Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Definitely noticed a bit of warmth on mine as well, but it’s pretty rare. Doesn’t really seem like something I’d expect during normal tasks, even from a lower-powered chip.
The more I have used my Pixel 5 the more I have encountered scenarios in which my phone gets fairly warm. Often in scenarios where a phone wouldn’t typically get warm. Yesterday I was taking pictures of my kids, no video, and after about 25-30 pictures the phone was warming a fair bit. I guess this can be attributed to the photo processing, but no phone I’ve used has ever gotten this warm doing fairly normal/simple tasks like this phone has.
 
The more I have used my Pixel 5 the more I have encountered scenarios in which my phone gets fairly warm. Often in scenarios where a phone wouldn’t typically get warm. Yesterday I was taking pictures of my kids, no video, and after about 25-30 pictures the phone was warming a fair bit. I guess this can be attributed to the photo processing, but no phone I’ve used has ever gotten this warm doing fairly normal/simple tasks like this phone has.
My Pixel 3XL had gotten piping hot taking photos before. I was visiting an aquarium and photographing sharks and yeah, it heated up. My Samsung and iPhones have gotten warm, also, taking photos when they don’t get warm taking videos. So yeah, there’s a burden from AI photo processing that apparently isn’t there with video.

Another instance where I’ve had phones heat up on me so bad I’ve had to reboot them has been visiting ordinary sites similar to this one that have really intrusive ads. There’s a few blog sites I read and until I got the most aggressive ad block I could find, they were doing something awful to my phones and iPads.
 
This overheating was the final straw for me. I was likely going to return it anyway. It feels like I'm saying the same thing as last year, but it's a phone with subpar hardware for the price that's propped up by excellent software.

Side note, with all the hardware issues google have had with the Pixel line, I'd be really hesitant to be a year 1 adopter of the first phone with a google made SOC or the first Google foldable.
 
I noticed it a few times during set up, but I have not the last few days. Not excising the issue, but my 11 Pro did the same thing from time to time.
 
I don't remember any previous Pixel phones with heating issues.. Very concerned. 4 XL ran cool as a cucumber...
 
I wonder if it's an issue with pushing the 765 to it's limits whereas the 865 wouldn't break a sweat. Also could be an issue with the metal body conducting a little more heat than the typical glass back.
 
I picked up a 5 to play around with alongside my 11 Pro. It's quite a snappy little device. 90hz is nice and I love the screen with just the punch hole.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nospleen
Yikes I now am the proud owner of an overheating iPhone 12. It just started about an hour ago. I had to take the case off. I let it sit to cool down and it was still warm. When I pick it up to use it, it starts heating up around the camera even though I don’t have the camera app on. And battery thingy says I was running the camera 1 hour 2 mins and camera audio for 27 minutes. What?!!

Sigh. My husband has been trying to figure out what is wrong with it to no avail. Apparently some 12’s and 12 Pros are overheating.


Oh well, so it’s not just Pixels overheating I guess.
 
Even though I went back to the 4 XL, ONLY due to the earpiece speaker, which totally sucked on my Pixel 5 and almost useless for phone calls. But I still kept the Pixel 5, I might give to my son, for his first smartphone.

But playing around with the Pixel 5 this week as a WiFi phone, I have to say the battery life is insane, so great, I know it's on WiFi only, but it last me a good 3+ days, as just a house WiFi phone. And everything about the phone is very nice, the size is extremely comfortable, the display seems a bit brighter and overall a little nicer than my 4 XLs.

Only two knocks on this for me, the earpiece speaker blows, phone calls sound tinny and cheap like coming out from a baby's plastic play toy phone. And I do see a very slight lag or little hiccup in browsing and doing some tasks on the phone, that I don't get on my 4 XL. I would say the Pixel 4 XL is smoother less lag than the Pixel 5, but slightly, not saying the Pixel 5 is a laggy phone, no.

When I use the Pixel 5 around the house for a few hours, then go back to my Pixel 4 XL, the 4 XL just seems HUGE gigantic, then I'll use the 4 XL for awhile get used to it again, and go back to the Pixel 5 and it seems small like a toy phone. It's funny how we adjust to a phone's size after an hour of use.

