One of the most exciting smartphone of 2020 has been the rise of “value flagships,” which offer flagship experiences at a price point below $1,000. The Pixel 5 and iPhone 12 are two such phones, with both starting at around $700. They may not seem like a bargain, but they are premium offerings from Google and Apple that are a bit more affordable than other options out there.
Both the Pixel 5 and the iPhone 12 are top-of-the-line devices. However, there are some features on the Pixel 5 that make it stand out over the iPhone 12. If you can't decide between the two phones, here are five reasons why the Pixel 5 might be the better choice.
Pixel 5 has a smoother 90Hz display
One of the biggest advantages of the iPhone 12 over the iPhone 11 is its upgraded display . Apple finally ditched the iPhone 11's 720p LCD display in favor of a 1080p OLED, and the end result is a display that looks much better. Even so, the Pixel 5 manages to offer something a little better. Similarly to the iPhone 12, it has a 1080p OLED display, but the Pixel 5 has a faster 90Hz refresh rate compared to the 60Hz offered on the iPhone 12.
Google offers a better camera experience
On the surface, both the Pixel 5 and iPhone 12 have incredible systems . Google and Apple have been perfecting their camera types for a few years now, and it's evident in every one of their devices. This means that no matter which phone you buy, you can be sure that you'll be able to take great photos.
Google still has the upper hand with the Pixel 5. While the camera hardware on the Pixel 5 is pretty old at this point, Google's image processing is still some of the best out there. Specifically, the Pixel 5 does a better job with low-light/night photos, zoomed-in shots, and generally produces colors that are more pleasing. Plus, it gives you some fun software to play with, like portrait blur, to drastically change the look of a portrait photo.
The iPhone 12 still has the upper hand in the video, but if you're more interested in photos, the Pixel 5 is the perfect choice for you.
Face ID in 2020
In 2020, face masks have become a part of our daily lives in the face of the COVID-19. On the iPhone 12, masks make it impossible to use Face ID. Face masks simply don't work with Face ID, so if you have it enabled and need to unlock your phone, that means you have to enter your PIN.
On the other hand, the Pixel 5 solves this problem by offering you a fingerprint sensor on the back. All you have to do is simply place your finger on the sensor, and your phone will unlock in a flash.
All the Pixel-exclusive features are fantastic
Whether it's iMessage or AirDrop, everyone knows about the exclusive software features you get with an iPhone. However, what the Pixel 5 gives you could be much more valuable than what the iPhone 12 brings.
One of the things it offers is spam filtering . Almost everyone gets unwanted and annoying calls. In the Google Phone app on the Pixel 5, you are given a few different ways to set up the spam filter. Specifically, you can do the following:
- Identify business and spam numbers
- Filter unwanted and annoying calls
- Verified Calls: You can see the caller ID and reason for incoming calls from businesses
When you get a call on your Pixel 5 that you suspect is spam, you'll never hear your phone ring and be bothered. If it's a random number that isn't automatically classified as spam, you can control the call by using Google Assistant to answer it for you. One of the latest additions, Hold for Me, takes Google Assistant a step further, allowing it to hold your place on the line if you're on a call waiting to speak to a customer service representative.
Another feature is Now Playing, which is basically like Shazam running 24/7 in the background with almost zero impact on battery life and can work completely offline. If a song is playing in the background and you want to know its title, all you have to do is look at the lock screen and you'll find it there.
Google's Pixel 5 Gets More Storage for Less Money
If you plan on keeping your phone for two or more years, it's important to have enough storage for everything you want to do. When you buy the Pixel 5 for $700, you get 128GB of storage. This is the only version of the phone that Google sells, and while that might be limiting for some power users, 128GB should be more than enough space for the vast majority of people.
On the other hand, the iPhone 12, also priced at $700, only offers you 64GB of storage. If you want to increase the storage to 128GB, you'll have to pay $750. That's not a huge difference in price when you consider that you're doubling your storage, but you should keep in mind that the Pixel 5 offers you more storage for $700.
These were some features that make the Pixel 5 the perfect choice for you over the iPhone 12. From there, it's up to you to choose the phone that best suits your needs.
