Google Pixel 5

The Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (5G) share so many similarities we are better off mentioning the differences. For example, the materials are different. The Pixel 5 consists of Gorilla Glass 6 on the front with an aluminium back and is IPX8 water resistant, the Pixel 4a (5G) gets Gorilla Glass 3 with a polycarbonate back.

The 4a 5G at 6.2 inches is slightly larger than the 6-inch screen on the 5. This does not apply to the battery, where the Pixel 5 has a lead of a few mAh. The latter can be charged wirelessly and you can also charge accessories by placing them on the back. The Pixel 4a 5G has a head start on audio; it has a 3.5mm audio jack for your own headphones. To make up for that, the Pixel 5 gets a slightly smoother screen of 90Hz.

Many similarities

So both have an OLED screen with punch-hole for the 8MP selfie camera, a dual rear camera with 12.2MP main sensor and 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens. More about that camera later. They also both have a Snapdragon 765G processor with 5G support. Only the model from the 5-series gets 8 GB of RAM memory, the 5G version from the 4-series has to make do with 6 GB of memory. Both have 128GB of storage memory built-in. Of the 4a 5G another version will be released with Sub-6 5G and one with the faster mmWave. If you list the specifications you will notice that the Pixel 4a 5G is not just a Pixel 4a with 5G.

Portrait Light Mode

Pixel phones are known for their good camera. New this year is the 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens but the most important new feature is Portrait Light. Here you can place a virtual lamp in your photos and play with the lighting. Google promises that this will even work with photos already shot thanks to the help of AI (artificial intelligence). The function comes first to the Google Pixel 4a (5G) and the Pixel 5 but Google promises to also equip previous Pixel phones with it.

Prices of the Google Pixel 5 will start at $699, the Pixel 4a (5G) will cost $499. The latter will be available in Clearly White and Just Black, the Pixel 5 will be available in Just Black and Sorta Sage (green).

Apparently, Google has thought carefully about the future of Pixel phones. The most expensive Pixel models won't compete against the most expensive Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, but instead will compete on price. And then you'll have to cut costs on something. Google chooses the processor. And so the Snapdragon 8xx series has been swapped for one out of the Snapdragon 7xx serie with slightly less performance.

Fortunately, Google has enough knowledge to tweak Android in such a way that you won't notice any downgrade in speed. Unfortunately, we know from the first tests of the Pixel 4a, which is equipped with a Snapdragon 730, that it does not run completely smoothly. Now the Snapdragon 765G has a 20% more powerful CPU and GPU so it might not be that bad. The upcoming Pixel 5 is also undoubtedly helped by a generous amount of RAM. According to the same benchmark it will be 8 GB in total.

Specifications Google Pixel 5

Earlier, Google announced that the Pixel 5 would be released somewhere in the autumn, probably October 8th. The device gets 5G support and most likely the radar with which the Pixel 4 debuted will disappear. Furthermore, we expect two cameras on the back, a selfie camera in a punch-hole and, how could it be otherwise, Android 11 pre-installed.

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Until now, the Pixel came in 3 types; a large one with large screen and large battery, and a smaller one with (you guessed it) smaller screen and smaller battery. Both with very good cameras and high-end flagship worthy features. And then there was the Pixel a-variant with more or less the same camera capabilities in a cheaper package. But that is all going to change according to this report.

There have been rumours for some time that the Pixel 5 (and who knows also the Pixel 5 XL) has a Snapdragon 765 processor. And that's quite remarkable. This is not the most advanced processor of Qualcomm. And that was traditionally the CPU that Google used in its Pixel phones. A possible reason for a less powerful chipset is the lower price. By passing this on to the consumer, Google can make its Pixel phones cheaper. This will have to be done because the Pixel phones do not sell very well. Indeed, the sales of the Pixel 4 were very disappointing. As a result of those disappointing results, some employees left the company.

Something has to change

And so something has to change. A lower price tag would certainly help given the success of the Pixel 3a. Both the Google Pixel 5 and the 5XL would have 5G support including the higher and therefore faster mmWave support. Earlier it appeared that Google's next Pixel phones would no longer use the Soli-radar. This allowed you to control the device with small hand gestures. On paper this seems handy, but in practise it didn't always work. Moreover, it took up a relatively large amount of space.

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After a flying start Google's Pixel phone series is becoming more and more disappointing. Yes the cameras are above average but the huge lead Google had is gone. Moreover, new models are plagued by numerous problems. Defective microphones, reboot loops and blue display screen hues. Not to mention deliberate design choices such as too small batteries.

The disappointing Pixel success has already led to consequences on the work floor. A few high-ranking employees have left the company. Now that Motion Sense is not the success it hoped for, it is suggested to be a one time adventure. The upcoming Pixel 5 will not get it, according to the rumour today. Instead, Google is likely to match other phone manufacturers and go with a more modern design with thin screen edges.

End for Project Soli?

For Google this will be a disappointing setback. It worked many years on perfecting and miniaturising 'Project Soli' to fit into a phone. Motion Sense could be used to mute your alarm clock and scroll thru your music. Many early reviews concluded it as too unreliable and gimmicky. Google also struggled to get the radar technology approved for every country where it sold its phones. It remains to be seen if this is the end for Project Soli. Google has plenty of other products where it could be applied.

Photo: PhoneDesigner