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slitherjef

macrumors 65816
Feb 8, 2012
1,402
1,189
Earth
Curious on how 5g works on google fi. Haven't decided if I want to upgrade yet to anything. Well, besides my main line and I'm not so sure I'd port that number over to a pixel device or fi :oops:
 

Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
This guy has had the phone since early September, and is doing a 30 day review of the Pixel 5, he says the battery life is outstanding, he gets on mostly 7h to 8h SoT. Says the phone is very smooth and fast. Bright and vibrant display. He also says the smaller size is actually nice, easy to one hand control and hold, and it's not slippery, can be used without case.


 

bandrews

macrumors 6502a
Jul 18, 2008
888
2,204
This guy has had the phone since early September, and is doing a 30 day review of the Pixel 5, he says the battery life is outstanding, he gets on mostly 7h to 8h SoT. Says the phone is very smooth and fast. Bright and vibrant display. He also says the smaller size is actually nice, easy to one hand control and hold, and it's not slippery, can be used without case.



I'd agree with that. Size is great, battery awesome, camera even better in low light, performance silky smooth, screen is good. Only thing I'm not a fan of is dropping the contrasting power button but I've got one of the fabric cases on now so that's solved that. Might not be a Samsung flagship but Samsung phones and One UI have never really floated my boat.

It's not the sort of phone you gasp at when you use for the first time, you just smile and nod to yourself that this is a good phone.
 

Jason2000

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2019
373
794
Planet Earth
From a 4a perspective (with the same processor as the 5) - there is a delay processing photos. With the Pixel 4 I could snap and hit the photo thumbnail and it'd be ready. With the 4a you get a little 'processing' message bottom left and a little circle that turns whilst it completes.

It isn't a huge deal for most photos, but portrait mode and night mode does add a couple of seconds.

I think my only worry (and it isn't something I tested with my 4a yet) is whether the removal of the neural core affects social media cameras? Didn't that core do something that meant apps which use the camera didn't lose quality like every other Android?
I can't remember now.

I agree this isn't a big deal for most as long as shot to shot times are not affected. And if I remember correctly in his review he says shot to shot times are fine.
 
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michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
I've turned off 90hz (I don't notice any difference) and never use AOD and can already tell the battery is really good.

But it seriously feels like a toy phone, not enjoying how small it is. And to think I used to happily use an iPhone 4S with a 3.5" screen and thought 5" phones were stupidly big.....
 
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Awesomesince86

macrumors 68020
Sep 18, 2016
2,482
3,302
I've turned off 90hz (I don't notice any difference) and never use AOD and can already tell the battery is really good.

But it seriously feels like a toy phone, not enjoying how small it is. And to think I used to happily use an iPhone 4S with a 3.5" screen and thought 5" phones were stupidly big.....
Doesnt sound like you're enjoying it. Your issue with the size is what makes me most hesistant to try out the Pixel 5. I feel like my S20 plus is the perfect size phone for me and its 6.7 inches. Not sure how I'll get along with a 6 in device.
 

michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
Doesnt sound like you're enjoying it. Your issue with the size is what makes me most hesistant to try out the Pixel 5. I feel like my S20 plus is the perfect size phone for me and its 6.7 inches. Not sure how I'll get along with a 6 in device.
Everyone is different but I've found I quickly adjust and like when I move up in size (phones, tv's) but going the other way is proving a struggle.
 
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Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
The P5 would be .2" bigger than my P 4a so that would work. I like the size of the 4a. Yep kinda weird how some loved that 3.5" screen, lol.
But for me, 6" is getting in the too big area. 6.7 most definitely.
 
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michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
Do you find it too light in addition to being small out of curiosity?
Never give it a thought to be honest. Just weighing it in my hand I can tell it's pretty light. It's sort of weird to look at as a whole with it being much smaller than I'm used to. But it's the reduced info on screen I'm really missing.

Also noticing the downgrade to 1080p on YouTube which I watch on my phone quite often.
 
