Tag Archives: Pixel

Behind the scenes with a Pixel camera product manager

Pixels have always been known for their incredible cameras. The recently-launched Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are no exception, and include new features like Night Sight in Portrait Mode and Cinematic Pan. 

Anyone can enjoy these new capabilities—or at the very least, the photos they produce. But we thought photography buff and Pixel Camera product manager Isaac Reynolds was best-suited to take us inside what’s new, and even let us in on his photo and video background.

What originally got you into photography?

I wish I remembered! When I scroll way back in Google Photos, I can see I photographed my first airshow at an air force base near Seattle in 2008. That desire to remember special moments beautifully and permanently stays with me today. Since then I’ve gotten into videography as well. It’s so much more challenging and time-consuming, but more rewarding and flexible, creatively. 

What subjects and styles do you like?

Most of my photos are landscapes, since I go on a lot of scenic drives and camping trips. Some of the photos I love the most were taken just pulling over on the side of the road when the conditions were right. Other times I go out of my way at sunrise or sunset to be in the right place at the right time. And I still love airshows.

  • Pixel portrait

    A selection of photos Isaac took with his Pixel. 

  • Pixel landscape

    A selection of photos Isaac took with his Pixel. 

  • Pixel photo

    A selection of photos Isaac took with his Pixel. 

  • Pixel photo

    A selection of photos Isaac took with his Pixel. 

  • Pixel photo

    A selection of photos Isaac took with his Pixel. 

What’s your favorite new feature on the Pixel Camera?

I’m most excited about the video quality on these phones and all of the work we did to make that happen. Cinematic Pan is my personal favorite feature. Fused Video Stabilization on Pixel has always been excellent for correcting shaky hands, but we learned that pros use it as a creative tool more than corrective. Cinematic Pan is designed to allow for specific motions, the same way the pros use rails and dollies in Hollywood to move precisely—but without the equipment and expense.

How were you able to make such big improvements to video quality?

We really started from the basics, looking at fundamental quality improvements. Then we watched videos we loved, like blockbuster movies, and brought in a professional videographer to learn more about what makes the difference between professional and casual content. Cinematic Pan is the result of that investigation. 

It’s also really helped us improve the fundamentals. The exposures are more dramatic, with richer, more accurate colors and tones. Video is also smoother, even in the new 4K60 mode, which is 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, that we introduced for the first time on Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5. This means you can enjoy the creative options of 60 frames per second at the same time as the enhanced quality of 4K in some video modes on the new Pixel phones. 

We’ve also been able to bring smoother video back to Pixel 3 and newer phones, so if you have an earlier generation Pixel, it should be a better tool for you soon. 

Pixel Portrait Mode has been incredibly popular since it launched. How were you able to build on it?

Portrait Mode is definitely super popular; another popular feature is Night Sight, which we introduced in 2018, so people could take beautiful photos even in dimly lit settings. So we thought—why not combine them? That’s precisely what we did with Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5. You can open Portrait and in very low light and Night Sight technology will automatically activate to give you incredible low-light portraits.

I’m also really excited about Portrait Light, which we just introduced. We learned from our users that great lighting is key to great portraits, and bad lighting is one of the most common reasons to discard one. So we added Portrait Light, which automatically improves the lighting in all camera modes without the photographer needing to do anything. Then you can edit that photo later in Google Photos to create even more dramatic or flattering lighting. You can also do the same with any photo, even if it was taken decades ago, or with another camera. 

Do you have any “insider tips” for folks who use Pixel Camera?

I would say start taking advantage of Time Lapse for hand-held capture. It runs stabilization, so it’s great for handheld shots. And while you’re recording in the sped up Time Lapse speed, you can toggle back “normal speed” at any point, so you can easily capture dialog or important moments more naturally. And it can turn what would be a two-minute video into something under 20 seconds that’s perfect for posting on social media.

In my experience, there are some situations that are perfect for handheld Time Lapse shots: unwrapping gifts, cutting a birthday cake, cooking, hiking or skateboarding, driving winding roads, skiing, pedestrians flowing across busy streets, taking off or landing in an airplane and feeding a toddler. 

What do you think the future holds for smartphone cameras?

We already know what it has done socially; it’s made photos a form of communication more convenient than words. In terms of quality, lots of people will tell you about the long-term limitations, but I’ve watched this team break enough “limits” that I don’t subscribe to that thinking. I’ll be following along with excitement the same as everyone else.

Accessory inspiration, courtesy of the Pixel team

A few weeks ago, Google introduced the Pixel 4a (5G) and the Pixel 5. And new Pixels mean new Pixel accessories, starting with the new Made by Google cases. 

As part of Google’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, the outer fabric of our new cases are made with 70 percent recycled materials. In fact, assuming each bottle contains about nine grams of plastic, two recycled plastic bottles can provide enough knitted outer fabric for five cases. 

