Google Pixel 5a Review: A Simple Selection
Purchase Price: $449.00
DISCLAIMER: GOOGLE SENT US A REVIEW UNIT OF THE PIXEL 5A BUT ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE OUR OWN
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The Google Pixel 5a can be described in a few simple words: predictable, reliable, and effortlessly Android. As someone who has used virtually every generation of the Pixel smartphone series thus far, I’m still excited every time I open up a new Pixel phone. It isn’t because it’s the sexiest, gamiest, or even the cheapest phone on the market at any given time; it’s simply because I know exactly what I am getting and that is a well-rounded experience.
A Simple Selection
Although we know the Google Pixel 6 and it’s new body design is soon upon us, there’s still a lot to be said about the current form factor of the Pixel 5a. Similar to its 4a predecessor, the 5a uses a matte plastic finish on top of a metal unibody. As mentioned in the unboxing video, there is only one color for the Pixel 5a and that is Just Black. You’ll see this theme recurring throughout my review because it’s that simple. There just aren't any decisions a buyer needs to make with the Pixel 5a. Everyone gets the same exact experience. Although the color is labeled black, in some lighting it can potentially pass off for being a deep forest green color. As someone who doesn’t typically use a case with their device, I appreciate the textured back on the 5a as well as the slim, but still lofty, 6.5 ounces it consists of in your hands.
As always, I’m a fan of the two-toned power button which gives it a nice design touch and the perfectly shaped rear mounted fingerprint scanner on the back is also something I’m fond of. It just works reliably well as an established form of biometric security. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the phone and a USB-C port on the bottom alongside a bottom firing speakers. That speaker combined with the one in the earpiece form a dual stereo setup that performs quite satisfyingly. Audio was clear but at around the 80% level, sound begins to filter towards the tinny side. You’ll most likely be happy with the quality of audio coming out of the Pixel 5a when playing media though. We’ll touch more on the camera later, but from a design standpoint, I appreciate the omittance of a significant camera hump.
For a single set price of $449, you won’t get flagship benefits like wireless charging or an additional zoom lens with the Pixel 5a. However, to me Google seems to invest the resources into exactly what you need to maximize every dollar in the purchase.
Product Specs +
- 6.3 inch 2400x1080p OLED display (415 ppi)
- 60 Hz Refresh Rate
- 20:9 Aspect Ratio
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor
- 6 GB ram/ 128 GB storage
- 4,680 mAh battery
- Android 11
Camera Specs +
Rear Cameras
- 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, PDAF
- 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, (ultrawide), 1.0µm
- 4k @60fps Video Recording
Selfie Cameras
- 8 MP front camera
What’s On the Inside
Similar to last year’s Pixel 4a 5G, the Pixel 5a houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G with 6 GB of ram. There’s also only one option for storage with 128 GB. When it comes to performance, the 5a is very serviceable as an everyday phone. The biggest gripe I noticed was when taking out the phone to snap a quick photo or video. This is when I experienced the most lag or stuttering through the camera app thus costing my opportunity at capturing a moment because the camera was slow to launch. For a mid-ranged phone, the 5a runs otherwise seamlessly with Android 11. If you’re looking to play intensive games on a device, I would suggest looking elsewhere but for other forms of entertainment and social media/news consumption, the 5a is a fluid and functional experience. Another bonus feature Google gave the 5a is IP67 certification which allows for dust and waterproofing. This gives you a bit more peace of mind for the Pixel lasting longer from wear.
As someone who loves watching media on their phone, I was impressed with the 6.3 inch 2400 x 1080p OLED panel. At 415 ppi and utilizing a 60 hz refresh rate, there wasn’t anything extraordinary about the viewing experience. However, the pictures were still sharp, vivid and detailed enough for general consumers to enjoy looking at them. Whether I was watching YouTube videos or streaming Netflix in a sunny or dimly lit room, the Pixel 5a gave me a comfortable viewing angle on the 20:9 aspect ratio display. One bonus to this year’s Pixel 5a is Google’s use of the Corning Gorilla Glass 6 which appears to give a touch more durability to the phone’s display. For a sub-$500 phone, OEM’s often use older versions of Gorilla Glass. That isn’t the case here.
High Performance Camera
Google brought back the 12MP and 16MP dual camera setup found in the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 for this device. There’s also a front facing 8 MP selfie camera. As expected from previous usage, the Pixel 5a cameras manage to capture a lot of depth and clarity while maintaining relatively true to life color balances on auto mode. For anyone who is already familiar with the Pixel camera, you won’t be disappointed with the photo quality here. While there isn’t a leap in technology here, it’s a tried and true product that to this day is competitive with other cameras on the market. You can also record video up to 60 frames per second in 4K. For a $449 phone, the Pixel 5a features probably the best camera a midrange device can buy right now. That being said, there was one aspect to this that made the Pixel 5a more complicated for me to use.
Despite an excellent camera in terms of photo quality, the load time to launch the camera app on the 5a feels like it takes a second (or two) longer than it should. This has caused me to miss shots at times or feel frustrated with the lag when trying to take photos or videos quickly. While this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker or completely terrible user experience, it is challenging for me to admit that the Pixel 5a has the best camera experience compared to other Pixel devices I’ve used in the past. Hopefully this is something Google can improve in future iterations with a software update, but it is troubling to see it persist for as long as it has.
Shot on Google Pixel 5a
An Incomparable Pixel Battery
Just about every previous Google Pixel review usually involves me wishing Google included a bigger battery in their devices. My dreams were finally fulfilled here with the 5a. The 4,680 mAh battery is incomparable when compared to any other phone with Pixel in its name. When paired with the 18W fast charger, there’s really nothing to worry about when it comes to stamina on this device. I have watched videos for hours on here, browsed social media, used the camera, and I still cannot drain this phone completely by the end of the night. Without a doubt, this has been the best Pixel battery experience yet for me. The combination of a lower refresh rate, bigger battery, and most likely a more efficient mid-range processor has done wonders for the endurance of the budget Pixel phone.
The Best Mid-range Phone of 2021?
Despite the minor issues in performance due to the software of the camera app, the Google Pixel 5a is a very serviceable phone with perhaps one of the most well rounded packages in this current market. As mentioned before in this review, you know exactly what you’re getting with this phone. There’s nothing wrong with that. The Pixel 5a is a thoughtfully constructed, decision-free phone that operates exactly as it should. That in itself is valuable.
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Lida
Always the number cruncher, the former narrative journalist turned data scientist, can’t help but find herself bursting with excitement with each new generation of tech gadgets. After all, predicting future trends is Lida’s forte. Any gadget that survives Lida’s torturous, adult working woman itinerary of over 700 notifications a day deserves praise!