Pixel 5

The Google Pixel 5 is currently priced at QAR 3,349 in Qatar. This flagship smartphone from Google offers a compelling mix of features and performance at a competitive price point in the Qatari market.

Google Pixel 5 Specifications

Release Date and Availability

The Google Pixel 5 was officially released on October 15, 2020. Since its launch, it has been available in Qatar through various authorized retailers and online platforms. The phone’s availability in Qatar has been consistent, making it a viable option for consumers looking for a high-quality Android smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The Pixel 5 boasts a sleek and modern design that sets it apart from its predecessors. It features a compact form factor with dimensions of 144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm, making it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. The phone weighs just 151 grams, striking a perfect balance between sturdiness and portability.

One of the standout features of the Pixel 5’s design is its aluminum body, which gives it a premium feel. The phone’s back has a unique bio-resin coating that provides a matte finish, making it resistant to fingerprints and smudges. This design choice not only enhances the aesthetics but also improves grip.

The front of the device is dominated by a 6.0-inch OLED display with minimal bezels, providing an immersive viewing experience. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6, offering robust protection against scratches and minor drops.

Display Technology

The Pixel 5 features a 6.0-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 432 ppi. This ensures crisp and clear visuals, whether you’re browsing the web, watching videos, or playing games.

The display supports HDR10+ content, providing vibrant colors and excellent contrast. It also has a 90Hz refresh rate, which offers smoother scrolling and more fluid animations compared to standard 60Hz displays. This higher refresh rate contributes to a more responsive and enjoyable user experience.

The screen-to-body ratio of the Pixel 5 is impressive, thanks to its small punch-hole camera cutout in the top left corner. This design allows for maximum screen real estate without compromising on the front-facing camera functionality.

Performance and Processing Power

Under the hood, the Google Pixel 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor. While this isn’t the top-tier processor in Qualcomm’s lineup, it offers a great balance between performance and power efficiency. The 765G is built on a 7nm process and features an octa-core CPU configuration with one prime core clocked at 2.4 GHz, one performance core at 2.2 GHz, and six efficiency cores at 1.8 GHz.This processor is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which provides smooth multitasking capabilities. Whether you’re switching between multiple apps, browsing content-heavy websites, or playing graphically intensive games, the Pixel 5 handles it all with ease.

The Adreno 620 GPU in the Snapdragon 765G delivers solid graphics performance, capable of running most modern mobile games at medium to high settings. While it may not match the performance of flagship processors in benchmark tests, in real-world usage, the difference is hardly noticeable for most users.

Storage Options

The Google Pixel 5 comes with 128GB of internal storage. This is ample space for most users, allowing you to store thousands of photos, hundreds of apps, and a good amount of offline music and videos. However, it’s worth noting that the Pixel 5 doesn’t have a microSD card slot for expandable storage. This means you’ll need to manage your storage carefully or make use of cloud storage solutions if you tend to store large amounts of data on your device.

Camera System

One of the standout features of the Pixel 5 is its camera system. Despite not having as many lenses as some competitors, the Pixel 5 consistently produces exceptional photos thanks to Google’s advanced image processing algorithms.

The main camera setup consists of two rear cameras:

1. A 12.2MP main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, 27mm equivalent focal length, and optical image stabilization (OIS).
2. A 16MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 107-degree field of view.

The primary 12.2MP sensor might seem modest in terms of megapixel count compared to some competitors, but it’s the same tried-and-tested sensor that Google has been refining over several Pixel generations. It excels in various lighting conditions, producing images with excellent detail, accurate colors, and impressive dynamic range.

The addition of the 16MP ultra-wide camera addresses one of the main criticisms of previous Pixel phones, allowing users to capture more expansive scenes. This is particularly useful for landscape photography or group shots.

On the front, there’s an 8MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture. While not as high-resolution as some competitors, it still produces high-quality selfies, especially in good lighting conditions.

Camera Features and Software

What truly sets the Pixel 5’s camera apart is Google’s computational photography capabilities. The phone offers a range of features that enhance your photography experience:

• Night Sight: This feature allows you to take clear and bright photos in low-light conditions without using a flash.
• Portrait Mode: Available on both front and rear cameras, this mode creates a professional-looking depth effect by blurring the background.
• HDR+: This feature takes multiple exposures and combines them to create a single image with improved dynamic range.
• Top Shot: When you take a motion photo, this feature suggests the best frame from a series of shots.
• Astrophotography Mode: An extension of Night Sight, this mode allows you to capture stunning photos of the night sky.

