Catch up on stories from the past week (and beyond) at the Slashdot story archive

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Google

Google Announces the Pixel 5 for $699 (theverge.com) 44

Posted by msmash from the for-what-it-is-worth dept.
Google has officially taken the wraps off of the $699 Pixel 5, its latest Android flagship. From a report: Compared to last year's Pixel 4, Google is focusing less on dramatic new technology -- like the much-hyped Motion Sense gestures on last year's model -- and emphasizing instead the unique features that already help set the Pixel apart, like its stand-out camera software. The Pixel 5 will feature a Snapdragon 765G processor -- notably not the top-tier Snapdragon 865 or 865 Plus -- complete with Qualcomm's integrated X52 modem for 5G support (a benefit of the slightly less powerful chipset.) It's a break from the usual Pixel strategy, which has sought to offer comparable flagship specs to other top Android devices from companies like Samsung or OnePlus -- but it also means that Google can offer the new phone at a lower price. Google is calling out a few things that separate out the Pixel 5 from the newly announced Pixel 4A, including IPX8 water-resistance, reverse wireless charging, more RAM, and a stronger Corning Gorilla Glass 6 panel. Notably, it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, though, something that its cheaper siblings offer. The display is a 6-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED panel in a 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a 90Hz refresh rate, which features a hole-punch selfie camera. Thanks to the removal of the Motion Sense camera -- and the hefty top bezel it required for its radar array -- there's now a full edge-to-edge display this time, with no notch or bezels.
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Google Announces the Pixel 5 for $699 More

Google Announces the Pixel 5 for $699

Comments Filter:

  • The Cell Phone Market has gone crazy with Premium Phones, that offer cameras that can see threw time, Sensors to track and monitor everything. Resolution where a pixel will never been seen because you have a spec of dust over it.

    Most don't need stuper phone. But we would like a nice looking device, as to not attract attention with some bulky out of date device, that can run the latest apps and do basic smart phone things.

    699 is still pricey so may not be Premium but it is sill high end.

    • I'd pay a fortune to have a camera that can throw time!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      Lots to like about it. Good spec, metal back that won't shatter. Usual great camera.

      I'll see what the OnePlus 8T is like and if they do a sale in a month or two but the Pixel 5 is looking like my next phone right now.

  • Cost to high vs others!

  • They kind of went backwards from everything I liked about upgrading my previous Pixel devies (I've had 1XL - 4XL). I had free financing via Google Fi so didn't mind paying off the new device over the course of the usefulness timeline so kept updating. This is the first device that adds nothing on top of the 3XL or 4XL I use on a daily basis and don't see any reason to upgrade.

    Kind of disappointed they don't have an 865-class device this time around...

    • I find it to be somewhat of a downgrade. No free original quality photos upload, so I can add a subscription charge on top of the phone. No active edge for calling up the assistant, so now I'll have to yell "hey google...". They're putting out a $500 phone with no waterproofing, seems like a risk esp. because I need to clean it during the pandemic. My Pixel 2 had Gorilla Glass 5, the 4A 5G only has Gorilla Glass 3.

      I like that they're targeting a more sensible price point once again, but the product choices

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        Are says it is IP68. The metal back should be very durable too.

      • No active edge for calling up the assistant, so now I'll have to yell "hey google..."

        Can't you just hold down the home button or fingerprint sensor for that? At least that's what I've turned off on my last couple phones.

  • Huawei maybe unpopular right now, but they do a good rectangle for the price, i don’t see the need to get the more expensive rectangles anymore.

    • Huawei maybe unpopular right now, but they do a good rectangle for the price, i don’t see the need to get the more expensive rectangles anymore.

      My old Nexus 6p was a Huawei. True it bent within a month and then I eventually broke its screen.

      • I have a Nexus 6p which is the family's spare phone (in case of accidents or loss or whatever) and I installed Pixel Experience 10 on it last week, which is based on Android 10.
        Not bad for a 6 year old phone.
  • I don't think so. I'll pass, Google.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Entrope ( 68843 )

      What is IP68 divided by IPnothing?

      COVID-19 has cancelled all my swimming plans, but otherwise this would be a tempting upgrade from my Pixel 3a XL.

  • An affordable product that looks good, has some fun features, but basically has a junk engine. Maybe they can put it on aTV show to make it cool. Unfortunately it does still follow the Google strategy for charging a premium for the name brand, so not a Kia. It is cheaper than most Samsung, but that is like saying you hummer is cheaper than land rover. I still think most will either buy a quality Galaxy or go LG

    • An affordable product that looks good, has some fun features, but basically has a junk engine. Maybe they can put it on aTV show to make it cool. Unfortunately it does still follow the Google strategy for charging a premium for the name brand, so not a Kia. It is cheaper than most Samsung, but that is like saying you hummer is cheaper than land rover. I still think most will either buy a quality Galaxy or go LG

      I don't consider a $699 phone to be particularly cheap. That's like $300 more than I would spend on a phone.
      This is more like a Jeep Wrangler, where it costs quite a bit, contains cheap parts, and is made by a company that doesn't have a great hardware reputation.

  • I generally don't like motion stuff. Gestures are generally useless to me and I never understood the hype. But I loved the small uses of motion sense. Things like quieting alarms and rings as the phone knew you were coming was brilliant. It's not a show stopper, but that is the type of stuff that Google does that I love.

