And lots of sensors

Recently we saw leaked renders showing a Google Pixel 4 with a square camera block on the back. This was at odds with previous leaks, but it looks like it could be accurate, as the same design has now been leaked again, complete with additional, surprising details.

Shared by Unbox Therapy, the latest leak takes the form of metallic mock-ups of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, and according to the source that big square camera block on the back contains two lenses along with a “spectral sensor”.

Unbox Therapy doesn’t explain what this sensor would do, simply saying it’s another kind of “imaging technique”, but with three rear sensors the Pixel 4’s camera capabilities could be quite different to the Google Pixel 3’s single-lens approach.

• The iPhone 11 is also landing later this year
• As is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10
• Read our full Google Pixel 3a review

But it’s the front of the phone that’s more interesting, as while it’s not totally clear in the mock-ups, the source says both phones will have a large bezel at the top, rather than a notch or a punch-hole camera.

That’s a surprising choice in 2019, but apparently, it’s necessary to house the five “imaging units” that the Pixel 4 range will supposedly have on its front.

The source doesn’t know what these are for, but claims there’s no fingerprint scanner on the phone, meaning the only biometric security would be facial recognition of some kind, so at least some of these imaging units will presumably help with that - and that could mean a facial recognition system that equals or betters Apple’s Face ID.

Finally, the source says that both the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will have wireless charging and Active Edge, letting you squeeze the sides to launch Google Assistant.

We would, of course, take all of this with a pinch of salt, but the source notes that these kinds of metal mock-ups are generally sent to accessory makers and that by the time you reach this phase the design is usually fairly locked down - so this could well be an accurate look at the Pixel 4.




READ MORE:

But we're not sure why

We’ve heard a few Google Pixel 4 leaks at this point, most of which don’t point to anything overly surprising, but the latest leak is a bit strange, as according to one source the phone won’t have any physical buttons.

That’s not to say that it won’t have any buttons at all, but rather than being physical, mechanical buttons that you press down, they’ll apparently be capacitive ones that simply respond to touch.

That’s according to Jon Prosser who said as much in an episode of Front Page Tech. And he’s worth listening to, as he’s got a good track record with Pixel leaks and he claims that this information comes from a “credible” source – though he’s also clearly skeptical of the claim, simply because it’s so unusual.

• Google just launched the Pixel 3a
• And the Pixel 3a XL
• The iPhone 11 is also landing later this year

So we’d certainly take this with a pinch of salt, but there are some possible reasons for the change. For one thing, it could improve the design of the Pixel 4, allowing Google to give it a smooth frame uninterrupted by buttons sticking out.

It could also – as Phone Arena notes – improve Google’s Active Edge feature. This is a feature found on the likes of the Google Pixel 3 which lets you squeeze the sides to launch Google Assistant. But in its current form, it only works on some sections of the sides, as the buttons get in the way. With capacitive buttons, it might be possible to have Active Edge work along the entire length of the frame.

Speakers, scanner, and camera

In more believable news, the same source also claimed that the Google Pixel 4 would have front-firing speakers, and backed up some previous Pixel 4 rumors, saying that the phone would have a punch-hole camera on the front and an on-screen fingerprint scanner.

These things too we’d take with a side of salt, but it’s not the first time we’re hearing them, and nor would it be surprising. We might not know the truth for a while though, as the Google Pixel 4 range is unlikely to land until October.