Google Pixel 5

The Google Pixel 5 is Google's new flagship but one that does it just a little bit differently than previous years. It is not as high-end as last year, but fortunately we see that reflected in its price. Fortunately, other benefits remain intact such as fast updates, excellent camera performance and exclusive features.

Doesn't wants to do everything anymore

Google hasn't had an easy time on the phone in recent years. It does participate in the top with software, but on the hardware side it lags behind a bit. Pixel phones can't compete with the latest iPhones and Galaxy phones. Inconsistent decisions are to blame. For a long time, Google did not want to know anything about multiple cameras, and it also focussed too much on techniques that turned out not to be the case. We think of Project Soli, the radar that recognises faces and hand movements. It took up a lot of space on the Pixel 4 and the function turned out not to be as indispensable as we thought. Time to do it differently and the Pixel 5 is the first result of that. He doesn't try to do everything anymore and that results in him doing the things he does better and for a lower price.

100% recycled aluminium

As said, the radar above the screen is gone, so the screen is now tight against the edge. The selfie camera is no longer in a notch but in a punch-hole in the corner. Also praise to Google that the display bezels has the same thickness everywhere. Many phones have a slightly thicker border at the bottom of the screen, the so-called chin. With the Pixel 5 everything is symmetrical. The screen measures 6 inches, which is compact these days. The resolution is Full HD and the 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth animations. The housing is made of aluminium, which is always difficult with wireless charging. That's why most phones have a glass back. Yet Google has managed to build in wireless charging. You can even charge accessories with the Pixel 5; Reverse Wireless Charging is called that.

Main Google Pixel 5 specifications

• 6.0 inch Flexible OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate
• Single 8MP selfie camera this time in punch-hole instead of notch
• 12,2+16MP camera with ultra-wide-angle and Portrait Light
• Aluminium body with 2-way wireless charging and physical fingerprint scanner
• Snapdragon 765G-processor with 8GB LPDDR4x RAM memory
• 128GB non expandable storage memory
• 4080 mAh battery is big enough for 1 days use
• 5G support for lightning-fast mobile internet
• Came out with Android 11 with 3 promised Android upgrades

Camera with Portrait Light

For years, Google set the bar very high on camera. The Pixel was the camera phone to beat. Also this year the camera is good but it doesn't break records anymore. The competition is on its heels. The camera is not bad either. The main camera still measures a 12.2 megapixel with large 1.4 ?m pixels and Dual Pixel Phase Detection. The Pixel 5 can absorb a lot of light with this and has a good nite mode. New this year is a 16MP camera with ultra-wide-angle lens. Its angle of view is 107°, which is narrower than some other phones. They are often close to the 120° limit. This means you capture a little less. The famous HDR+ ensures that every picture actually rolls out well, without complicated settings. New is the virtual lamp that you can put in a photo afterward. With this Portrait Light you can expose a person from any angle. Zooming can only be done digitally. A separate zoom lens is missing.

No longer the fastest

The battery of the Pixel 5 with 4080 mAh seems a bit on the small side but most reviewers get the end of the day with it. This is helped by the software; Battery Saver does its job properly. And if you use Dark Mode you can also give the battery a helping hand. What will also help is that the Pixel 5 does not have the most powerful processor. The Snapdragon 765G will be fast enough for most people and most tasks, it's not the fastest thing available anymore. And the faster the processor, the more it consumes. So every disadvantage has its advantage.