Google Pixel 5

Google deciding to cheap out on some of the little things that once made the Pixel unique, like excellent haptic feedback, a genuine take on face ID, and excellent stereo speakers (plus not so little things, like the chipset) has slowly eroded what little stand-out features the phones ever had in the first place. Google, if you're trying to flip iPhone owners like you say you are, this is a pretty terrible way to go about it. Apple is going to absolutely cream Google in any remotely fair comparison this year, perhaps still camera images aside.

Do you buy the Pixel 4a 5G for the larger display, but give up 2GB RAM, the 90Hz refresh rate, wireless charging, and water resistance? Or do you spend more on the Pixel 5 and live with a smaller phone? For $600, we’d pick the Pixel 5 for sure, because its additional features and benefits easily justify the somewhat higher price. However, as it stands, we’d probably choose the Pixel 4a 5G and save a few bucks if we were coming from a larger, previous-gen Pixel XL-sized device.

You'd think Google would use all that data it collects to figure out exactly what price it should put on its phones. Ah, well, even if you do pay $700 for it, at least it means you won't have to hear anymore Kenny G hold music.

As for the Pixel 5, it's hard to recommend given its price. True, it is $100 cheaper than the Pixel 4 was when it launched last year. And Google knows people aren't willing to spend a lot right now and is producing only 800,000 Pixel 5 phones this year. But while the Pixel 5 is Google's flagship phone, it isn't exactly an ultra-premium flagship phone. There are plenty of alternatives from Samsung, Apple, OnePlus and even LG that boast better hardware.

It may be disappointing to see Google shy away from the big leagues this year, but I think sticking to making a premium midrange phone is more true to the Pixel’s whole ethos. The Pixel 5 is not an especially exciting phone, but instead of overreaching, Google focused on the fundamentals: build quality, battery life, and, of course, the camera.

We’re not sure it’ll make Pixel fans out of people who didn’t already prefer them. That’s partly because of unusual missteps like a lackluster speaker setup and still camera performance that doesn’t beat out the competition the way it used to. More than anything, though, the Pixel 5 is a victim of circumstance: It’s a mostly solid smartphone that would’ve rated higher if some of its rivals weren’t such great values.

The Google Pixel 5 delivers 5G connectivity, excellent cameras, long battery life, and an outstanding Android software experience for a relatively affordable price.

I’m in love with the Pixel 5, but it’s hard to deny that it offers little, maybe too little, to differentiate it from the value-packed Pixel 4a (5G), which offers the same camera, same chipset, and same software for $200 less. While Google’s latest flagship is definitely a polished phone that offers a good number of flagship-level features, its Pixel brethren play the same game and manage to feel just a bit more compelling.