Widevine issues are something that every Android OEM appears to be dealing with lately with a few of their devices, and Google is no exception. Multiple Pixel users had earlier complained about being unable to stream content from Netflix in a resolution higher than 540p, which is definitely not ideal for today’s 1080p and even 2K smartphone displays. It seemed that pretty much every device from Pixel 3 and up was affected.

Google in April this year then acknowledged the problem, promising it was working on a fix. However, fast forward eight months later to today and there’s still no sign of a fix. And new complaints keep piling up.

For the uninitiated, problems with video quality on streaming apps like Netflix emerge due to Widevine issues. OEMs typically get their devices L1 certified which allows playing content at 1080p. The Pixel phones were not excluded from this treatment, but for some reason, the Widevine certification dropped to L3 for some users. L3 means that Netflix can play in quality no further than 540p.

Multiple complaints have resultantly popped up and one Redditor has even compiled a list of complaints across the internet (via XDA Developers). While the list obviously contains reports dating back to early 2021, there are also some from as recent as 21 days ago, proving that the problem never really disappeared.

Eight months sure is quite a long time for fixing a bug like this, which makes us wonder if Google has quietly swept the entire thing under the rug. The Google Pixel 3 is also nearing its EOL with software updates – all the more reason to fix the problem as soon as possible.

Anyhow, for now, we recommend those Google Pixel owners affected by the Widevine issue to take the matter up to the official Pixel Phone forums or Twitter to remind Google about it, just in case they’ve forgotten.

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• Google Pixel 6 series helps it gain ground in U.S market: Wave7 November sales report

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Yesterday, Google rolled out the December 2021 Pixel feature drop for devices ranging from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel 5a. If you are a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro owner, don’t worry, your devices will also receive these updates with some additional bug fixes and patches later this month.

So, what’s in this feature update? Well, a lot. The update comes with Google’s latest security patch and hundreds of optimization changes and bug fixes. But let’s focus on the new features introduced in this feature update.

• Conversation mode for Sound Amplifier

Pixel devices become the first Android phones to gain a conversation mode for the Sound Amplifier Accessibility tool. This feature helps those who are hard of hearing or with hearing impairments. You can use this feature by pointing your phone using a camera UI at any person you want to have a conversation with. The feature will then allow you to pin that person as a participant in the conversation and will provide you with enhanced audio of whatever they say through your Bluetooth headphones while at the same time tuning out background noise.

• Bass Boost for Pixel Buds A-series

We know that the Pixel Buds A-series TWS earphones have a very neutral sound profile. Now, they finally get the Bass Boost feature allowing them to add a little bit of extra power to their sound output. This feature can be accessed through a slider in the pixel buds app, which allows you to slide the bass levels from -1 to +4.

• Ultrawide band integration in Nearby Share
  

With the Android 12 update, Pixel phones gained the nearby share feature, allowing data to be transferred via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, similar to AirDrop. Now, this feature drop will enable the Pixel 6 Pro to use the wideband chip for directed ‘nearby share’ enabling you to send data in a specific direction.

• Now Playing Search

The enhanced now playing search feature which has been rolling out to devices for the past month is officially coming to more devices with the December Pixel feature drop. The feature previously worked with an on-device database to identify songs being played near you, allowing it to work offline and to maintain user privacy. This caused the problem of many songs not being recognized due to the limited on-device database. With the new update, if the song is not recognized by your device, a new search music icon will appear on your lock screen. Tapping the icon will transmit the audio data to Google search, making for quick identification of the song.

• Car crash detection new feature
  

The Google Pixel’s car crash detection feature has been around since 2019 and has helped save multiple lives. With this update, the detection app gets a new feature that allows it to check if you are ‘OK’ in the event of a crash and if there is no response, the Pixel device can share your location and other relevant details with emergency responders. Additionally, this feature gains support in three new regions namely Taiwan, Italy, and France.

• Google Recorder app update

The much-loved recorder app which features transcription capabilities gains support for more languages including Japanese, French, and German. These additional languages that debuted in the Pixel 6 series phones are now available for other supported Pixel devices through this update.

• Double-tap feature for Snapchat

Google just added Snapchat to the list of apps supported by Android 12’s Quick Tap feature. The photo-sharing app can now be set up to be accessed via a double-tap gesture to the back of your Pixel device. The feature even works with screen lock, enabling you to capture those sudden moments on your devices. The feature is supported on Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 6 series devices. Starting from this month, Pixel phones will also get an exclusive ‘Pixel face lens’ filters, that will get more variety via future feature updates.

