Google Pixel 5 vs older Google phones - Should you upgrade - Android

The Google Pixel 5 is finally here, along with a new budget-friendly option in the Google Pixel 4a 5G. However, the lines between Google’s high-end and mid-tier products are a little blurry this generation. With a more modest processor and a lower cost, the Pixel 5 isn’t a flagship product in the modern $1,000 sense of the word. That’s certainly not a bad thing, but it makes figuring out whether to upgrade trickier than usual.

The Pixel 4a and its 5G variant are clearly the upgrade paths for value-conscious consumers, but the Pixel 5 still includes a few more bells and whistles for those seeking Google’s best hardware. If you’re rocking an older Google handset, should you upgrade to the Pixel 5?

See also: Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 4a: Which should you buy?

Google Pixel 5 vs Nexus phones

The modern Pixel series is the successor to Google’s Nexus brand — a range of handsets aimed more at developers than mainstream consumers. 2015’s Nexus 5X and 6P were the last smartphones in the series, so I’ll be mightily impressed if you’re still rocking one as your daily driver.

If you are doing just that there’s no time like the present for Nexus owners to contemplate an upgrade as the Google Pixel 5 is a solid choice. Hardware reliability has improved since the Nexus days and the cameras are some of the best in the business. Better still, you can grab the latest version of Android and three years of security updates without the hassle and delays of manual installs.

See also: Was the Nexus series really that good, or is it just rose-tinted glasses?

In more typical Nexus fashion, the Pixel 5 offers all this without breaking the bank. With superior hardware in every category, there’s really no reason to hold on to an old Nexus handset any longer.

Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 1

The original Google Pixel and Pixel XL made their debut in 2016, packing in high-end hardware and launching Google to the forefront of mobile photography. The Pixel 5 builds on this formula with much-improved hardware and new features.

For starters, the Pixel 5 packs in a vastly improved display, with a high 90Hz refresh rate. Even the handset’s mid-tier Snapdragon 765G processor outperforms the previously high-end Snapdragon 821. It’s the superior handset for both general application performance and gaming, not to mention the introduction of 5G connectivity.

Read more: Google Pixel redux review: Proof of the power of software

Google has built on the hardware formula with an IP rating, wireless charging, 5G data, Titan M security, a dual rear camera setup, and thinner bezels too. The only feature Pixel fans might miss is the headphone jack. But otherwise, the Pixel 5 is an upgrade in every way. If that’s not a good enough reason, Google ended software support for the original Pixel and Pixel XL back in October 2019. If you want to stay up to date, the Pixel 5 is a solid way to go.

Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 2

The Pixel 2 series refined Google’s early formula and ushered in the era of the modern Pixel series and its reputation for photography. Camera hardware hasn’t changed massively since, but the Pixel 5 offers some updates, including a wide-angle camera and tweaks to the main and selfie cameras. The real improvements come with new camera features, such as the wide-angle lens and the new Night Sight in Portrait Mode. Some of Google’s software smarts have come down to the Pixel 2 over the years, but they run best on modern hardware.

Related: The 10 best Google products you can buy

The Pixel 5 offers plenty of other hardware upgrades too. 10W charging makes way for 18W charging and 12W wireless charging capabilities. The higher refresh rate display is much improved too, along with thinner bezels. Performance isn’t bleeding edge with the Pixel 5 but it’s still an upgrade on the dubious Pixel 2. The latter’s 4GB RAM was a notorious bottleneck. Additionally, the fifth generation Pixel’s Snapdragon 765G bests the older flagship series Snapdragon 835 processor. Although the Pixel 2 still has a minor advantage when it comes to gaming.

The Pixel 2 series is nearing the end of its lifecycle too. Support is set to end in October 2020, making the upgrade to Android 11 the last that the handset will see. An upgrade to the Pixel 5 will keep you safe in the face of any upcoming security issues. It’s definitely the more refined and futureproofed package.

Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 3

Choosing to upgrade from the Google Pixel 3 or 3 XL to the 5 is less clear cut. The move to the 765G results in a