Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 5 XL

[michael9891]

It just seems a shame to remove a feature that worked flawlessly and even better than Face ID on iPhone.

Maybe the fact there was nowhere near enough support for it played a part in removing it (assuming it does go). Hopefully that will at least increase battery life.

I'd have liked to have seen an optical sensor on the screen, rather than moving to the back again.

 

[5105973]

This could be our first real-world look at Google Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5

A redditor has posted a real-world image apparently showing the upcoming Pixel phones. We also get a supposed look at Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 specs.

www.androidauthority.com

That link is another one that shows leaked photo of the larger 4a 5G and the Pixel 5. The 4a 5G apparently will be white. The Pixel 5 will be black.

I’m interested in both up to a point, but likely will focus on the 5 for its IP rated water resistance since I spend time at beaches (when there’s not a Pandemic) and my pool and I go sledding in the winter (I used to take my Pixel 2 out and stick Porgs and Star Wars Stormtroopers in the snow, lol).

The 4a 5G is a little bigger than I’d prefer, but it has a headphone jack. It has a 3800 mAh battery vs 4000 on the Pixel 5. I do wish the pixel 5 also has a headphone jack, but obviously I’m able to do without, sigh.

I am keeping my fingers crossed the display on the 5 will be at least as good as the one on my 3XL. I hope they didn’t cut a corner there or I probably won’t be able to use the phone. The Google Store charges a $35 restocking fee now so I can’t even order it and return it for a full refund if it gives me a headache. I want to go through the store so I can trade in my 3XL. But I may hang onto the 3XL and go through Amazon.

I of course am interested in the new iPhones for entertainment value. But my SE2020 and my 11Pro are an awesome combo. I’ve got a lot invested in cases for my 11 Pro, and there’s not anything about it I’m wanting to upgrade. I’m not going to be driving much until next summer so I don’t even need the Qualcomm modem yet.

However I skipped the Pixel 4 and now think I found a Pixel I’d like to upgrade to. I would have preferred to go midrange for the savings and get the 4a, but that display won’t work for me.
Anyway, it’s fun having this on my watch list. Time will tell as to what I actually end up getting...if I get anything at all.

Edit to correct the restocking fee from 35% to $35. Derp!

 

[Lobwedgephil]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1297975552591134722

 

[Michael Scrip]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1297975552591134722

I don't know what Google is doing either. And I don't know why the media is so fascinated with Pixel phones. I mean... I know know it's the platform owner's hardware... but it's barely a blip in the grand scheme of things.

There are 1.3 billion smartphones sold every year... but Google is lucky to sell 10 million units a year.

That's 0.08% market share for Pixel phones.

Oh well... it keeps the bloggers and Youtubers busy...

 

[Vegastouch]

What's 10 million multiplied by $700?

A lot of dough.

Between the 4a and P 5, maybe they sell a little more.
Nothing to sneeze at and I don't think they have ever been in it to grab a big chunk of the market share.

 

[noobinator]

The main goal this year is keep the experience similar, add 5G, reduce price. The leaks seem to support this is all happening.

 

[michael9891]

I don't know what Google is doing either. And I don't know why the media is so fascinated with Pixel phones. I mean... I know know it's the platform owner's hardware... but it's barely a blip in the grand scheme of things.

There are 1.3 billion smartphones sold every year... but Google is lucky to sell 10 million units a year.

That's 0.08% market share for Pixel phones.

Oh well... it keeps the bloggers and Youtubers busy...

Maybe because they offer a great user experience and camera picture quality on par with any other smartphone, if not better. And that's despite the lack of updating the camera sensor & less ram, battery etc.

 

[Tig Bitties]

So wait. The Pixel 5 will be slower than last year's Pixel flagship, and use the camera from the Pixel 2?

What. The. F. Google? Are you going out of your way to kill the Pixel line? I assume no Pixel 6, seems like Google gave up.

And they didn't need to go this route, the Pixel 5 XL should have still been made a flagship, but more like the OnePlus Pro line, high end, but not crazy like $1300 Note 20 Ultra or iPhone 12 Pro Max high end, They don't need to go insane like that. But more like $899 high end.

