Google Pixel 5 review

25 October 2020
This year, Google has taken a drastically different approach with the Pixel lineup. Rather than pack a new Pixel phone with a high-end chipset and QHD screen, Google has instead gone the route of focusing on the overall experience. The Google Pixel 5 is this year’s Pixel flagship and there are some major changes for 2020.

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  • R
  • R4vel
  • Ycu
  • 25 Oct 2020

LOL. Reviewers really overhyped this phone's battery life (38h), made me think it'd be just as good as iPhone 11 (44h)/OnePlus 8 (45h)/LG V60 (47h)/Motorola Edge+ (43h)/Huawei P40 Pro (43h)/Xiaomi Mi 10 (45h)/Galaxy S20 FE (41h), but in reality it's worse than ALL of those LOL. Still getting it, but reviewers has got to stop feeding us shit telling us it's a Michelin Star dish. And for the record, I go by the custom rating of no call time, and 4 hours of both web browsing and video playback.

    • n
    • nikojas
    • 3xZ
    • 25 Oct 2020

    Mr Peanut 72, 25 Oct 2020Had this phone a little over a week now. Good phone for the... moreBattery will last you all day without charging again?

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • Lj$
      • 25 Oct 2020

      Fearghast, 25 Oct 2020It's big as my Pixel 1 that had 5" screen ;) Idl... moreFrustated about the phone but kept for 1 year?
      Should have got rid of it in less than 1 week then.

      Very suspicious ...

        Had this phone a little over a week now. Good phone for the price £599, and none of the usual bloatware. Speaker under the screen is terrible, and although the other speakers at the bottom are good and loud, if you hold your phone in landscape while gaming or watching videos, your fingers cover the speaker and block the sound. Battery is lasting about double that of my old Pixel 2XL

          • M
          • Mdsr
          • uZa
          • 25 Oct 2020

          It’s too expensive for this price. Don’t know what Google was thinking. Looks like a half heartedly done job. A phone launched just for the sake of it. Galaxy S20 appears a better package hands down. Pixel 5 should be a below $500 phone.

            It's big as my Pixel 1 that had 5" screen ;)
            Idle battery life so far is great, good sound when taking call (a bit "bassy" due to the speaker being behind glass), it charges slowly when not using PD charger and the camera is good - especially when I am taking pics of my dog that is black (on a Pixel you can see fur, on Xperia it was just underexposed black painting no matter what I did ... well the only thing that fixed it was to turn on flashlight).
            I switched stereo speakers, dedicated camera button and faster SOC Xperia to Pixel, and I am perfectly OK with it, because the phone was not yet able to frustrate me as Sony often did.

            So IMHO a good phone, not exceptional value or anything like my Realme 6 I use for work is, but the Bose headphones I will receive, will make it into even sweeter experience.

            If they finally ditch the ancient camera sensors next year, I will be seriously interested in upgrading to Pixel 6.

              • w
              • wtf
              • nUk
              • 25 Oct 2020

              You can buy S20+ for the same price, maybe even less

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • gBk
                • 25 Oct 2020

                Damn, the camera performance somehow feels worse than it used to be.

                  • C
                  • Caybara
                  • q}t
                  • 25 Oct 2020

                  The photos look absolutely stunning let be honest. IMX 363 might be old, but as Marc Levoy pointed out there has been no pivotal changes in sensor tech only incremental ones. Camera is all about the software, in the Pixel 5 photos I see consistency. Exposure, details, white balance and low light are the best I have seen. Sure there are advantages to have a bigger sensor but there are also disadvantages like focusing. Google has dramatically improved the battery life and video quality this year which is a big win for us.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • TRF
                    • 25 Oct 2020

                    gybrush, 25 Oct 2020guys, where are my favourite photo compare tool photos. IMO... more+1

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • Lj$
                      • 25 Oct 2020

                      Dometalican, 25 Oct 2020As others have said, nothing special. It's weird that ... moreIf A series uses 710, they are not going back to 6xx snapdragon

                        • N
                        • Nikojas
                        • mtY
                        • 25 Oct 2020

                        Is the battery test based on 4g use or 5g? It's not mentioned. Presumably using 5g uses more battery but you haven't addressed that at all in the review.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 3hI
                          • 25 Oct 2020

                          Anonymous, 25 Oct 2020Pixel 4 = better design Can you please compare the fingerprint behavior between Pixel 5 and Samsung Galaxy S20FE? Which one works faster and more reliable?

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • qJ}
                            • 25 Oct 2020

                            no test of google specific features either btw. like thr assistant taking calls for you/holds for you and so on.. it seems amazing

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • qJ}
                              • 25 Oct 2020

                              JamoaSoe, 25 Oct 2020Again a half baked review. Where's the speaker test? C... moresadly youre right

                                I remember GSMARENA posted "Google Pixel 5 in for review" weeks ago, I waited and waited, then here it is, half a review. At least I had the battery life test that I cared about.

                                  IMO it's a really decent phone, maybe not be the best bang for bucks but still a really good option but I think Google should also release an all out phone even if cost near $1000 and should really work on hardware their hardware usually has some kind issue

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • n57
                                    • 25 Oct 2020

                                    Anonymous, 25 Oct 2020Where's the audio test and performance? Just saying in... moreAgree, the telephone call quality is shocking. A phone that can't make good phone calls

                                      • Q
                                      • Quantum
                                      • q{j
                                      • 25 Oct 2020

                                      What is the battery endurance rating when the smooth display is turned off? (60hz)

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • BiP
                                        • 25 Oct 2020

                                        Over rated and others have long caught up. Even LG Wing took better lowlight images in my eyes