Google’s Pixel 5 was the last of its kind

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Sometimes I will grab a random device from the reviews closet and spend a few days with it. It is mostly because of random curiosity that it is done. I was drawn to the new phone from the company. I have been using it as my daily driver for the past several days after giving it a factory reset and updating it to a newer version of the operating system.

The experience has been great I prefer large screens, so I don't think I could switch over to thePixel 5, even though I have large hands. It is such a good phone that I have been tempted to buy it. It's easy to do things with one hand. The phone still looks unique and the processor performs better than ever.

Google gave up on the Pixel 5 design and size way too soon. Been using one for the past week. It's now even smoother on Android 12. Still looks and feels unique.



This should be the Pixel version of the iPhone SE and just get brought up to speed every couple years. pic.twitter.com/UXLfrms4p0

— Chris Welch (@chriswelch) June 20, 2022

I was disappointed that the style and size of the Pixel 5 wasn't improved after a year. The smallest phone in the company is the Pixel 5a. The upcoming 6A is slightly smaller than the previous ones. You're giving up niceties with the A-series models. The last of its kind may be the Pixel 5. It's too much for the even ones.

Image: Google

I'd like to see the 5 kept as a product that gets brought up to speed with hardware upgrades every two years, without losing what makes it good. Some of the Pixel 5's strengths are covered in this article.

The design and materials of the phone make it comfortable to hold and use in one hand. The 5 has a textured coating on its body that gives it a reassuring grip when you hold it. The power button is glossy metal which makes it easy to distinguish between the two. ThePixel 5 is one of the few phones that can go without a case.

The previous models in the series used distinctive materials and textures that made them stand out from the crowd. The rear shell of the black model of the Pixel 2 was almost as large as the front shell. There were side rails on the Pixel 4. Last year's flagships had a more basic in-hand feel after the 5's bio-resin.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Based on first impressions, the Pixel 6's panel seems to be a good one. It's mediocre. There are a lot of complaints about uniformity, green tint at lower levels, and other things. It is clear that Google settled for less as part of reaching the 6's $599 price because the Pixel 6 Pro's gorgeousLPTO panel exhibits no of these problems.

The 6 that replaced the old one seems to have a better screen. The white point, uniformity, and overall image of the 5 are just a bit nicer to look at. I would like to see better from thePixel 7.

I was disappointed that phone makers decided to relocate the fingerprint reader from the back of the phone to underneath the display. The in-screen sensor on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro has never matched the performance of the in-screen sensor on the Pixel Imprint, even after software updates.

The main camera shared by thePixel 5 and its predecessors has a 12-megapixel resolution. The Pixel 5 doesn't offer features like Real Tone or Magic Eraser but it is still a consistent shooter. You know what you are going to get, which can be hard to say about the line. I don't like the background blur that comes from the 6's larger sensor, but I'm sure that will be improved by the internet giant.

Image: Google

The Pixel 5 isn’t perfect

Although I am mostly satisfied with the smooth performance and general responsiveness of the Pixel 5, there are still times when it getsbogged down. While the phone processes the shot, snapping a photo can take a long time. If you're too ambitious with multitasking, the 5 can get hung up.

I like the look and feel of thePixel 5, but it isn't always the best. There is a small gap between the display and the body. The company said after the phone was released that the gap wasn't a problem.

There is a dreadful under-screen speaker, which still sounds tinny in most cases even after it was improved with an "adaptive sound" setting. tradeoffs were made to make those symmetrical.

There is still something special about this phone despite the drawbacks. I was close to buying one from the store, which is selling a new, undamaged Pixel 5s for $450. Someone must have found some extra inventory in a warehouse. It seems that small phones are on the way out again, with Apple rumored to be cutting the mini iPhone. This is a good time to purchase. Software support for the Pixel 5 will end in October of 2023, so there is a caveat.

Maybe by then, there will be a smallPixel that doesn't skimp on hardware features and takes after its larger siblings.