Google just straight up lifted the veil on the new Pixel 4, giving the middle fingers to leakers

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Leaks of the upcoming Google Pixel 4 showed up at the beginning of this week, showing off a “that can’t be true” design with multiple camera modules.

Well, it is true, with Google itself deciding to show some official renders (seen above) of the upcoming Pixel flagship.

This is a big thing. Most smartphone manufacturers stay tight-lipped about leaks right up to the day of release. Google breaking that trend might mean it really wants to show off what it has created. Taking control of the narrative from the leakers, pundits and other media is a clever way to flip the usual script of the run-up to the big reveal.

The Pixel 4 looks to be a big change in the Pixel formula

The tweet from the @madebygoogle account only showed off the back of the device. That’s still enough to confirm some of the major points from the earlier leaks:

• The camera bump is square, with multiple camera lenses. That will make it the first Pixel with more than one camera module
• The power button is plain silver, a departure from the usual bright accent color (it’s a pastel aqua color on my white Pixel 3 XL)
• The absence of a fingerprint reader on the back points to it being under the screen instead
• This will be the first flagship Pixel from Google where all the software and hardware is under its control

I can see this being my next phone, to be honest. The Pixel’s camera is the one feature I’m unable to live without. Multiple cameras will only make the eventual images better.

Will Google having control of both software and hardware (via HTC’s purchased smartphone division) mean I won’t get the issues I’ve been plagued with? Only time will tell.

What do you think? How do you feel about the Pixel 4’s camera module? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.