We did all of this while delivering a pop of color. In addition to the Blue Confetti, Static Gray and Basically Black, we’re adding two new colors: Green Chameleon for the Pixel 5 and Chili Flakes for Pixel 4a (5G).

  • Pixel 5 Case Sustainability
  • pixel case


  • Pixel 5 Case

Cases are only the beginning, though. How you outfit your phone says a lot about you, so we decided to find out what different members of the Pixel team are using in order to get some accessory inspiration. 

Nicole Laferriere, Pixel Program Manager
No more battery anxiety! The iOttie iON Duo is my perfect WFH companion because it allows me to simultaneously wirelessly charge my Pixel 5 and Pixel Buds. The stand provides a great angle so I never miss a notification and charges my Pixel quickly. And I love the custom Pixel Bud-shaped charging pad because it fits them so perfectly, and there’s no waiting to see if the device starts charging.

Ocie Henderson, Digital Store Certification Lead
What’s your favorite accessory and why?: I love the Power Support CLAW for Stadia because it’s my favorite way to game-on-the-go. 2020 has definitely impacted the amount of places I can go, of course, and the places I’m able to eat. Fortunately the drive-thru is still an option, and my Power Support CLAW can sit atop my Stadia Controller and transform my wait into an opportunity to adventure, too. 

Helen Hui, Technical Program Manager 
Moment lenses are my go-to accessory whenever I go hiking. With the lens on Pixel phones, I can skip the heavy digital camera and still achieve stunning results. Last December, I used the Moment Telephoto 58mm Lens and my Pixel 4 to capture stunning photos of Antelope Canyon in Arizona. I can't wait to try the new Moment case for Pixel 5.

Janelle Stribling, Pixel Product Marketing
When I'm not working, I'm always on the go—I especially love discovering new hiking trails, so my must-have accessory is my iOttie wireless car charger. I can attach my Pixel 5 with one hand and then I'm hands-free the rest of the drive since I can use Google Assistant and Google Maps to find my destination. I love arriving with a full battery so I can start capturing photos of the views immediately!

Nasreen Shad, Pixel Product Manager
Now more than ever, I like starting off each day working from home with a morning routine with my Pixel Stand. I keep it on my nightstand and use the Sunrise Alarm to gradually brighten my phone’s screen for a gentle wake up. With the new home controls, I can easily change my thermostat settings and turn on my living room lights before even getting out of bed. Once I’m up and at it, Google Assistant gives me daily briefing of headlines from my favorite news outlets And lucky for me, my San Francisco apartment is small enough that I can leave my Pixel on the Pixel Stand and play some music while I get warmed up for a morning jog.

Our next steps on the journey to sustainable hardware

As we continue to experience the effects of climate change across the world and in our own backyards, being responsible for our impact on the environment and in our community is essential. Earlier this year, Google announced our climate action plan for the next decade, our most ambitious yet. And today, we want to tell you about our progress and share additional sustainability goals that Google’s consumer hardware team is committed to. 


More sustainable products 

Last year, consumer hardware made public our ambition to leave people, the planet and our communities better than we found them. We committed that all of our products would include recycled materials by 2022.

We hit that goal early: This year all of the new Pixel and Nest products are designed with recycled material.

The back housing (or the back cover) of the recently launched Pixel 5 is made with 100 percent recycled aluminum. This is our first phone to incorporate recycled aluminum, which not only eliminates the use of mined aluminum in the enclosure and reduces waste, it also lowers the carbon footprint of manufacturing the enclosure by 35 percent compared to using virgin aluminum. The new Nest Audio contains 70 percent recycled plastic across its enclosure parts including the acoustic fabric, and is covered in the same sustainable fabric that we first introduced with Nest Mini last year. And for our latest Nest Thermostat, we made the trim plate from 75 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. Google's focus on incorporating recycled materials in our hardware design not only supports our sustainability commitments, but also enables our supply chain partners to confidently invest in and develop these types of materials so that the wider consumer electronics industry can use them too.


Fifty percent recycled or renewable material by 2025 

We’re now even more confident that recycling plastic waste and preventing it from polluting the environment is an achievable goal. We’re updating our original goal and committing to using recycled or renewable material in at least 50 percent of all plastic used across all our hardware products by 2025, prioritizing recycled plastic everywhere we can. Our new 50 percent commitment raises the bar well beyond industry standards. We hope this is a milestone on the path to a future where we design out waste and pollution and keep materials in use longer. 


