in sales, $31B are Ads for Google and the remainder is YouTube, Cloud, App Store, and Hardware. Hardware might be doing $1B in revenue last quarter or about 2.7% of sales.

Apple just did $31B in sales for JUST the iphone, not including Macs, iPad, or Wearables...and people think Apple is doomed because the iPhone slowed. Google certainly didn't take share. The entire market isn't upgrading high end phones as much. Apple isn't losing customers. The user base is growing, not shrinking. Upgrades have just slowed, as expected.

If you are truly an investor like you claim, then I doubt you'd have such a sloppy, shallow view of these earnings reports. Apple was first to market with today's contemporary smartphone and has an incredible lead that isn't going anywhere in the short term. Google's hardware division, as well as X and their various sub-divisions that work in health sciences, automated driving, providing internet to developed countries, etc. may be net negative in revenue for a long period of time but the point is that these are long-term bets and investments that either support other areas of the business that are profitable or are expected to grow over time.

 

[Defthand]

Did you dismiss Apple's Airport routers? Did you urge Apple to abandon the AppleTV? Those were chump change, but they helped define and solidify Apple's ecosystem. The latter even paved the way for content services, possibly saving Apple if the iPhone becomes passe.

You shouldn't be investing in tech if you lack the imagination to see opportunity.

 

[mikethemartian]

Based on the research, apple just needs their logo on anything and their loyal customers would buy it.

Like credit cards.

 

[nwcs]

Unfortunately, I can see Jony Ive wanting to do something with no buttons.

Me, too. And I surely hope not. It’s one reason why I don’t like Tesla’s interface. Virtual can be nice for some things but it’s going too far too often now.

 

[mrkite77]

Google just told us the Pixel 3 sucks

No they didn't.. Google just said that they priced the Pixel 3 too high. The Pixel 3a is a direct response to that.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Avocado green sounds like the color of a refrigerator from the 1970s.

To me it both looks and sounds delicious. Thank God for flavors other than Vanilla (which I also love).

Incidentally, my family had a green refrigerator when I was young.

That said, I feel the same way about the God-awful yellow or baby-blue Xrs. I'd take the green or lavender over them without hesitation.

But I wouldn't get rid of them...unlike a certain supremacist-in-chief.

 

[98winds]

As the owner of Android, Google is frustrated how smartphone makers aren't optimising the software/hardware performance.

An expensive hobby Google can afford. If they find the right combo, sales may/will follow.

 

[EchoplexSE]

So glad I ditched Googles phones, this sounds like a disaster. Lack of buttons, those poor souls that buy this

 

[JGIGS]

You listing some benefits doesn't mean it's successful. Show me the sales that make it successful? Sometimes, those features aren't enough to sell phones. The Pixel has a good camera...so do a lot of smartphones, including the iPhones.

There is far more Android competition than iOS competition. Samsung crushes Google.

Google's most recent report shows $36B in revenue for the quarter. $31B was from Ads, or over 86%.

The remainder was from "Google Other" which includes:

• Apps, in-app purchases, and digital content in the Google Play store;
• Google Cloud offerings;
• Hardware
• YouTube subscriptions

Analysts agree YouTube and Cloud are the 2 highest earners of that group, leaving something like $1B, MAYBE $2B for hardware. It's a joke.

I am long GOOGL, but I recognize their hardware sales are a complete nothingburger.

I wasn't basing this on revenue but the quality of the actual hardware. Google doesn't market their hardware as hard as Samsung and you don't just magically take over market share especially in a category like this where people have clearly built brand loyalty. Even they only make a couple billion dollars off the Google Pixel line its still BILLIONS of dollars yo! If the perfect smartphone/iphone came out and only sold 5 units it doesn't mean it was bad hardware just means people didn't buy for whatever reason often marketing and discounting deals with providers which is most likely the case with the pixel line.

Yes, it's obviously not Googles main priority when they make 86% of their revenue from Ads but I think they will continue to grow market share especially with the more affordable "A" lines definitely doesn't reflect on the quality of the hardware.

 

[lordofthereef]

For every article that I can find saying that Pixel sales are a disaster you can also find articles pointing out that market share is increasing. Ultimately I think you need to take all of this into context and realize that it depends a bit on what the writer's motives are.

I don't find google's hardware to be bad at all. I am talking from a consumer standpoint, not an investor standpoint. Speaking for the US only, it is somewhat bonkers that we had over two years of exclusivity deals with verizon in a market that is already heavily saturated with various smartphones and brands. Maybe they got a sweet kickback deal they couldn't refuse? Though I can't imagine a company as massive as Google needing to rely on that...

Obviously you could buy the devices outright, but the reality is that isn't how Americans shop for smartphones. We can get into a back and forth about why that is, but the reality is it... just is. Beyond that, they entered the game (with their pixel lineup) right when smartphone sales began to stagnate globally. From my vantage point they are suffering a little bit like how windows phone did in that there are already too many established products out there. The big difference here is that Android very much IS one of those established products, so they only really have one mountain to climb instead of two.

Now expand to the global market. It's not even available globally. At least not to the extent that other Android flagships, and iPhone are. 12 countries? Are you kidding? That effectively translates to the pixel not even being available to most of the planet. Only the most devout pixel fans are going to import the devices inot a country where it isn't even sold for obvious reasons, cost being among them.

We talk about ecosystem a lot on this (and other forums), and it is something that even I found myself stuck in. I do have a first gen pixel for work, and it meets my needs perfectly. I would move on to a pixel 3 over my iPhone X for personal use, but I am so stuck on my Apple watch that I have been reluctant to make the jump. In no way am I claiming that this is the reason Google pixel sales aren't where investors and analysts would like to see them, but is is MY reasoning. I simply haven't found an android wearable as well rounded as the apple watch, yet this wasn't my stance on the AW as recently as two years ago. AW3 was truly the turning point for me here.