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Aneres11

macrumors 601
Oct 2, 2011
4,353
9,551
Never give it a thought to be honest. Just weighing it in my hand I can tell it's pretty light. It's sort of weird to look at as a whole with it being much smaller than I'm used to. But it's the reduced info on screen I'm really missing.

Also noticing the downgrade to 1080p on YouTube which I watch on my phone quite often.

Must just be me then haha. I think because I had been using a heavy phone the lightness of the 4a was a bit jarring.

Are you going to opt for a 4a 5g when it comes out?
 

michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
Must just be me then haha. I think because I had been using a heavy phone the lightness of the 4a was a bit jarring.

Are you going to opt for a 4a 5g when it comes out?
Put my pre order in already with Amazon to make sure I get the headphones. lol

With the headphones on both new Pixels, it means anyone pre ordering can test out the phone for a few weeks. Then sell at a small loss and make it back with some profit thrown in by selling the headphones.
 

Carlo Aguilar Castrat

macrumors member
Sep 30, 2020
62
89
so they took off the neural core in this phone... taking pictures will be slow, in the sense that you will have to wait a few seconds for the image to process if you want to view it. I think its fine to have no neural core on the 4a but on the flagship 5? Thats kinda too far, doesnt seem like its worth $700 to me. Its a great phone overall but seems overpriced
 
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Ludatyk

macrumors 603
May 27, 2012
5,965
5,133
Texas
Why do people still label the 5 a flagship? It might be the best from Google this year but it's clearly a mid range phone.
Because it's Google's highest end phone among the 3.

Which can honestly benefit them, because among the flagship prices.. Pixel 5 can entice customers based off the price. Especially if consumers are not hip to all the specs... the Pixel 5 is a solid buy.

For $700.. going up against the iPhone 12 Pro at 1k and Note 20 Ultra at $1,300. Seems like a steal.
 

Carlo Aguilar Castrat

macrumors member
Sep 30, 2020
62
89
Because it's Google's highest end phone among the 3.

Which can honestly benefit them, because among the flagship prices.. Pixel 5 can entice customers based off the price. Especially if consumers are not hip to all the specs... the Pixel 5 is a solid buy.

For $700.. going up against the iPhone 12 Pro at 1k and Note 20 Ultra at $1,300. Seems like a steal.
for 700 it goes against the 12 mini, which is superior everywhere except screen size and 90hz. And the iphone 11 is now 600, which is a steal in my opinion. more powerful and has faster image processing than the pixel, roughly equal battery life, pretty much same screen size. If you dont live in a 5g area the only thing you sacrifice is 90hz and the display resolution. But also, the OnePlus 8t is also $700 and kinda destroys the pixel 5 in specs apart from the camera
 
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michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
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for 700 it goes against the 12 mini, which is superior everywhere except screen size and 90hz. And the iphone 11 is now 600, which is a steal in my opinion. more powerful and has faster image processing than the pixel, roughly equal battery life, pretty much same screen size. If you dont live in a 5g area the only thing you sacrifice is 90hz and the display resolution. But also, the OnePlus 8t is also $700 and kinda destroys the pixel 5 in specs apart from the camera
Why do you keep pitting the iPhone Mini against the Pixel 5? They're not in direct competition and aimed at different customers.

A spec sheet doesn't tell half the story of tech items. You'd probably look at the Sony A7S iii having a 12MP sensor and say it's crap.
 
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Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
I agree the iPhone 12 Mini and Pixel 5 are light years apart from each other. Completely different audiences.

I'll take the best portrait mode camera and stock Android all day every day over the teenybopper Fischer Price outdated iOS.

Different strokes, for different folks I suppose.
 

Ludatyk

macrumors 603
May 27, 2012
5,965
5,133
Texas
Why do you keep pitting the iPhone Mini against the Pixel 5? They're not in direct competition and aimed at different customers.

A spec sheet doesn't tell half the story of tech items. You'd probably look at the Sony A7S iii having a 12MP sensor and say it's crap.