“Zero Waste to Landfill” certification 

While it’s critical for the materials that go into a product to be sustainable, what happens to the waste material created in a product’s manufacturing process is equally important. Waste is generated at all layers of a supply chain and while we’re working toward understanding each layer of the process and how we can combat waste, to get things started we’re committing to achieving UL 2799 Zero Waste to Landfill certificationat all final assembly manufacturing sites by 2022. This certification means that the vast majority of waste from those operations will be recycled. 


Plastic-free packaging by 2025

We’ll continue to keep all shipping of Made by Google hardware to and from our direct customers 100 percent carbon neutral. And we want to take things a step further by ensuring that the product box itself is sustainable and recyclable, removing headaches for the recyclers who process it. So by 2025, we’re committing to making our product packaging 100 percent plastic free and 100 percent recyclable. We’ve already made a reduction in plastic use in our packaging since 2016, but we have a lot of hard work ahead in order to meet this new goal. To get us there, we need to uncover alternative, recyclable materials that will still protect our products. It’ll take partnering with our suppliers, tinkering in the lab and sharing learnings across the industry, but we’ll get there. 

We’ve invested in integrating sustainability into our products, operations and communities—it’s not just part of how we do business, but the centerpiece of it. Our new commitments are the next step, and we plan on pushing ourselves and the industry forward even more in the coming months and years. 

More controls and transparency for your selfies

Since the dawn of the front-facing camera, and even before it, selfies have been a crucial way we express ourselves. So crucial, in fact, that more than 70 percent of photos taken on an Android device use the front-facing camera, and over 24 billion photos have been labeled as selfies in Google Photos. And of course, emojis, filters, stickers and captions have all become part of the fun, and help us show what we're feeling and thinking at any given moment. 

Filters have rapidly increased in popularity over the past few years. Many of us love to play around with filters and try different ones on our photos—but sometimes, filters are turned on by default in our photo apps without our knowing. 

We set out to better understand the effect filtered selfies might have on people’s wellbeing—especially when filters are on by default. We conducted multiple studies and spoke with child and mental health experts from around the world, and found that when you’re not aware that a camera or photo app has applied a filter, the photos can negatively impact mental wellbeing. These default filters can quietly set a beauty standard that some people compare themselves against.

Building guidelines on control, transparency and design language

To put our research into practice, we created a framework to build and design products that support your wellbeing as well as an intentional relationship with technology. These people-centered guidelines inform and respect your personal choices regarding face retouching and center around control, transparency and design language. This means you should get to choose if and when your appearance is changed in pictures.

These guidelines suggest that face retouching settings should be off by default so you choose  when you want to turn them on. If face retouching filters are on, this should be clearly indicated in the product experience. And when it’s off, it should stay off. We’ve steered away from references to “beauty,” by using iconography and language that is value-neutral, so you can decide what retouching means to you.


Bringing these principles to life

With Google’s Pixel phones, we’ve begun to apply these design principles directly within the Camera app. Starting with the Pixel 4a, the new Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5, face retouching options are available in the camera app, but turned off by default. In an upcoming update, you’ll see value-free, descriptive icons and labels for face retouching options. And if you choose to use face retouching effects, you’ll see more information about how each setting is applied and what changes it makes to your image.

Retouching

Meaningful change takes collective effort, across a broad ecosystem of apps and devices. Our partners have shared customer feedback that echoes what we heard in our research, and we’ve shared our insights and design framework with them as they continue to find ways to update their product experiences as well. 

An app that shares our beliefs is Snapchat. Their default camera experience is always unfiltered, and you have the option to opt-in to lenses. Lens Studio also uses value-neutral terms for its facial retouching feature, and is committed to continuing to make improvements in this area.

These are the first of many steps we’re taking to support wellbeing and bring your voice into our design process.

Say goodbye to hold music

Sometimes, a phone call is the best way to get something done. We call retailers to locate missing packages, utilities to adjust our internet speeds, airlines to change our travel itineraries...the list goes on. But more often than not, we need to wait on hold during these calls—listening closely to hold music and repetitive messages—before we reach a customer support representative who can help. In fact, people in the United States spent over 10 million hours on hold with businesses last week.


Save time with Hold for Me

Hold for Me, our latest Phone app feature, helps you get that time back, starting with an early preview on Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (5G) in the U.S. Now, when you call a toll-free number and a business puts you on hold, Google Assistant can wait on the line for you. You can go back to your day, and Google Assistant will notify you with sound, vibration and a prompt on your screen once someone is on the line and ready to talk. That means you’ll spend more time doing what’s important to you, and less time listening to hold music.
Hold for me call

Tap “Hold for me” in Google’s Phone app after you’re placed on hold by a business.

Hold for Me is our latest effort to make phone calls better and save you time. Last year, we introduced an update to Call Screen that helps you avoid interruptions from spam calls once and for all, and last month, we launched Verified Calls to help you know why a business is calling before you answer. Hold for Me is now another way we’re making it simpler to say hello.


