Google Pixel 5a 5G review
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- ElioX
- xk7
- 08 Sep 2021
Essen, 08 Sep 2021I guess to each their own. I was 3 years on a the OG Moto G... moreWell, first things first.
1. Moto was using AOSP. That is different than Pixel and yes, AOSP is plain Android. Pixel is a bit more customizable. It is still better than iOS because you cant install magisk and then some customization modules from there on iOS in case you need it, and it comes with only a little customization on the board.
2. Ads in MIUI are in stock apps afaik. I don't think that would be that easy to turn off if they wanted you to see ads. Just a thought.
3. I have used my share of TouchWiz, MIUI, and AndroidOne (Xiaomi) devices. It is not the same as Pixel. Believe me. You need to try it.
4. Easy to turn off ads from third-party apps even without root. Use adblockers. I use it. It works. But not for ads in MIUI stock apps. Just my 2 cents.
5. Five years of updates doesn't make sense to me unless they provide official parts for the device. I have used a device not longer than 3 years and in those years I had to change so many parts including batteries (back when it was replaceable), 3.5mm jacks, screens, etc. I know that I am not that different from the next guy. So in about 2-3 years of usage, you will notice a battery health drop. And to continue using it you need to replace the battery or carry an adapter/battery pack quite often.
And if that would be real, then it would cost a LOT more than it is sold for right now. It sounds plausible in words but I have seen an iPhone 8 of my friend that is still receiving updates and before replacing the battery (unofficial) she wasn't even getting from morning until evening. Let's hope the unofficial battery will not burst in flames.
But yeah, 5 years updates come with caveats. I am not willing to pay the price for getting a 5-year update if it costs the same as iPhone devices right now (more than 2 times pricier than pixel 5a 5g).
6. No android device is getting 2 years os update unless it is THE premium device of THE brand that has the PREMIUM price tag. And especially the 100-150 price tag ones. I have NEVER seen a device that gets updates as GOOD as pixel devices. They are always late and always sloppy on update schedules. So, your argument doesn't even make sense. My pixel 3a XL was released with Android 9 in 2019. I currently have android 12 beta and will get android 12 stable AS SOON AS it arrives. This is 3 years of android version (OS) updates. Not two. Count with me: 9-10 (1), 10-11 (2). 11-12 (3). Three android version updates. And not different from the premium line (pixel 3/XL) but on par. And this is withOUT counting the fact that most other manufacturers release phones with older android versions(10) even though the new version(11) was already available and released. You cannot see such devotion in ANY OTHER brand. Neither Xiaomi nor Samsung or any other Chinese brand. Period.
But as you said in the first part, I guess to each their own.
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- cherry
- iFI
- 08 Sep 2021
ElioX, 08 Sep 2021I am saying what has been in effect for years and years. We... moreWhere are the salaries in European Union bigger than in USA? Not even Germany has bigger average salaries than USA, not to mention that Greece, Italy or Eastern Europe don't even have half of the US income.
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- PhoneAddict
- x@H
- 08 Sep 2021
I am interested in buying this phone. More storage options would have been nice. I am waiting for it to come to Europe.
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- Essen
- 2F6
- 08 Sep 2021
manurd350, 08 Sep 2021It's not just plain Android, which can be found on man... moreI guess to each their own. I was 3 years on a the OG Moto G from the days Google owned Motorola. That had the very vanilla Android. Post that have used a Sony and iPhone for a short while. And then MIUI. My preference is 1) MIUI 2) iOS, 3) Sony (stock Android) 4) Moto (stock Android)
Plain Android needs you to do too much to get it up and going. And as far as ads in MIUI is concerned, turn off notifications to things you don't want, and there are zero ads. In fact, there are way more ads from third party apps that you will have to install because stock Android will not those apps/features by default.
Also, Pixels would have made sense if they were offering you 5 years or more of OS and security updates like Apple. But they aren't. They remain at 2 years of OS and 3 years of security updates, which even $100-150 Android phones provide. While I respect your opinion, from my own experience, I do not agree with it. However, if stock Android has radically improved from Android 9 (my former Sony device), I stand corrected.
At this point, I would put my money on any skinned version of Android OS with featues and customisation options -- One UI, Oxygen, MIUI, Fun -- than stock Android.
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- ElioX
- xk7
- 08 Sep 2021
AnonD-1017073, 08 Sep 2021I am not happy for low light camera performance. BTW if you use custom google camera mods you can crank the camera up so good. I have several gcam mods in my 3a XL and it now shoots better than ever in night and light. Even better than 3 XL or even 4 with original gcam apps. So, consider it. This is the advantage that you have over the apple phones that do not have sideload apk possibility. The hardware of pixel phones are designed for gcams. You can install it on other brands as well but it would not feel as convenient as in a pixel device and results are not as good as well.
