Google Pixel 5 long-term review

9 February 2021


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  • C
  • Costa
  • nqX
  • 10 Feb 2021

I got myself a pixel 4a at launch and I'm very happy with it. Good value, great camera and the battery lasts a day... Just. The Pixel 5 is too expensive for what you get when you compare like for like to other phones in the same price range.

    • d
    • dixon
    • 7MC
    • 10 Feb 2021

    love my pixal 5 hands down beats any of the Samsung I've had ditched my s10 to get it and in the pro you forget unlimited hq photo upload free

      • R
      • Rippy
      • gmx
      • 10 Feb 2021

      Still enjoying my baby Pixel 3 flagship every bit as day 1. Looking forward to see the 6. Like to see back the Neuro core, T9 keyboard option and back and forward keys on G board

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • gBV
        • 10 Feb 2021

        Hopefully Google brings back HDR+ enhanced for the Pixel 6. HDR+ enhanced (Pixel 3a) is better than Night Sight as it is faster (up to 2.5 seconds) and sharper. You can often also achieve the same brightness with exposure compensation in HDR+ enhanced mode (Pixel 3a). Night Sight takes up to approximately 6.5 seconds on a Pixel 5, this is shown in Engadget's Pixel 5 review.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • StU
          • 10 Feb 2021

          M1999, 10 Feb 2021I don't like clean/stock android tbh, because I don�... moreThen why buy budget and midrange phones, knowing the ram is less, if you had 8gb or 12gb ram, it's ok

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • StU
            • 10 Feb 2021

            M1999, 10 Feb 2021I don't like clean/stock android tbh, because I don�... moreThen why buy budget and midrange phones, knowing the ram is less, if you had 8gb or 12gb ram, it's ok

              • M
              • M1999
              • nXq
              • 10 Feb 2021

              Simon, 09 Feb 2021Are you serious? Everyone hates the bloatware of other bran... moreI don't like clean/stock android tbh, because I don't like the standard Google apps. My mom is constantly complaining about the Google apps on her Motorola (not stock but a light skin), and loved the software of my LG and on Samsung phones because their versions were different and less chaotic. BUT it can make your phone more laggy, especially in combination with budget chipsets

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • xDq
                • 10 Feb 2021

                Anonymous, 10 Feb 2021Yeah but the S21 has a way better processor, better display... moreWith a much worse camera post processing though.

                However, Pixel's post processing is getting worse and more processed/fake compared to 3 years ago. Unfortunate...

                  • D
                  • AnonD-961600
                  • StU
                  • 10 Feb 2021

                  i0S.-.Never.-.Again, 10 Feb 2021At 700$ it shouldn't be shipping with mid range proces... moreLmao... true. Pixel are dead. They don't come with 8 series cpu.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • StU
                    • 10 Feb 2021

                    Anonymous, 10 Feb 2021features that keep you staring at a screen dealing with con... moreI've got 12gb ram, so bother me how many apps are running since you've got a trashhhyy slow medicore Snapdragon 7 series soc, it hasn't the power off Snapdragon 8 series, so you blame the apps indt5you couldn't afford to buy the 8 series, hypocrisy is showing than giving you credits or too the phone.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • ptP
                      • 10 Feb 2021

                      PapaGuinness, 10 Feb 2021Really great review, reviews like this are exacly the reaso... moreOne bad thing is the top speaker, while watching videos it sometimes decides to get a nap.

                      Apart from that go for it

                      I have the pixel 5 'round three months of use

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • Jc%
                        • 10 Feb 2021

                        Steven, 09 Feb 2021The s21 costs 100s more. Yeah but the S21 has a way better processor, better display, better storage, a comparable to better camera system and one extra year security update in comparision to Pixel.
                        I think that justifies the 100$ difference right?

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • HB3
                          • 10 Feb 2021

                          Very expensive for Mid range phone, Battery for laughs, need more battery, No sd card, No audio Jack, Google wake up before lost the train.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • 3Wh
                            • 10 Feb 2021

                            Pixel 5 is a great phone, and I'm happy. I have personally not been experiencing the screen gap issue, and the speakers are absolutely fine. That is all.

                              • b
                              • bobby
                              • dQh
                              • 10 Feb 2021

                              ppczouz, 09 Feb 2021Been using the Pixel 5 for couple of months, and I whole he... moreWhat's it like making calls, is it loud enough?

                                SoundP, 09 Feb 202118+ months with my Snapdragon 670 Pixel 3a XL. Still going ... more18 months is barely 1.5 years which is okay for mid range chip.
                                But At 700$, one can buy Snapdragon 865 based phones which can handle anything you throw at them for the next 5 years aka 60 months. Let that sink in!!!
                                Pixel 5 will be outdated by that time.

                                Most of those Snapdragon 865 based phones have 120hz screen, ultra fast charging and other things that the Pixel lacks.
                                Now imagine how outdated the Pixel 5 would feel in the coming years.

                                  Pixel User, 09 Feb 2021It is already outdated really and that is kind of the point... moreReally did they cut price?? No they didn't, they just cut the BOM cost by putting in a 765g.
                                  Who's gonna buy this at 700$?? Snapdragon 865 flagships already available at that price.

                                    Anonymous, 10 Feb 2021Does it stop working once it's "outdated" ? ... moreAt 700$ it shouldn't be shipping with mid range processor in the first place.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • y6V
                                      • 10 Feb 2021

                                      tbh a phone that is 100 dollars cheaper than the pixel 5, i'd opt for the $520 mi 10t pro. some folks here might call me an idiot, but c'mon man, you get a faster charging, better cameras (don't get me started on this one, the mi 10t pro scored 118 on dxo, but the pixel 5 did score 120, not that it matters) and overall better battery life. it even has a more powerful chipset than the pixel 5.

                                      for around a hundred dollars cheaper, you'd be winning more than an overpriced pixel phone. you'd be losing quite for 100 dollars more.

                                        • T
                                        • Tom
                                        • gM8
                                        • 10 Feb 2021

                                        The problem with gsmarena photo comparisons is that they don't compare the photos with a reference ( cpatured with a mirror less for example) . If you read the Anand tech review of iPhone 12, he has mentioned that Samsung is really above the curve in colour accuracy, white balance and exposure. Pixel shots have magenta warmth to them.