Powered by Google AI

Every business’s hold loop is different and simple algorithms can't accurately detect when a customer support representative comes onto the call. Hold for Me is powered by Google’s Duplex technology, which not only recognizes hold music but also understands the difference between a recorded message (like “Hello, thank you for waiting”) and a representative on the line. Once a representative is identified, Google Assistant will notify you that someone’s ready to talk and ask the representative to hold for a moment while you return to the call. We gathered feedback from a number of companies, including Dell and United, as well as from studies with customer support representatives, to help us design these interactions and make the feature as helpful as possible to the people on both sides of the call.

While Google Assistant waits on hold for you, Google’s natural language understanding also keeps you informed. Your call will be muted to let you focus on something else, but at any time, you can check real-time captions on your screen to know what’s happening on the call.


Keeping your data safe

Hold for Me is an optional feature you can enable in settings and choose to activate during each call to a toll-free number. To determine when a representative is on the line, audio is processed entirely on your device and does not require a Wi-Fi or data connection. This makes the experience fast and also protects your privacy—no audio from the call will be shared with Google or saved to your Google account unless you explicitly decide to share it and help improve the feature. When you return to the call after Google Assistant was on hold for you, audio stops being processed altogether.

We’re excited to bring an early preview of Hold for Me to our latest Pixel devices and continue making the experience better over time. Your feedback will help us bring the feature to more people over the coming months, so they too can say goodbye to hold music and say hello to more free time.

Source: Android


Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 pack 5G speeds and so much more

Today, we hosted Launch Night In, a virtual event introducing new products from across Google that will offer a little joy, entertainment and connection for people. These products bring together the best of Google’s hardware, software and AI to deliver helpful experiences built around you. Not only are these products more helpful; they’re more affordable too. 
Our new smartphones, Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 offer more helpful Google features backed by the power and speeds of 5G.1 From Google’s latest AI and Assistant features, to the biggest ever batteries we’ve put in a Pixel, to industry-leading camera features, Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 join our much loved Pixel 4a in providing more help at a more helpful price. 

5G speeds at affordable prices 
5G is the latest in mobile technology, bringing fast download and streaming speeds to users around the world. Whether you’re downloading the latest movie2, listening to your favourite music on YouTube Music, catching up on podcasts with Google Podcast or downloading a game Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 can provide you with fast speeds at a helpful price.1 Starting at just $799 for Pixel 4a with 5G.

New camera, new lenses—same great photos 
Ask any Pixel owner and they’ll tell you: Pixels take great photos. Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 are no exception. These phones bring Pixel’s industry-leading photography features to the next level. 
  • Better videos with Cinematic Pan: Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 come with Cinematic Pan, which gives your videos a professional look with ultrasmooth panning that’s inspired by the equipment Hollywood directors use. 
  • Night Sight in Portrait Mode: Night Sight currently gives you the ability to capture amazing low-light photos—and even the Milky Way with astrophotography. Now, these phones bring the power of Night Sight into Portrait Mode to capture beautifully blurred backgrounds in Portraits even in extremely low light. 
Night Sight in Portrait Mode, captured on Pixel 
  • Portrait Light: Portrait Mode on the Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 lets you capture beautiful portraits that focus on your subject as the background fades into an artful blur. If the lighting isn’t right, your Pixel can drop in extra light to illuminate your subjects. 
  • Ultrawide lens for ultra awesome shots: With an ultrawide lens alongside the standard rear camera, you’ll be able to capture the whole scene. And thanks to Google’s software magic, the latest Pixels still get our Super Res Zoom. So whether you’re zooming in or zooming out, you get sharp details and breathtaking images. 
Ultrawide, captured on Pixel 
  • New editor in Google Photos: Even after you’ve captured your portrait, Google Photos can help you add studio-quality light to your portraits of people with Portrait Light, in the new, more helpful Google Photos editor. 
Stay connected and entertained with Duo 
To make it easier and more enjoyable to stay connected to the most important people in your life, the new HD screen sharing in Duo video calls lets you and a friend watch the same video, cheer on sports with a friend and even plan activities – no matter how far apart you are.3 And with features like Duo Family mode, you will be able to keep kids entertained and engaged with new interactive tools, like colouring over backgrounds, while you video chat. 

A smarter way to record and share audio 
Last year, Recorder made audio recording smarter, with real-time transcriptions and the power of search.4 Now, Recorder makes it even easier to share your favourite audio moments. Since Recorder automatically transcribes every recording, now you can use those transcripts to edit the audio too. Just highlight a sentence to crop or remove its corresponding audio. Once you have something you want others to hear—say a quote from an interview or a new song idea—you can generate a video clip to make sharing your audio easier and more visual than ever. 
Editing in Recorder is easy

To improve searching through your transcripts, smart scrolling will automatically mark important words in longer transcripts so you can quickly jump to the sections you’re looking for as you scroll. But most helpful of all? Recorder still works without an internet connection, so you can transcribe, search and edit from anywhere, anytime. 

