Design and Build

The Google Pixel 5 comes with a body made of 100% recycled aluminum, covered with a bio-resin, plus Gorilla Glass 6 protection on the screen. It manages sizes of 5.7 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches (144.7 x 70.4 x 8.0 mm) and a weight of 5.3 ounces (151g) that make the device quite petite and light. The device is available in Just Black and Sorta Sage and employs the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is highly recognized for being faster but not as stylish as the in-display ones. Thanks to the IP68 rating, it offers water and dust resistance for 1.5 meters vertically and 30 minutes. This USB-C 3.1 port is also compatible with nano-SIM and eSIM, but a fake-feeling external coating, and the absence of a headphone jack are among the issues that some users find disappointing though.

• Recycled aluminum, Gorilla Glass 6, bio-resin coating
• IP68 rating (water and dust resistance up to 1.5m for 30 min)
• Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, no face unlock
• USB-C 3.1 port
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM

Pixel 5 Display

One of the key features of the Pixel 5 is its 6.0-inch OLED display with a 1080 x 2340 resolution (432 PPI), HDR10+, and a 90Hz refresh rate. On the brightness side, it has the capability of ~700 nits, which is considerably bright though not as much as the Pixel 6's 843 nits. The phone is further protected with Gorilla Glass 6 and has an edge-to-edge screen design that together enhances its compact feel. While the display is praised as bright and clear, low-brightness green tint issues have been reported by some customers.

• 6.0-inch OLED
• 1080 x 2340 resolution, 432 PPI
• HDR10+ support
• ~700 nits (peak)
• Gorilla Glass 6 protection
• 90Hz refresh rate

Performance and Software

The Pixel 5 makes use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm) processor with the Adreno 620 GPU, a Titan M security chip, an 8-core CPU, and a 7 nm-processed chip. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB of storage ($699), and the memory can't be expanded. The phone went on sale with Android 11, and it powered 3 major Android OS updates till Android 13, but the service was discontinued in 2023. Mobile activities experience holds no problem, but prolonged gaming seems unsuitable because of the thermal limits.

• Snapdragon 765G with 8-core CPU, Adreno 620 GPU, Titan M
• 8GB LPDDR4 RAM
• Storage: 128GB
• Android 11 (3 years updates, ended October 2023)
• Optimized for AI, photography

The Snapdragon 765G is efficient but underpowered for a flagship. Users love the clean software and features like Extreme Battery Saver, but the expired update support and occasional fingerprint sensor issues are drawbacks.

Camera System

Google has developed a back camera system comprising an 12.2MP main shooter (f/1.7, 27mm, OIS) and a 16MP ultra-wide snapper (f/2.2, 107° FOV). The 8MP selfie camera coupled with f/2.0 aperture does not have the privilege of autofocus. Pictures taken with the Pixel camera usually represent the highest quality in the market due to software advantages, such as Live HDR+, Night Sight, etc. The lack of a quicker ultra-wide lens in darker situations is a point of criticism despite the rest of the standard quality provided by the component. Furthermore, there is an upgrade from 1080p to 4K 60fps in the video resolution section, which marks a significant step in Pixel history, but the quality of the video is not comparable to the other high-end models on the market yet, still lagging behind them.

• Rear: 12.2MP Main (f/1.7, OIS), 16MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2)
• Front: 8MP (f/2.0)
• Video: 4K 60 fps (rear), 1080p (front)
• Modes: Night Sight, Portrait Light, Cinematic Pan
• LED flash

Battery and Charging

The Pixel 5 has a 4080mAh battery that, when playing a video, works for up to 21 hours or in real-world use, 15-17 hours, which is a remarkable improvement over the Pixel 4's 10 hours of support. It has a rapid-charge of 18W wired charging (50% in 40 minutes), 12W wireless charging (Qi), and reverse wireless charging. There is no charger in the box. The users have spoken of the battery life of the phone in glowing terms, but the slow charging speed has received negative feedback.

• 4080mAh battery
• Up to 21 hours video playback, ~15–17 hours real-world
• 18W wired charging (50% in 40 min)
• 12W wireless charging (Qi), reverse wireless
• No charger included (USB-C cable only)

Connectivity

The Pixel 5 not only supports 5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Bluetooth 5.0 but also comes with nano-SIM, eSIM, and NFC. However, it is not compatible with UWB and satellite connections. The GPS feature supports GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS. A few people mention the trouble they have with 5G SA networks after the March 2024 update, leading to poor networking.

• 5G modem (sub-6GHz, mmWave)
• Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM
• No UWB or satellite connectivity
• GPS: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS

Pricing and Availability

The launch price for the Pixel 5 with 128GB was $699, and it was introduced on September 30, 2020, with the sale starting from October 29, 2020, through Google Store, carriers, and retailers. Quite frequently, the discount will bring the price down to $399-$499. According to the users, the Pixel 6 ($599) is faster and boasts a longer update lifespan, making the Pixel 5 less attractive in 2025.