Google Pixel 5a: Everything You Need to Know

Image via Google

I’d love to sit and compare just how large of a leap the Pixel 5a with 5G is if you are still rocking a Pixel 4a or lower; literally everything is better. The only things they share are that they both have use USB-C and have a 3.5 mm audio jack, as well as using the same chip for Pixel Imprint security. It’s a huge upgrade, but it’s interesting to see just how much the Pixel 5a with 5G has improved under the hood compared to the Pixel 5!

They both utilize the Snapdragon 765G processor, which many critics point out as being a negative for the Pixel phones, as these aren’t as powerful as other phones, but it’s a crapshoot. There may not be as many bells and whistles when it comes to some visual output or the speed of some apps, but during everyday use? It’s not nearly as noticeable as you’d imagine, especially since Google has found ways to have the Pixels work smarter instead of working harder. And we’re not talking casual use; we’re answering emails and in Slack while posting on IG and digging through podcasts. Hopping on Zoom, then getting on Hulu or whatever apps consume the rest of your time, like the Pixel 5, just works.

While the Pixel 5 still has more RAM (8GB compared to the 6B in the Pixel 4a with 5G and and Pixel 5a with 5G), the Fast Charging Adaptive Battery in the Pixel 5a with 5G clocks in at 4680 mAh compared to the Pixel 5’s 4080 mAh battery. The Adaptive Battery has been a dope feature to get used it; when activated, the Pixel teaches itself which apps to devote battery life to based on your regular use. With the larger battery, alongside the Pixel’s Extreme Battery Saver option, Google says you can get 48 hours of battery life off of one charge. We didn’t go to that extreme in our test, but out of the box, the phone does have impressive battery life, even with regular work use.

You’ll need that extra juice while streaming YouTube all night on that crispy 6.34” Full HD+ OLED screen. It doesn’t have the Smooth Display that the Pixel 5 boasts, but it’s larger than the Pixel 5’s 6” bezel-less screen, giving you that much more room to enjoy your favorite videos or series.

The Pixel 5a with 5G is the latest phone in the Pixel family, which means that it will benefit from having the latest in Pixel’s cutting-edge camera technology at your fingertips. It’s also using the 12 MP / 16 MP ultrawide set-up as the Pixel 5, but Google’s always tinkering with camera technology, giving you awesome results.

Portrait Light, which is designed to give smartphone photographers some help when it comes to lighting their images. If you’re in Camera mode, Portrait Light will add light automatically to your scene, while in Photos, you can further control light aspects in Portait shots, and even add light to older photos. It’s like their Night Sight feature, but with way more control; Night Sight is automatically activated in low light settings, with Google particuarly emphasizing the ability to get ill astrophotography shots.

Google has also added an Ultrawide option, allowing you to get even wider shots than ever before, while their Cinematic Pan option allows you to create Hollywood-inspired clips that can then be shared on social media. It’s a lot of fun to play around with, especially if you’re familiar with some of the filters in IG Stories, for example.

For me, the Pixel 5a with 5G has to do what the other phones in the Pixel series do: make my life that much easier. Some of that can be as simple as their “Hold for Me” option. Let’s say you’re calling customer service and they put you on hold; instead of putting the phone on speaker while you take care of whatever you’re doing, the Pixel 5a with 5G, with Hold for Me enabled, will have Google Assistant wait on the line for you, then alert you when a human is on the other end. Insane.

Have you ever been out in public and get a must-see video sent in the group chat, but you can’t really see it because the sun is bright AF? Pixel 5a with 5G’s High Brightness Mode corrects that, giving you a boost of, well, brightness, allowing you to take in what’s on your screen, regardless of how bright the outside world is.

With the power of 5G, the Pixel 5a with 5G has options like YouTube Smart Downloads, which proactively downloads the music or video you’re watching, just in case there’s a hiccup in your connection. Those 5G speeds make it easier to get your game on with Google Stadia, where your gaming sessions on your TV or laptop can be picked up automatically using your Pixel 5a with 5G. It also means that any regular downloads on your device will be transferred in lighting speed and HD quality. It may be their cheaper A-series, but the Pixel 5a with 5G is far from a slouch.

One of the other features on the Pixel 5a with 5G that Google is touting is the device’s IP67 water and dust resistance capabilities; this is the first time Google has done this for an A-series device. What is IP67 water resistance? According to CNET, “IP, or Ingress Protection Ratings (or International Protection Ratings) are a standard set forth by the International Electrotechnical Commission. According to the organization, the codes are designed as a ‘system for classifying the degrees of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment.’” The ratings have two digits; the first digit ratings run from 0 through 6, and rate protection against foreign solid objects, while the second digit rates protection from the entry of moisture or liquids, and run from 0 through 8. That’d make the Pixel 5a with 5G’s IP67 rating pretty damn good, considering that the iPhone 12 Pro Max is rated at IP68.

According to this chart, an IP67 rating means that the Pixel 5a with 5G will be “protected from total dust ingress” and “protected from immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter in depth” for about a half hour.

The Pixel 5a with 5G I received came in Mostly Black with 128GB of storage on the device. More than adequate amounts of space for the photos, videos, and files I started throwing onto it. Truth be told, I’m digging the power of this Pixel. With a week’s use, I got to put it through its paces without going too heavy with it, but it held up. The Pixels are just good phones, that’s just the basics! And being someone who’s been predominately using the Pixel 4a, this Pixel 5a with 5G feels like a beautiful upgrade, especially if I’m trying to have big smartphone power at half the price of regular big smartphones.

Now, that said: the way these cycles work, the Pixel 6 has to be right around the corner, right? If you’re someone who wants the newest latest and is willing to wait for the next Pixel flagship device, then the Pixel 5a with 5G might not be for you. If you’re someone who’s trying to get out of the smartphone rat race while having a device that is extremely efficient with a powerful camera, vibrant display and top-notch water and dust protection? The Pixel 5a with 5G may be for you.

That’s one of the main conundrums as a Pixel enthusiast; they’ve been slaying since I got on board many moons ago. The phones are so good, you’re really just haggling over your individual preferences. The Pixel 5a with 5G is one of the strongest Pixel phones ever made; it may just come down to how soon you're ready to make your’s Pixel.