The biggest Pixel batteries ever 
Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 also have all-day batteries that can last up to 48 hours with Extreme Battery Saver.5 This mode automatically limits active apps to just the essentials and lets you choose additional apps you want to keep on. 

And now, the specs 
Like all Pixel devices, security and safety are paramount in Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5. Both devices come with our TitanTM M security chip to help keep your on-device data safe and secure, and both phones will get three years of software and security updates. Your Pixel also has built-in safety features like car crash detection6 and Safety Check.7
Plus, Pixel 5 is designed with the environment in mind; we used 100% recycled aluminium in the back housing enclosure to reduce its carbon footprint. You can charge your Pixel 5 wirelessly8 and even use it to wirelessly charge other Qi-certified devices using Battery Share.9 Pixel 5 also doesn’t mind a little water or dust. The metal unibody can handle being submerged in 1.5 metres of fresh water for 30 minutes.10
When you buy the Google phone, you get more from Google. Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a with 5G come with trial subscriptions to Google’s entertainment, security and storage services for new users.11 If you’re a new user you’ll get a YouTube Premium trial for 3 months, 100 GB of storage with Google One for 3 months and 3 months of Google Play Pass and Gold/Silver Status on Play Points. See g.co/pixel/4a5Goffers or g.co/pixel/5offers, as applicable, for more details.11 
In Australia, Pixel 5 will range in two colours, Just Black and Sorta Sage (selected retailers). It will retail for $999 and can be pre-ordered today from Google Store, Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks and Harvey Norman, and will be available starting October 15. Pixel 4a with 5G will retail for $799 and can be pre-ordered today from JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks and Harvey Norman, and will be available from these retailers in addition to Google Store and Telstra in November ranging in Just Black. 


Looking for the Pixel’s that’s right for you? Head to the Google Store now. 

1 Requires a 5G data plan (sold separately). 5G service and roaming not available on all carrier networks or in all areas. Contact carrier for details about current 5G network performance, compatibility, and availability. Phone connects to 5G networks but, 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration and capabilities, network traffic, location, signal strength and signal obstruction. Actual results may vary. Some features not available in all areas. Data rates may apply. See g.co/pixel/networkinfo for info. 
2 Download speed claims based on testing videos from three streaming platforms. Average download time was less than sixty seconds. File sizes varied between 449MB and 1.3GB. Download speed depends upon many factors, such as file size, content provider and network connection. Testing conducted in an internal 5G network lab and on pre-production hardware in California in July/August 2020. Actual download speeds may be slower. Australian results may vary. 
3 Screen sharing not available on group calls. Requires Wi-Fi or 5G internet connection. Not available on all apps and content. Data rates may apply. 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration and capabilities, network traffic, location, signal strength, and signal obstruction. 
4 Transcription and search are available in English only. 
5 For “all day”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of other features. Testing conducted on two major US carrier networks using Sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. For “Up to 48 hours”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Testing conducted on two major US carrier networks. For both claims: Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 battery testing conducted by a third party in California in mid 2020 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 48 hour claim” only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.
6 Not available in all languages or countries. Car crash detection may not detect all accidents. High-impact activities may trigger calls to emergency services. This feature is dependent upon network connectivity and other factors and may not be reliable for emergency communications or available in all areas. For country and language availability and more information see g.co/pixel/carcrashdetection. 
7 Personal Safety app features are dependent upon network connectivity and other factors and may not be reliable for emergency communications or available in all areas. For more information, see g.co/pixel/personalsafety. 
8 Qi-compatible. Wireless charger sold separately. 
9 Designed to charge Qi-certified devices. Use of Battery Share significantly reduces Pixel battery life. Cases may interfere with charging and will reduce charging speed. Charge speeds may vary. See g.co/pixel/wirelesscharging for more information. 
10 Pixel 5 has a dust and water protection rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529. Charger and accessories are not water-resistant or dust-resistant. Water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and may be compromised due to normal wear and tear, repair, disassembly or damage. 
11 The Google One, Google Play Pass, Google Play Points, and YouTube Premium offers are available to eligible new users with the purchase of Pixel 4a (5G) or Pixel 5. Offer expires April 30, 2021 at 11:59pm PT. See g.co/pixel/4a5Goffers or g.co/pixel/5offers, as applicable, for more details.