• Material You on boot

On your first boot after this update, you will notice that the color of your boot logo has changed. The Google logo itself, which appears first, retains its standard brand-identifying colors. But the animation that turns into the Google G (and the associated loading bar) will both pull from your phone’s Material You background colors.

For those unaware, Google‘s new UI, the Material You, introduced with Android 12, is a dynamic theming engine that extracts colors from the current wallpaper and splashes it across the system UI and supported apps, giving users greater control than ever over what their phone’s software looks like.

Other than these major features, Google has also added back the WiFi and internet quick toggle which was for some reason not available since Android 12 launched. You will be able to access the WiFi and Internet toggle from your lock screen post this Feature update.

Related:

• Google Pixel 6a aluminum dummy reveals design similar to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
• Google Photos ‘Locked Folder’ feature finally comes to non-Pixel users
• Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro users complain about signal drops, but there possible workarounds

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In a recent video, Youtuber Marques Brownlee has revealed that Google had plans to introduce their Tensor chips back in 2020 with the Pixel 5 but didn’t at the last moment.

The smartphone community has always wondered why the Google Pixel 5 featured a Qualcomm 765G SoC, weaker than Pixel 4‘s Snapdragon 855. Well, we might have an answer for you. In a recent video discussing every Google phone, the famous Youtuber Marques Brownlee revealed that Google was working on Tensor for a long time and wanted to release it earlier.

“They were actually planning on Pixel 5 being the first phone with Tensor. But then with Covid and the supply chain issues and a bunch of things getting in the way, at the last second they kinda had to bail on that,” Brownlee claimed.

“But they still wanted to drop a new phone, so they just put a Snapdragon 765G in it, shipped it, called it a day, and kept putting their heads down for Pixel 6.”

Brownlee claimed that through his talks with people at Google, he learned that Google was planning to release the Pixel 5 with a Tensor chipset. But with the global pandemic going on, supply chain and many other issues arose, forcing Google to equip the phone with the midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC and wait out the release of their Tensor chip till next year.

So what would a Tensor-equipped Pixel 5 have looked like? For starters, the processor would’ve been a significant improvement over the Snapdragon 765G’s allowing for a smoother performance. We could expect around twice the performance in the GPU department thanks to the Mali-G76 GPU on the Tensor chip.

Alas, the Tensor-based Pixel 5 didn’t see the light of day, but on the other hand, it gave Google more time to mature and optimize the Tensor chip which they offer in the Pixel 6 lineup.

RELATED:

• Google Pixel 6a camera details leaked, flagship-grade chip tipped
• Google to fix the game crashing wallpaper bug in Android 12L
• Google officially confirms that Pixel 6 series doesn’t feature 30W charging
• Some Google Pixel 4a are cracking on their own from the corner and no one knows why

(Via)

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People who were interested in Pixel 5 back when it launched were faced with a surprise info that it had dropped the Neural core and Active Edge features. Later, the device also faced a few issues in graphics performance as per various reports online. Now, Google is rolling out the April 2021 security update to a lot of pixel devices and it comes bundled with Camera, GPU performance gains for some devices like Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.

Google, in an official post, has detailed what are the changes coming with the latest update for the Pixel devices including Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. You can take a look  at the build numbers below:

• Global:
  • Pixel 4a (5G): RQ2A.210405.005
  • Pixel 5: RQ2A.210405.005

Talking about the specific changes, it says that Google Pixel 4a 5G and Google Pixel 5 gets improvements in

• Camera quality in certain third-party apps
• Optimizations for certain graphics-intensive apps & games
• Fix for certain devices appearing offline when connected with VPN
• Fix for Freeze on Google logo during startup

This update is said to have improved the GPU performance of the device by about 30-50% more than before(3DMark, courtesy of Andreas Proschofsky). Earlier, reports suggested that the Android 11 update could have had an impact on the graphic performance of the Pixel 5 leading to frequent stutters.

However, the dark days are over now, and if you are a Google Pixel 5 user, we suggest you update the device as soon as you get it. Speaking of which, users who haven’t received it yet should get it in the coming days as it is a phased rollout.

As mentioned above, the April update also includes few improvements for other devices like Pixel 3(XL), 3a(XL), 4(XL), 4a. You can check the entire changelog here.

 RELATED:

• Google hires Intel veteran to lead its custom chip division
• Google Pixel 6 may arrive with an under-display fingerprint scanner
• Google drops Play Store commission to 15% on first $1 million in revenue for developers
• Google removes astrophotography mode for ultra-wide camera on Pixel 5 & Pixel 4a 5G

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DXOMARK, famous for camera reviews, has also been testing Displays of Smartphones lately. Currently, the crown of their rankings is held by Galaxy Note 20 Ultra of Samsung. The latest entrant into the list is the Google Pixel 5 but it is nowhere near the 2020 flagship rivals and even devices like the Vivo X51 5G.

