Google Stops Selling Pixel 4 And Pixel 4 XL

Google has stopped selling the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL in its stores less than a year after the two devices were released.

Both devices are currently out of stock in Google's U.S. stores, but those who want to purchase the smartphones might be able to get one or two from the company's stores in other regions or from the company's partner stores.

“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.”

The decision to end the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL's run is unusual as Google normally sells its devices for about 18 months – up to six months after announcing upcoming smartphones. This is what the company did with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 handsets.

For those who own a Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL and are worried about losing support for the discontinued devices, Google assures that the smartphones will continue to receive support for a few more years.

“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 U.S.,” the company told The Verge.

This means U.S.-based Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL owners should continue to receive support up to October 2022.

Unusual, but expected

While Google's discontinuation of the two handsets seems unusual, it's not entirely surprising. This is due to the fact that the company recently unveiled the new Pixel 4A and also announced the Pixel 5.

The Pixel 4 was warmly received by the masses, especially due to its impressive camera capabilities, TechCrunch noted. Camera performance, however, wasn't the only thing important to users – some complained about the device's battery life, for example.

The new Pixel 4A, despite being a budget smartphone that costs less than half of the Pixel 4 (at $349 versus $800), also offers great camera performance. A review from The Verge even shows that the Pixel 4A's camera can compete with or even overtake the Pixel 4's camera performance.

And while the Pixel 4A doesn't have the processing power that the more expensive Pixel 4 has, it still is capable of doing many of the things the costlier model can do without forcing buyers to spend as much. The cheaper price point and the device's capabilities make the Pixel 4A the more attractive device.