After all the delay in release of the Google Pixel 4A Google has launched the Google Pixel 5 5G pretty soon.As it is the latest and topmost phone from the company you may call it a flagship though it doesn’t have those cutting edge technologies which you associate with other flagships.
Two things which set the Pixel phones apart from the competitors are software and cameras.Even the mid range Pixel 4A had cameras whose images were better than most of the competitors.The Google Pixel 5 will give you more of the same good things with a better processor.
The phone is priced at 699$.The price though quite high seems far less than the whopping above 1000$ flagships.Yes the Pixel 5 lacks bleeding edge specs but it serves the purpose excellently.The question remains whether we can call it a flagship.Let’s have a look and then you can decide.
LOOKS
If you have to describe the looks of Google Pixel 5 in one word then it would be Simple.The phone is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on the front.The corners are rounded and the frame and back is of aluminium though the back has a matte like finish.The camera module is almost blended into the back which again is different from all other smartphones of this age which have camera modules protruding out of the back.
The physical fingerprint sensor on the back is also very slightly indented so that you don’t have to search for it.The phone is IP68 certified water and dust resistant.The dimensions of the phone are 144.7×70.4×8mm.It is pretty light at 151g.No 3.5mm audio jack is present.The power button is no more colourful and is of metallic finish this time.
DISPLAY
Again if you are looking for those big phones the Google Pixel 5 is not for you.For those who search for a smaller form factor compact phone this is ideal.A 6″ OLED display is featured with 1080×2340 resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio.The pixel density is~432ppi.90Hz refresh rate is featured and HDR10+ is supported.
It is an Always On display.Colours are true to life and immersive for video watching.With support from Google software this may turn out to be one of the best displays inspite of the absence of 120Hz.
PERFORMANCE
No questions in terms of software performance or updates.Moreover you get Android 11 out of the box.As it is directly from the house of Google you can rest assured of its long term service.
Under the hood is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset which has the integrated 5G modem making the phone future proof.Yes performance will be lesser compared to Snapdragon 865 but the 765G is pretty good at handling anything you throw at it.
Only one storage variant of the phone is available which has 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.There is no slot for micro SD card hence you don’t have the option of expanding memory.
CAMERAS
On paper the cameras of the Google Pixel 5 looks below par to most mid-range phones of today.But rest assured they actually are one of the best if not the best cameras.All of the image quality is largely due to the excellent camera software Google has.
A dual camera module is housed on the back which has a primary 12.2MP f/1.7 sensor with built in OIS and a 16MP f/2.2 ultra wide sensor with 107° field of view.As you can see there is no depth sensor but still with the help of software portraits are beautiful.The night mode is awesome as was evident in the Pixel 4A.
[email protected]/60fps and [email protected]/60/120/240fps videos can be captured.
On the front is a 8MP f/2.0 punch hole selfie shooter which can capture videos of [email protected] fps.Yes portraits with good bokeh effects can also be shot.
The Google Pixel 5 is the best example of a smartphone with no big cameras but the best outputs you can dream of.Images are true coloured with minute details and excellent HDR.
BATTERY AND COLOURS
A 4080mAH battery powers the phone.It supports 18W fast charging, wireless charging as well as reverse charging.
Just Black and Sorta Sage are the colour variants.
CONCLUSION
Not the best processor,not the largest display,not the highest refresh rate and still the phone costs 699$.Well that is a problem for many and I completely agree.But you get somethings which makes the Google Pixel 5 a very recommendable phone.They are
- Android 11 out of the box
- Google software with regular security patch and system updates
- Perhaps the best camera software present out there (Only Apple iPhone comes in competition for me)
- Excellent form factor
- No camera bumps
- IP68 water and dust resistant
- Wireless charging
- 90Hz display
Will all of the above make you buy this phone? Please let me know in comments.