According to the report, Google Pixel 5 gets an overall score of 74 on the DXOMARK Display test. To compare, the Exynos version of Galaxy Note 20 Ultra of 2020 had scored about 89 points back in August. Later, the Snapdragon Version scored a point more and is currently at the top with 90 points.

If this isn’t enough, it scores even lesser than the Vivo X51 5G that launched around the same time in Europe. This device also has an FHD+ AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate like the Pixel 5.

Google made a transition in the Pixel lineup of smartphones with the launch of Pixel 5. The device came with a mid-range Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset while its predecessor featured the flagship Snapdragon 855 chipset.

However, DisplayMate had rated the Google Pixel 4XL as a phone with the best display and an A+ rating. Hence, naturally, one would expect that a successor, with a 90Hz OLED and a premium $699 price, should have similar quality.

That said, as mentioned above, its display performs lower when compared to Vivo X51 5G(87 points) with a similar display and the Same Snapdragon 765G chipset. The Pixel 5 is 13 points behind the Vivo’s counterpart.

Coming back, DXOMARK says that Google Pixel 5 performs poorly in the readability and video department. Although it has Pros like Ambient Light adoption, Good Touch accuracy, videos without frame drops/judders, the Cons are quite a bit more.

First, in low light scenarios, the display’s light levels seem to be lower. Also, the readability quotient to enhance lighting under sunlight seems to alter the color of images too much. Some other cons include low luminance and contrast while watching videos, stutters during Games, Slower light transitions.

RELATED:

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• Google Pixel 5 sits at 15th place in DXOMARK Camera with 120 points

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Google recently announced that it will terminate unlimited ‘High-quality‘ backup on Google Photos starting June 1, 2021. While the existing Pixel devices are exempt from this change, new reports suggest that future Pixel devices won’t be able to escape it.

As quoted by Android Authority(source 1, 2), Google has confirmed to Android Police and Android Central that Future Google Pixel smartphones won’t have Free Google Photos backup. In fact, it won’t even get the unlimited ‘high-quality’ option that current pixels(till Pixel 5) are going to get. This totally negates the point of People who basically prefer to buy them for unlimited backup.

Instead, as reported earlier, the company has started emphasizing more on its Paid Cloud Storage, Google One. If you notice at the end of the blog post about Google Photos, it has mentioned Google One subscriptions. Accordingly, it costs $99.99(USA)/₹6,500(India) a year or $9.99/₹650 a month, and includes VPN service for Android as well(2TB Plan).

That said, this confirmation basically means that if you are someone who is planning to buy future pixel devices(after Google Pixel 5), you need to start saving for cloud storage. In case you run out of the free 15GB, Google will constantly alert you. And entice you to get the extra storage. Do note that, if you leave the completed storage unattended for 24 months, Google might delete some content by itself.

Besides, If you track Google’s approach over the years, you can see a trend here. The first Pixel introduced unlimited “original-quality” backup to Google Photos. However, after Pixel 3a, and subsequently 4, the tagline changed to “high-quality” images. Ironically, the same company, which used “unlimited backup” as a marketing tagline earlier, now says that the free 15GB it offers is enough to store three years of memories.

That said, we do understand Google’s concern about maintaining a sustainable App experience in the future. And catering to the insane demand for cloud storage every day. However, it needs to find a way to lure future Pixel buyers by giving plans similar to “three months of Google One(100GB)” with Pixel 5.

UP NEXT: Older Google Pixels are getting revamped Camera UI

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The reason why midrange smartphones and flagship killers became so popular in 2020 is the fact that they boast amazing performance and complete specs sheet even though their prices are way more affordable compared to top-tier flagships. Most of the users out there do not need a top-tier flagship to get an outstanding user experience. Should you go for a flagship killer or an upper-midrange smartphone in the same price range? This comparison will let you find out because it includes the best flagship killers released recently and one of the best mid-rangers. We are talking about Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G, OnePlus 8T, and Google Pixel 5. Let’s discover which one is worth the money asked.

Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G vs OnePlus 8T vs Google Pixel 5

Design

Google Pixel 5 is one of the most unique phones out there. Unlike all the other last-generation devices, this handset is entirely made of recycled aluminum with the exception of the front panel. Further, it is the only waterproof phone with the IP68 certification making it waterproof up to 1.5 meters deep for a max of 30 minutes. Last but not least, it is the most compact phone and the thinnest one thanks to its smaller display and battery. But you should not underestimate the sleek OnePlus 8T coming with a glass back and an aluminum frame. The same materials used for the Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G, but the Mi 10T is thicker and heavier.

