Google Pixel 5a
- SoC
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
- Display
- RAM
- 6GB
- Storage
- 128GB
- Battery
- 4,680mAh
- Operating System
- Android 14
- Front camera
- 8MP, f/2.0
- Dimensions
- 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8mm
- Price
- From $449
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Pitting the Pixel 5a against the latest and greatest budget-friendly phone from Google, the Pixel 7a, may seem a little unfair. Still, you'd be surprised what tricks an over two-year-old phone can pull off – even without Google's very own Tensor chip onboard.
Google Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 5a: Which phone is the better value?
Google's mid-range smartphones keep getting better
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro may be Google's latest powerful new flagships, but you don't need to splurge on the latest and greatest to get the best mobile experience. Even with the recent release of the Pixel 7a, last year's Pixel 6a is still a surprisingly strong contender that remains at the top of our list of the best budget smartphones, thanks to the incredible value it offers for its lower price tag.
Older Pixels are losing 5G Standalone connectivity after the March update
The Pixel 4a (5G), 5, and 5a lose out on better 5G data and calls
The Google Pixel series routinely ranks among the best phones in the market, largely due to the promise of timely software updates. While the company's software support track record is decent, Pixel owners have routinely raised complaints about inadequate assistance on the hardware side or features that simply don't work as they should. A new Reddit post is now highlighting an issue with older Pixels running on Qualcomm silicon — specifically, the Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a — affecting the ways they can access 5G.
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Pixel 6 case meltdown: The bad decisions that doomed Google's design
Explaining how discoloration and deformation happen with the new cases, and how Google could have prevented it
First-party smartphone cases are usually premium products, commanding a higher cost than third-party equivalents. That’s offset by a certain expectation of quality; the company that made the phone can engineer a case that works with it perfectly, potentially offering better experience. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case with Google’s recent Pixel 6 cases, which are suffering issues such as yellowing and deforming more quickly than expected, and we can now tell you precisely why these problems are happening.
Google Pixel 5a vs. Apple iPhone SE 2022: Which should you buy?
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades
Not everyone can or wants to spend the extra cash for a thousand-dollar phone — frankly, the difference might not be worth it unless you need specific features you need. The Google Pixel 5a has been the Android Police choice for best sub-$500 smartphone, but if you're considering a switch to iOS (or simply don't care what software your phone runs), there's Apple's new 5G-equipped, mid-range iPhone SE to consider as well.
Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Pixel 5a: Which mid-range phone is best for you?
They're both good phones, but for different reasons
The mid-range phone race has really been heating up in recent years, with the best budget devices like the Samsung Galaxy A53 and the Google Pixel 5a offering great experiences at a fraction of the cost of flagship phones. Both of those phones are good in their own right, but not for the same reasons — and probably not for the same people.
It's the first Monday of the month, and if you're a Pixel owner, you know exactly what that means. April's security patch for Google's lineup of phones is here, and while it's not quite as exciting as a fully-fledged Feature Drop, there is a hint of good news for fans. This month's update includes the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, marking only the second on-time patch since last year's launch.
The saga of the so-called "C-band" frequencies is nearly over, but there's at least one new hiccup. Now that the FAA snafu has resolved, compatible devices are starting to get updates that add support for the new spectrum. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro just picked up support for Verizon's new C-band deployments. But, although Google previously updated the Pixel 5's FCC certification to include C-Band support, Google has announced that it isn't bringing C-band support to the Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, or Pixel 4a 5G — all of which share similar hardware.
New Feature Drop update leaves out Pixel 6, improves Live Caption & Live Translate
Plus the long-awaited battery widget
The March Feature Drop update, based on the brand new Android 12L release, is here for Pixels — excluding the Pixel 6, anyway. The new update brings Live Caption functionality to voice calls, brings Live Translate to Spanish, expands the dynamic notifications displayed by the At a Glance widget, and adds the long-awaited and much-teased battery widget for connected devices, among other changes. As for the Pixel 6, Google tells us it needs some extra time to test and validate fixes for a few bugs. The update is expected to land for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro later this month.
Pixel 6 and 6 Pro get their first on-time update with Google's February patch
Now available for Pixel 3a and newer
We're only a week into February, but we've already seen this month's patch hit a handful of Samsung phones. If you're rocking a Pixel, there's no need to feel left out any longer. Google's ready to join the party with a new update for its current devices, including, most notably, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
Netflix plays things pretty close to the chest. When a new phone comes out, it most likely won't be able to access Netflix content in the highest available quality. Instead, you have to wait for Netflix to add it to the supported list. It just did that for Google's latest Pixel phones.
The Pixel 5a is almost a swan-song for an older smartphone era. Released three years ago, this would be a flagship phone, with billboards and TV spots promoting it. Enthusiasts would even have loved the logic that went into designing it: Finally, someone is making the battery bigger and the camera bump smaller! But now, in 2022, it cruises under the radar as a sleeper hit, cult favorite, and one of the best phones no one is talking about.
Google Pixels get the January update with MS Teams 911 call fix — excluding the Pixel 6
The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro won't get it until later this month
Google has started rolling out the January update for Pixels. I know, it's a Tuesday, and they usually land on Monday, but that sometimes happens on holiday weekends. There's one other big kink, though: The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro aren't in on the party just yet. Google notes that the update for its latest phones will be delayed until later in January.
Google's supersized December update for Pixel phones includes a ton of fixes for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
But you'll have to wait a little while longer to install it
On the heels of a Pixel Feature Drop, Google is also bringing a long line of changes to its lineup of phones. In addition to the December 2021 security patch, this month's update includes more than 100 fixes and tweaks to devices — most notably, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. If you've been having problems with your latest flagship smartphone, Google might be here to save the day.
Google details the Pixel 6's recent update while the Pixel 3 is left behind
We've got a changelog for Pixel 6 and 6 Pro's day-one update, but it's the end of the line for the Pixel 3 series
Read update
Google has released the November update for its Pixels — which the Pixel 6 series got a bit early last week. Changes included in that update are finally documented, though, including a few specific fixes for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Unfortunately for Pixel 3 owners, that phone has just reached end of life, and though Google tells us a final wrap-up update is planned for next year, it isn't included in this month's updates.
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The Pixel 6 deserves Google's awesome fabric cases, not the boring ones we got instead
Please bring back the fabric cases
For years, one of my favorite perks of Pixel ownership — outside the Assistant features like automatic call screening, the regular pleasure of Feature Drop updates, and the always-great camera — has been the cases. Google’s own fabric cases, to be specific. They’re a little chunky and not the most protective, but I’ve always loved their texture and quality. Or, at least, I did until the Pixel 5a came out with a new and more boring case style. Hoping that was a fluke rather than a permanent change in strategy, I was eagerly awaiting the Pixel 6 and the chance it might bring them back, but that didn’t pan out either. So far as we can tell, the fabric cases are dead, but I wish Google would bring them back.
Google's camera magic always comes to the latest Pixel devices in the form of software. This year, we got the new Magic Eraser tool to help remove unwanted objects from the background of pictures. This was pitched as an exclusive feature for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but only a day after the first customers are holding the new phone in their hands, Magic Eraser is already available on other Pixel devices running Android 12.
Google has 113 totally serious reasons for you to switch to Pixel
Especially if you're still rocking an old LG phone
Google has a slate of new phones ready for launch later this week, and in case you haven't heard, we're pretty excited about them. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro might represent the best devices the company has ever launched and a great time for anyone to upgrade from an older model. If you haven't been convinced to switch from Samsung or Apple, maybe Google's exhaustively long list of selling points will be enough to convince you.
The best Google Pixel 5a cases
From all-around winners to super-protective chonksters and everything in between
Once you've decided on and purchased your new phone (a Pixel 5a, in this case), the second question most folks ask themselves is: What case should I pair it with? Unless you're the sort to live dangerously, a case is a cheap and replaceable protective part that can make what might be a major investment last longer. But the Pixel 5a has a pretty lovely bio-resin-coated metal body that's almost a shame to cover up, so you may as well get something nice to put on top of it. Here are our favorite picks across a few different categories.
LineageOS arrives to trick out your Pixel 5a
For those who want to go a step further than Google's software
LineageOS not only helps older and lower-end phones get a taste of the latest Android, but it also provides even more capable devices with an alternative firmware option. In the case of phones that arrive with their own skins, like models from Samsung and Xiaomi, LineageOS offers an opportunity to enjoy some stock-looking Android. If you just bought an all-new Pixel 5a and want to install LineageOS on it, now you can do so, as builds are becoming available.