  • -- Have you seen my brand new BMW? It has all the latest and greatest features and still costs less than last year's model.
    -- Why?
    -- Because, it has Civic engine!

    • Wouldn't a BMW with a Honda engine actually be more reliable?

      Oh sorry, I was thinking of Mercedes. Carry on.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      I don't expect it will be slow or anything. This is still a pretty quick CPU and more importantly it's got plenty of RAM and hopefully decently fast flash storage.

      I have a Pixel XL (the original one) which has a much slower CPU and it's fine. Google Maps is a bit slow but most of the lag, of which there isn't much on this phone, seems to come from lack of RAM.

  • I spent $700 on a new case, PSU, mobo, 32GB of RAM, and a Ryzen 5.
    There is no reason for these things to cost this much. It is ridiculous. Since Google is going to spy on you on top of that $700.

    • I don't disagree, but I suspect that is not a fair comparison. Miniaturization likely adds a smidge to the price. As does being able to do everything with no cooling. While incorporating a large number of radio techonologies. Good custom form batteries that won't explode. Also an oled screen that works well across a wide spectrum of ambient lighting. And cameras that do the same without bulky lenses. Chip makers that you utterly depend on yet are frequently hostile douche bags. Patent spats. Companies and n

    • It might shock you to learn that when you make electronics smaller, then add a display, battery, and multiple wireless network adapters that they just may get more expensive.

      It's almost like desktop PCs don't have nearly the micronization or thermal issues that a pocket sized device has!

      • That allow doesn't justify the price bloat. Especially when the main difference between this phone and the one I have now that I bought new for $250 is somewhat higher specs. There isn't enough new tech to justify that price.

  • No headphone jack (Score:5, Insightful)

    by dkman ( 863999 ) on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @03:13PM (#60558324)

    It sounded OK until you got to that. That is a deal breaker.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by steveha ( 103154 )

      That is a deal breaker.

      I've made my peace with it. It's not great, but having a little "dongle" cable in the case with my headphones isn't the end of the world.

      What if you want to listen to music when your phone is charging? Wireless charging.

    • Re:No headphone jack (Score:5, Insightful)

      by samwichse ( 1056268 ) on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @08:15PM (#60559126)

      The most obnoxious thing is that somehow Apple has gotten everyone to go along with the idea that missing a feature is a premium feature.

      Try and find a latest model phone with a real top tier camera that also has an audio jack.

      Oneplus 8 nope
      Galaxy S20 nope
      Xiaomi Mi 10 pro nope
      Huawei P40 pro nope
      Pixel 5 nope

      Motorola Edge+ yes
      Honor 30 pro+ yes

      So if you want a new non grey market phone with a fantastic camera and a jack, you're down to one choice?

      All these companies (except oneplus) make most of their mid tier phones with headphone jacks... and significantly crappier cameras.

      Fuck you, Apple.

      • You can always just leave a $3 dongle on the end of your headphones and stop bitching about shit that wasn't ever a problem to begin with.

        Just saying.

      • Xiaomi mi note 10 (pro): yes. Got the Pro for my wife, awesome camera. Close to our LX100 in all but the most difficult situations. The phone is somewhat slow, but under 500 CHF it's a steal. Still in the top 10 at dxo-mark.
      • Pixel 4a has a top tier camera and a headphone jack.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by green1 ( 322787 )

      The 4a and 4a-5G both have a headphone jack. If you want a Pixel choose one of those. If you don't want a Pixel, there are other phones that still have a headphone jack.

      As long as people don't vote with their wallets, companies won't know what people want.

  • Hadn't heard of reverse wireless charging before - it sounds like it could be useful once in a while (allows you to charge other Qi devices from your phone, in case you have been under a rock like me). I'm still happy with the camera in my Pixel 3, but if that dies and the price on this comes down a bit, I'd consider it just for the camera upgrade. Other than photos, I just do basic stuff so don't really care about the fastest processor, it's not going to make a difference in Waze.

  • No headphone jack, a distracting pinhole camera, overpriced plus an underpowered CPU?

    I could understand if this was the low end model of a pair of new phones.

    How soon until the Pixel 5a is out?

  • I have always paid up for the galaxy phones because I wanted waterproofing and wireless charging. Looks like I no longer need to do that.
  • The thing is a phone needs to be replaced often and there aren't many phones with compelling features. They need to get high accuracy GPS working because that's something that really adds a lot of potential to the platform. Making the cameras better doesn't add much real value, especially in something you replace often. You wind up paying a lot to progress miniature camera tech, which is apparent in how cheap and proliferated they have become, but you don't necessary get any better phone. Gorilla Glass is
  • Stuck at home, I was hoping WiFi 6 could solve some range issues. I am happy Google has realized they cannot compete with the iPhone on specs alone and is trying a lower price. However, come-on, would it be really hard to give us WiFi 6?

  • I'm confused. They claim a metal back, and they claim wireless charging. I'm in favour of both of these things, but have been told many times that it's impossible to do both on the same phone. In fact wireless charging is often blamed as the reason we're stuck with the absolutely idiotic idea of glass on the back of almost all phones these days.

    So how is Google doing this? Or are all the other companies just lying about it not being possible to force people to have more fragile phones?

  • it's just 100 dollars less than last year, and last year it included a top of the line processor. meanwhile, samsung will take your money (same $700) and give you a phone with the top of the line 865.

    screw you google and your greedy tactics

Slashdot Top Deals

Experiments must be reproducible; they should all fail in the same way.

Close