Posted by Matt Gaskell, Director, Devices & Services Business Organisation, Google Australia and New Zealand

Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 pack 5G speeds and so much more

Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are here, packing more helpful Google features into phones backed by the power and speeds of 5G1. From Google’s latest AI and Assistant features, to the biggest ever batteries we’ve put in a Pixel, to industry-leading camera features, Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 join our much loved Pixel 4a in providing more help at a more helpful price. 


5G speeds at affordable prices

5G is the latest in mobile technology, bringing fast download and streaming speeds to users around the world. Whether you’re downloading the latest movie2, listening to your favorite music on YouTube Music, catching up on podcasts with Google Podcasts or playing a game on Stadia, Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 will provide you with fast speeds1.

YouTube, YouTube Music and Google Podcasts on Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 also give you access to the content you want when you don't have connectivity by pre-downloading content via 5G when you don’t have WiFi connectivity1.  For more information go to g.co/musicdownloads. 


New camera, new lenses—same great photos

Ask any Pixel owner and they’ll tell you: Pixels take great photos. Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are no exception. These phones bring Pixel’s industry-leading photography features to the next level. 

  • Ultrawide lens for ultra awesome shots: With a new ultrawide lens alongside the standard rear camera, you’ll be able to capture the whole scene. And thanks to Google’s software magic, the latest Pixels still get our Super Res Zoom. So whether you’re zooming in or zooming out, you get sharp details and breathtaking images. 

  • Better videos with Cinematic Pan: Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 come with Cinematic Pan, which gives your videos a professional look with ultrasmooth panning that’s inspired by the equipment Hollywood directors use.

  • Night Sight in Portrait Mode: Night Sight currently gives you the ability to capture amazing low-light photos—and even the Milky Way with astrophotography. Now, these phones bring the power of Night Sight into Portrait Mode to capture beautifully blurred backgrounds in Portraits even in extremely low light. 

  • Portrait Light: Portrait Mode on the Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 lets you capture beautiful portraits that focus on your subject as the background fades into an artful blur. If the lighting isn’t right, your Pixel can drop in extra light to illuminate your subjects.

  • New editor in Google Photos: Even after you’ve captured your portrait, Google Photos can help you add studio-quality light to your portraits of people with Portrait Light, in the new, more helpful Google Photos editor. 

  • Night Sight and Portrait Mode (Selfie).jpg

    Night Sight and Portrait Mode

  • Night Sight and Portrait Mode (Image).jpg

    Night Sight and Portrait Mode

  • Night Sight and Portrait Mode (Cat).jpg

    Night Sight and Portrait Mode

  • Captured on Pixel (Ultrawide 4).jpg

    Captured on Pixel - Ultrawide

  • Captured on Pixel (Ultrawide 3).jpg

    Captured on Pixel - Ultrawide

  • Captured on Pixel (Ultrawide 2).jpg

    Captured on Pixel - Ultrawide

  • Captured on Pixel (Ultrawide 1).jpg

    Captured on Pixel - Ultrawide

  • Super Res Zoom (Before).jpg

    Super Res Zoom (before)

  • Super Res Zoom (After).jpg

    Super Res Zoom (after)

Save time with Hold for Me

Pixel has even more helpful features to save you time thanks to Google Assistant. Every month, Call Screen helps people with more than 25 million calls, saving people 2 million minutes, and Duplex helps users with a variety of phone tasks including reservations and getting business information. 

Now, with a preview of Hold for Me on Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 in the U.S., Google Assistant can wait on the line for you whenever you call a toll-free number and a business puts you on hold. Built on the smarts of Duplex and Call Screen, this new feature lets you go back to enjoying the things that matter to you, and Google Assistant will notify you once someone is on the line and ready to talk. And Hold for Me works on your device, so the entire call is private to you. Goodbye endless hold music, hello more free time. 

Hold for me

Stay connected and entertained with Duo 

To make it easier and more enjoyable to stay connected to the most important people in your life, the new HD screen sharing in Duo video calls lets you and a friend watch the same video, cheer on your favorite teams together and even plan activities—all while being thousands of miles apart. And coming soon with Duo Family HD mode, you’ll be able to keep kids entertained and engaged with new interactive tools, like coloring over backgrounds, while you video chat. 

Pixel_Duo.gif

A smarter way to record and share audio

Last year, Recorder made audio recording smarter, with real-time transcriptions and the power of search. Now, Recorder makes it even easier to share your favorite audio moments. Since Recorder automatically transcribes every recording, now you can use those transcripts to edit the audio too. Just highlight a sentence to crop or remove its corresponding audio.
Recorder Editing

Once you have something you want others to hear—say a quote from an interview or a new song idea—you can generate a video clip to make sharing your audio easier. To improve searching through your transcripts, smart scrolling will  automatically mark important words in longer transcripts so you can quickly jump to the sections you’re looking for as you scroll. But most helpful of all? Recorder still works without an internet connection, so you can transcribe, search and edit from anywhere, anytime.

