Google no longer sells a flagship phone in the US, according to reports that the Pixel 4 is now marked as ‘sold out’ on the company’s online store, with no signs of restocking in sight.
This is the fastest Google has retired a Pixel phone – with the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL making their debut less than ten months ago, back in October 2019.
This means that – Stateside at least – consumers only have the option of buying the newly-launched mid-range Google Pixel 4a or alternatively they’ll have to turn to other retail channels to pick up whatever stock remains of the Pixel 4 and 4 XL.
The story isn’t quite the same in other markets, with both models across all storage capacities still in stock on Google’s UK store, for example. We’re now left wondering how much longer they’ll remain available in other markets and from other retailers.
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As reported by The Verge, Google sold both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 lines for approximately 18 months before pulling them, so the short lifespan of the Pixel 4 series serves a damning indictment on how much both phones must have underperformed in Google’s eyes.
Both phones received a mixed reception at launch; namely as a result of their underwhelming battery longevity (particularly the smaller Pixel 4), uninspiring designs and novel but mostly underutilised features, like Motion Sensor.
The 4 and 4 XL both scored a mediocre 3.5 stars in their respective Tech Advisor reviews with compromises across every one of their principal features serving as the main barrier to the recommendation.
One other thing Google offered up as part of the launch of the Pixel 4a, was word of the Pixel 4’s successor – the Pixel 5, which is now expected to launch on 8 October, alongside a 5G-capable variant of the Pixel 4a.