Google pixel 5a

SPECIFICATIONS

6.43-inch OLED display (2400 x 1800)

Snapdragon 765G processor

6 GB RAM 128GB of storage/no expansion

12.2MP (f/1.7), 16MP (f/2.2) rear cameras

ultrawide 8MP (/2.0) front camera

6.5 ounces in weight 9:45 (Hrs: Mins) battery life

REASONS TO PURCHASE

+Amazing cameras

+Bright, large display

+IP67 water resistance

REASONS TO AVOID

-Same chipset as Pixel 4a 5G

It-Only available in the United States and Japan

Get to Know Google's New Pixel 5a:

Everything You Need to Know When Google announced their newest phone in the Pixel line, you probably didn’t expect that they would also be releasing an affordable 5-inch version of their device—but that’s exactly what they did! The new Pixel 5a has all the same features as its bigger sibling, including unlimited storage on Google Photos and free access to YouTube Music Premium, and it starts at just $400. Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting device, whether you’re in the market for an affordable phone or just want to see what your favorite search engine has come up with next!

Overall design The Pixel 5A has a very straightforward, no-frills design. Its sleek glass-and-metal body looks like any number of $400-$500 smartphones you’d find on Best Buy shelves, and it feels good in your hand. It lacks some high-end perks—there’s no wireless charging or waterproofing here—but we appreciate its simple design, which is especially great for kids. An optional fabric back cover can be picked up for an extra $40. While it doesn't look quite as premium as other smartphone options, we think that for many users (including parents), a more functional phone that doesn't break if dropped is worth giving up a little style. For what it's worth, our kid testers gave high marks to the look and feel of both colors. Bye, bezels: The big feature everyone wants to talk about with these phones is their display size (5 inches) and aspect ratio (18:9). That makes them taller than most other phones but narrower than most Plus models from Apple and Samsung.

Display quality The 5.6-inch 1080p OLED display is gorgeous, with vibrant colors and crisp detail, though it isn’t as bright as we’d like. It has a respectable pixel density of 443 PPI, which is higher than that of Apple’s iPhone X (401 PPI), but lower than what you can find on Samsung devices like the Galaxy S9 (570 PPI). It also doesn’t have a notch or any other unique design traits. If you want a great screen, look elsewhere—but for most people, it will do just fine. On either side of the display are two front-facing speakers tuned by Meridian Audio, which results in some decent audio quality, though it could use more bass response. There are a few features to play around with in terms of sound here, including Night Light mode which makes reds warmer at night so they aren’t as harsh on your eyes.

Overall quality was better than expected at medium volume levels; maxing out things got loud enough but weren't very pleasant. For listening through headphones there’s no headphone jack here—just a USB Type-C port instead. This phone supports Bluetooth 5 and high-quality aptX HD audio coding over compatible wireless cans.

Camera quality The Pixel 5A has a 12.2-megapixel camera with an f/1.8 aperture, which will ensure that your photos are crisp and sharp with tons of detail. And if you love taking photos at night or in dark environments, you’ll appreciate its built-in Night Sight feature that takes clear pictures without needing a flash—just don’t forget your tripod! This phone also comes equipped with a 2-megapixel front-facing camera so you can take selfies as well as video calls using apps like Duo. There’s also a rear fingerprint sensor for added security and convenience. But what makes these cameras stand out is their ability to quickly snap great shots, thanks to their built-in HDR+ technology. HDR+ merges multiple images and enhances them by combining details from each one into one photo. It’s just another way that Google is constantly working on improving smartphone photography. Oh, and did we mention it supports AR Stickers? With AR Stickers, you can easily place virtual characters on top of real-world scenes for some fun snapshots. Whether you want SpongeBob SquarePants running across your dining room table or Batman floating above Times Square, it’s all possible with AR Stickers!

Battery life The Pixel 5A has a 2600mAh battery, which is about 500mAh less than last year’s model. It isn’t enormous, but it should still give you a full day of use before having to find an outlet. In addition, it supports 15W fast charging (Pixel Stand required) so you can get up and running again within 30 minutes or so on either your desk or on your nightstand. There’s also Qi wireless charging if you prefer that method instead. No matter how you choose to charge, though, expect around 6 hours of screen-on time in our experience. With average use during our testing period, we were able to make it through a typical workday without needing to recharge at all. This means that even when things start getting busy later in the evening you shouldn’t have any trouble making it home before running out of juice. If something comes up and you do need some extra juice, however, there are quick-charging options available like Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 or Huawei SuperCharge 2.0+. Either way, expect around 25% charge after just 10 minutes plugged in—and around 80% after an hour or so on either standard charger (depending on which one your phone uses).

Software experience This new phone from Google features an operating system called Android and many of its most popular apps like Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, and Maps. The first generation of these phones was released in 2016; according to some critics, they didn’t quite stack up with Apple’s iPhones or Samsung’s Galaxy S7. However, there are several reasons why you might want to consider buying a Pixel 5A if you’re looking for a new smartphone. Here are just a few things that make it stand out: • Price: For $400, you can purchase one of these brand-new smartphones. Many people will tell you that spending more money on a higher-end model is worth it because those devices have faster processors and better cameras. However, many reviewers say they're surprised by how well designed and responsive the camera is on Google's new model. Also, as mentioned above, we’re seeing a trend toward less expensive phones having high-quality hardware and software; when shopping around for your next device, don't be afraid to buy one at a lower price point than usual. It may surprise you! (To learn more about how cellphones work check out our Cell Phone Technology 101.)

Bottom line The Pixel 5a is a high-quality phone with an attractive price. It isn’t for everyone, but if you want a high-quality camera on a tight budget, it’s worth considering. Google has been pushing its phones more aggressively in recent years, and last week it announced two new smartphones that should appeal to different types of buyers. One is called the Pixel 3A and features top-of-the-line specs at a mid-level price; we’ll have more coverage of that device soon. But today we’re looking at its sibling—the $400 Pixel 3A (or 5a). It has many of the same features as its pricier sibling, including one key difference: The smaller display means less room for error when using Google Lens—but there are other reasons why you might not want such a big screen anyway.