Pixels have entered the 5G era: Google introduced two new models that will take its line of in-house phones in a different direction. These two will be among the first phones to run Android 11.
Google Pixel 5
The Pixel 5 won’t have an XL-sized friend this year, although that role is somewhat filled by the second phone unveiled today. However, the 5 is the more premium device of the two, let’s take a look.
The biggest change (and perhaps the most controversial) is the switch to a Snapdragon 765G chipset. You will no longer get a top-of-the-line chipset with the top Pixel model, although previous models often came with chipsets infrequently. Performance was never Google’s goal, especially since it has a custom chip that does all the magic of the camera.
The camera brings the second change that can raise the eyebrows. The previous model had a telephoto camera, this forego zoom in favor of a 16MP ultra-wide camera with f / 2.2 aperture and 1.0um pixel size.
Zooming will be done with the 12.2 MP main camera with a 1.4um pixel size, as well as Google’s AI algorithms. This sensor does not have particularly large pixels for night shots or high resolution for lossless digital zoom, Google is betting it all on computational photography.
However, you do get OIS and a relatively bright f / 1.7 lens. Also, even though this isn’t a Snapdragon 8-series, these are the first pixels to support 4K 60fps recording (not 8K, of course, the sensor doesn’t have the resolution).
The Pixel 5’s screen has a 6.0 “diagonal, the average for Pixel 4’s 5.7” and 4XL’s 6.3 “screens. The resolution is the same as 1080p +, but this is a 90Hz screen.
Google Pixel 5 in Just Black and the new Sorta Sage
The S765G chipset includes an X52 modem that enables 5G connectivity. Sub-6 is compatible with all versions of Pixel 5, while in some countries it will also work on mmWave networks. You only get Wi-Fi 5 (aka 802.11ac) instead of Wi-Fi 6.
That is used to charge the 4,080 mAh battery at 18W. For comparison, the Pixel 4 XL had a 3,700 mAh battery, which turned out to be average in terms of stamina. However, the additional capacity coupled with the S765G chip should help this phone last much longer.
The body is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance. It’s made from recycled aluminum and is textured for a better grip (and to hide fingerprints). Despite this, it somehow manages to incorporate wireless charging as well as reverse wireless charging. This year there is a new color, Sorta Sage, to match the standard Just Black. Notice the rear-mounted fingerprint reader (the Pixel 4 generation relied on facial recognition rather than fingerprints).
Pre-orders for the Google Pixel 5 begin today before availability in eight countries on October 15 and in the US on October 29. The phone is priced at $ 700 / € 630 / £ 599.
If you reserve one between now and October 14, you will receive a free pair of Bose QC 35 II wireless headphones. This offer is only valid in Germany, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom, and only while supplies last.
Google Pixel 4a 5G
The Pixel 4a 5G can be a number of different things, depending on how you look at it. It is clearly a 5G version of the 4a that works in sub-6 and in some mmWave markets, but it is also larger, this makes it something of an XL model for those who find the Pixel 5 too small.
It’s not much bigger: the OLED screen measures 6.2 “, which is slightly smaller than the 4 XL (6.3”) screen. However, you only get the standard 60Hz refresh rate.
Not only is it bigger, this phone is also more powerful than the 4a. Almost as powerful as the Pixel 5, in fact, it has the same Snapdragon 765G chipset, but you get 6GB of RAM instead of 8GB. Storage is the same at 128GB.
The camera department is identical to the Pixel 5 – you get the same 12.2 MP main camera paired by the 16 MP ultra-wide unit. This is another advantage over the vanilla 4a, which has a single 12.2 MP module. The 8MP selfie camera is nested inside a drilled hole.
Google Pixel 4a 5G
The Pixel 4a 5G has a 3.5mm headphone jack, something the Pixel 5 lacks. However, although it is larger, this phone has a slightly smaller battery: 3,885 mAh. It still charges at 18W via USB Power Delivery, but wireless charging has been removed.
The body of the phone is made of polycarbonate and it is not resistant to dust or water. The rear-mounted fingerprint reader isn’t much of a surprise on this model. This one is clearly more powerful than the Pixel 4a, but if you’re considering it as a Pixel 5 XL of sorts, there are several “buts” to be aware of, as we described.
The Google Pixel 4a 5G is priced at $ 500 / € 500 / £ 500. Pre-orders are expected to start on November 5, before availability on November 19. Apart from Japan, that is, where it will go on sale on October 15.
If you book one of these, you’ll get the same deal as the Pixel 5 pre-orders – a free pair of Bose QC 35 II headphones, as long as you’re in the UK, Germany, France, or Ireland. .
