With Google’s Pixel 5 arriving at a way more reasonably priced value level than its rivals, can it nonetheless provide aggressive digital camera expertise?
Google leveled up on the 5G features with the $499 Pixel 4A 5G and $699 Pixel 5. The latest smartphones run the latest Android 11 OS and have a second ultra-wide camera. It also boasts bigger batteries than any previous Pixel phone.
However, as a marquee device, Pixel 5 is equipped with a few more features. These good points include a 90Hz display, 2GB more RAM, and a water-resistant aluminum body. Not to mention that it has wireless charging and reverse wireless charging characteristics.
Google Pixel 5 camera specs
Like in past years, the Pixel phones‘ main selling point is the camera. The tech giant got rid of the telephoto lens that we saw on the Pixel 4 and replaced it with an ultra-wide camera.
Google Pixel 5 is a charming and reasonably-priced premium phone with a fantastic camera and good battery life. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus and the Sony Xperia 5 II with 12 megapixels, the Pixel 5 possesses tantalizing 12.2 megapixels.
The camera’s low-light mode, branded as Night Sight, takes excellent pictures in dim lighting. In addition to that, it also works in portrait mode so you can still take those bright, dramatic pictures in the dark.
Comparing Android camera phones
As tested and reported by Android Authority, Google and Huawei sit somewhere in the midst of aiming for realism but still adding in a small boost to accentuate some scenes. Samsung heavily saturates for more pop, but the results don’t look very realistic. Sony aims for natural, muted colors, although this can appear dull in places.
The color temperature varies a lot between all four phones. The Xperia 5 II prefers a cooler pallet, which plays to its realistic look. The Galaxy S20 Plus is by far the warmest. The Pixel 5 and P40 Pro lie more conservatively in the middle.
However, Huawei has the most dynamic approach, switching up its color temperature based on the scene’s contents. The light, content, and vibrant of the subject, of course, affect the result of the image.
To sum it up, here is the result:
Google Pixel 5: Excellent exposure and realistic colors. No complaints.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus: Oversaturated colors and clipped highlights. Not realistic.
Huawei P40 Pro: Colors occasionally dial up a notch too far but are otherwise great with excellent white balance. Mostly good exposure.
Sony Xperia 5 II: Most realistic colors out of the four, but much more hit and miss exposure. Coolest white balance.
Images used courtesy of Flossy Carter/YouTube Screenshot.