Google Pixel 5: What Do We Know So Far? (Updated: September 24)

The Google Pixel 5 is shaping up to be one of the weirdest in Google’s phone story. Not only is it expected during a global pandemic, but Google may be moving this new version of the Pixel out of the ultra high-end phone category and into a space hundreds of dollars lower than usual.

The pool of info surrounding Google’s next flagship phone is growing quickly at this point, even if we wouldn’t typically prepare for a Google Pixel 5 until October. With a September 30 event date now confirmed, this is all happening in almost real-time.

This is everything we know about the Google Pixel 5.

What is the Pixel 5?

Assuming the name sticks, this would be the 5th generation flagship phone from Google, following the Pixel (2016), Pixel 2 (2017), Pixel 3 (2018), and Pixel 4 (2019). Each of those previous phones came as two different models, a regular and XL. However, there is no evidence suggesting that Google will introduce an XL this year and will instead release a regular 5 only.

The name has been confirmed at this point by Google to be “Pixel 5” with a launch scheduled for this fall. They have never mentioned an XL version and we aren’t expecting one.

So far, we fully believe the Google Pixel 5 will separate from previous family members and no longer try to play in the high-end phone market. Instead, Google will use the Pixel 5 to play around the $600 phone price point by itself now that OnePlus has essentially vacated it.

At that price, don’t expect the top tier specs you get from Samsung phones. Google will make the Pixel 5 a semi-powerful, yet affordable phone that gets software support few others can match. They’ll likely focus heavily on the cameras they used too.

A specs list is starting to grow

A couple of months ago, the specs list was almost completely unknown, but now that we are days away from Google announcing the Pixel 5, we know almost everything. We’re pretty sure that the phone will run a Snapdragon 765G (or 768G), have 5G, feature a “best in class” camera, charge with wireless charging, and keep the elements out with water resistance. We could see reverse wireless charging too.

As this story has evolved in recent months, the most recent leak lays out a specs list for the Pixel 5 to feature a 6″ OLED 90Hz display, 4000mAh battery with 18W fast charging, Snapdragon 765G processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, 12.2MP main camera with secondary 16MP wide-angle lens, 8MP selfie camera, plastic body, rear fingerprint reader, and wireless charging. It sure looks like Motion Sense is gone.

It really does appear as if Google is going to try to nail the basics at a really reasonable price and hope that’s enough for everyone.

	PIXEL 5	PIXEL 4A 5G
OS	Android 11	Android 11
Display	6" AMOLED (2340x1080, 432ppi, 90Hz) Gorilla Glass 6	6.2" AMOLED (2340x1080, 413ppi, 60Hz) Gorilla Glass 3
Processor	2.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G Adreno 620 GPU	2.34GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G Adreno 620 GPU
Memory	Storage: 128GB RAM: 8GB LBDDR4x	Storage: 128GB RAM: 6GB LPDDR4x
Battery	4000mAh 18W fast charging 12W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging	3800mAh 18W fast charging
Rear Camera	-12.2MP (f/1.7, OIS, EIS, 77°) -16MP wide (f/2.2, 107° FOV) --4K/60fps	-12.2MP (f/1.7, OIS, EIS, 77°) -16MP wide (f/2.2, 107° FOV) --4K/60fps
Front Camera	-8MP (f/2.0, 83° FOV)	-8MP (f/2.0, 83° FOV)
Connectivity	5G, 4G LTE 802.11ac WiFi Bluetooth 5.0 NFC	5G, 4G LTE 802.11ac WiFi Bluetooth 5.0 NFC
Other	Fingerprint reader USB-C (USB 3.1) Stereo speakers IP68	Fingerprint reader USB-C (USB 3.1) Stereo speakers 3.5mm headphone
Case	Recycled aluminum	Plastic
Size	144.7 x 70.4 x 8.0mm 151g	153.9 x 74.0 x 8.2mm 168g
Colors	Just Black, Sorta Sage	Just Black

What if the Pixel 5 is under $699?

With a Snapdragon 765G onboard and not Qualcomm’s over-priced Snapdragon 865, Google has an opportunity to price the next Pixel phone well below its competitors. There’s still no proof that it will, but a survey in May gave us hope that a $699 starting price is being considered.

The survey compared a Google Pixel phone with the basics, a plastic body, and a headphone jack for $349, to another phone labeled as “Premium Google Pixel Phone.” The premium phone would have the “best flagship” experience, a top tier camera, first access to Google features and innovation, and a price of $699.

For further comparison, we can look at other Snapdragon 765G phones to see if that’s even realistic. As it turns out, it is. The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G released with the same chip, a large full HD AMOLED display, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, 4500mAh battery with 25W fast charging, and a quad rear camera system for $599. The OnePlus Nord is coming with (rumored) similar specs and a sub-$500 price. The LG Velvet could arrive within this price range too.

Retailers have also recently listed the phone with prices around 629 Euros. Assuming those are correct, they could hint at a price in the US below $700.

Should Google stick to that Qualcomm processor, ditch Motion Sense, and give us the rest of the goods, I don’t see why they couldn’t hit that $700 price.

What does it look like?

At one point, this part of the Pixel 5 rumor world got a little shaky, but we’re pretty confident in the Pixel 5 design now, thanks to several slip-ups by retailers who posted the device early.

The first image of the device came straight from Google, just as they were announcing the Pixel 4a. They told us that the Pixel 5 could be found in the image below and that it would arrive in the fall.

After Google outed the profile of the phone, the leaks kind of went nuts. We got an image of a real Pixel 5 in the wild next to a real Pixel 4a 5G (below), followed by a bunch of retail renders. At first, it was only a front shot of the black model, but the green Pixel 5 has now be fully outed as well.

• UPDATE SEPT 22: Retailer listings are starting to confirm a number of details. First, we reported black and green color options for the Pixel 5, but we also have two new images pulled from retailers that show the front of the device.

• UPDATE SEPT 24: We’ve got full renders of both the black and green Pixel 5 devices!

What about a release date?

Previous Pixel phones were all introduced in October and launched within a few weeks. The original Pixel and Pixel 2, were shown off on October 4, while the Pixel 3 and Pixel 4 slipped a week or two. It’s probably safe to pencil in October for the Pixel 5, but if things change, don’t be shocked. Again, we are living through a global pandemic that has already caused the Pixel 4a to be delayed at least two months.

• UPDATE SEPT 1: Not that this means a ton, but the Pixel 5 stopped by the FCC today and confirms wireless charging.
• UPDATE SEPT 14: Google announced that September 30 will be Pixel 5 event day.

With that all said, during the Pixel 4a announcement, the Google France blog posted a pre-order date of October 8 for the Pixel 5 there, along with an October 1 date for the 4a 5G. They confirmed a “Fall” launch too. Once announced on September 30, don’t be surprised if orders don’t open almost immediately.