The biggest Pixel batteries ever

Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 also have all-day batteries that can last up to 48 hours with Extreme Battery Saver3. This mode automatically limits active apps to just the essentials and lets you choose additional apps you want to keep on. 


And now, the specs

Like all Pixel devices, security and safety are paramount in Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5. Both devices come with our TitanTM M security chip to help keep your on-device data safe and secure, and both phones will get three years of software and security updates. Pixel's security features received a perfect score on a recent analyst scorecard4.

Plus, Pixel 5 is designed with the environment in mind; we used 100 percent recycled aluminum in the back housing enclosure to reduce its carbon footprint

When you purchase a Pixel 4a (5G) or Pixel 5, you’ll also get Stadia and YouTube Premium trial for three months, 100 GB of storage with Google One for three months and Google Play Pass and Gold/Silver Status on Play Points. See g.co/pixel/4a5Goffers or g.co/pixel/5offers, as applicable, for more details.

Pixel 4a (5G) will be available in Japan on Oct. 15 and eight other countries starting in November. Pixel 5 will be available in eight countries starting Oct. 15, and in the U.S. and Canada starting Oct. 29.

Looking for the Pixel that’s right for you? Head to the Google Store now.

Pixel 4a, 4a (5G), 5 Comaprison Chart

1 Requires a 5G data plan (sold separately). 5G service and roaming not available on all carrier networks or in all areas. Contact carrier for details about current 5G network performance, compatibility and availability. Phone connects to 5G networks but 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration and capabilities, network traffic, location, signal strength and signal obstruction. Actual results may vary. Some features not available in all areas. Data rates may apply. See g.co/pixel/networkinfo for info.

2 Download speed claims based on testing videos from three streaming platforms. Average download time was less than 60 seconds. File sizes varied between 449MB and 1.3GB. Download speed depends upon many factors, such as file size, content provider and network connection. Testing conducted in an internal 5G network lab and on pre-production hardware in California in July/August 2020. Actual download speeds may be slower.

3 For “all day”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby and use of other features. Testing conducted on two major carrier networks using Sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. For “Up to 48 hours”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Testing conducted on two major carrier networks. For both claims: Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 battery testing conducted by a third party in California in mid-2020 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 48 hour claim” only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

4 Based on 2020 analyst research funded by Google LLC.

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Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 pack 5G speeds and so much more

Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are here, packing more helpful Google features into phones backed by the power and speeds of 5G1. From Google’s latest AI and Assistant features, to the biggest ever batteries we’ve put in a Pixel, to industry-leading camera features, Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 join our much loved Pixel 4a in providing more help at a more helpful price. 


5G speeds at affordable prices

5G is the latest in mobile technology, bringing fast download and streaming speeds to users around the world. Whether you’re downloading the latest movie2, listening to your favorite music on YouTube Music, catching up on podcasts with Google Podcasts or playing a game on Stadia, Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 will provide you with fast speeds1.

YouTube, YouTube Music and Google Podcasts on Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 also give you access to the content you want when you don't have connectivity by pre-downloading content via 5G when you don’t have WiFi connectivity1.  For more information go to g.co/musicdownloads. 


New camera, new lenses—same great photos

Ask any Pixel owner and they’ll tell you: Pixels take great photos. Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are no exception. These phones bring Pixel’s industry-leading photography features to the next level. 

  • Ultrawide lens for ultra awesome shots: With a new ultrawide lens alongside the standard rear camera, you’ll be able to capture the whole scene. And thanks to Google’s software magic, the latest Pixels still get our Super Res Zoom. So whether you’re zooming in or zooming out, you get sharp details and breathtaking images. 

  • Better videos with Cinematic Pan: Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 come with Cinematic Pan, which gives your videos a professional look with ultrasmooth panning that’s inspired by the equipment Hollywood directors use.

  • Night Sight in Portrait Mode: Night Sight currently gives you the ability to capture amazing low-light photos—and even the Milky Way with astrophotography. Now, these phones bring the power of Night Sight into Portrait Mode to capture beautifully blurred backgrounds in Portraits even in extremely low light. 

  • Portrait Light: Portrait Mode on the Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 lets you capture beautiful portraits that focus on your subject as the background fades into an artful blur. If the lighting isn’t right, your Pixel can drop in extra light to illuminate your subjects.

  • New editor in Google Photos: Even after you’ve captured your portrait, Google Photos can help you add studio-quality light to your portraits of people with Portrait Light, in the new, more helpful Google Photos editor. 