Display

The greatest display belongs to the OnePlus 8T. It has an AMOLED panel with a 6.55-inch size, 120 Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ certification, protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Right after, we got the Google Pixel 5 sporting an OLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+. Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G loses the comparison with its IPS panel, but it has the highest refresh rate (up to 144 Hz). With the Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G, you also get a wider 6.67-inch panel. OnePlus 8T has an in-display fingerprint reader, Google Pixel 5 has a rear-mounted sensor, and Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Hardware/Software

The most advanced hardware department is found on the OnePlus 8T. The flagship killer is powered by the Snapdragon 865 mobile platform paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 native storage. Right after, we got the Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G which still comes with the Snapdragon 865, but it sports just 8 GB of RAM in the most expensive configuration and just 128 GB of storage. The Google Pixel 5 lags behind with its Snapdragon 765G but it will have longer software support since it is a Google phone. Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G runs Android 10 out of the box, while OnePlus 8T and Google Pixel 5 run Android 11.

Camera

If you want the most interesting camera setup, go for the OnePlus 8T which sports a 48 MP main sensor with OIS, a 16 MP ultrawide sensor, a 5 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP depth sensor. But the Google Pixel 5 is still a great camera phone with its 12.2 MP dual camera including an ultrawide sensor. With the Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G, unfortunately, you do not get optical stabilization, but it can record 8K videos.

Battery

With its huge 5000 mAh battery, the Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G has a longer battery life in a lot of scenarios. But the OnePlus 8T is still a pretty nice battery phone with its 4500 mAh unit. Google Pixel 5 is inferior but its battery life is still very nice. Further, it is the only to support wireless charging and reverse charging. With the OnePlus 8T, you get the fastest wired charging technology with 65W power.

Price

Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G is priced at €500/$590, OnePlus 8T costs €600/$710, and Google Pixel 5 has a €629 starting price. With the Google Pixel 5, you can get a complete user experience and a waterproof phone with wireless charging, as well as longer software support. But if you are a power user who seeks the best performance, you may prefer the OnePlus 8T due to its great hardware. It does not make a lot of sense to buy Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G with an IPS display and inferior cameras for just €100 less than the OnePlus 8T. But if you find interesting discounts, it might be worth going for it.

• Read More: Xiaomi Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro 5G with 144Hz display, SD865, up to 108MP triple cameras launched in India for Rs 35,999 (~$490)

Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G vs OnePlus 8T vs Google Pixel 5: PRO and CONS

Google Pixel 5

PROS

• Great display
• Waterproof
• Wireless charging
• Android 11 and faster updates
• Reverse charging

CONS

• Midrange hardware

Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G

PROS

• Biggest battery
• Highest refresh rate
• 8K video recording
• Great price
• IR blaster

CONS

• IPS display

OnePlus 8T

PROS

• Android 11 out of the box
• Fastest charging tech
• Up to 12 GB RAM
• Great display

CONS

• Less impressive cameras

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Google Pixel 5 is definitely a good offering from the company in a long time. However, it didn’t escape the usual theme of Pixel devices having concerns. Few users of Pixel 5 have been reporting a condition where a gap exists between the display and frame of the device. And now, a Community specialist on the Google support page says it’s normal.

The Community specialist going by the name David Pop has replied to a query regarding the Pixel 5 Gap issue. Accordingly, On the Google support page(via PhoneArena), he says that the company investigated customer complaints. Along with this and their QC(Quality Control) data, he confirms that the gap between screen and body is normal. In fact, he goes on to say that it doesn’t have an effect on the IP68 water and dust resistance of the device.

However, his comment has drawn a lot of replies from users who express concerns about the design in long term. Contrary to what the Specialist claims, a user says that his unit has the same gap and dust gets piled up inside. He adds that on trying to press it near the front camera section it sits flush but a gap appears again on releasing the pressure.

1 of 2

EDITOR’S PICK: Google Pixel 5 sits at 15th place in DXOMARK Camera with 120 points

That said, a teardown video earlier revealed that Pixel 5 is a well-built phone despite the gap between screen and body. And that the gap doesn’t pose any threat to the internals inside as a strong adhesive. And clips hold the device screen firm with the body. Still, the gap issue might have popped up due to poor Quality Control checks.

Besides, a few users say that the replacement units also have a similar problem. Having that said, users who are disappointed with this design flaw can try using the device. And see if the gap poses an issue in the long-term, or get a refund.

