The new Google Pixel 4 has experienced a series of problems since they went on sale last October. Some users have reported problems with performance or with the battery, but now a problem that affects the screen, specifically the oleophobic screen coating of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL panel, begins to be seen.
As reported by the colleagues at Android Central, this protector is beginning to deteriorate in some Pixel 4 devices, including the unit they have in their possession. The problem has begun to appear within a few weeks and after moderate use. It could be isolated problems, but remember that the Pixel 2 was famous in its day for presenting a very similar deterioration, which was replicated in some Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL devices.
Gizchina News of the week
Pixel 4: Terrible oleophobic screen coating
The oleophobic coating is a layer that manufacturers add to most touchscreen devices that helps it repel oils. Technically the coating is usually lipophobic and hydrophobic. It’s the property that helps you use your phone all day. Touching it with your naturally oily fingers. Without the screen looking and feeling like you’ve been resting a piece of pizza on it. It’s standard practice to not put this sort of coating on the glass back of phones to help you get some grip on the pane, but just about every phone nowadays as a coating on the screen.
As you see in the photo above, the Pixel 4 has begun to lose this protection. Which apparently does not have sufficient quality, as was the case with previous models. According to the source, after five weeks of use, this problem has appeared.
There’s a solution?
The solution can be to place a screen protector, either high quality tempered glass or a cheaper plastic. In both cases, they usually include oleophobic treatment to prevent the screen from constantly looking dirty. Now, we will see if this Pixel 4 problem is spreading in a massive way. Or if it is a problem-focused on some specific units.
Maybe I should just go Android One instead of Pixel when I move on from my Pixel 2.
Don’t believe the hype man… The Pixel 4 Xl is hands down the best way to experience Android
Coming from a Pixel 2XL, it ticks all the boxes for me. Performance (in terms of responsiveness rather than sustained benchmarks) is great, 90Hz display is a nice step up, the return of charging means battery life is a nonissue for me (Put it down on the desk, and oh, it’s charged when go to pick it up again), and Soli has thus far been generally useful in a subtle way (activation on reach, and quieting alarms and rings before contact, rather than hand-waving demos). Camera is again amazingly good. miss the fingerprint reader for the notification swipe gesture, but it also means I can unlock and authenticate payments (pattern/code unlock is no good here) quickly without taking my gloves off – or even taking the phone out of the mount – to pay for
Doesn’t the screen constantly switch to a lower refresh rate to preserve the battery tho? I mean anything under a 3,000 mamp battery with a 90hz refresh rate is going to kill the battery. Even Oneplus with a 4,000+battery struggles when 90hz is enabled all the time. I can’t think of any other flagship phone with a battery starting in the 2,000s