Google Makes the Pixel 5 Official

Google’s new Pixel 5 phone has been in the news for a quite while now. As usual, most details about the phone, including how it looks and the specs were leaked weeks before today’s official announcement.

At the company’s Launch Night In event, Google just took the wraps off the new Pixel 5, its latest Pixel flagship.

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Let’s get the specs out the way quickly: the new Pixel 5 includes a 6-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels, with a refresh rate of 90Hz. You will also notice that the latest Pixel phone no longer has a massive, hideous front bezel which makes the front of the phone look incredibly sleek.

Under the hood, the Pixel 5 is powered by a Snapdragon 765G processor, enabling support for 5G with Qualcomm’s integrated X52 modem. Phone makers have been making a big deal out of 5G for quite a while now, and Google is the latest to join the party.

And if you are thinking of getting a Pixel, you probably care a lot about the cameras. Pixel 5 is introducing some interesting improvements to the camera. Along with the usual 12.2MP main camera, the Pixel 5 now features a 16MP ultrawide camera in place of the telephoto lens we have seen on older Pixel devices. The new ultra-wide lens will feature a FOV of 107 degrees, while the front camera will be an 8MP sensor. Google is also adding support for 4K 60FPS and 1080p 240FPS video recording to the main camera.

You’ll notice that the front-facing camera is now housed within a punch-hole notch, which means Google is getting rid of all the sensors that enabled Face Unlock. There’s now a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone instead. The device also features wireless and reverse wireless charging, both of which are very nice additions.

Google is introducing a new feature called Portrait Light feature that gives user granular control over the lighting in pictures taken in the portrait mode. Google Assistant is getting a new “Hold For Me” feature where the Assistant will essentially hold for you when you are in a queue during a call and it will automatically let you know when the call is answered. If you hate being put on hold when calling customer service, this is going to be super helpful.

 

Other than that, the Pixel 5 comes with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a 4,080mAh battery (with an 18W USB-C fast charger), and IP68 water resistance. Pre-order open today, and the handset will be available in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia. Starts at $699.

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Conversation 26 comments

  • kherm

    Premium Member
    30 September, 2020 - 2:24 pm

    <p><em>MEHEDI </em></p><p>F#$! YES</p>

    • Mehedi Hassan

      Premium Member
      30 September, 2020 - 2:25 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#580835">In reply to kherm:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Hello world ?</p>

      • wolters

        Premium Member
        30 September, 2020 - 3:20 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#580836">In reply to Mehedi:</a></em></blockquote><p>Welcome Back!</p>

      • seattlemike

        Premium Member
        30 September, 2020 - 4:06 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#580836"><em>In reply to Mehedi:</em></a><em> Welcome back, Mehedi!</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • brandonmills

    30 September, 2020 - 4:03 pm

    <p>Using a Pixel 4 XL, and I can see why they might remove face unlock. Finger just made more sense in the first place. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. </p>

  • martinusv2

    Premium Member
    30 September, 2020 - 4:31 pm

    <p>Is the 765G a lot less powerfull than the 865? I must say, for the price, I would perhaps choose this phone than a Oneplus one. Just for OS updates is a good plus.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      01 October, 2020 - 8:55 am

      Based on my experience with the Pixel 4a, I bet it works well.

  • ianhead

    30 September, 2020 - 5:25 pm

    <p>The real news here is that Mehedi is back</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      01 October, 2020 - 8:54 am

      😀

  • johnlavey

    Premium Member
    30 September, 2020 - 5:54 pm

    <p>Mehedi who? ;-)</p><p><br></p><p>I know AT&amp;T and Verizon, just to name two carriers, are making a big deal about 5G….but in the Boston area, 5G is only available in a small area around Fenway Park….and there's no welcome news about when 5G will be available to the masses. </p>

  • lightbody

    30 September, 2020 - 6:47 pm

    <p>Enormous price premium over the Oneplus Nord here in the UK, and it's not entirely obvious why.</p>

    • SRLRacing

      30 September, 2020 - 10:25 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#580938">In reply to lightbody:</a></em></blockquote><p>They have to pay the 30% Google Play Store tax to themselves. 😉 </p>

