In our ‘What to Expect’ article on the Pixel 5, we started by raising the question, “What comes to your mind when you think about the Pixel phone lineup?” Before we establish the relevance of that question to what Google unveiled as the Pixel 5, how accurate were the rumors? Interestingly, while the Pixel 5 was not as blatantly leaked as its predecessor, this year’s rumors were pretty on point – no, really on point. Over 90% of the predictions came true.

The approach Google took with the Pixel 5 is a far cry from what they had tried to achieve with earlier iterations. It seemingly dawned on them that no matter how many high-end specs they put in their line-up, they just could not compete with the elite – the true flagships. An introspective Google decided to focus on what they do best; a great camera and excellent software experience – the answer to the question referred to at the very start of this article. So, what did we get?

Pixel 5 – The Faux Flagship

A flagship, kinda. Google Soli, the technology behind the gimmicky Motion Sense feature in the Pixel 4, is nowhere to be found. Another more significant omission is the lack of a proper flagship processor. Google opted for the upper-midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor as opposed to the 865 or 865+. Other features are as follows:

Google Pixel 5 Specifications:

With the specs out of the way, let’s see just how good (or bad) the Pixel 5 actually is.

1. Design

Google has always had polarizing designs, especially over the last few years. This year, the motto for the Pixel 5 is simplicity. A far cry from the go-to 2020 smartphone design, the Pixel has a (recycled) aluminum back with a ‘bio-resin’ coating. This is to enable the inclusion of a wireless charging coil in spite of the aluminum build. The coating feels – different. Depending on whoever is wielding it, it may feel less premium than glass-back phones. On the flip-side, the smooth sandstone feels great and the grip is only rivaled by the OnePlus One.

By today’s standards, it is a small device. Users with smaller hands will certainly appreciate this. Its size makes the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner – another 2020 rarity – easy to reach every time. There is no orange color this year, with the two options being Just Black and Sorta Sage.

2. Display

The Pixel 5 has a 6-inch, 1080p OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It has Gorilla Glass 6 protection and a single camera cutout, bringing the panel design up to speed with the rest of the 2020 smartphones. The front of the Pixel 5 looks great – modern even. It has slim bezels all round. There are no bathtub notches or uneven bezels in sight. The screen is HDR-capable and supports 24-bit color rendering. It is a flat display with good color accuracy.

3. Performance

Google decisions to forego the Snapdragon 865 and opt for the 765 has paid off. Not only is the price much lower than previous Pixels, the average user is not able to tell that they are not using a flagship processor. It is a smart trade-off, making the Pixel a more compelling buy than previous years, albeit facing stiff competition from the Samsung Galaxy Fan Edition and the OnePlus 8T.

Combined with the 90Hz screen, the Pixel feels buttery smooth and flies through most tasks, only mildly faltering in the most demanding games.

As with every other year, the Pixel 5 marked the advent of Android 11. It has some Pixel-specific apps and features that speak to the optimization of Pixel phones when it comes to software.

Battery life sees a massive improvement, thanks to the 4080 mAh battery (largest on any Pixel), the Snapdragon 765, and a smaller 6-inch screen. It is the best battery life on any Pixel.

4. Cameras

The Pixel 5 has a great camera system, duh! Google has once again placed its trust in computational photography, opting to use the same camera hardware as the Pixel 2 with its ever-improving camera software. It has dual cameras, trading the Pixel 4’s 2x telephoto lens for an ultrawide. A welcome addition, but why not have a triple-lens setup? Google makes up for the lack of a telephoto with software capabilities to attain the same result. The front camera is as good as it can get. Video is great, though it still falls behind the iPhone.

A Case For the Pixel

Google did really well with the Pixel 5 and you would not be making a bad decision if you decided to get it. If/ when you do, get a Tech Armor  screen protector to make sure that it lasts as long as it will continue getting Android updates from Google. Check out the available screen protectors here.