My realistic, dream Pixel 5 XL;

-Snapdragon 865
-8GB RAM
-90hz Refresh screen
-6.5" AMOLED display. FLAT
-4,500mAh battery
-Ditch FaceID go back to fingerprint scanner
-Minimal bezels, all screen
-Stock vanilla Android like God intended

That above would be a great phone, sure not all the whizz bang cool features like a Samsung Galaxy, but would keep the costs down a bit. Why didn't Google go this route?

 

[michael9891]

So wait. The Pixel 5 will be slower than last year's Pixel flagship, and use the camera from the Pixel 2?

What. The. F. Google? Are you going out of your way to kill the Pixel line? I assume no Pixel 6, seems like Google gave up.

And they didn't need to go this route, the Pixel 5 XL should have still been made a flagship, but more like the OnePlus Pro line, high end, but not crazy like $1300 Note 20 Ultra or iPhone 12 Pro Max high end, They don't need to go insane like that. But more like $899 high end.

My realistic, dream Pixel 5 XL;

-Snapdragon 865
-8GB RAM
-90hz Refresh screen
-6.5" AMOLED display. FLAT
-4,500mAh battery
-Ditch FaceID go back to fingerprint scanner
-Minimal bezels, all screen
-Stock vanilla Android like God intended

That above would be a great phone, sure not all the whizz bang cool features like a Samsung Galaxy, but would keep the costs down a bit. Why didn't Google go this route?

He means the camera sensor on the 5 will be the same one used since Pixel 2, the Sony IMX363.

 

[5105973]

So wait. The Pixel 5 will be slower than last year's Pixel flagship, and use the camera from the Pixel 2?

What. The. F. Google? Are you going out of your way to kill the Pixel line? I assume no Pixel 6, seems like Google gave up.

And they didn't need to go this route, the Pixel 5 XL should have still been made a flagship, but more like the OnePlus Pro line, high end, but not crazy like $1300 Note 20 Ultra or iPhone 12 Pro Max high end, They don't need to go insane like that. But more like $899 high end.

My realistic, dream Pixel 5 XL;

-Snapdragon 865
-8GB RAM
-90hz Refresh screen
-6.5" AMOLED display. FLAT
-4,500mAh battery
-Ditch FaceID go back to fingerprint scanner
-Minimal bezels, all screen
-Stock vanilla Android like God intended

That above would be a great phone, sure not all the whizz bang cool features like a Samsung Galaxy, but would keep the costs down a bit. Why didn't Google go this route?

That’s a respectable wishlist. I think in an ordinary year the Pixel 5 might have been the 5 with the Snapdragon 865 and there would have been a 5XL a bit more in line with what you described.

But I think they’re just trying to get through this 💩storm of a year and probably threw together something simple and under a certain pricing goal to sell just as a major recession seems to be hitting. They’re going so back to basics and with the single plain black color offering, I keep thinking of this as the Amish phone. 😜

I love what they did with the budget option, 4a. The camera seems excellent and video looks acceptable to me. I’ve been impressed with the sample photos I’ve seen. I would have gotten that phone but I want a display that might work better with my janky vision/migraines. I can afford to go up in price to the Pixel 5 if I can get it for about $600. I think that may be what Google is shooting for, too. For that extra money I’ll get the wide angle lens I like a lot and water resistance, which I do value.

The performance should be better than on my 3XL with all that RAM. I’m not gaming on it so I don’t need top of the line Snapdragon. I can see why people who have the Pixel 4 and 4XL won’t like this one. But coming from a 3XL I’m going to get almost everything I want except the headphone jack. I want a smaller phone than the 3XL, but I don’t want a tiny battery. (I don’t think my iPhone SE’s battery is going to survive a full year with me. I’m going to need the battery replace at the rate my battery health is depleting).😟

I hope there’s an option to set the Pixel 5’s display at 60hz and leave it. I would prefer to conserve the battery than run at 90hz. I never use the higher refresh rate on my S20.

 

[drinkingtea]

We could have had it ALLLLLLLLL... .

 

[noobinator]

We could have had it ALLLLLLLLL... . View attachment 947333

What in the world is that hideous monstrosity?

 

[nospleen]

What in the world is that hideous monstrosity?

Tell me I'm not the only one that sees a surprised emoji face in this camera setup. 😯

 

[Tig Bitties]

What in the world is that hideous monstrosity?

That's an early render that was late to back in the spring earlier this year of what the Pixel 5 XL would have been.

