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Google Pixel 5: Release date, rumours, specs and leaks

August 20, 2020

Google's Pixel 4a was finally revealed on 3 August after months of speculation but that's not the last we will be seeing from Google and its smartphone offering this year. The company also teased a 5G version of the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 5, both of which are set to appear in "the coming months". 

You can read everything we know so far about the Google Pixel 4a 5G in our separate feature, but this feature focuses on everything we have heard so far about the Pixel 5. 

Release date and price

  • 30 September announcement?
  • Likely to be cheaper than Pixel 4 models
  • 9 countries confirmed

All the previous Pixel flagship models have been revealed at the October 'Made by Google' event, but a recent leak has suggested that teh Pixel 5 might be launched on 30 September. That's a little earlier than we'd expect, but there's no saying whether this date is just for a reveal, or for availability.

In terms of price, the Pixel 4 starts at £669 or $799, while the Pixel 4 XL starts at £829 or $899. Rumours are suggesting there's going to be a slight shift in strategy that sees the Pixel 5 coming in a little more affordable than previous models. The Pixel 4a 5G is rumoured to start at $499 so we'd expect the Pixel 5 to be a couple of hundred more than that.

Google has said the Pixel 5 would be available in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and Australia when it launches.

Pixel 5 design

  • Square camera housing
  • Matt glass rear?
  • Brushed aluminium frame

Google itself teased snippets of the Pixel 4 months before it was announced so perhaps the same will happen for the Pixel 5. So far, the company has only shown the Pixel 5 off from the side, but it looks like there is a brushed aluminium frame and a camera housing in the top left corner of the rear, like the Pixel 4.

Previous to the official tease from Google, David Kowalski (@xleaks7) leaked a design on Twitter, which shows a physical fingerprint sensor on the rear and a dual rear camera. This would support Google's image, though as the official image only shows the side of the Pixel 5, it is not yet clear if the device has a physical fingerprint sensor. 

An eariler leak from Front Page Tech's YouTube channel claimed the Pixel 5 will have a matt glass finish on the rear like the Pixel 4. As mentioned, the Google tease shows an aluminium body, certainly the edges - so it's not yet clear exactly what the back might offer.

Display 

  • Two sizes?
  • OLED likely
  • Higher refresh rate possible

The Pixel 4 has a 5.7-inch display, while the Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3-inch display. We're not sure the Pixel 5 will come in two sizes again, despite the Pixel line having done this since its launch. The Pixel 4a is only available in one size - sitting in the middle of the Pixel 3a and 3a XL in terms of screen size so perhaps Google will do the same for the Pixel 5.

According to Front Page Tech, the front of the Pixel 5 prototype still has a bezel at the top of the display, although there's rumours that Google will be dropping the Soli radar technology. That might mean there's less to pack into the top bezel so the Pixel 5 can be a little more competitive with design in this area - something the Kowalski leak suggests with its bezel-free appearance.

The Pixel 4 devices have a 90Hz refresh rate, OLED panels and HDR support so we'd expect the same for the Pixel 5, if not a step up to 120Hz refresh rate to compete with the Samsung Galaxy S20 range. Whether Google will see that as a priority is unknown.

Pixel 5 cameras 

  • Triple rear camera possible
  • Night Sight 
  • New features

The Google Pixel 5 could come with three cameras on the rear, matching the likes of the Apple iPhone 11 Pro. According to Front Page Tech, the third lens will be a wide angle lens. What we have seen is confirmation from a pre-release Google Camera app that the Pixel will have telephoto lens, so the zoom we can be pretty certain about. 

What might change, however, is Google's approach to cameras, with the departure of Marc Levoy, who is often credited with the success of the Pixel cameras. However, as the lead of a team, the departure of one person might not have a huge impact on the direction the camera take - and the camera has been one of the Pixel's strongest points.

We'd expect Google to continue offering features like Night Sight and the ability to capture the stars, with more improvements and features likely to appear on the Pixel 5. A decoding of the new Google Camera app suggested a feature codenamed Lasagna would appear on the Pixel 5 - said to be a blur effect, along with audio zoom to video, the addition of quick sharing to video and adding flash adjustment to the camera.

Hardware and specs

  • Qualcomm SD765G
  • 8GB RAM
  • Reverse wireless charging?
  • 5G confirmed

While previous Pixel models have been flagship positioned, there's rumours that Google might be looking to change the direction slightly. Having seen the success of the mid-range Pixel 3a, Google might be preparing to move the Pixel 5 onto Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G hardware. This hardware integrates 5G, but is much more affordable.

A listing appeared on AI-Benchmark website showing the Pixel 5 with the Snapdragon 765G and 8GB of RAM, supporting this theory and Google itself has confirmed the Pixel 5 is a 5G phone. 

Using the SD765G SoC might see a drop on the benchmark performance of this phone, but with Google's emphasis on cloud computing and AI, the real world losses for potential customers might not be that great. Indeed, paired with a more approachable price, we'd not expect any real difference to day-to-day performance against flagship hardware. 

A jump in battery capacity would also be welcomed. The Pixel 4 has a 2800mAh battery, while the Pixel 4 XL has a 3700mAh battery. A report has suggested the Pixel 5 could support reverse wireless charging, allowing it to charge other wireless charging compatible devices, but nothing is confirmed as yet.

In terms of biometrics, the Pixel 4 offered face unlock but no fingerprint sensor. While Soli made for great seamless unlocking on the Pixel, if that's to be ditched, it will likely revert to an under-display fingerprint sensor. Though if David Kowalski's leak is legit, Google could return to a physical rear sensor instead.

Google Pixel 5 rumours: What's happened so far?

This is everything that has been speculated about the Google Pixel 5 so far.

20 August 2020: Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G release dates hinted

A leak on Twitter suggests 30 September for the launch of the Pixel 5.

11 August 2020: Google Pixel 5 appears on benchmarking website with SD765G SoC

Pocketnow reported that the Google Pixel 5 appeared on AI-Benchmarking website with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G and 8GB of RAM. It was also shown to be running Android 11, as you would expect.

3 August 2020: Google pre-announces two 5G phones for October - Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G

As well as announcing the Pixel 4a, Google pre-announced two more devices in the Pixel range - the Pixel 4a (5G) starting at $499, and Pixel 5 which will also be a 5G handset. Both will make a full debut in October.

3 August 2020: Google Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 5G leak, claimed to start at $499

Ishan Agarwal - who has a decent track record with leaks - shared an image on Twitter claiming to present the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 5G. The same image was then shared by Google following the Pixel 4a launch.

30 July 2020: Google Camera code hints at Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, as well as upcoming camera features

A new version of Google Camera, version 7.5, contains details about future Pixel devices, as well as future features. It refers to the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a 5G, suggesting there will be no Pixel 5 XL this year.

There's also talk of a feature codenamed Lasanga - thought to be a motion blur effect - as well as audio zoom to video, the addition of quick sharing to video and adding flash adjustment to the camera.

6 July 2020: These leaked Pixel 5 renders supposedly reveal Google's next flagship

David Kowalski (@xleaks7) shared computer-generated images of what he claims is the Pixel 5, without revealing a source.  The renders show a dual camera, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner on the back and a single front camera in a left-aligned display cutout.

11 June 2020: Android 11 is on track

Instead of being revealed at Google I/O or a promised event which was then postponed, Google made Android 11's public beta available via press release in June. So expect it to be ready for full release by the end of the summer - and in plenty of time for the release of the Pixel 5 and 5XL.

15 May 2020: Google Pixel 5 might ditch the Soli chip

According to rumours from 9to5Google, the Soli radar chip might be ditched in the forthcoming Pixel 5.

13 May 2020: Pixel team loses key members

Reports from The Information reveal that key members of the Pixel development team have left, including Marc Levoy often credited with developing the camera and Mario Queiroz, general manager, who worked on Pixel from the beginning.

13 May 2020: Google Camera app reveals Pixel plans

Code from an unreleased version of the Google Camera app reveals references to 2020 phones with the codenames Redfin and Bramble, thought to be the Pixel 5 and Pixel 5 XL.

12 May 2020: Concept Pixel 5 design reveals new looks

A concept artist has come up with what the Pixel 5 might look like based on recent rumours and leaks.

19 February 2020: Pixel 5 could support reverse wireless charging 

XDA Developers spotted a hidden Battery Share menu in the first Android 11 Developer Preview for Pixel devices. According to the site, the Battery Share menu page says "your phone's battery will run out faster when using battery share. Battery share works with compatible ear buds, watches, phones, and more."

Reverse wireless charging isn't mentioned directly, nor is the Pixel 5, but the description is pretty much what reverse wireless charging is so it's not unreasonable to suggest it could be coming to the next Pixel device.

14 February 2020: Render of Pixel 5 XL appears on Twitter

A render of one of three prototypes of the Pixel 5 XL has been shown on Front Page Tech's YouTube channel showing another camera housing that is likely to divide opinion.

According to presenter Jon Prosser, the prototype has a matte glass finish like the current Pixel 4 and the third lens at the bottom of the housing is claimed to be an ultra-wide angle sensor.

17 January 2020: Google might be working on a mid-range 5G phone

Evidence from leaked code suggests that Google is developing two devices using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765. That would include 5G, but move out of the flagship bracket. The codenames for these devices are Redfin and Bramble and they could be the Pixel 5 and Pixel 5 XL.



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