  • Night Sight and Portrait Mode (Selfie).jpg

    Night Sight and Portrait Mode

  • Night Sight and Portrait Mode (Image).jpg

    Night Sight and Portrait Mode

  • Night Sight and Portrait Mode (Cat).jpg

    Night Sight and Portrait Mode

  • Captured on Pixel (Ultrawide 4).jpg

    Captured on Pixel - Ultrawide

  • Captured on Pixel (Ultrawide 3).jpg

    Captured on Pixel - Ultrawide

  • Captured on Pixel (Ultrawide 2).jpg

    Captured on Pixel - Ultrawide

  • Captured on Pixel (Ultrawide 1).jpg

    Captured on Pixel - Ultrawide

  • Super Res Zoom (Before).jpg

    Super Res Zoom (before)

  • Super Res Zoom (After).jpg

    Super Res Zoom (after)

Save time with Hold for Me

Pixel has even more helpful features to save you time thanks to Google Assistant. Every month, Call Screen helps people with more than 25 million calls, saving people 2 million minutes, and Duplex helps users with a variety of phone tasks including reservations and getting business information. 

Now, with a preview of Hold for Me on Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 in the U.S., Google Assistant can wait on the line for you whenever you call a toll-free number and a business puts you on hold. Built on the smarts of Duplex and Call Screen, this new feature lets you go back to enjoying the things that matter to you, and Google Assistant will notify you once someone is on the line and ready to talk. And Hold for Me works on your device, so the entire call is private to you. Goodbye endless hold music, hello more free time. 

Hold for me

Stay connected and entertained with Duo 

To make it easier and more enjoyable to stay connected to the most important people in your life, the new HD screen sharing in Duo video calls lets you and a friend watch the same video, cheer on your favorite teams together and even plan activities—all while being thousands of miles apart. And coming soon with Duo Family HD mode, you’ll be able to keep kids entertained and engaged with new interactive tools, like coloring over backgrounds, while you video chat. 

Pixel_Duo.gif

A smarter way to record and share audio

Last year, Recorder made audio recording smarter, with real-time transcriptions and the power of search. Now, Recorder makes it even easier to share your favorite audio moments. Since Recorder automatically transcribes every recording, now you can use those transcripts to edit the audio too. Just highlight a sentence to crop or remove its corresponding audio.
Recorder Editing

Once you have something you want others to hear—say a quote from an interview or a new song idea—you can generate a video clip to make sharing your audio easier. To improve searching through your transcripts, smart scrolling will  automatically mark important words in longer transcripts so you can quickly jump to the sections you’re looking for as you scroll. But most helpful of all? Recorder still works without an internet connection, so you can transcribe, search and edit from anywhere, anytime.

The biggest Pixel batteries ever

Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 also have all-day batteries that can last up to 48 hours with Extreme Battery Saver3. This mode automatically limits active apps to just the essentials and lets you choose additional apps you want to keep on. 


And now, the specs

Like all Pixel devices, security and safety are paramount in Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5. Both devices come with our TitanTM M security chip to help keep your on-device data safe and secure, and both phones will get three years of software and security updates. Pixel's security features received a perfect score on a recent analyst scorecard4.

Plus, Pixel 5 is designed with the environment in mind; we used 100 percent recycled aluminum in the back housing enclosure to reduce its carbon footprint

When you purchase a Pixel 4a (5G) or Pixel 5, you’ll also get Stadia and YouTube Premium trial for three months, 100 GB of storage with Google One for three months and Google Play Pass and Gold/Silver Status on Play Points. See g.co/pixel/4a5Goffers or g.co/pixel/5offers, as applicable, for more details.

Pixel 4a (5G) will be available in Japan on Oct. 15 and eight other countries starting in November. Pixel 5 will be available in eight countries starting Oct. 15, and in the U.S. and Canada starting Oct. 29.

Looking for the Pixel that’s right for you? Head to the Google Store now.

Pixel 4a, 4a (5G), 5 Comaprison Chart

1 Requires a 5G data plan (sold separately). 5G service and roaming not available on all carrier networks or in all areas. Contact carrier for details about current 5G network performance, compatibility and availability. Phone connects to 5G networks but 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration and capabilities, network traffic, location, signal strength and signal obstruction. Actual results may vary. Some features not available in all areas. Data rates may apply. See g.co/pixel/networkinfo for info.

2 Download speed claims based on testing videos from three streaming platforms. Average download time was less than 60 seconds. File sizes varied between 449MB and 1.3GB. Download speed depends upon many factors, such as file size, content provider and network connection. Testing conducted in an internal 5G network lab and on pre-production hardware in California in July/August 2020. Actual download speeds may be slower.

3 For “all day”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby and use of other features. Testing conducted on two major carrier networks using Sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. For “Up to 48 hours”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Testing conducted on two major carrier networks. For both claims: Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 battery testing conducted by a third party in California in mid-2020 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 48 hour claim” only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

4 Based on 2020 analyst research funded by Google LLC.

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