UP NEXT: Will the Pixel 5 mark the return of metal phones?

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Google launched the Pixel 5 last month. Exactly a month later, DXOMARK has come out with a new Camera review. And unfortunately, it looks like the Pixel 5 has just improved around 6.2% in the overall score compared to the predecessor(Pixel 4).

Jumping right in, Pixel 5’s overall DXOMARK camera score is around 120 points. If you split that into Photo, Zoom, and Video test, it has 129, 49, and 107 points. Sadly, the score is just 7 points above the 113 points of Pixel 4. Also, Pixel 5 has fared worse in the Zoom category with just 49 points compared to 55 points for Pixel 4. It now sits at 15th place on the DXOMARK’S current rankings(as of October 30) slotting behind Huawei’s yesteryear Mate 30 Pro.

That said, the score closer to Pixel 4 is slightly understandable considering the Pixel 5 has a similar rear-camera setup as follows:

• 12.2MP 1/2.55-inch main sensor with dual-pixel PDAF, OIS.
• 16MP 1/3.09-inch ultrawide-sensor with a 107-degree Field Of View(FOV).
• An LED Flash
• Features: 4K video at 30/60fps, 1080p up to 240fps, and has gyro-EIS.

Pixel 5: Photo

Talking about performance, the report says the main strengths of the Pixel 5 cameras are exposure, color reproduction, and autofocus while they maintain the artifacts originally. For still photos, it seems to produce images with good details via main & ultra-wide lens but also accompanies noise with it.

As mentioned above, Pixel 5 struggles in Zoom as well as limited FOV. In fact, the report says the noise starts creeping in as you zoom just above 2x as the lack of a Telephoto lens is surely hurting Google here. Additionally, the device seemingly struggles in bokeh simulation when there are more than two heads in the frame.

EDITOR’S PICK: DXOMark unveils a new phone Display ranking with the Galaxy Note20 Ultra at the top

Pixel 5: Video

For Video, the report says that Google sets a new record in the autofocus category trying to be on par with the flagships. It clocks a 105 points for Autofocus equalling flagships like Huawei Mate 40 Pro. In Normal lighting, its shots are reportedly good with details, exposure, and colors, especially the stabilization in 4K 30fps mode. However, issues like noise, color casting, and bad exposure in low light sets it back.

Pixel 5 Camera: Pros & Cons

To sum up, it has Pros like Accurate Autofocus & white balance, Vivid colors, and good stabilization. However, its cons include Noise in Photo & Video, Frame shifts, Bokeh effects, Zoom, less detail in low-light shots. Looks like Google still is relying on its software power while setting the nitty-gritty issues behind.

UP NEXT: Google pledges to make Plastic-free Packaging for all of its products by 2025

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Apple announced its new iPhone 12 series smartphones a few days ago and along with that, the company revealed a few new features for the devices as well and one of them is the new MagSafe charging accessories.

For those who are unaware, the MagSafe charging feature is a magnetic attachment system for different accessories that can be snapped right onto the back of the iPhone 12. There are a bunch of different use-cases and accessories, including wallets and chargers.

While Apple says that the feature is limited to the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models, new reports claim that some Andriod smartphones are also compatible with this new MagSafe feature from Apple.

The reports claim that Google Pixel 5, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 smartphones, are also working with the MagSafe charger from Apple. A report from Android Police says that Galaxy Z Fold 2 has magnets in its hinge and the side which connects to and holds the MagSafe charger in place.

EDITOR’S PICK: Apple is lobbying the US government for tax breaks to boost local chipset production

It’s noteworthy that while the MagSafe charger is capable of providing fast wireless charging up to 15W to the newly launched iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, the Pixel 5 only supports 12W wireless charging.

The MagSafe Charger is just a Qi wireless charger so it is compatible with any smartphone that supports Qi wireless charging but the highlight is the magnetic connection, which is not going to work with every device.

Apart from the MagSafe Charger, Apple has launched a few other MagSafe accessories, including Case, Leather Wallet, and more. The company has also revealed that third-party accessories are coming, confirming that Belkin is already working on a couple of options which also includes a car mount.

UP NEXT: Redmi General Manager teases the Redmi K30S which is tipped to be cheaper than the K30 Ultra

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A new report has revealed that a small number of Google Pixel 5 units are suffering from an issue that is apparent with the first shipments of the smartphone. The users have found that there is a noticeable gap between the frame of the device and its display.

