Not as fast as it used to be: Pixel 5/5a may be using mid-range processors

[williamcll]

Recent information taken from the google camera apps where codenames for Qualcomm's mid-range phone processors are being referred to Google's upcoming smartphones.

Quote

According to a teardown of the Google Camera app on a pre-release version of the Pixel 4a obtained by 9to5Google, next year's Pixel phones may not be true-blue flagships, eschewing the Snapdragon 865 in favor of a Snapdragon 765G, the top-end of Qualcomm's midrange lineup. The teardown revealed two files called "photo_pixel_2020_midrange_config" and "photo_pixel_2020_config." These are seemingly references to the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5 series, since Google's naming convention for the Pixel 3a and Pixel 4 was previously "photo_pixel_2019_midrange_config" and "photo_pixel_2019_config." The device codenames corresponding to the "photo_pixel_2020_config" — by all accounts, Google's nomenclature for the 2020 'flagships' — are Bramble and Redfin, as per 9to5Google's breakdown. These codenames are also backed up by an investigation by @Cstark_27 on Twitter.

 

Where things get really interesting, though, is the fact that we've seen these codenames before. Back in January, the same codenames were discovered in the AOSP source code, with both Redfin and Bramble sporting a Snapdragon 765G. At the time, it wasn't clear if Google was just planning on releasing more midrange phones like the Pixel 4a in 2020 or if these were simply codenames for internal prototypes. The reality, according to this latest report, is perhaps far stranger, and it looks like the company may entirely forego flagship offerings this year, with both the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 5 XL launching as midrange phones. Both phones will support 5G, however, thanks to the integrated 5G modem in the Snapdragon 765G. If this is, indeed, true, it would undoubtedly be a significant departure from the company's direction so far. At the same time, since the biggest draw of the Pixel line is Google's software, it's certainly possible for the company to pull off many of the same camera tricks that it's achieved on the Pixel series with a less expensive but still very capable processor. It was, after all, able to do just that with the Pixel 3a. How much these phones would, then, cost and what the change would mean for the future of any Pixel 5a remains to be seen.

Source: https://9to5google.com/2020/03/13/pixel-5-not-flagship-specs-google-camera-app/

Thoughts: Unless they also bring the price of the pixel down there really isn't much reason to get a stock phone unless you need to do development work, at the same time I also don't expect most pixel users to push their phone processing to the max either.

[Inkz]

1 hour ago, williamcll said:

 

Thoughts: Unless they also bring the price of the pixel down there really isn't much reason to get a stock phone unless you need to do development work, at the same time I also don't expect most pixel users to push their phone processing to the max either.

I game a lot on my pixel and do appreciate the processing power. I really wish they went with the rumored Pixel 4a design and then spec it up. Bring back the jack, the fingerprint sensor, and the hole punch design looks great. If I could have that plus some 16:9 I would buy instantly.

[Suika]

I suspect that this may be due to the significant price hike on the Snapdragon 865, the only real question I'd have is if Google follows suite with a price hike of their own despite mid-range specifications.

[TempestCatto]

[PLME888]

On 3/15/2020 at 7:16 PM, Inkz said:

I game a lot on my pixel and do appreciate the processing power. I really wish they went with the rumored Pixel 4a design and then spec it up. Bring back the jack, the fingerprint sensor, and the hole punch design looks great. If I could have that plus some 16:9 I would buy instantly.

Soooo, a 6P mk2? Loved my 6P back in the day.  

[Gohardgrandpa]

I miss the days of cheaper google phones, I was hyped for the pixel til I saw the price tag.

[suicidalfranco]

urgh, pixel phone

Probably the one line of devices i'll never buy and never ever advice to anyone, not even my worst enemies

[Founders]

9 hours ago, suicidalfranco said:

urgh, pixel phone

Probably the one line of devices i'll never buy and never ever advice to anyone, not even my worst enemies

Care to expand on that thought a bit?

