To many people, Google Pixel 5 is the epitome of Google’s efforts to ensure a mundane design of its handsets. For other people, being simple and straightforward is one of the best design characteristics of Pixel phones. Pixel 5 is no different in this regard. In an era when companies are trying other options to modernize their handsets to keep up with the competition, Google has still employed a fingerprint scanner on the rear side of the Pixel 5.

Yet, it is one of the best phones that you can buy for $699. You can spend a few more, or a lot more, bucks to get a phone with better design and specs. But if you want to stick to this phone, it is not going to be a bad choice at all. However, you may get the impression that Google is trying to go a bit too far in an attempt to sell simplicity.

Pixel 5 hardware design

The design of the Pixel 5 can be described through any words but premium. The large 6-inch OLED edge-to-edge screen seems seamless except for a minor interruption in the form of a punch hole, which houses a selfie cam. This year’s release by Google may not get a quite positive reception by large-screen fans, as there is no XL version available. However, a 6-inch screen is not that small.

The bezels around the screen are small, but they are still bigger than those on the Galaxy S20’s screen. By the looks of the Pixel 5, these bezels seem perfectly symmetrical.

Google has used stereo speakers on the phone, but the earpiece is not a traditional speaker. Instead, it has used penal audio by Redux. The screen of the phone also vibrates to generate audio. This feature works well for incoming phone calls.

Camera

Google hasn’t compromised over the camera performance of the Pixel 5. It means that the photos you take will be sharper, crisper, and more vibrant compared to other phones in the market, thanks to the upgraded hardware and software. However, it doesn’t offer much improvement over Pixel 4, or even Pixel 3, in terms of camera performance. The company, however, has made some decent improvements in the Night Mode.

The backside camera setup is capable of shooting 4K videos. Supporting features include video stabilization mode and locked punches. The front cam is capable of recording 1080p videos, but there is no slow-motion video recording available.

All in all, the Pixel 5 is a decently performing phone, even though it looks more minimalistic in terms of design. If you are not interested in spending a significant amount of money to buy a flagship phone, but you want other incredible features, Pixel 5 is the phone you may consider.