I will say, I really like the front design of the Pixel 5, I mean the all screen minimal bezel, and the bezels are equal on all four sides looks very nice.
Why didnt you get a replacement to see if it was just that phone?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tig Bitties
The top speaker on the Pixel 5 is inarguably bad, but the phone as a whole is growing on me. I will say that personally I've never had an issue hearing someone on the other end it's just that they sound different, as others have stated.
 
The top speaker on the 4a isnt great as a music speaker but ive no issues as a calling speaker. Ive had worse on Samsungs that sounded muffled.
 
I bought both iPhone 12 pro and pixel 5. After using them for a week i decided to return iPhone 12 pro and keep Pixel 5.
Still love the camera on the pixel and couldn't justify the cost of iPhone. The size of this phone is so nice to hold and it's a joy to use.

Other than the speakers I've no complaints about this phone. But the speaker might be a deal breaker for me as I do lot phone calls and meetings on my device.
 
I bought both iPhone 12 pro and pixel 5. After using them for a week i decided to return iPhone 12 pro and keep Pixel 5.
Still love the camera on the pixel and couldn't justify the cost of iPhone. The size of this phone is so nice to hold and it's a joy to use.

Other than the speakers I've no complaints about this phone. But the speaker might be a deal breaker for me as I do lot phone calls and meetings on my device.

To be honest, the bad speakers didnt bother me too much. They were bad, but good enough for watching Youtube and I take most of my calls on a headset for work. Like every Pixel device, it was growing on me. But the overheating stopped all that. Now Im seeing it being a pretty widespread complaint on Reddit.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: 5105973
Just popped my SIM back into the Pixel 5, giving it another shot. The size really is cool, and the minimal bezels with all screen is futuristic looking.

Let's see how this goes?
 
Just popped my SIM back into the Pixel 5, giving it another shot. The size really is cool, and the minimal bezels with all screen is futuristic looking.

Let's see how this goes?

I am loving mine. Not a perfect package, but so many good things and the battery is awesome.

I still haven't received the November update though. I restore did not solve either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tig Bitties
Just popped my SIM back into the Pixel 5, giving it another shot. The size really is cool, and the minimal bezels with all screen is futuristic looking.

Let's see how this goes?
Good luck! 2020 has been a year where decisions don’t seem as straightforward as in past years. I’m sorry it’s just one nagging thing holding you back from full enjoyment of your new Pixel. I hope the second try with it helps you look at it with new eyes.

I haven’t had much luck with the new iPhones. Don’t get me wrong they’re nice but I’ve had weird problems because I’m weird with my pwm sensitivity and hand cramp, lol. I’m going to try one last time with the 12 mini, used similar to the way I was using the SE. But with a more versatile camera and slightly better battery.

Ha, so much for me keeping my Samsung a longer time than usual. I’m juggling my entire phone lineup. I put it in trade for a 12 mini.

I just got fed up of not having the S20’s fps working for me. I will be sending the regular 12 back, unfortunately. I’ll be keeping the 11 Pro another year, my eyes aren’t as comfortable on the 12 displays as they are on the 11 Pro display.

For the first time in ages I will be running both my AT&T lines with iPhones. Pixel 2 and Pixel 3XL will be my only remaining Androids and will continue to be used on WiFi. I’m busy updating Snowball the Pixel 2 to Android 11 right now. I just never get tired of having that phone around. Lol, so much for decommissioning it!
 
Charging mine up this morning, I did actually notice it was a lot warmer than phones usually get. Not too hot but very noticeable.

Still have no problems with call quality. I did notice scrolling through my call list, some have a "HD" next to them. Not sure what that is.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tig Bitties
@GrumpyMom your snowball is not alone... My XL 2 is still in commission 🙂 though it's showing its age and needs it's latest update but I'm almost afraid of breaking something.

Last time I plugged it into my computer I couldn't access storage so that bothers me I'd end up with a brick (again). I think it's a Linux issue thought.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5105973
Charging mine up this morning, I did actually notice it was a lot warmer than phones usually get. Not too hot but very noticeable.

Still have no problems with call quality. I did notice scrolling through my call list, some have a "HD" next to them. Not sure what that is.

Yep, mine never gotten so hot to the touch that I'm worried. But it gets noticeably hotter than any phone I've had in a long time. My worry long term would be that the best would degrade battery health quicker than normal.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.