I suppose that I will just end by saying that sales numbers aren't awlays

 

[JGIGS]

The iPod Touch has a power button.

I was talking about the 3rd gen ipod. Never wrote touch.

 

[Breaking Good]

Pundits told Apple to quit its measly hardware efforts and license the OS instead. Aren't you glad time proved them wrong?

How certain are you that they won't try to do that in the future?

 

[JGIGS]

I need at least one button for a hard reset on my phone! Either that or a pedometer that will hard reset it if I throw it on the floor hard enough

You can do that with touch keys still. 3rd gen ipod reset this way. I imagine they would use touch areas on the sides and or under screen finger print scanning area for this.

 

[Baymowe335]

I wasn't basing this on revenue but the quality of the actual hardware. Google doesn't market their hardware as hard as Samsung and you don't just magically take over market share especially in a category like this where people have clearly built brand loyalty. Even they only make a couple billion dollars off the Google Pixel line its still BILLIONS of dollars yo! If the perfect smartphone/iphone came out and only sold 5 units it doesn't mean it was bad hardware just means people didn't buy for whatever reason often marketing and discounting deals with providers which is most likely the case with the pixel line.

Yes, it's obviously not Googles main priority when they make 86% of their revenue from Ads but I think they will continue to grow market share especially with the more affordable "A" lines definitely doesn't reflect on the quality of the hardware.

It's not really great hardware if they aren't translating it into success. It's just industry average, run-of-the-mill Android stuff with a solid camera. The design has been terrible thus far too.
[doublepost=1558121922][/doublepost]

No they didn't.. Google just said that they priced the Pixel 3 too high. The Pixel 3a is a direct response to that.

They said it's selling worse than the Pixel 2, which didn't sell well either.

 

[ronno]

Based on the research, you're one of the few. The Pixel hasn't done well and the business is a rounding error for Google. Their hardware sucks.

I’d be very happy if Apple could figure out how to make a camera as good as Googles without resorting to two, three, four cameras on iPhones. That’s a joke imo.

 

[Baymowe335]

If you are truly an investor like you claim, then I doubt you'd have such a sloppy, shallow view of these earnings reports. Apple was first to market with today's contemporary smartphone and has an incredible lead that isn't going anywhere in the short term. Google's hardware division, as well as X and their various sub-divisions that work in health sciences, automated driving, providing internet to developed countries, etc. may be net negative in revenue for a long period of time but the point is that these are long-term bets and investments that either support other areas of the business that are profitable or are expected to grow over time.

Come back with facts or you're just talking. I gave numbers and you gave none.

When the facts change, I'll change my assessment of the hardware division at Google. Everything is a long term bet, but you have to see it in the data. Hardware at Google is regressing in the mobile space and is low margin in the other spaces. I like GOOGL's search monopoly and Ad business, which is why I'm long. It doesn't take a genius to see that GOOGL is very difficult to unseat on the search side, which is their business.

Your basic explanation of companies investing in areas of growth adds no value and doesn't prove you know anything as an investor. I have real money on the line, so I can't just talk smart. Unless you have a position in the shares, I don't value your opinion on anything related to the company.
[doublepost=1558122350][/doublepost]

I’d be very happy if Apple could figure out how to make a camera as good as Googles without resorting to two, three, four cameras on iPhones. That’s a joke imo.

Apple's XS camera system has tested favorably in some areas to the Pixel 3 and has some of the best video ability available today. Both camera systems are so good, it's really personal preference on many situations. Google's night sight is cool, but it often gives an unrealistic version of reality. Apple definitely has a different style of photo than many Android phones that choose color saturation over accuracy.

 

[Defthand]

Come back with facts or you're just talking. I gave numbers and you gave none.

When the facts change, I'll change my assessment of the hardware division at Google. Everything is a long term bet, but you have to see it in the data. Hardware at Google is regressing in the mobile space and is low margin in the other spaces. I like GOOGL's search monopoly and Ad business, which is why I'm long. It doesn't take a genius to see that GOOGL is very difficult to unseat on the search side, which is their business.

Your basic explanation of companies investing in areas of growth adds no value and doesn't prove you know anything as an investor. I have real money on the line, so I can't just talk smart. Unless you have a position in the shares, I don't value your opinion on anything related to the company.
[doublepost=1558122350][/doublepost]
Apple's XS camera system has tested favorably in some areas to the Pixel 3 and has some of the best video ability available today. Both camera systems are so good, it's really personal preference on many situations. Google's night sight is cool, but it often gives an unrealistic version of reality. Apple definitely has a different style of photo than many Android phones that choose color saturation over accuracy.

Honestly, when did you buy your shares? When they were IPOs or long after they became sure bets with relatively no risk? I doubt you would have invested in Apple's 1980 IPO since it was strictly speculative and the brand's mission was an abstraction.

There are investors and there are shareholders. Anyone can buy shares in succeeding companies and proclaim they're enlightened. Come back when a long shot start up made you a millions.

 

[gaximus]

Does the corners of the screen being a different radius than the corners of the phone bother anyone else? Also the Pixel 3 had different radius for the top and bottom of the screen, which I can't see in these leaks if its the same.

 

[forerunnerg34]

With all this new -not you iPhone- interesting phones iterating so fast and building on top of the others, is now becoming more difficult to choose: One+ 7, Galaxy S10 and now the pixel 4, each one has something interesting and different, and a headphone jack (except for op7 )

As a second thought: Still need to see the bottom part of the pixel 4, Google may still add their "ugly" factor (like their current notch)