The Pixel 5 also excels in video recording. It can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second, and it offers advanced stabilization for smooth footage. The phone also supports various video features like slow-motion recording and time-lapse.

Battery Life and Charging

The Google Pixel 5 is equipped with a 4080 mAh battery, which is a significant improvement over its predecessors. This larger battery, combined with the power-efficient Snapdragon 765G processor, allows the Pixel 5 to easily last a full day of moderate to heavy use.

In terms of charging, the Pixel 5 supports:

• 18W fast charging via USB-C
• Wireless charging up to 12W
• Reverse wireless charging (Battery Share feature)

The 18W fast charging can fill up the battery relatively quickly, typically getting you from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes. The inclusion of wireless charging adds convenience, allowing you to charge your phone by simply placing it on a compatible charging pad.

The reverse wireless charging feature, which Google calls Battery Share, is a nice addition. It allows you to use your Pixel 5 to wirelessly charge other Qi-compatible devices, such as wireless earbuds or even other smartphones.

Software and User Experience

One of the biggest selling points of the Pixel series is the software experience, and the Pixel 5 is no exception. It runs on pure Android, free from any bloatware or unnecessary modifications. As a Google phone, the Pixel 5 is guaranteed to receive the latest Android updates and security patches for at least three years from its release date.

The clean Android interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. It comes with several Pixel-exclusive features that enhance the user experience:

• Now Playing: This feature can identify songs playing in your environment and display the title and artist on your lock screen.
• Call Screen: This uses Google Assistant to screen your calls and provide real-time transcriptions.
• Personal Safety: This app can detect if you’ve been in a car crash and automatically call emergency services.
• Recorder: This app provides real-time transcription of voice recordings.

The integration with Google Assistant is seamless, allowing you to perform various tasks hands-free. You can ask for directions, set reminders, control smart home devices, and much more, all through voice commands.

5G Connectivity

The Pixel 5 is 5G-capable, thanks to the Snapdragon 765G chipset. This means it’s ready to take advantage of the faster network speeds as 5G infrastructure expands in Qatar. The phone supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks, ensuring compatibility with various 5G implementations.

It’s worth noting that while 5G can offer significantly faster download and upload speeds, the availability and performance of 5G networks can vary depending on your location and service provider in Qatar.

Water and Dust Resistance

The Google Pixel 5 comes with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. This means it can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. While this doesn’t mean you should deliberately submerge your phone, it provides peace of mind knowing that your device can survive accidental spills or brief exposure to water.

Comparison with Other Models

When compared to its predecessor, the Pixel 4a 5G, the Pixel 5 offers several improvements. While both phones share the same processor, the Pixel 5 has a more premium build quality with its aluminum body and water resistance rating. It also offers wireless charging, which is absent in the 4a 5G. However, the Pixel 4a 5G does have a larger 6.2-inch display, which might appeal to those who prefer a bigger screen.

Pixel 5a, which was released after the Pixel 5, shares many similarities with its predecessor. It has the same processor and camera setup but comes with a larger 6.34-inch display and a bigger 4680 mAh battery. However, the Pixel 5a lacks wireless charging and has a plastic body instead of the Pixel 5’s aluminum construction.

When we compare the Pixel 5 to the newer Pixel 6, we see a significant leap in terms of performance and features. The Pixel 6 boasts Google’s custom-designed Tensor chip, which offers improved AI capabilities and overall performance. It also features a larger 6.4-inch display and an upgraded camera system. However, the Pixel 6 is also more expensive than the Pixel 5 in Qatar.

In the same price range as the Pixel 5 in Qatar, you’ll find devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the iPhone 12 mini. The Galaxy S20 FE offers a larger display and a more versatile camera setup, while the iPhone 12 mini provides access to the iOS ecosystem in a compact form factor. However, neither of these options provides the pure Android experience and guaranteed quick updates that come with the Pixel 5.

Value for Money

At its current price point of QAR 3,349 in Qatar, the Google Pixel 5 offers excellent value for money. While it may not have the most cutting-edge processor or the highest resolution display, it excels in areas that matter most to many users: camera quality, battery life, and software experience.

The Pixel 5’s camera system, despite having fewer lenses than some competitors, consistently produces high-quality photos and videos in various conditions. This is largely thanks to Google’s advanced image processing algorithms, which have been refined over several generations of Pixel devices.

The clean, bloatware-free Android experience and guaranteed timely updates for at least three years make the Pixel 5 a great choice for those who prioritize software experience and security. The inclusion of 5G support also makes the phone future-proof, ready to take advantage of faster network speeds as 5G infrastructure expands in Qatar.