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- ElioX
- xk7
- 08 Sep 2021
MarOMG, 08 Sep 2021I'm converting croatian prices to USD and Euro becouse... moreThis topic is about OVERALL phone prices. Not about this phone in particular. So, write down advantages and disadvantages. If you think it deserves the price, buy it. If not, don't buy it.
Simple 😊
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- ElioX
- xk7
- 08 Sep 2021
Stascko, 08 Sep 2021Overpriced.Very good price instead. Love the price. Especially because it costs less than 3a XL that was released in 2019. If you want cheap phones, keep on using Chinese brands
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- MarOMG
- nyH
- 08 Sep 2021
ElioX, 08 Sep 2021You are confusing prices. I work in Germany, I get paid in ... moreI'm converting croatian prices to USD and Euro becouse if I put prices in my national currency you wouldn't understand it. Again, my point is that Pixels (and iPhones) have 20-25% higher price in Europe than in the USA. Why would we want pay the same thing 25% more just becouse? 1$ is NOT = 1€. There were times when $ and € were very close, but not today.
BTW, they are shipped from China to USA and Europe anyway.
So they are having lower price in the USA and much less competition (no Xiaomi, OP, Realme, Huawei is dead over there), and they sell OK. In Europe everything is upside down. Higher prices and hughe competition, and they sell really bad.
IPhone can do that, they are unique, Pixels are just another Android device. Their clean software and nice cameras are not enough.
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- ElioX
- xk7
- 08 Sep 2021
AnonD-1017073, 08 Sep 2021I am not happy for low light camera performance. Wait for pixel 6 😉
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- ElioX
- xk7
- 08 Sep 2021
Anonymous, 08 Sep 2021Are you refuting that you're paying more or just sayin... moreI am saying what has been in effect for years and years. We get salaries in euros that are in average above from what US citizens with same job get in USD. So, obviously to be fair to each side, we pay more because we get paid more. Capiche?
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- Anonymous
- TL%
- 08 Sep 2021
ElioX, 08 Sep 2021Phones that are sold in Europe are sold in European prices.... moreAre you refuting that you're paying more or just saying that you've always paid more and you don't care?
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- AnonD-1017073
- 7km
- 08 Sep 2021
I am not happy for low light camera performance.
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- ElioX
- xk7
- 08 Sep 2021
Anonymous, 08 Sep 2021That means you're paying more for the phone because € ... morePhones that are sold in Europe are sold in European prices. That is nothing new. It was like this since ages ago. Same for apple devices. Apple device sold for 999$ in US is sold for 999€ in Europe. Are you new to this?
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- ElioX
- xk7
- 08 Sep 2021
Essen, 08 Sep 2021An Mi 11 Lite 5G or Realms GT throws this out of the park a... moreThose other manufacturers meddle a lot with the firmware they install in your device. It was different with OnePlus but lately they are doing the same. If you want that, have at it. You can buy those devices and nobody can make you not to. I hope we are clear😊
If I would ever use those devices I would always flash an AOSP ROM whose sources are OPENLY available.
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- Anonymous
- TL%
- 08 Sep 2021
I'm surprised by the lack of brands available in the US. Google, Apple, Samsung and Sony, it's that all you have to choose from? Maybe if they stopped banning competitors or branding them security risks, they'd have more brands to choose from.
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- Anonymous
- TL%
- 08 Sep 2021
manurd350, 08 Sep 2021It's not just plain Android, which can be found on man... moreNo phone has plain Android or otherwise known as AOSP unless you flash an AOSP rom. All have skins including the Google Pixels which have Google's skin and it's not even the best skin out there.
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- Anonymous
- TL%
- 08 Sep 2021
ElioX, 08 Sep 2021You are confusing prices. I work in Germany, I get paid in ... moreThat means you're paying more for the phone because € > $. It's simple arithmetic. There could be reasons why you're paying more but you're definitely paying more.
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- manurd350
- vG1
- 08 Sep 2021
Essen, 08 Sep 2021An Mi 11 Lite 5G or Realms GT throws this out of the park a... moreIt's not just plain Android, which can be found on many phones. Its the pixel exclusive features which makes this phone unique. Hardware alone can't provide a great experience, apart from hardcore gaming hardware makes little difference in all of the day to day scenarios. .MiUI and its ad everywhere sucks.
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- Essen
- 2F6
- 08 Sep 2021
An Mi 11 Lite 5G or Realms GT throws this out of the park at less than half the price. Heck, most SD 870 devices are half the price of this. And please don't write back saying it's plain Android. But the problem with that is right in the name. Plain. All the best to whoever buys this out of choice.
Of course the battery life is good. And unlike the story Google used to peddle earlier, it's not about software optimisation. It's by putting a large battery.