Which is better, the Pixel 3 or 4? Well, to be honest, it’s kinda complicated

Should you buy the Pixel 3 or Pixel 4? This may seem like an easy question, since the Pixel 4 is the successor to the Pixel 3 and should probably be better in every single way. But, unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. When designing the Pixel 4, Google really went big, but it also sacrificed many features that gave the Pixel 3 a unique appeal and cult following.

Pixel 3 vs Pixel 4: missing features, a radar chip, and other fun quirks

One of the features that was scrapped: the Pixel 3’s front-facing speaker array. This makes the Pixel 3 really great for mobile gaming and watching videos, and many users were sad that Google chose to scrap this feature when designing the Pixel 4. Another disappointment: the Pixel 3 has two selfie cameras: one is a really wide focal length which allows for wide-angle group selfies. The Pixel 4 doesn’t have this fun feature, either. Google also gave the Pixel 4 a smaller battery to make room for the fancy radar that’s featured in the large “forehead” of the device. The radar chip enables you to skip songs without touching the device—you can simply swipe your hand above the phone to skip a song. And although this may not sound very practical—many called this feature a “gimmick”—it is cool, and also enables the phone to work with face recognition software to unlock the device (similar to Apple’s Face ID). The Pixel 3, meanwhile, uses a fingerprint scanner located on the rear of the device for authentication. The Pixel 4 also has a 90hz refresh screen, which makes the phone feel a lot faster and more fluid during use. It also features an extra camera on the rear of the device which allows you to use different focal lengths when taking a photo.

Pixel 3 vs Pixel 4: two very different Pixels

As you can see, when comparing the Pixel 4 vs Pixel 3, you’re choosing between two very different phones. And even though the Pixel 4 has a slightly better processor and camera performance thanks to the fact that it’s a year newer, it isn’t quite that simple in choosing between these two devices. Nonetheless, if we had to make a choice, we’d still choose the Pixel 4, despite it being a rather controversial device in the Pixel series. The radar chip and higher refresh 90hz screen may sound gimmicky to some users, but we think they’re pretty cool additions.