The Google Pixel series has always been Google’s answer to the high-priced premium smartphones that dominate the market. Pixel phones are powerful, sleek products that stand toe to toe with the best smartphones out there for a much lower price.
Google Pixel 5A Overview
While the Google Pixel 6 is the newest Google phone in the brand’s flagship line, the Google Pixel 5A is still a top-rated and robust product. It has many features that match our outright beat other premium phones, and it does it with a mid-range phone price tag of only $449.
What’s the Cost of the Google Pixel 5A?
At $449, the Google Pixel 5A packs the punch of a premium smartphone at the price of a budget smartphone. The low price is one of Google’s most significant selling points with all of their Pixel phones, allowing them to stay competitive against stronger products.
Who Is the Google Pixel 5A Best For?
The Google Pixel 5A is tailor-made for people on a budget. It lets you do almost anything any other smartphone can do, but it enables you to do it for a fraction of the cost. If you are looking for a fully-fledged smartphone to give your kid but you are not ready to commit to giving them a thousand-dollar phone, get them a Pixel 5A.
It also works great for businesses, as the 5A is stacked with features and applications, but it is not so expensive that buying for a group is entirely out of the picture. If you need a smartphone for your business, consider the Pixel 5A.
Breaking Down the Google Pixel 5A in 2022
Price
At $449, the Google Pixel 5A is one of the cheapest phones out there.
Design
The Google Pixel 5A takes on a simple single-tone approach to its design specs. It is made out of polycarbonate, which is not as expensive as some more costly phones but is still very sturdy. It also has an IP67 water resistance rating, which is rare in a cheap phone.
Display
The Google Pixel 5A has a 6.34” HDR display with 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution. The phone protects the OLED display, with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
Camera
The Google Pixel 5A’s main camera has dual-lens at 12.2 MP. Its features include LED flash, pixel shift, auto-HDR, Panorama, and a Camera with 4k video recording capabilities at 30/60 fps or 1080p at 30/60/120/240 fps.
This Pixel camera system has a front “selfie” single lens camera with auto-HDR features. The front camera can take 1080p videos at 30fps.
With the ultra-wide camera and low light functionality with Google’s Night Sight, the new Pixel has a lot to offer.
Battery Life/Charging
The Google Pixel 5A has a USB-C 18W adapter, USB-PD 2.0, and fast charging capabilities. While it doesn't come with wireless charging, the packaging comes with a charger in the box.
The battery is irremovable, 4620 mAh, typically around 4680 mAh. The battery life on the Google Pixel 5A can last up to 122 hours with minimal use, 33 hours of 3G talk time, 18.5 hours of web browsing, and up to 21.5 hours of video playback.
Additionally, the phone can reach up to 42% of its charge after just 30 minutes and can hit 75% charge in one hour.
Software
The Google Pixel 5A runs Android 12, the latest and most advanced Android OS. By default, it comes with Android 11, but it is easy to upgrade to Android 12 once you are set up.
Performance
For the Pixel 6, Google has shifted to utilizing their in-house Tensor chips for processing. The 5A came out a generation before this, running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G and 6GB of RAM.
This is a weak processor, but it is nowhere close to the power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that you see in the most powerful Android phones. The speed and power are respectable, but this is one category where the Pixel 5A is a budget phone.
Google Pixel 5A: Pros
- Great Battery Life
- First Pixel with IP Rating
Great Battery Life
The Pixel 5A has a 4,680mAh battery and excellent size and volume. This is bigger than any other Pixel phone before the 5A. Modern smartphones rarely go above 5,000mAh.
Even the Moto G Power, which is lauded for its battery life, is capped out at 5,000mAh for its battery.
First Pixel with IP Rating
Normally IP ratings are expected in premium smartphones with high-quality materials, such as the new iPhone SE with its IP67 rating. However, the Google Pixel 5A is the first Pixel phone to have an IP rating. IP67 means the device can be submerged underwater for up to 30 minutes at a depth of up to a meter.
Google Pixel 5A: Cons
- Slightly Dated Chipset
- A Little Chunky
Slightly Dated Chipset
The Samsung S22 Ultra and the Oneplus 10 Pro use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, considered the most powerful Android chipset in use at this time.
The Snapdragon 765 cannot compare, especially considering that the Apple competition has given their budget iPhone SE an immensely powerful A15 Bionic chip.
A Little Chunky
While the phone is far from unwieldy, it is a solid slab of polycarbonate, which can be difficult to fit in a pocket or store comfortably. It eschews the sleek design of iPhones and Galaxy phones for function at a low price.
Should You Buy the Google Pixel 5A?
Yes, you should buy the Google Pixel 5A.
It is the best phone for that price, and its processing power and battery life are fantastic for the money you put into it. It may not have the visual appeal or the power of its competition, but the Google Pixel 5A knows its audience and fits the mold perfectly.
It is essential to know your own needs; if you are on a budget, then the Google Pixel 5A could be choice number one for your next phone, while if you plan to spend more, you will have no actual use for a product this cheap.
By using Navi, you can get the best deals on all the newest phones on the market. Navi uses industry knowledge to keep you in the loop so that you make the right decisions for yourself.
Navi can analyze your needs, so you don’t wonder if you made the right choice for your smartphone.
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