Is anyone else underwhelmed by the 5?

[Mike Dee]

What exactly do you expect external speakers on a phone to do? I'm curious about the use case.

Please re-read my post. I don't rely on my speakers much.
It's not about a specific use case, but people who do use them should expect sound quality not to go backwards.

Imagine the Pixel photos taking a step back in quality and someone who doesn't use the camera much saying that "it's not like a phone should be a camera. A camera on a phone can get you by."

 

[Torisen1]

Please re-read my post. I don't rely on my speakers much.
It's not about a specific use case, but people who do use them should expect sound quality not to go backwards.

Imagine the Pixel photos taking a step back in quality and someone who doesn't use the camera much saying that "it's not like a phone should be a camera. A camera on a phone can get you by."

So you don't really have an answer. Photos if that was in question I could understand that.

 

[sulla1965]

I'm not seeing a lot of love for the P5 here - wondering if it is time to cancel the pre-order at Best Buy -

I'd wait for a price drop, $699 is just too much for a non flagship device.

 

[Mike Dee]

So you don't really have an answer. Photos if that was in question I could understand that.

That was my answer. My point is because the speaker sound quality isn't important to you, doesn't make it less important to someone else.

 

[Torisen1]

That was my answer. My point is because the speaker sound quality isn't important to you, doesn't make it less important to someone else.

Neither of us has had real world experience with said speakers yet.

 

[Mike Dee]

Neither of us has had real world experience with said speakers yet.

The videos are out there, but if it works for you that's all that matters.

 

[straygator]

It appears that "speaker sound quality" might be the Pixel 5's equivalent of the "blue shift screen" for the Pixel 2XL -- a deal-breaker for some, but an immaterial issue for others. I bought the P2XL even though it clearly had the "blue shift" effect when the screen was tilted. The "blue shift" was something I stopped noticing or caring about within a couple of days. Meanwhile, two-and-a-half years later, my P2XL is still functioning flawlessly, running for more than a full day on the original battery, and producing spectacular photos -- which, ironically, look so stunningly beautiful on that same "defective" display that they routinely elicit complimentary "oohs and ahhs" when viewed by others.

If there's one lesson I've learned from following the discourse on this forum over the past few years, it's this: No one is going to deem any phone to be perfect in every respect. If you're going to be dissatisfied with the device because some feature is not included or is not up to the standard of quality you desire, the sensible course is simply to purchase another product, assuming you can find one that will better serve your needs. But if the device is one that you believe will prove to be a comfortable fit and fulfill your normal usage requirements, despite the fact that it may be lacking in one or more respects, you'll be much happier to shrug off those minor shortcomings and just enjoy the benefits of having a phone that is, on balance, the best available for you.

I'll be sad to put my P2XL out to pasture, but based on my usage requirements and personal preferences, I anticipate that the Pixel 5 will be a great fit and a delightful device to serve me for the next 2-3 years. YMMV.

 

[elvee68]

I'm not concerned about the speaker quality at all. I use bluetooth about 100% of the time and on the rare occasion I use the speakers, as long I can hear it, is all I need.

 

[anthonium]

No concerns however I'm a bargain shopper so I'm waiting until black friday to see if there will be a discount on the phone. last year the 4 was $200 off on black friday.

Waiting for the official reviews to be released. Wonder why Google isn't allowing any official reviews just yet. Some people already received the device. Hmm...

 

[Mike Dee]

It appears that "speaker sound quality" might be the Pixel 5's equivalent of the "blue shift screen" for the Pixel 2XL -- a deal-breaker for some, but an immaterial issue for others. I bought the P2XL even though it clearly had the "blue shift" effect when the screen was tilted. The "blue shift" was something I stopped noticing or caring about within a couple of days. Meanwhile, two-and-a-half years later, my P2XL is still functioning flawlessly, running for more than a full day on the original battery, and producing spectacular photos -- which, ironically, look so stunningly beautiful on that same "defective" display that they routinely elicit complimentary "oohs and ahhs" when viewed by others.

If there's one lesson I've learned from following the discourse on this forum over the past few years, it's this: No one is going to deem any phone to be perfect in every respect. If you're going to be dissatisfied with the device because some feature is not included or is not up to the standard of quality you desire, the sensible course is simply to purchase another product, assuming you can find one that will better serve your needs. But if the device is one that you believe will prove to be a comfortable fit and fulfill your normal usage requirements, despite the fact that it may be lacking in one or more respects, you'll be much happier to shrug off those minor shortcomings and just enjoy the benefits of having a phone that is, on balance, the best available for you.

I'll be sad to put my P2XL out to pasture, but based on my usage requirements and personal preferences, I anticipate that the Pixel 5 will be a great fit and a delightful device to serve me for the next 2-3 years. YMMV.

The blue shift was a defect and did not affect all of the 2XLs.

 

[cbreze]

So you don't really have an answer. Photos if that was in question I could understand that.