  • codymesh

    30 September, 2020 - 7:01 pm

    <p>yooo is mehdi back to writing here again?</p>

  • wbtmid

    Premium Member
    30 September, 2020 - 7:13 pm

    <p>Glad to see you back! Your writing is thorough and on point.</p>

  • glassman1234

    Premium Member
    30 September, 2020 - 8:56 pm

    <p>Here's the thing… Samsungs introduction of the S20 FE at the same price as the Pixel 5, will make the Pixel a non-starter for many. Had they come in at $599, then maybe we have something. Maybe… As it stands Google is just not going to sell many of these.</p>

    • ghostrider

      01 October, 2020 - 8:34 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#580949">In reply to Glassman1234:</a></em></blockquote><p>Don't bet on it. Samsung have a terrible reputation with supporting a handset, often with only one major update, and that will be months late as usual. At least with Pixel you get a stock Android experience, monthly updates and at least 3 major version updates. Samsung have more market clout, but there are a lot of canny buyers out their now. I think the Pixel5 will do better at this price, and along with the Pixel4a Google are strengthening their line-ups at more sensible prices.</p>

      • ebraiter

        01 October, 2020 - 12:08 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#581091">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>Samsung announced a while back that their [newer] phones will get at least 3 major versions as well and monthly updates.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      01 October, 2020 - 8:50 am

      Right. This may end up being the end of the Pixel handset line.

  • SRLRacing

    30 September, 2020 - 10:19 pm

    <p>This may be my next phone. The price is right, the design is there-ish, and it is obviously fully Fi compatible.</p>

  • brettscoast

    Premium Member
    01 October, 2020 - 12:22 am

    <p>Thanks Mehedi</p><p>Good to have you back posting articles for http://www.thurrott.com. This Pixel 5 has some nice improvements over previous iterations of Pixel phones, I was originally going to get the Pixel 4a but due to time, lack of availability here I'm happy to pre-order this handset which looks a perfect fit for my needs, the version of android software that runs on these devices is so much cleaner and free of the bloatware that comes on most android handsets these days.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    01 October, 2020 - 2:56 am

    <p>5G? Meh, I'm still waiting for decent 3G coverage here, at work. I get 0.001mbps Edge at best.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      01 October, 2020 - 6:47 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#581045">In reply to wright_is:</a></em></blockquote><p>Just switched to a congstar (MVNO on T-Mobile Germany), I used to get about 3mbps at work with them, before I switched from their "up to 50mbps" to Vodafones "up to 500mbps"… What is the point of an up to 500mbps 10GB account, when you only get 0.001mbps? At least I know that I will get a usable signal with congstar, and 15GB data for €24 a month.</p>

  • RonV42

    Premium Member
    01 October, 2020 - 8:09 am

    <p>I live in a area next to a forest preserve and barely got 1 bar of 4G LTE from T-Mobile and mostly used Wifi calling when I am at home. Recently got a 5G phone and T-Mobile must have done some interesting things with their spectrum and the Sprint acquisition because my phone gets 3 to 4 bars of 5G? When am outside I can get 80+ mbps down indoors about 40 mbps down. Not bad for a fringe area. Also made a road trip from Illinois to Detroit MI and I had the 5G indicator on the phone most of the time while I was on I-94. There was say 3 segments where it fell back to 4G. </p><p><br></p><p>I am not in the market to replace the new phone I just purchased but 5G in the lower bands works well out where I am.</p>

  • adampeterson

    Premium Member
    01 October, 2020 - 12:27 pm

    <p>If the battery life is good, it will be worth the upgrade on that fact alone. However, I will wait for the reviewers to evaluate the battery, not just use the mAh rating by itself.</p>

  • richfrantz

    Premium Member
    01 October, 2020 - 5:19 pm

    <p>Reverse wireless charging? Wireless discharging? Don't all devices do that?</p>

  • felfoo500

    13 June, 2021 - 7:42 am

    <p>its inclusion in devices such as Pixel and iPhone line has been good edition, Apple adopted wireless charging with the iPhone X and iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus it’s great addtion t any phone, and there’s anew addition to it falafel&nbsp;which is based on inductive charging, whereby power is created by passing an electrical current through two coils to create an electromagnetic field.</p>

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