It makes the entire interface feel buttery smooth and responsive, but that's also thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor powering it (and the 8 gigabytes of RAM). How it feels to use it. Both the S20 FE and iPhone 12 Mini support Wi-Fi 6 too, the newest Wi-Fi standard. In terms of design, the Pixel 5 looks similar to the $499 Pixel 4a 5G. It’s currently available in black or sage, though Google showed a gray model at its launch event that we hope will be available in the future. You might be wondering how Google got wireless charging to work here, considering the tech usually doesn't play well with metal. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives—from culture to business, science to design. So if the frame is metal, how does the wireless charging work? The company previously took a more natural approach to colors, while here photos have a warmer hue and colors are more saturated. Low light is where the Pixel 5 shines. If skipping the high-end chip is what brought the price down from its predecessor, I'm all for it. You'd think Google would use all that data it collects to figure out exactly what price it should put on its phones. Battery life In our battery drain test, in which we stream HD video over Wi-Fi at full brightness, it lasted 11 hours and 41 minutes before shutting down. There’s a SIM tray on the left side, although there’s no microSD slot for expanding the storage, sadly. It turns out that Google has been crafty, and drilled a small hole in the rear plate over the charging coil, then covered it with resin and painted over it, as Android Central’s Daniel Bader discovered. Storage comes in at 128GB, with about 110GB available out of the box. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED. The Pixel 5’s chipset won’t quite keep up with the processors in the new S20 FE or OnePlus handset, and its two cameras are lacking serious zoom capability. That applies to the ultrawide camera too. It's a pretty phone! It also supports sub-6GHz bands n1/2/3/5/6/8/12/28/41/66/71/78 and mmWave bands n260/n261. Resolution comes in at 2,340 by 1,080 pixels, for a respectably sharp 432 pixels per inch. Your subscription has been confirmed. Although the Pixel 5 may look a little utilitarian, it’s definitely a win in terms of durability. The Pixel offers a superior software experience and better low-light imaging, but the Galaxy has a higher refresh rate and a much more powerful processor. Google includes an 18W fast charging adapter in the box. You want a pure Android experience Once you’re waiting, simply tap Hold for Me and the Pixel will ring when the other party picks up. It’s frustrating, and it means that if you want more storage you’ll have to opt for a cloud solution. Black Friday deals: see all the best offers right now! Speaking of charging, one of its other new tricks is Battery Share, informally known as reverse wireless charging. Wired may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. All of those kinks and quirks are gone on the Pixel 5. I'd love to see more phone-makers ditch breakable glass for this approach. If you want strong zoom photography, opt for a phone with telephoto lenses, like the Samsung Galaxy S20 line. Before joining PCMag as a mobile analyst, he covered mobile and wearable tech at Digital Trends. Wireless charging and reverse charging are also supported. The Pixel 5 is excellent. The Pixel 5 allows you to open group chats and send messages over Wi-Fi. The Google Pixel 5 represents a strategy change for the tech giant, which sees it tempering its ambitions to compete with top-tier flagship devices, and be all things to all smartphone users, in favor of a more measured offering. Design Well, it cut a little hole in the back of the phone, right over the coil, and ... filled it with a piece of plastic. But there is no Pixel 5a—at least not yet—and in 2020, the smartphone market is rapidly changing. The Pixel 5’s specs are one of several areas where Google has compromised, likely to save on cost. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Not the best value. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. If you like to record interviews or meetings, the Pixel's Recorder app is indispensable. The colors here are nice and punchy too. But, in comparison shots, the Pixel 4's 2x optical zoom camera didn't perform noticeably better than the digital zoom on the Pixel 5. Score another for the utility of ultra-wide. But it's painful watching her plug it in to recharge two to three times a day just to keep using it. It does have the same 12.2MP main shooter, but the Pixel 5 swaps out its predecessor’s 2x optical telephoto lens for a 16MP ultra-wide lens. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20) and Your California Privacy Rights. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. The aluminum has a soft-touch coating that feels nice, and the "Sorta Sage" color looks like speckled, minty toothpaste. But while some cutting-edge tech has been culled, it’s not a complete regression: the Pixel 5 has wireless charging, a 90Hz refresh rate display, and 5G, while its 4,000mAh battery is a lot bigger, and subsequently lasts far longer, than the 2,800mAh battery in the Pixel 4.