I have an answer regarding speaker quality. I have heard several negative comments about the sound quality being kinda poor. I heard a test on a you tube vid comparing the 5 to the 4's speakers. Was quite noticeable, the 5's sounding muffled, tinny and distant. To be sure it's only one test on store demo units but speaker quality is important to me personally because while I rarely listen to music I do use my phone for white noise as I fall asleep. I have a hard enough time getting to sleep and it really helps. Crap speakers destroy that experience. A $700 phone better have at least as good of speakers as the phone it is replacing. Supposed to be an upgrade after all. My Pixel 2 speakers sound very good and I cannot justify a lesser experience speaker quality wise on a 3 year newer device. Cant stand to wear ear buds or have anything stuck in my ears, major uncomfortable and don't stay in. Then there is You Tube videos, I listen and watch them a lot as I go about my day. Sound quality is important.
So something like speaker quality does matter a lot to some folks. I'll be passing on the 5 and that's one of the reasons. Kinda ticks me off that they skimp on speaker quality. My iPhone SE has better sounding speakers than the Pixel 5.

 

[bembol]

This is why they are (Apple, Google, Samsung) a Billion dollar (in Apple's case, Trillion) companies.

As simple as speakers and they can't give to us? I figure we'd have 4 speakers by now but then Apple decided to inv...I meant remove the 3.5mm headphone jack.

I get it, like I said it's business not personal.

I'm surprised Samsung is still had microSD cards.

 

[mrcastro]

nope it is exactly what I need in a phone. for context my current phone is an s9, the last 2 phones i had were an htc 10 and an htc m8. I hate how phones are getting bigger and bigger, but the pixel is slightly bigger than my s9 so it shouldnt be that much of a difference.
128 gb is more than enough for me. I dont need a headphone jack, so I am not really worried about it not having one. about 6-8 years ago i would have preffered a headphone jack but now my car's stereos connect with bluetooth which is the only time I would have needed a headphone jack. I will probably buy some usb C headphones to have just in case when i do need to use headphones( like in school or like waiting at an airport lounge would be the few times I would probably need it)
it is reasonably priced as well, I hate how flagship phones are now $900+.
as far as camera goes It will do just fine for me. If I wanted to take better pictures I would buy a professional DSLR camera.
Someone brought up the pixel 5 might have lackluster speakers, well to me the best speakers I have had were on my HTC m8 and nothing has come close to it.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Those of us who have owned Pixels in the past (I had 1, 2, 3) know that not having all of the latest and greatest specs hasn't meant an inferior experience. Google's devices have always followed the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

I'm a pretty good cook, but you give me the finest kitchen and ingredients and have me prepare the same dish as a skilled chef using lesser equipment and ingredients and what I plate out will be lesser every time.

I went from the 3 XL to the S20 FE as I had a deal far too good to pass up, which was several hundred less than I expect to see the Pixel 5 at even if it seems a Black Friday sale. It's a great device, but lacks in camera performance compared to the 3 XL on most shots, even with GCam installed, isn't as natural to navigate the UI (I've installed another launcher and googlified it as best I can)... If I could turn it in for a Pixel 5 at the same cost or even paying an extra 100 I'd do it in a heartbeat.

The only areas I expect I might find 'lesser' on the 5 would be a slightly less brilliant screen, speaker performance, and battery life (getting 8+ hours SOT with the S20 FE is amazing!) - though I anticipate the 5 will, with a more efficient processor, smaller display (though still comparable to the 3 XL if you discount the notch area, and much more 1-hand- and pocket-friendly buddy), and 90 vs 120 Hz display, still offer ample battery life - easily far longer than I enjoyed as fully sufficient on the 3 XL before it went south.

No matter what phone one buys there's always one with better specs available or imminent to be released. The 5 gave up on trying to complete in the premium flagship prices category - if one wants the best of the best of specs, it doesn't have it, but I think (based on my early perception) one would be hard pressed to find a phone that is so intuitively easy to use and (hopefully) doesn't have any grave shortcoming beyond a speaker design that might be a step in the wrong direction — though I'm reserving judgement on that till I hear it first hand.

 

[Morty2264]

Those of us who have owned Pixels in the past (I had 1, 2, 3) know that not having all of the latest and greatest specs hasn't meant an inferior experience. Google's devices have always followed the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Wow. Couldn't agree with you more here!

 

[anthonium]

Yikes. I just saw the iPhone 12 event...the mini device is attracting me more than the Pixel 5 (same price). And I've been an android user for the majority of my smartphone life! What to do...

 

[Mike Dee]

Yikes. I just saw the iPhone 12 event...the mini device is attracting me more than the Pixel 5 (same price). And I've been an android user for the majority of my smartphone life! What to do...

Why....what did you see that excites you?

 

[idiotekniques]

The mini has a 5.4" screen with that notch to boot. Way too small to me.

 

[cbreze]

Yeah, either you like the smaller size or you don’t. Everybody has their preferences. Personally I like a small phone, but the notch might be an issue for me. For me, a phone that fits easily into a shirt pocket is a big plus. With the introduction of iOS 14 Apple has finally given users some options for customization and iPhones aren’t as boring as they used to be. I’m thinking the mini will be a homerun for them and quite popular.

 

[EMGSM]

I'm still on the fence between the 5 and 4a 5g. IMO both are underwhelming compared to something like Samsung flagships but are upgrades to my P3XL.