As per a GSMArena report, a few Pixel 5 units are suffering from this gap issue, which has also led to concerns regarding the smartphone’s IP68 water resistance rating. At the moment, only a small number of devices are affected by this issue, but it appears that additional reports have surfaced in the last couple of days. These have been found on Google’s official Pixel forums and even on other websites as well.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi Watch Color Sports Edition with blood oxygen detector launched for 649 yuan ($97)

This gap has been found in multiple locations on the surface of the handset and is always between the seam between the screen and the frame. The most common area for the gap to appear is near the front facing camera, while other reports have also found it near the SIM Tray and along the top of the device as well. This issue is also more common on the Just Black color variant, although, Sorta Sage models are also being affected. 

Notably, the gap isn’t caused after the Google Pixel 5 is used, but rather, it is noticeable immediately out of the box. A possible explanation might be that the sealing process that had the display being stuck to the frame was not done with a correct amount of force or adhesive. However, that is just speculation, so take it with a pinch of salt. We will have to wait for an official statement from Google to know for sure, so stay tuned.

UP NEXT: OPPO Find X2 and OPPO Watch League of Legends Limited Editions launched in China

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Google’s Pixel 5 is the most affordable flagship from the company yet. Starting at as low as £599, the device is up for pre-orders in Europe, the US, and other regions before sale. However, it looks like the device is already out of stock on Google Store in key European markets.

First reported by 9to5Google(via XDADevelopers), the pre-orders for Google Pixel 5 are out of stock in countries like UK, France, Germany, and Ireland. After a slow start in Germany, and Ireland, it reportedly picked up steam and is now out of stock on both “Sorta Sage” and “Just Black” variant. On the contrary, France gets only the “Just Black” variant. The reason for this said to be the country’s laws to mandatorily include headphones inside the box. Hence, to avoid packaging in different colors, Google apparently decided to limit the colors for France.

For the UK though, Google is giving an excellent offer of free Bose QC 35 II headphones if you buy a Pixel 4a(5G) or Pixel 5 between September 30 and October 19 on its store. Reasons like offers, exchange rates, attractive price points from Google might be the reason for the thunderous response.

Google launched the Pixel 5 along with 4a 5G a few days back. But, it will be available only a couple of weeks after the launch in many regions. Users can purchase the device from October 15 if they are in Australia, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, and Taiwan. However, people from the US and Canada will see it another couple of weeks later, October 29 to be precise. And it is still available for pre-orders in the US, unlike other markets.

Having said that, Google has reportedly kept its target low for the Pixel 5 in 2020 for various reasons. However, the new demand could change the plans of Google. But there is no clue when the pre-orders will resume on Google Store yet. Nevertheless, if you are someone living in either of these countries, you can try your luck in carrier partners, and retails stores to grab it early.

Up Next: Google releases Gmail Go on the Play Store & it is open for all Android phones

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Google has finally launched its first smartphones in the 5G era. The Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G are the brand’s first models to feature a 5G modem. They are also primed to be among the first model that’ll get Android 11.

Google Pixel 5

The Pixel 5 is the more premium model of the two even though it doesn’t make it beyond the mid-range point. The device sports s a 6.0-inch display with an FHD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate.

The Pixel 5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset, one of the newest premium mid-range SoC released by the US chipmaker. The SD765G chipset is equipped with an X52 modem that enables 5G connectivity. Sub-6 is supported on all Pixel 5 versions, while in some countries it will also work on mmWave networks. Still talking of connectivity, the phone comes with support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac instead of Wi-Fi 6. The processor pairs with an 8GB RAM on the 5 while there is a sole 128GB storage option.

For photography, the Pixel 5 packs a triple camera setup at the rear aspect. The three cameras are arranged in a square-shaped module located at the top-left corner of the panel. The main camera is a 12.2 MP sensor with 1.4um pixel size, as well as Google’s AI algorithms. This sensor doesn’t have particularly large pixels for night time shooting nor high resolution for lossless digital zoom, Google is hoping to deploy software optimization for those.

There is also a 16MP ultrawide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture and 1.0um pixel size. There is also OIS and a relatively bright f/1.7 lens. The phone also supports 4K recording at 60 fps, the first Pixel phone with such capability.

The Pixel 5 packs a 4,080 mAh battery and has 18W fast charging support. The body is IP68-certified for dust and water resistance. The aluminium body is made out of recycled aluminium and is textured for better grip. The phone also comes with wireless charging support and reverse wireless charging despite the metal body. There is equally a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

The phone is available in Just Black and a new Sorta Sage colour option. Pre-orders for the Google Pixel 5 has already commenced ahead of availability in eight countries on October 15. The phone will be available in the US on October 29. The Pixel 5 comes in at $700 (€630/£599).

Early pre-orders between now and October 14 qualify for a  free pair of Bose QC 35 II wireless headphones. This offer is only valid in Germany, France, Ireland, and the UK, and only while stocks last.

Google Pixel 4a 5G

The Pixel 4a 5G packs a 6.2-inch OLED screen which makes it bigger than the 4a. The phone only comes with the standard 60Hz refresh rate. The body of the phone is made out of polycarbonate and is not dust or water-resistant.

It is also powered by a Snapdragon 765G chipset just like the 5 but it pairs with 6GB of RAM but the same 128GB storage option only.

The camera department is identical to the Pixel 5 – you get the same 12.2 MP main cam joined by the 16 MP ultrawide unit. The 8MP selfie camera is nested inside a punch hole. he model packs a slightly smaller 3,885mAH battery compared to the Pixel 5 but retains the 18W fast charging support. There is no wireless charging support.

The Google Pixel 4a 5G is priced at $500/€500/£500. Expect pre-orders to start on November 5, ahead of availability on the 19th of that month. Aside from Japan, that is, where it will go on sale on October 15.

If you pre-order one of these, you’ll get the same offer as the one for Pixel 5 pre-orders: a free pair of Bose QC 35 II headphones, provided you’re in the UK, Germany, France, or Ireland.

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Google announced the launched date of the new Pixel devices a few days back. The invite had mention of smart speakers, Google Pixel devices(Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5 5G). And, now a tip reveals that the devices might only be available for pre-orders on the said September 30 but shipping will start a few weeks later.

The latest leak comes from tipster Jon Prosser(via GSMArena). He has already tipped the launch of Pixel 4a multiple times. The 4G device, however, jumped several dates before the final reveal on August 3. Now, he says that the Pixel 4a 5G and 5 5G will be up for pre-orders on the same day(September 30) as the event. However, Pixel 5, and 4a 5G will start shipping only from October 15, and November 19 respectively.

Pixel 5 5G
(Just Black & Subtle Sage)
– Preorder: Sep 30
– Launch: October 15

They made an oopsie with the 4a

Pixel 4a 5G (Just Black)
– Preorder: Sep 30
– Launch: Nov 19

Pixel 4a 5G (Clearly White)
– Delayed to 2021
(Will most likely be canceled altogether) pic.twitter.com/Qh4L0TZ3Ry

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) September 25, 2020

Further, Jon gives a final word before the announcement about the color variants too. He says the Pixel 5 5G will be available in Just Black and Subtle Sage colors. For those who are wondering, Sage resembles the Sage leaves. It is a quaternary color which is a mix of Citron(orange-green pigment) and Slate(Grey).

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Jon also says that Google will bring the Just Black variant of the Pixel 4a 5G in November and the Clearly White color is delayed to 2021. He adds that there are also chances of the White variant getting canceled as a whole. While this is contrary to the early reports, it is not surprising as its 4G sibling also has only the Just Black variant.

Google went ahead and announced the Pixel 4a 5G and 5 during the 4a launch. It didn’t disclose anything but a teaser image and price of 4a 5G. However, thanks to various leaks, we already know the entire specifications.

That said, the delay in shipments can attribute to various factors amidst a pandemic. Also, considering the Pixel 4a launched just a month ago, it makes sense for Google to push the Pixel 5 first rather than the 5G variant of 4a. Regarding the price, tipster Jon and Evan leaks have said that Pixel 5 will be priced at $699 for the 128GB variant, while Google has already confirmed that Pixel 4a 5G will start at $499.

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The post Google Pixel 5 5G, and Pixel 4a 5G to start shipping only a few weeks after the launch appeared first on Gizmochina.

After much anticipation and delays, Google recently launched the much-awaited Pixel 4a smartphone. At the time, the company had revealed that it will soon be launching the Pixel 4a 5G as well as Google Pixel 5 smartphones.

While the company has not yet revealed the launch timeframe for the upcoming devices, reports indicate that both of them could go official by the end of this month. Now, both — Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 have passed through FCC certification.

From the listing, it seems that the Pixel 4a models A4R G025E, G025H, and G025I are the 5G variant of the device. It is also revealed that the phone features a plastic body and comes with 6GB of RAM and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. It comes with a bigger screen, a dual-camera setup on the back, and support for sub-6 5G bands. We are expecting a similar design to the original model.

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As for the Google Pixel 5, models, A4R GD1YQ and GTT9Q have been listed. It also reveals that the phone will have support for Wireless Power Transfer (WPT). This will enable the smartphone to charge accessories, like Pixel Buds.

From the listing, it is revealed that the model number GTT9Q doesn’t have support for mmWave and is relying on the sub-6 band but the other models, including GD1YQ and G6QU3, have support for both the bands.

The Google Pixel 5 is rumored to come featuring a 6-inch Full HD+ display with a 90hz refresh rate. It is said to come packed with 8GB of RAM and a 4,000mAh battery. Unlike the Pixel 4a models, this one won’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, being a so-called “premium” phone.

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Google Pixel 4a smartphone was earlier rumoured to get launched on 22nd May but the launch has been delayed. There are some reports hinting that the launch of Pixel 4a will be taking place along with Android 11 announcement on 3rd June.

However, the latest report claims that the Google Pixel 4a will be announced on 13th July and will go on sale from August. It says that the Just Black color variant will be up for purchase from 6th August while the Barely Blue variant will be available from 1st October.

There’s no reason given about Google pushing the launch of the Pixel 4a smartphone but the report mentions that it is because of market conditions. It also adds that there’s no supply chain issue and the units are ready to ship.

Another major revelation is the not only the Pixel 4a, Google is also delaying the launch of the upcoming Pixel 5 smartphone, which is expected to pack 5G support. While no timeline has been revealed, it seems that the launch could take place towards the end of the year, possibly in November.

The company could try to start selling the smartphone around the holiday season hoping for a good sales run. Apart from the market conditions, this could be a strategy of Google given that the sales numbers of Pixel 4 series is nowhere near what the company expected.

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Multiple leaks related to the Google Pixel 5 have confirmed that the upcoming smartphone from the search engine giant won’t be a flagship offering but will be positioned in the upper mid-range category and could come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G or the newer Snapdragon 768 chipset.

As for the Google Pixel 4a, the phone features a 5.81-inch OLED panel with a punch-hole design and Full HD+ screen resolution. The phone is expected to arrive with Snapdragon 730 SoC, 6GB of RAM and 64/128 GB internal storage.

The Android 10 operating system will come pre-installed on the smartphone and it will be powered by a 3,080mAh battery that is expected to support 18W fast charging. The phone may arrive in the U.S with a starting price of $349.

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(Source)

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Qualcomm‘s latest Snapdragon 865 chipset is already powering some flagship models in the market. One thing to note about the models that have so far been released with the Snapdragon 865 chipset is their hefty price tags. Apart from the Redmi K30 Pro which was announced recently with a sub-$500 starting price in China, several others like the Mi 10, iQOO 3, Black Shark phone and several others are priced expensively in some cases going beyond $1000 like the Galaxy S20 series and Sony Xperia 1 II.

Most of the OEMs, like Xiaomi which is known for its affordable flagship, cited skyrocketing components prices for the high retail prices. The Snapdragon 865 chipset is one of such expensive components. It is more expensive than previous years’ models, partly due to the improvements in the 5G band and others. However, while most OEMs have transmitted the high cost to the end-users, there are reports that Google and LG are both unwilling to use the chipset on their 2020 flagships. Both OEMs are said to have opted for a cheaper chip instead.

On its part, Google is expected to launch the Pixel 5 series which include the Pixel 5, Pixel 5 XL and Pixel 5a this year. A report by XDA Developers in January had revealed that the Pixel 5 series won’t use a Snapdragon 865 chipset but are equipped with a Snapdragon 765G premium mid-range SoC as seen on the Android repository.

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Also, a report by Korean website Naver says that LG is looking to adopt an approach similar to Google’s on the LG G9 ThiQ. The G9 ThinQ will reportedly be powered by a Snapdragon 765G chipset instead of the Snapdragon 865. Recall that this is the same thing HMD global id with the Nokia 8.3 5G which was launched with a Snapdragon 765G chipset. There is also the ZTE Axon 11 5G packing the same Soc. A Vivo model with a Snapdragon 765 SoC had also appeared on GeekBench earlier on.

The Snapdragon 765G is the first Qualcomm modem that is integrated with a 5G. The Snapdragon 865 SoC still has to be bunded with a separate Snapdragon X55 5G modem. Qualcomm is said to have made it compulsory for OEM to integrate the SD865 with the X55 modem. This explains the absence of a 4G version but then, 4G phones won’t fly in the era of 5G. However, this has led to a more delicate motherboard design as well as bigger battery and screen size, thus driving production cost upwards.

In terms of the configuration, the Snapdragon 765G isn’t as fast as the flagship SD 865. It features two Cortex-A76 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores. While the Snapdragon 865 uses four A77 cores and four A55 cores. However, the difference shouldn’t be too noticeable with the right software optimisation in place, something Google can handle.

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(source)

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