\n\nEver since Google got into the mid-range phone game with the Pixel 3a, Google\u2019s most affordable handsets have just been getting better and better. And when you combine all of Google\u2019s Pixel-only software features with an even bigger screen, improved durability, and new support for water resistance on the new Pixel 5a, it really feels like Google\u2014not Motorola or OnePlus\u2014is the new king of mid-range handsets. And better yet, with a price tag of $450, the Pixel 5a might be Google\u2019s best value ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Design: Basic, but in a good way
Like previous Pixel A-series phones, the Pixel 5a couldn\u2019t be any simpler. You get a beautiful 2400 x 1080 OLED display, stereo speakers, a punch-hole selfie shooter, two rear cameras, USB-C port, and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor\u2014basically all the standard features you\u2019d expect on a modern smartphone. And once again, the Pixel 5a still has a 3.5mm jack for wired audio (but no microSD card slot).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t upgrades, and on the Pixel 5a, Google has been quite clever in its strategy\u2014especially considering the ongoing global chip crunch. Standing at 6.34-inches diagonally, the Pixel 5a\u2019s screen is the biggest on any Pixel A-series phone yet, while also boasting excellent brightness that hit upwards of 800 nits during our testing. So even though fans of small may be disappointed that there isn\u2019t a pint-sized Pixel A this year, giving everyone else more screen for the money is a valuable addition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, on the inside, Google has switched over to a new metal chassis that\u2019s covered with a matte black plastic shell, combining improved strength with a soft-touch finish that\u2019s quite nice to hold. And for the first time ever on a Pixel A phone, the Pixel 5a features IP-67 water resistance, so you don\u2019t have to worry about an errant splash or a drop in the toilet ruining your day (it\u2019s ok, it happens to everyone). Finally, in back, the Pixel 5a features two rear cameras that Google says are exactly the same as what came on last year\u2019s mainline Pixel 5 (more on those later). It\u2019s practically everything you could really want or need on a mid-range phone aside from wireless charging (which would be nice, but is an understandable omission).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and one important note about the Pixel 5a is that while it does come with a power brick included in the box, this may be the last time Google does that. Like a lot of other smartphone makers, Google has been planning to stop bundling power bricks with phones to help cut down on e-waste; according to the company, the number of people who don\u2019t already have a USB-C is getting to the point where shipping phones with power bricks is becoming redundant. Look, I don\u2019t make the rules, but that\u2019s how it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Performance: When a 1-year-old chip is still more than enough
One of the aspects affected most by the global chip crunch is the availability of processors, so instead of upgrading to a brand new SoC, Google stuck with Qualcomm\u2019s Snapdragon 765G\u2014the same chip Google used in the regular Pixel 5. And you know what, it still holds up. Sure, it\u2019s not a powerhouse by any means, but the 765G (along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage) more than held its own in benchmarks compared to other mid-range phones like the TCL 20 Pro 5G (review on that coming soon). It was also enough to keep apps and games feeling smooth and stutter-free (unless you\u2019re playing intense FPS titles), which is all I\u2019m really looking for in a mid-range handset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one strange wrinkle is that while the Pixel 5 has support for both mmWave and sub-6 Ghz 5G\u2014despite having the same chip, the Pixel 5a only supports sub-6GHz 5G connectivity. This means you\u2019ll be able to tap into the wider coverage areas that you get with sub-6Ghz, but you won\u2019t get those super-fast 1000 Mbps+ download speeds that mmWave 5G often provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pixel software experience
Now, I don\u2019t always talk about the software on Android phones because nowadays device makers have gotten pretty good at nailing the basics. But when you take into account all of Google\u2019s Pixel-specific features like its Personal Safety app, Call Screener, Live Captions, and more, it really feels like Pixels make the most out of today\u2019s AI-powered capabilities. And with three full years of OS and security updates, you\u2019re getting longer support than rival phones from companies like Motorola, which often stops sending out updates after a year or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Life: Simply divine
Frankly, the Pixel 5a\u2019s battery life is so long, I thought our video rundown test was broken. But then I tested it three more times just to be sure, and the results are simply fantastic. With an average battery life of 18 hours and 18 minutes, the Pixel 5a has some of the best longevity we\u2019ve ever seen, beating out every phone I\u2019ve tested this year by at least an hour. So while not everyone loves a huge screen, going larger on its display also meant Google had more room for a bigger battery, and on the Pixel 5a, that tactic truly paid off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For $450, why buy anything else?
I will admit that there is one comparison I have been conveniently ignoring up until now, which is how the Pixel 5a stacks up against Chinese phones with big specs from companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, and others. But my reasoning is simple: They\u2019re not really in the same category. Because, while you can get a phone with big specs for under $500, none of those phones are officially available in the U.S., which means they aren\u2019t a viable option for a lot of people in the land of Uncle Sam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top that, because of the ongoing chip crunch, the Pixel 5a will only be available in two markets\u2014the U.S. (unlocked only) and Japan (via Softbank)\u2014which means the Pixel 5a isn\u2019t really competing with the Vivos or Realmes of the world either. But most importantly, while a lot of mid-range Chinese phones place a much heavier emphasis on processors and RAM, with the Pixel 5a, Google is focused on simplicity and usability more than anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pixel 5a has all of a phone\u2019s most important bases covered. It\u2019s got a great screen, a straightforward design (now with water resistance), thoughtful software, and better battery life than anything I\u2019ve seen in recent history (and it\u2019s not even close). And if it was my money, I\u2019d be struggling to come up with reasons to buy anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy Google Pixel Battery<\/a> Online and Enjoy Great Deals & Lowest Price at Batteriestar.com<\/a>.\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ever since Google got into the mid-range phone game with the Pixel 3a, Google\u2019s most affordable handsets have just been getting better and better. And when you combine all of Google\u2019s Pixel-only software features with an even bigger screen, improved durability, and new support for water resistance on the new Pixel 5a, it really feels […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n