[WereCatf]

I wholeheartedly welcome more mid-range phones. No fucking way I'm going to pay 1000€ for a fricking phone.

[suicidalfranco]

1 hour ago, Founders said:

Care to expand on that thought a bit?

questionable hardware quality on all 4 pixel lines released so far

• microphone issues on the first
• screen quality and awful image retention on the second
• battery issues and memory management issues on the third and fourth

All pixel have be prone to slow down and lag over time. One might say it happens to every phone "nothing that a factory reset can't fix", but pixels seemed to be affected more frequently and harder

Expectation of it being the most "optimised" android device because google made it, but reality: not one has prove to be more fluid than any of the other devices available for way cheaper 

Since we are talking about price: way overpriced compared to the rest of the market

And finally, thought this is just me, hard focus on the one thing in a phone i don't give 2 flying Fs about: camera. F that.

[suicidalfranco]

27 minutes ago, Kaloob said:

The display issue was only on the P2XL. Also, a lot of people want a good camera. Just because you don't, that doesn't mean nobody wants one.

And that's why when i get asked for advice, i never mention the camera.

[suicidalfranco]

1 minute ago, Kaloob said:

If the person you are recommending a phone to wants a good camera, you should probably point them in the direction of a good camreaphone like the pixel line.

no.

i tell them to just get an iPhone even if it's been ages since i  last used one. At least with that one they won't come back to me complaining about the weird issues they're having with their phone.

 

[Founders]

55 minutes ago, suicidalfranco said:

questionable hardware quality on all 4 pixel lines released so far

• microphone issues on the first
• screen quality and awful image retention on the second
• battery issues and memory management issues on the third and fourth

All pixel have be prone to slow down and lag over time. One might say it happens to every phone "nothing that a factory reset can't fix", but pixels seemed to be affected more frequently and harder

Expectation of it being the most "optimised" android device because google made it, but reality: not one has prove to be more fluid than any of the other devices available for way cheaper 

Since we are talking about price: way overpriced compared to the rest of the market

And finally, thought this is just me, hard focus on the one thing in a phone i don't give 2 flying Fs about: camera. F that.

I realize Google is a huge company with seemingly endless resources to play with but I think it's important to remember they've been producing their own phones less than 4 years at this point. While Pixel's haven't been perfect, no phone is really, they've been doing some interesting things with their lineup. I'd argue that the 3a was probably the best mid range phone of 2019. I certainly think they lost their way quite a bit with the Pixel 4, price and features were completely off the mark. We pretty much know what the 4a will offer at this point but until it gets in more hands and Google reveals pricing we won't know if that's a decent successor to the 3a.   

[suicidalfranco]

23 minutes ago, Founders said:

I realize Google is a huge company with seemingly endless resources to play with but I think it's important to remember they've been producing their own phones less than 4 years at this point. While Pixel's haven't been perfect, no phone is really, they've been doing some interesting things with their lineup. I'd argue that the 3a was probably the best mid range phone of 2019. I certainly think they lost their way quite a bit with the Pixel 4, price and features were completely off the mark. We pretty much know what the 4a will offer at this point but until it gets in more hands and Google reveals pricing we won't know if that's a decent successor to the 3a.   

4 years? make it 10, Nexus was a thing, they had their issues too, but at least back then, up till the Nexus 6, the price reflected what you'd get.

best midrage of 2019 i'd give that to the poco F1

[Master Disaster]

Ofc they are, I was planning to upgrade my 3 XL to a 5 XL when it released. Google have done this purely to give me the middle finger.

 

In case anybody doesn't realise, that's intended as a joke. The fact I feel the need to clarify that saddens me deeply.

[Inkz]

On 3/16/2020 at 4:49 PM, PLME888 said:

Soooo, a 6P mk2? Loved my 6P back in the day.  

I used to have the 6P, if I could l could get that thing with updated specs I would probably instantly buy it.