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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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • nxS
  • 25 Oct 2020

I'd love to buy this but I only just got the 4a.

    Shriker, 25 Oct 2020"The level of resolved detail is generally good".... moreIf we are talking about detail, lets say that 8 years old Nokia 808 blows this 'computational photography' out of the window. Pretty poor pics, if you ask me. I'd rather hire a painter.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • Lj$
      • 25 Oct 2020

      JamoaSoe, 25 Oct 2020Again a half baked review. Where's the speaker test? C... moreI think review was done in USA, while their office is in Bulgaria.
      Probably the reason.

        • N
        • Nikojas
        • mtY
        • 25 Oct 2020

        Seems a bit passive aggressive for the reviewer to wear a OnePlus T shirt while taking Pixel review photos. Is it really an unbiased review that we love and expect from this site?

          Again a half baked review. Where's the speaker test? Camera comparisons also not in line with the other smartphone reviews. You guys did the same with the OP8 Pro. Please publish the full review else don't do it at all.

            • P
            • Pax
            • 4Yk
            • 25 Oct 2020

            Still too expensive for what you are getting. Google fails again with mediocre hardware to impress.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • myD
              • 25 Oct 2020

              Where's the audio test and performance? Just saying in summary "loud speakers" doesn't give much away. Come on GSMArena.
              Under screen speaker doesn't fill me with confidence at all!

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • pQr
                • 25 Oct 2020

                What's strange is that the 16 megapixel ultra wide angle photos are saved as 12 megapixel jpgs. Would be interesting to know the resolution of the ultra wide dng files.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • pQr
                  • 25 Oct 2020

                  Google hasn't brought back the white balance presets, very poor decision. More than 240 support forum users voted for the white balance presets. They simply don't listen to feedback at all.
                  Google hasn't brought back HDR+ enhanced, more than 170 support forum users voted for bringing back HDR+ options. HDR+ enhanced is better than Night Sight. When you use it with exposure compensation, it is nothing else than a fast Night Sight mode. While Night Sight takes up to 7s in extreme low-light conditions, HDR+ enhanced takes up to 2.5s (or 4s if you zoom), which is more similar to Apple's night mode, which takes up to 3s by default. Night Sight also often leads to slightly blurry photos, if you don't stop breathing for 7 seconds, that's another reason why HDR+ enhanced is much better.

                  It's disappointing that there is still no periscope camera and that they even replaced tele with an ultra wide angle camera, which doesn't even have autofocus for macro photos.
                  Apparently you can still not edit HDR+ raw files with the Google Photos app. As far as I know Apple's photo app will support editing raw files.

                  And of course very disappointing that they still use the Imx 363, which suffers extremely from dead pixels (tested with multiple Pixel 3a) that can not be removed with 3rd party software as Google's image processing transforms the dead pixels.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • 34r
                    • 25 Oct 2020

                    Good phone but where is the sound review ?

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • pQr
                      • 25 Oct 2020

                      "Since there's no longer a telephoto camera on the Pixel 5 and the ultra-wide doesn't feature an autofocus lens, the main camera no longer has this second eye to distinguish depth"
                      I doubt that the missing autofocus is relevant for non-macro photos. Such ultra wide angle cameras have a very high depth of field, so they don't need autofocus for sharp photos unless you want to take macro (portrait) photos.

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                        • PIXELisBOSS
                        • Iiy
                        • 25 Oct 2020

                        Google is doing fine with their phones. Some people may think Google is a bit behind in the cellphone game but this is the best 5th generation phone compared to all other companies previous release of their "5" model.

                          • S
                          • Steve
                          • BiP
                          • 25 Oct 2020

                          No word on speakers?

                            • D
                            • Danny
                            • xtS
                            • 25 Oct 2020

                            I think the Pixel 5 is a solid phone. The price is friendly coupled with the IP rated smaller form factor. I do wish it was available in more countries. I also agree that the hardware would need a major upgrade. Let's see the Pixel 5a/6 next year hopefully.

                            With that all said, give me your Pixel 5 unit rn 🔫

                              • g
                              • gybrush
                              • B}L
                              • 25 Oct 2020

                              guys, where are my favourite photo compare tool photos. IMO you should't really bother releasing a review without those. The tool is what makes this site different from the dozens of other phone review sites. The rest is just specs that you can read anywhere. So emphasize on what makes you really different and provide photo compare tool shots.

                                Good review!

                                I am coming from a pixel 2xl and struggling to decide which phone to get.

                                I love Pixel phones, simplicity and all of the Google features. Yet I love to edit video on my phone, easier for me that way. I can do so on my pixel 2xl, but it is showing its age. Wondering how the 765 can handle that sort of stuff.

                                I am tempted by the note 20 ultra, plenty of room to edit and shoot videos, but is the camera as good? And it's also so expensive.

                                One plus 8 pro is a good compromise in price, but the camera is not as good? Or on par?

                                Just wish there was an XL version of the Pixel 5 or a Pixel 5+ version with all the specs.

                                  • r
                                  • robsi
                                  • 3RF
                                  • 25 Oct 2020

                                  or even better sony 5 II, much better having a bezel than holes on the screen.. but it is missing wireless charging... :(((

                                    • N
                                    • Nikojas
                                    • 3xZ
                                    • 25 Oct 2020

                                    Anonymous, 25 Oct 2020I actually quite like this phone and it's the first Pi... moreAgree. First time I'm considering a Pixel. But probably 4a 5G seems like a slightly better deal for 499.

                                      It seems like Google somewhat mitigated the issue from Pixel 4 where tons of noises are introduced to shadows and the corners when scenes have a wide dynamic range, even at the base ISO. I still find the output from Pixel 5 a bit too noisy and fuzzy for my liking, though.

                                      Google should use a larger sensor for the next gen. product and bring telephoto lens back, otherwise Pixel lineup will lose all the advantages they had in camera department over its rivals for years. The competition has caught up and is surpassing it right now while Google is still stumbling with stupid hardware decisions, they seriously need to get their **** together.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 34q
                                        • 25 Oct 2020

                                        Good phone but where is the sound review ?

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