Should you go from a Pixel 2 or 3 to the Pixel 5?

More people upgrade their phones every 2-3 years, a timeframe often dictated by carrier promotions and contract offers. While our readers are likely going against this trend, Pixel owners who have kept the same model for the past 2-3 years are likely considering upgrading it. In the case of the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, there isn’t a whole lot of choice – it’s either that or stick with a phone that’s less and less secure each month. So, is the Pixel 5 a worthy upgrade? For some of our readers, that may be the case, especially if they were waiting for the Pixel 4, as we generally recommend. But it’s not the only phone Pixel fans should consider.

A return to form

A good reason Pixel 2 and 3 owners might want to choose a Pixel 5 is the familiar form factor and features. Last year’s Pixel 4 ditched the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor in favor of new facial recognition, but reliable, tactile technology is back with the Pixel 5. That means less transition during of the transition to the new telephone.

For Pixel 2 owners, the new Pixel 5 has a similar construction with a metal body and back, unlike the glass and aluminum sandwich of the Pixel 3 and 4. Personally, I don’t mind the glass backs, but they are. objectively a little trickier when dropped, and some people get annoyed about that sort of thing. On top of that, the Pixel 5 handles the impossible: a metal back with wireless charging.

If you’re coming from a Pixel 2 or 3 series phone, the Pixel 5 will feel right at home in your hand.

Wide angle> telephoto

Personally, I prefer a telephoto lens over a wide angle because I know the photos I usually take benefit more from a tighter view. But I also admit that I am generally alone in this opinion. If you take a lot of landscape photos or just prefer the wider view and flexibility it offers, the Pixel 5 fixes what you might consider a mistake on the Pixel 4 by including a wide-angle camera.

It’s great too, and probably the best wide camera I’ve used on a smartphone. It even works with Google’s astrophotography mode (although the results in this mode are much louder and weird compared to the main mode).

Ultra-wide camera photo gallery on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 (which has an identical camera).

Unfortunately, Google did not choose to include the usual three types of flagship cameras and give us a wide angle. and telephoto lens to increase the primary – an omission that we hope is corrected next year. But the Pixel 5 has the same great Pixel camera that Pixel 2 and 3 owners have come to expect, this time paired with improved wide-angle chops.

The Pixel experience

One of the main reasons Pixel owners might want to stick with the same brand is the software. Not all Android skins are created equal and Google’s flavor is one of the best. Of course, there are a lot of features that Samsung does first with its kitchen sink-like One UI, but if you like the more minimal stock approach, this is probably the best version of that. here, and it comes with some great perks like automatic call screening, the new Hold For Me feature, and a faster built-in assistant.

On top of that, you can expect regular monthly security updates, the fastest possible version upgrades, and quarterly feature drops, which actually bring useful features. You can expect a steady trickle of things, like the new “security check” feature that debuted earlier this summer for the Pixel 4, or the power menu wallet and the “shutdown” press feature. ” of spring.

However, it should be noted that there are two features that you are going to to lose upgrade to the Pixel 5. On the one hand, you’ll avoid pressing Active Edge to activate the Google Assistant. Most of our readers have used it, so its omission might be disappointing. You will also lose the old unlimited original quality photo backups, as phones that follow the Pixel 4 no longer ship with them.

Pixel fans shouldn’t ignore the other options

The Pixel 5 might be Google’s latest phone, but it might not be the only phone you should consider. Samsung’s software has changed over the past few years, and with crazy offerings like the Galaxy S20 FE, it’s worth at least a look before you stick with the Pixel line. OnePlus has started to deviate a bit more from the original look with its software, but it’s still a most a familiar experience for those coming from a Pixel and devices like the 8 Pro, 8T, or the Nord might be worth a look. But if you’re a big fan of Pixel software, there’s simply no replacement. That still leaves room for two other new phones.

If you’re on a tight budget and need to upgrade now, consider the Pixel 4a as well. It may be a step up in speed, but it’s a good cheap and very durable phone that will continue to receive updates long after the Pixel 2 is left behind, although Pixel 3 owners might. want to wait a little longer if they can.

There’s another phone you should consider as well: the Pixel 4a 5G. If you were hoping for an XL sized version or just want to save a little money, this is mostly the same phone, just missing a handful of features like smoother 90Hz screen, a bit of RAM and battery capacity, IP rating, wireless charging, and it replaces the metal body with plastic. It’s definitely a step back in some ways, but it’s also just $ 500, and if not fundamentally a Pixel 5 XL.

Even in 2020, the Pixel 2 and 3 series represent a huge number of phones in our top ten browsing stats. Our most recent figures from last month show that over 8% of our readers are still using them. It’s not up to us to upgrade, but now is a great time to start shopping. With sales expected over the next couple of months, it’s time for Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 owners to figure out what they might be looking for.