Wondering when we might get a release date for the Google Pixel 5? Here’s what we know so far
The Google Pixel 5 release date is no doubt a long way off. In fact, we’re still waiting on the launch of the mid-range Google Pixel 4a. That said, there’s nothing like a bit of speculation to tide us over as we wait impatiently for the Next Big Thing from the tech giant.
As it happens, we’re not alone. You’re here because you want to know when the Google Pixel 5 will launch; how much it will cost; and what Google will do to reclaim the title of Android champion.
The good news is, we have the answers – or at least, the closest thing to answers at this very, very early stage. For everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 5, read on.
Google Pixel 5: Everything we know so far
Google Pixel 5 release date: When will it launch?
We don’t know when the Google Pixel 5 will launch, and if we somehow did, we’d no doubt have Sundar Pichai on the phone threatening us with legal action. Fortunately, we have precedent to work with.
Precedent tells us that Google likes the month of October. The Google 4 launched on 24 October 2019; the Pixel 3, on 18 October 2018 (in the US); the Pixel 2, on 19 October 2017; and the Google Pixel, on 21 February 2017. Alright, so that last one is a bit of an anomaly – or it would be, but for the fact that the phone was announced on 4 October 2016.
The reason for this is simple: Google hosts its Made by Google event every year at the same time. We therefore predict that the Google Pixel 5 will launch – you guessed it – October 2020.
Google Pixel 5 price: How much will it cost?
Frankly, there’s no way we’ll know how much the Pixel 5 will cost until the handset launches. In the meantime, let’s run through those phones again:
- Google Pixel 4 launch price: From £669
- Google Pixel 3 launch price: From £739
- Google Pixel 2 launch price: From £629
- Google Pixel launch price: From £599
As you can see, there’s no real trend. If we had to make a prediction, we’d say that the base level handset probably won’t break the £800 mark; Google phones do tend to marginally undercut their competitors on price, although obviously you’ll pay more for increased storage – and more again for the XL models.
Google Pixel 5 specs and features: What will it do differently?
This would be where we’d put our Google Pixel 5 leaks… If we had any. To keep us all mildly entertained while we wait, here’s a wishlist of things we’d like to see.
A better battery
Google Pixel smartphones have catastrophically bad batteries. This has been the case since the original Pixel launched all those years ago, and in truth, very little has changed. Given how far smartphone battery technology has come, there’s really no excuse – the Pixel 5 needs a better battery.
More stuff for Soli
Soli is Google’s motion-sense technology. Introduced with the Pixel 4, it can currently only do a few things: you can wave your hand to skip songs or stop alarms, but that’s about it. It’s the sort of technology that will fall very quickly by the wayside unless we can get more use out of it in future.
A fingerprint sensor
Fingerprint sensors are so commonplace now that there’s something a bit unnerving about not having one. Google ditched its own version because it had faith in its facial recognition software, which immediately proved to be misplaced: the software had a bug that meant users could unlock their phone even with their eyes shut. Bring back the fingerprint sensor, please.
MicroSD support
One of the benefits of Android handsets is that the storage, no matter how limited, can almost always be expanded via microSD. It stands to reason, then, that the cleanest, most organic Android experience – a Google Pixel phone – should wear this great feature with pride. And yet, not one Pixel has had microSD support.
It’s maddening to think that Google won’t roll over on the matter, particularly given how little storage Pixel phones tend to have in comparison to the competition.
We’ll be regularly updating this page with the latest Google Pixel 5 rumours, so check back again soon.