Why was the Google pixel 4 XL discontinued?

Google has discontinued the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, its flagship phones that were released in October of last year. Both devices are out of stock in Google’s store in the US, though some variants are still available in other regions for the time being.

“Google Store has sold through its inventory and completed sales of Pixel 4 [and] 4 XL,” a Google spokesperson confirms to The Verge. “For people who are still interested in buying Pixel 4 [and] 4 XL, the product is available from some partners while supplies last. Just like all Pixel devices, Pixel 4 will continue to get software and security updates for at least three years from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US.” 

It’s unusual for Google to discontinue a Pixel phone so quickly. The Pixels 2 and 3 were on sale for around 18 months each, with Google stopping sales roughly six months after the introduction of their successors. The move means Google technically no longer has a flagship phone for sale.

That is a technicality, though — Google introduced the new Pixel 4A earlier this week for an August 20th release, and also confirmed that the Pixel 5 and a 5G-equipped 4A would be coming later this fall. And while the 4A is a budget device, between its better battery life, less bezel-y design, and equally good main camera you might actually prefer it to the regular Pixel 4. That’s the conclusion Dieter came to in our review, saying “the Pixel 4A makes a much stronger case for itself than other Pixel phones.”

Google has discontinued the Pixel 4 XL and the Pixel 4 less than a year after the phones were launched, as per an online report. The flagship phones are no longer available in Google's US store. This comes at the heels of Google launching the new Pixel 4A earlier this week, and Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G gearing up for an autumn release. It is to be noted that the Google Pixel 4 series was never available in India.

According to a report by The Verge, Google has discontinued the Pixel 4 XL and the Pixel 4 and that the phones were out of stock in Google's US store. However, some variants are still said to be available in other regions for the time being.

“Google Store has sold through its inventory and completed sales of Pixel 4 [and] 4 XL,” a Google spokesperson told The Verge. “For people who are still interested in buying Pixel 4 [and] 4 XL, the product is available from some partners while supplies last.”

• Pixel 4a: Everything You Need to Know About Google’s Latest Phone

While it is not unusual for Google to phase out its older smartphones after newer ones hit the market; this is surprising as Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 4 were launched only in October 2019, less than a year back. Google Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 4 have never been available for sale in India, although the company while issuing a statement about this at the time of the launch in New York had said that they looked forward to bringing future Pixel devices to India. Google Pixel 4a India launch is set for October, while Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G will be released later this year.

Google Pixel 4 series features, specifications

A key feature of the now discontinued smartphones is Motion Sense that lets you do things like silence alarms, calls, and timers by waving your hand at the phone. Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 4 pack a stellar 16-megapixel main camera with improved white balancing, Live HDR+ support, a better portrait mode, and improved Night Sight. The Snapdragon 855 SoC powers the phone series that had a 90Hz display and 6GB of RAM. The Pixel 4 also features a 5.7-inch full-HD+ OLED display with HDR support while the Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3-inch QHD+ panel.

• Google Pixel Series Saw More Shipments Than OnePlus in 2019: IDC

OnePlus 8 vs Mi 10 5G: Which Is the Best 'Value Flagship' Phone in India? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

The Pixel 4 XL is the better option over the Pixel 4, if you don't want to struggle with battery life.

TL;DR

• Google will no longer sell the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL.
• The two 2019 flagships have been discontinued.
• You will still be able to buy them from third-party retailers till stocks last.

It’s official. Google has pulled the plug on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL less than a year after their launch. The two flagships are no longer available on the Google Store, and the company will not be restocking them again.

A Google spokesperson issued the following statement to The Verge confirming the demise of the Pixel 4 and 4 XL.

Google Store has sold through its inventory and completed sales of Pixel 4 [and] 4 XL. For people who are still interested in buying Pixel 4 [and] 4 XL, the product is available from some partners while supplies last. Just like all Pixel devices, Pixel 4 will continue to get software and security updates for at least 3 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US.

It’s shocking how early the Pixel 4 flagships got pulled from the shelves. In comparison, the Pixel 3 series was discontinued almost a year and a half after its launch in October 2018. Even the Pixel 3a that followed had a year-long run before it was put out to pasture.

So for the next few weeks, you won’t be able to buy a Pixel phone from the Google Store. You can only pre-order the Pixel 4a right now. Its open sales will start on August 20.

Google Pixel 4a

Pixel on a budget

Getting the Google experience has never been more accessible. A compact phone that's easy to use, a beautiful screen, and one of the best cameras in this price range. The Pixel 4a is hard to beat.

Google Pixel 4, 4 XL discontinued: Gone too soon?

The early death of the Pixel 4 and 4 XL could mean several things. Google may be planning to release the Pixel 5 soon, which is why the Pixel 4 has been discontinued right now. However, an official Google blog post recently revealed (by accident) an October launch date for the fifth generation Pixel so there’s that.

It’s also possible that the two Pixel 4 flagships didn’t clock enough sales and Google is just getting rid of them to focus consumer attention on its latest Pixel 4a mid-ranger. In May, it was reported that key Google players like Rick Osterloh are not too happy with the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. We also saw some high-level executives quit the Pixel team that month, but the reasons for their exit weren’t clear at the time.

Nevertheless, Google has a pretty good mid-range phone on its hands with the Pixel 4a and that might be the way ahead for the company’s smartphone ambitions. Rumors suggest even the Pixel 5 will feature a mid-range chipset, so maybe Google is taking a break from traditional flagships.

Also read: Google Pixel 4a vs Google Pixel 4 (Man, it’s not even close)

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