40 TECH ADVISOR • FEBRUARY 2020REVIEW
of privacy and security, it’s a glaring omission in an
otherwise welcome feature.
Equally frustrating is Face unlock’s lack of app
support. Since Google has taken away the fingerprint
sensor, you’re going to be typing your password a
lot because only a small handful of apps (including
Chrome and Google Pay, naturally) have signed on
to support the Pixel 4 XL’s new biometric. Thankfully,
most password managers aside from LastPass will
hook into Face unlock, but after you’ve logged in,
any repeated authentication will require a passcode.
That’s a major step backward, and given Android’s
history, we’re not convinced those app updates will
arrive in a timely fashion.Motion Sense
The Pixel 4 XL’s most unique feature is a miniaturized
radar chip that powers the gesture-based Motion
Sense. It works far better than similar features in
other phones, but just like Face unlock, it’s an update or
two away from being truly useful.
In a vacuum, Motion Sense is the first real
breakthrough for a smartphone in years. It works
without an app or any real instructions, and the learning
curve is easy enough to be mastered in seconds.
Basically, you’re interacting with your phone’s screen
the way Tony Stark uses a virtual screen to create the
Iron Man suit: swipes and waves rather than taps and
pinches.
In a practical sense, however, Motion Sense on
the Pixel 4 XL is nowhere near superhero status.
Here’s what it can do:40 TECH ADVISOR • FEBRUARY 2020REVIEW
of privacy and security, it’s a glaring omission in an
otherwise welcome feature.
Equally frustrating is Face unlock’s lack of app
support. Since Google has taken away the fingerprint
sensor, you’re going to be typing your password a
lot because only a small handful of apps (including
Chrome and Google Pay, naturally) have signed on
to support the Pixel 4 XL’s new biometric. Thankfully,
mostpasswordmanagersasidefromLastPasswill
hookintoFace unlock, but after you’ve logged in,
anyrepeatedauthenticationwillrequirea passcode.
That’sa major step backward, and given Android’s
history, we’re not convinced those app updates will
arrive in a timely fashion.Motion Sense
The Pixel 4 XL’s most unique feature is a miniaturized
radar chip that powers the gesture-based Motion
Sense.It worksfarbetterthansimilarfeaturesin
otherphones,butjustlikeFaceunlock,it’sanupdateor
two away from being truly useful.
In a vacuum, Motion Sense is the first real
breakthrough for a smartphone in years. It works
without an app or any real instructions, and the learning
curve is easy enough to be mastered in seconds.
Basically, you’re interacting with your phone’s screen
thewayTonyStarkusesa virtualscreentocreatethe
IronMansuit:swipesandwavesrather than taps and
pinches.
Ina practicalsense,however,MotionSenseon
thePixel4 XLis nowhere near superhero status.
Here’swhat it can do: