The Google Pixel 5: A Mini-Review - Small Package, Small Value?
by Andrei Frumusanu on January 22, 2021 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Mobile
- Pixel 5
GPU Performance
One larger negative of using a lower-end SoC such as the Snapdragon 765 versus a flagship design, is the fact that Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU here is actually significantly weaker than you’d expect the “one tier” lower status of the SoC. The Adreno 620 is actually significantly smaller and lower performance compared to not only previous generation flagship SoCs, but actually even flagship SoCs even a few generations old. Last year we had seen the LG Velvet perform more like a Snapdragon 845 device, lagging substantially behind the competition. Let’s see how the Pixel 5 performs:
I’m not exactly sure what Google has done here to the Snapdragon 765, but something is definitely very different compared to other devices employing the same chipset. The Pixel 5 here posts significantly lower performance than a comparable LG Velvet or an OPPO Reno3 Pro 5G, with some of the scores even coming in at half performance. When I got the phone I initially thought this must be some firmware issue, but even now in January it’s still the same.
Measuring power consumption of the phone, the SoC barely uses 1W of power under a 3D load (total device power minus idle), which is far less than what we saw of other Snapdragon 765 devices.
I have no idea as to why the Pixel 5 is set up this way, however the end result is that gaming performance is just horrible. If other Snapdragon 765 devices roughly matched the 845 in gaming, the Pixel 5 is only half of that. Playing a modern-AAA title like Genshin Impact on the phone is horrendous unless you set it to the lowest possible settings, and even then, it’s not a good experience.
If you’re looking for a decent gaming smartphone, the Pixel 5 is not it, and I recommend users to give it a wide berth.
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Slash3 - Sunday, January 24, 2021 - link
I miss my old S6 Active. Took a beating, but the sealed battery failed entirely. :(StevoLincolnite - Friday, January 22, 2021 - link
I had a Lumia 920 and that thing was built like a brick shit house, never had a case on it.Dropped it allot, even on cement, not a single crack over the years I used that as my daily driver.
Fast forward to today... And I have the amazing looking Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra in Mystic Bronze and it's hidden by a rubberized case that hides the lot.
My partner had the same phone... And even with the case on, dropped and cracked it.
The case I am using is a full body case and over time where the camera sensor is, scratches and warps which impacts camera quality... Still not worth taking it out of the case though.
Myrandex - Monday, January 25, 2021 - link
Oh yes, that Lumia 1020 was so nice, it felt so good in hand, that camera was incredible, I really miss mine!DeeJay522 - Friday, January 22, 2021 - link
The 5g is not plastic. I bought one in November and I love it. The feel and durability are great battery life is amazing.Spunjji - Monday, January 25, 2021 - link
Plastic is a great material for a phone. I've seen what happens (damn near every time) to the phones of people who avoid using a case on their metal and glass devices so that they can feel those "premium" materials, and it's not pretty.MilaEaston - Tuesday, January 26, 2021 - link
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shabby - Friday, January 22, 2021 - link
I don't think you know what luxury means.Citypoint725 - Friday, January 22, 2021 - link
Pixel 5 is not marketed as a luxury phone...so your argument hold no truth.shabby - Friday, January 22, 2021 - link
Tell cbm80 not me1_rick - Friday, January 22, 2021 - link
For what you get it's not very luxurious. It's like buying a Ferrari with a Mustang's engine.