Once a year Google takes to the stage to reveal to the world what their vision of a quintessential Android phone is. That event is Made by Google, the phone, the Pixel. Today Google has unveiled their latest tentpole device, the Pixel 5, but it’s got a few surprises.
The first surprise is that as expected Google has not shoved the latest and fastest SoC into the device, instead they have opted for a Snapdragon 765G chip. The processor is certainly no slouch supporting 5G, 90 Hz refresh rate screens and delivering more performance than the average consumer would ever need.
That’s the expected surprise here, Google’s vision of what their best in class mobile phone should be is not a $2000 ultra premium device with every spec you can list on a table. Instead, it is an optimised device delivering consistent performance at a significantly more affordable price point.
Rounding out the specs is a 6.0-inch FHD+ AMOLED 90 Hz hole-punch display, Snapdragon 765G SOC, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, dual rear cameras (wide and ultra-wide), 4080mAh battery, rear fingerprint sensor, wireless charging, aluminium body, Titan M chip, and water resistance. Overall this looks to be a solid and reliable device, but will it be enough to appease the spec junkies?
Check out the full specs below:
| Pixel 5 | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.0-inch AMOLED FHD+ HDR 90 Hz hole-punch display |
| SoC | Snapdragon 765G |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128 GB internal storage |
| Rear Cameras | 12MP f/1.7 primary wide-angle sensor 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide-angle sensor |
| Front Camera | 8MP f/2.0 selfie camera |
| Battery | 4080 mAh |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 WiFi 5 5G NFC Wireless charging/ reverse charging |
| Headphone jack | No |
| Biometrics | Rear fingerprint sensor |
| Colours | Just Black, Sorta Sage |
The Pixel 5 will launch with Android 11 on board and come with Google’s guaranteed three years of updates: that will see OS and security updates through until at least September 2023. The update guarantee along with Google’s other software offering and Pixel experience always makes the Pixel a sought after device.
Pixel has always stood for exceptional photography, and this is the second year that Google has shipped two rear lenses on their top tier device. This year Google seems to be focusing on wide-angle capability, utilising computational photography to fill in the blanks as it were for telephoto shots.
Overall we agree that the inclusion of a wide-angle is a great move forward, however, despite Google’s excellent camera performance, the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens may leave them behind the already very competent multi-lens competition.
Of course we didn’t expect Google to arrive with new smartphones but without any new software features. Camera-wise the Pixel 5, now with an upgraded HDR+, arrives with that dual rear lens which now allows you to use Night Sight in portrait mode. Also added to portrait mode is Portrait Light which illuminates your foreground (you) while keeping the background bright. this is done using their AI and thus can be actually applied to a portrait taken at any time in the past just by using the photo editor in Google Photos.
Google have also introduced three new stabilisation modes — locked, active and cinematic pan to provide stable video no matter where you are. Add in a new Extreme Battery Saver mode to allow for up to 48 hours of battery life and a new Hold For Me feature (US only at this stage — but both coming to older Pixels “soon”) and you can see Google have worked hard on the new Pixel features.
So where can you get it?
The Pixel 5 will launch in Australia for $999, a very competitive price and just under the important $1000 mark.You can pre-order the Pixel 5 today from the Google Store or from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks and Harvey Norman and will be available from October 15. Purchasers of a Pixel 5 will also receive a myriad of bonuses including a YouTube Premium 3-month trial, 100GB of Google One storage and Google Play Pass and Play Points for three months if you’re a new user.
Optus have Pixel 5 on a $72.74 per month plan for 36 months (includes $49 plan + $23.74 handset repayment) — this plan includes 60GB of data per month and includes the usual unlimited standard national talk and text, access to Optus Sport and OS Fitness along with other usual Optus add ons.
Vodafone will be ranging the Pixel 5 in both “Just Black” and “Sorta Sage” with a bonus. Vodafone customers will get themselves a Google Nest Audio (in Chalk) as a gift with the Pixel 5 purchase when they sign up to any Vodafone Infinite Plan at the same time.
We will add more carriers and pricing/plans here as we receive them.
