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Google’s not-so-tall flagship of 2020 has just started reaching new owners and there are already worrying complaints about the quality of the phone. It’s not about some software issues that can be easily fixed with an update, nor is it about display issues, at least not when it comes to output or touch input. Instead, it’s a more troublesome gap between the phone’s screen and the metal frame that may or may not affect the phone’s water resistance.
Like many reports of physical defects, complaints about the Pixel 5 thus far have been few and far between, probably because the Pixel 5 only started shipping in the first place. However, as the Android Police noted, the number of reports is constantly increasing, raising fears that it could be a more widespread problem.
The location of the gap between glass and metal is also not consistent, but most seem to be located on the side of the camera. This isn’t Google’s first Pixel with a drilled hole, so it’s not like you don’t know how to get it right just yet. Regardless of the cause, the durability implications are sadly not as small as the gap itself.
Any inadvertent opening would naturally allow the liquid to pass through, which basically breaks the IP water resistance rating. But even if the water can’t get through, the gap could be a haven for dust and small particles. Eventually, the gap could spread to the rest of the screen, making the separation worse.
Google has so far been silent on the complaints, but it certainly already knows about them. Even if you acknowledge factory defects, you will most likely claim that they only affect a small number of units. But with a somewhat similar issue with the glass on the Pixel 4 XL a few months back, one might start to wonder about the status of Google’s quality control for its Pixel phones.