 

[drinkingtea]

What in the world is that hideous monstrosity?

I think it looks beautiful. ?‍♀️

 

[5105973]

Google's future Pixels won't support Playground and Playmoji

Google's Playground app allowed Pixel users to add AR stickers to their photos and videos. From the Pixel 4a onwards, the company will no longer support that functionality.

www.androidcentral.com

Oh no! I’m probably the only person in the world who used this feature all the time. The family and our friends and I had so many laughs with this. Only Snowball and my 3XL will still be able to do this. I’m not sure I’m going to trade Frosty (3XL) in now. 😭. I’m so disappointed. I also want to punch the pretentious loser who wrote the article and is so happy about this. Lol. Actually I like Android Central’s contributors and I understand why they think this is great. I’m just gutted that’s all. It’s part of what makes Pixels fun and unique to me: the little silly goofy things. First the playful colors are gone and now this. Poooooooooop

 

[Tig Bitties]

What "green" color are we getting on the Pixel 5? I doubt a dark hard to see green like the the iPhone 11 Pro. I could see Google going bright green like the color in thier logo? Or something like that.

 

[5105973]

What "green" color are we getting on the Pixel 5? I doubt a dark hard to see green like the the iPhone 11 Pro. I could see Google going bright green like the color in thier logo? Or something like that.

I’ve only seen black so far. White and black for the 4a 5G.

 

[Jason2000]

If the camera still takes some of the best photos around who cares that the sensor is not the newest ? I‘m sure it helps keeps the price down.

 

[michael9891]

If the camera still takes some of the best photos around who cares that the sensor is not the newest ? I‘m sure it helps keeps the price down.

I do. A fourth year with the exact same sensor isn't progression. Price isn't a factor, Google's laziness is.

 

[Jason2000]

I do. A fourth year with the exact same sensor isn't progression. Price isn't a factor, Google's laziness is.

New sensor does not automatically mean better photos. I guess it is a good thing there are choices with Android hardware but I will not let this be the reason I do not buy the phone. To each his own.

 

[michael9891]

New sensor does not automatically mean better photos. I guess it is a good thing there are choices with Android hardware but I will not let this be the reason I do not buy the phone. To each his own.

Of course it doesn't, never said it did. Nor did I say it's a reason I will or won't buy a phone like you implied. Sensors have moved on and improved since the Pixel 2 and combined with the Google class leading software, they could offer more.

 

[tbayrgs]

Are the video limitations artificially imposed by Google or is it related to the camera hardware? It can't be tied to the image processing of the Qualcomm chips because Google's competitors using the same CPUs can all do 4K 60fps. If it's Google being a pain in the ass, well then shame on them. If it's hardware related, well then there's the reason why a 4 year old sensor is problematic @Jason2000.

 

[Jason2000]

Of course it doesn't, never said it did. Nor did I say it's a reason I will or won't buy a phone like you implied. Sensors have moved on and improved since the Pixel 2 and combined with the Google class leading software, they could offer more.

I don’t believe I implied this was a reason you would not buy it but if you took it that way that wasn’t my intention. Simply saying for me the older sensor is not a reason to pass on the phone. It still takes incredible photos.

 

[5105973]

Since I’ve decided to keep my current Pixels I’m possibly going in a different direction even though I don’t play heavy duty games anymore. Even my kids are getting out of Fortnite and hopefully can get their money back on some season pass thing they bought with their pet sitting money.

So I am eyeing up this beast that has DC dimming to reduce OLED flicker. This is high specs for the price but I know nothing about it so I am off to do some research...

Nubia Red Magic 5S gaming smartphone with the Snapdragon 865, 144Hz display launches globally for €579/$579

Nubia has launched its new Red Magic 5S gaming smartphone globally. It brings the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 and a 144Hz display for $579/€579.

www.xda-developers.com

I am honestly not sure what, if anything I want to get next. Go simple and basic with Pixel 5 or exotic and crazy with the Nubia? Or just enjoy “window shopping.” I’ve actually been laid back in bed the past two days with this continued aftermath of Covid. I get up, do a few hours worth of chores, starve for oxygen as my heart races like I’d been running, and go in and out of consciousness while reading about technology and trying to pretend Mother Nature isn’t trying to destroy everyone with fires, derechos, hurricanes and a pandemic. I thought 2019 was bad but 2020 sucks worse.