Google's flagship Pixel 3 XL smartphone is less than six months old, but the company is already deep into development on its successor. While the Pixel 4 XL will not launch until nearer the end of the year, Google is working on the handset now. In fact, this week we learned more about the camera technology on the Pixel 4 XL thanks to some new renders of the upcoming device.

Two important changes will be made to the design of the Pixel XL. Specifically, Google will follow the recent high-end Android trend of a hole-punch screen and will also embrace a new camera configuration on the back of the handset.

New Camera Module

According to a leaked image discovered by SlashLeaks, the Pixel 4 XL will have two cameras on its rear. Ok, you are probably thinking most flagship devices have three or more camera lenses, and you'd be right. Google has always approached smartphone imagery differently to other OEMs and the Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 3 XL only have one rear camera.

Instead of using multiple lenses to create different imaging capabilities, Google leveraged its market-leading AI and machine learning technology. The result has seen the single lens of the Pixel smartphones achieve image quality other smartphones need multiple lenses to match. It is a strategy that has worked as Pixel cameras are considered amongst the best in the industry.

However, for the Pixel 4 XL, Google seems to be embracing a multiple camera setup. The linked device drawing you see below shows the smartphone with two lenses. Considering Google has managed to use a single lens to create a stunning smartphone camera, we are really excited to see what the company will do with two.

Hole-Punch Display

The drawing also shows Google will use a hole-punch screen for the Pixel 4 XL, a design element that was backed up by renders that leaked this week by iDroidbg. Google has previously followed Apple's path of using a notch to house the front-facing selfie camera module.

While a notch is not a deal breaker, I have often found it slightly obtrusive. My smartphone activity revolves around sending messages on WhatsApp, playing games, or browsing when looking for a pa iLotterybonus code. In all cases it is hard to ignore the notch jutting out from the top of the screen.

The answer to that problem is the hold-punch display, which is becoming a smartphone trend in 2019 thanks to the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. Google has noticed this trend and it seems the Pixel 4 XL will now have its selfie camera embedded into the screen.

Interestingly, both the render and the drawing show that the Pixel 4 XL will come without a fingerprint sensor on the rear. All previous Pixel smartphones have housed the fingerprint scanner on the back panel below the camera. On the upcoming 2019 model it seems Google has followed OEMs like OnePlus and Samsung by embedding the sensor within the screen. 

Google has released Pixel 4a officially - months after we have been listening to the rumors. The new Pixel 4a smartphone, which is the successor to the Pixel 3a, features a fresh display with a hole-punch design. This device is also a light variant of the Pixel 4 that Google has launched the previous year. That's why it offers a similar camera and user experience as well. The device has a single camera for the front and rear sides. Other features of the device include a Titan M security module and a 3,5mm headphone jack, as well as a fingerprint sensor on the rear side of the device.

Google Pixel 4a roughly started at $349 for the 6GB and 128GB storage version. The phone is available for pre-order in the US for the time being and if you are interested, you can place the order via the Google Store or Google Fi. It will be available in the market starting August 20 offline and online. Google will be launching the device in India by October and you can purchase it via Flipkart. The phone is available in a single, jet black color option. The company hasn't revealed the price for the Indian market yet. Its predecessor Google Pixel 3a was launched at $399 for the 4GBRAM and 128GB storage variant.

The Pixel 4a and Pixel 5 will be available in the US, UK, Canada, and in some countries of Europe as well. The device runs on Android 10 out of the box and comes with a list of features that debuted on Pixel 4 in October last year. The phone also comes with a new Google Assistant that allows users to send text messages and control apps much faster than before. You will also get the recorder app with real-time transcription support in English. Further, the Pixel 4a comes with the live caption support.

The Google Pixel 4a features a Full HD+ 5.8-inch OLED display. The display has always-on feature supports by HDR. The phone is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processing chip. The device has a 12-MP camera sensor at the rear side with an f/1.7 lens and an LED flash module.