No matter how you paint the picture, they are in direct competition due to the price. I'm confused by it being aimed at different customers. Can you and @Tig Bitties enlighten me? They are both 700 bucks... obviously the 12 Mini is smaller, but if you pit them together... they are similar.

for 700 it goes against the 12 mini, which is superior everywhere except screen size and 90hz. And the iphone 11 is now 600, which is a steal in my opinion. more powerful and has faster image processing than the pixel, roughly equal battery life, pretty much same screen size. If you dont live in a 5g area the only thing you sacrifice is 90hz and the display resolution. But also, the OnePlus 8t is also $700 and kinda destroys the pixel 5 in specs apart from the camera

I'm just responding to @michael9891 questioning why people are labeling the Pixel 5 a flagship. I agree price for price... that's the best product to compare the Pixel 5 with. And I think... the average joe is going to look at it as Google has 3 latest phones in their lineup.. and Pixel 5 is their highest end phone. So, they are going to compare it to competitions highest end phones.
 
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michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
Maybe the iPhone Mini is aimed at people wanting a cheaper & smaller iPhone? And perhaps the Pixel 5 is aimed at people wanting a great camera at a lower price than you usually find on a Pixel for those on the Android side?

The average consumer doesn't regularly switch platforms.
 
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Carlo Aguilar Castrat

macrumors member
Sep 30, 2020
62
89
Why do you keep pitting the iPhone Mini against the Pixel 5? They're not in direct competition and aimed at different customers.

A spec sheet doesn't tell half the story of tech items. You'd probably look at the Sony A7S iii having a 12MP sensor and say it's crap.
Im not talking about specs though. User experience. The camera user experience on a Pixel without a neural core is not great. Not to mention video recording is very inferior. Gaming will be worse as well. Thats if you compare it to iOS.

If you compare it to other androids, youre probably better off getting a OnePlus 8t at that price. Pixel 5 is pretty much a oneplus nord with a better camera. Hell, at $350, same camera, pretty much same speed, and great battery life, the pixel 4a seems like a much better deal. Paying twice as much for a pixel 5 over a 4a? for what? the 90hz screen and ever so slightly bigger disp? If you dont live in a 5g area, or if you dont really even care about 5g, its hard to justify the pixel 5 over the 4a.
 

Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
I'm very tempted to buy the Pixel 5, coming from my Pixel 4 XL, but every time I put the phone in the cart on the Google site, and ready to press accept, I can't do it yet. It's more of a side grade at best it seems?

My main beefs with my 4 XL;


- FaceID blows, seems so inaccurate. And now with COVID, and wearing a mask FaceID is no good.
- Battery life on my 4 XL is ok at best, I get like 5h to 5.5h SoT, which isn't bad, but for me, I typically do best with a phone that can get me 7h SoT or better.
- Screen brightness, my 4 XL not too good outdoors, it's rather dim.
- Size, with the big forehead it's a rather large phone, it's borderline too large for my tastes, especially the width, you can't one hand use this phone, but I also don't like small phones either, not a fan of tiny phones.

So I'm torn
 
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Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
for 700 it goes against the 12 mini, which is superior everywhere except screen size and 90hz. And the iphone 11 is now 600, which is a steal in my opinion. more powerful and has faster image processing than the pixel, roughly equal battery life, pretty much same screen size. If you dont live in a 5g area the only thing you sacrifice is 90hz and the display resolution. But also, the OnePlus 8t is also $700 and kinda destroys the pixel 5 in specs apart from the camera
Sorry I wouldnt but a iPhone mini for that price with the 2010 bezels. The front of it is a joke.

IDK, for me it's not about the specs. The 4a works just fine and it's quick. It takes pics instantly so don't know what this neutral core delay is about. I don't have a delay.

The 730 chip is nano seconds slower than the higher end ones line the 765 and even the 855. I don't have any issues with things loading slow. And in videos comparing them, sometimes the 730 loads in nano seconds faster.

I'd be very ok with the P5.
 
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