Hands-On with the Google Pixel 5: Unboxing & First Impressions
Disclaimer: Google sent us the Google Pixel 5 smartphone to review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
Retail Price: $699.00
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A Different Take
After Google took a non-traditional approach this year by releasing the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G, the not-so-flagship Pixel 5 has officially landed. Despite lacking the highest-end specs compared to other devices this year, there’s a lot to unpack here with this device.
Priced at $699, the Google Pixel 5 comes in two colors (Just Black and Sorta Sage) with a singular configuration (8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage). I reviewed the Pixel 4a just last month and upon opening the Pixel 5, quickly noticed a few differences off the bat.
The Pixel 4a was intended to be a clean and simple mid-ranged daily driver with a very affordable $349 price tag. Although the Pixel 5 follows in a familiar game plan, there’s a more premium feel and additional features that comes with the higher price point on the Pixel 5. The back cover has a textured solid texture that stands out from the 4a’s matte black smooth finish. Even the Google logo on the back and side-sitting power button have a different kind of shine to it on the Pixel 5. There are also differences on the inside as well.
While the Pixel 5 runs on a Snapdragon 765G which is not the highest end processor this year, it has held up well so far in the past few days I’ve been using it. More to come in the full review on this. The 6-inch 1080 x 2340 display is the same as the Pixel 4a but is IP 68 water resistant on the Pixel 5. For those who prefer Qi charging, the Pixel 5 possesses both wireless charging and reverse charging. The 4,080 mAh battery is already noticeably better than the 3,140 mAh battery in the Pixel 4a. Both phones use the Pixel Imprint fingerprint scanner on the back, which I think was a smart move on Google’s part considering 2020 is all about wearing masks, potentially making facial recognition sensors more frustrating to use. Additionally, while the Pixel 4a is offered both with and without 5G, the Pixel 5 is only sold as a 5G phone.
Those who are familiar with the Google Pixels are well aware that the cameras are some of the best on the mobile device market. The Pixel 5 features a dual camera (12.2 MP wide and 16 MP ultrawide) in addition to an 8 MP selfie holepunch camera. Google has also made updates to its video capabilities, now offering stabilization effects like locked, active, and cinematic pan available on the Pixel 5. We’ll be testing these features out in full, but I’m excited to see how this compares to the iPhone and other similarly priced phones.
There’s a lot more to come in the full review but as for first impressions, the Google Pixel 5 has me excited to use this as a daily driver. It’s a compellingly clean Android phone that offers 5G and Android 11 without crossing the $1,000 threshold. With a guaranteed three years of security updates , I’ve got high hopes for the Pixel 5.
Lida
Always the number cruncher, the former narrative journalist turned data scientist, can’t help but find herself bursting with excitement with each new generation of tech gadgets. After all, predicting future trends is Lida’s forte. Any gadget that survives Lida’s torturous, adult working woman itinerary of over 700 notifications a day deserves praise!