The new Google Pixel 5 is upon us, and today the company has launched it’s UGX 2.6 m ($699) before taxes. 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 Google Pixel 5 doesn’t have the flagship Snapdragon 865 or 865 Plus but instead has te Snapdragon 765G processor which comes 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 Google can offer the new phone at a lower price.
Among the cool features, the Pixel 5 comes with includes IPX8 water resistance, reverse wireless charging, more RAM, and a stronger Corning Gorilla Glass 6 panel. Don’t expect to find a 3.5mm headphone jack, though, something its cheaper siblings offer.
A water-resistant phone that creates quite a splash. The new #Pixel5 has 8 GB of RAM and wireless and reverse wireless charging to use with your Pixel Stand or to charge your Pixel Buds on-the-go.https://t.co/YYzCyiRlDR #LaunchNightIn pic.twitter.com/JB9NVMeWvK
— Made By Google (@madebygoogle) September 30, 2020
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. (There isn’t even a small chin at the bottom, setting it apart from the cheaper Pixel 4A.)
For the first time a Google phone comes with 8GB of RAM paired with 128GB of internal storage. It also comes with a 4080mAh battery, IP68 waterproofing, and 18W USB-C fast charging. And on the 5G front, the Pixel 5 will also support both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G, which means that it should work with almost any major 5G network.
Cameras are the star of the show
If there is something that Google made phones do well, is image quality. The Pixel 5 has two rear cameras: a 12.2-megapixel main camera with a 77-degree field of view and both optical and electronic image stabilization, and a new 16 megapixel ultrawide that shoots at a wider 107 degrees. The front camera, meanwhile, is an 8-megapixel camera, but Google has added the option to take portrait mode shots using its Night Sight mode.
Of course, there are some new software features, too. Google has added a new AI-powered “Portrait Light” mode, which lets you adjust the lighting on portrait mode shots, a “Cinematic Pan” setting for panning shots, and three new stabilization modes for shooting smoother video. And the “Extreme Battery Saver” mode promises to help stretch your battery life to up to 48 hours. The Pixel 5 will be available on October 15th
 before taxes. Compared to last year’s Pixel 4, Google){kind=link}