Pixel 5; Five Ways in Which Google Could Have Improved Its Latest Flagship

Whether it's the nearly salivated model of the year or a basic plastic-bodied handset that would be ignored by more compelling choices, you'll have to admit that there'southward no perfect smartphone in the globe correct at present. On paper, the Pixel 5 may also accept a pregnant number of shortcomings that customers and readers otherwise would have loved to see materialize on Google'due south latest and greatest smartphone offer. With that beingness said, we've highlighted v ways in which we think the company could take improved when working on information technology.

Improve Design

Let united states of america be honest, Google never had a potent game when it comes to smartphone blueprint; just take a look at the Pixel 3 XL. The Pixel iv and Pixel four Twoscore were huge improvements when it came to admiring from a start impressions perspective, but the design was nothing out of the ordinary. The Pixel five continues that trend with the pop 'punch-hole-photographic camera' pattern that countless manufacturers accept adopted.

The visitor did have some crazy ideas when an declared prototype epitome surfaced, showing a two-tone finish just like the Pixel ii, but that was about it. We'd much prefer the image Jon Prosser shared a while back, where you could see a wacky triple-rear camera module and no punch-pigsty camera in sight. While nosotros have no issues with what Google has presented in the form of the Pixel five, in a word, information technology's unexciting.

A More Powerful Chipset [Like a Snapdragon 865, at Least]

Though we earlier provided our thoughts on how using the Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5 would exist a blessing in disguise, there is a trouble that needs to be highlighted here. By using a less powerful chipset, Google has indirectly told its customer base that the Pixel five isn't a flagship, just another high-end smartphone that doesn't characteristic the most powerful silicon intended for Android smartphones.

While we get that using a Snapdragon 865 would hateful Google having to buy a split 5G baseband flake while as well having to invest actress funds redesigning the Pixel 5 from the within to accommodate these components and addressing rut issues, having something with a bit more than kick is e'er a prissy touch. Merely look at the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition and you lot'll know what we're talking about.

Telephoto Camera

Having an extra and useful photographic camera adds a lot of versatility to the camera. Last year, Google made a decision that's synonymous with the term blunder past calculation a telephoto lens to the Pixel four and Pixel 4 Xl. Think about it, Google'southward Super Res Zoom already existed for capturing zoomed shots, making a telephoto camera somewhat redundant hither.

With the Pixel 5 now sporting an ultrawide photographic camera, you lot get a fleck more versatility but an even sweeter bargain could have arrived in the course of a dedicated telephoto lens. There are some things that an actual camera unit can exercise meliorate than computational photography and if Google is marketing a high-end phone to the masses, it amend give them more than reasons to switch their electric current daily driver.

Faster Refresh Rate

The 90Hz refresh rate could exist the sugariness spot for both conserving battery and delivering those buttery smooth animations, only the pick for a 120Hz refresh rate that users can toggle on and off using their free volition should be an selection too. Go along in mind that the Snapdragon 765G was developed by Qualcomm to handle 120Hz refresh rate displays, so it could be a question of Google choosing to salve production costs for the Pixel 5 past opting for a lower refresh rate value. If you think information technology could exist due to another reason, practise allow us know down in the comments.

Support for mmWave 5G Networks

Sub-6GHz is the ideal 5G back up circle because non only is information technology faster than 4G, merely you can connect to existing networks at a far greater range than mmWave. Then again, mmWave is insanely fast, with some U.South. networks being able to deliver north of 1Gbps, nether the correct atmospheric condition, of course. If a physical object is blocking a mmWave node on the crowded street, then forget bragging to your friends on how you bankrupt the 1Gbps speed barrier.

However, the betoken hither is not to highlight the shortcomings of mmWave's properties but to talk about how it would exist a blessing if Google were to give customers a choice. If yous get the Pixel v, don't expect blazing-fast connectivity speeds. It will still be fast, but not infrequent.

[Update] - We've gone through Google'south specifications sail and found out that Pixel five does support mmWave 5G networks on the n258/n260/n261 bands. We apologize for the error.

While one would conclude that these might be exceptional changes, they do come at a toll, literally. Assuming Google were to employ merely a single 1 of these improvements and comprise it on the Pixel v, the pricing would become far less appealing for customers. Looking at the dire state of Google'southward smartphone arm, we believe the company had to brand a few hard calls in selling the Pixel 5 for as much it costs right now. Hopefully, the company will be able to mitigate these costs by using its ain custom chipsets through a reported collaboration with Samsung.

Which modify or upgrade do you recall would have benefitted the Pixel 5 immensely? Tell us down in the comments.