Despite newer generations of mid-range smartphones proving to suit the needs of more people, some people still find the urge to shell out some extra cash on flagship hardware inexcusable. In the past, there was a gulf between both tiers in terms of some crucial aspects, most notably in terms of performance. Fortunately, this difference started to diminish gradually over the years, with mid-range processors becoming more and more capable every generation, and manufacturers bringing more premium features to its mid-range phones lineup. Curiously, Google and LG seem to have recognized how capable newer mid-range processors have become. And if the latest rumors are to be believed, it looks like Google’s upcoming Pixel 5 will be a “premium mid-tier” smartphone instead of being a fully-fledged flagship. While that might upset the tech enthusiasts or the so-called power users a bit, I think this might have just made the Pixel 5 a more appealing offer to the overwhelming majority of average consumers.
But first, let’s take a quick glance at the specs of each processor respectively.
So how exactly is stepping down from the top-of-the-line processor a good thing?
Same great performance, lower price
There is no denying the fact that the mid-range Snapdragon 765G will be slower than the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865 processor. However, it is no longer the gulf of a difference it used to be a couple of years ago. Investing in newer flagship hardware is no longer a necessity to ensure top-notch performance. It may only be noticeable to the mobile gamer demographic, which could be argued in the case of the Redmi K30 for instance. And this is where the law of diminishing returns kicks in; the significant bump in cost when adopting a flagship processor, which is invariably passed down the chain to the consumers, is no longer justified. In other words, stepping down to the Snapdragon 765G platform will allow Google to lower down the price of their upcoming Pixel 5 while retaining the same snappy and smooth performance Google’s Pixel phones have been characterized by since their inception. Not only that, but Google could also retain some of its cutting edge features from the Pixel 4 or even improve them — the Snapdragon 765G is more than capable enough to power a high refresh rate screen and provide a good platform for all the AI-assisted features Google is renowned for.
Better battery life
While the Snapdragon 865 trumps its less powerful counterpart in almost every area, there is one aspect where the Snapdragon 765 unexpectedly pulls ahead: 5G support. Interestingly, Qualcomm made that weird decision of giving the midrange chipset an integrated 5G modem which supports both mmWave and sub-6 5G standards out of the box, while its more powerful sibling’s 5G support stems from the external X55 modem. This translates to less required internal space to accommodate the former mid-tier chipset since the external X55 modem will necessitate a more complicated internal design and incidentally more space. In more layman terms, choosing the mid-tier chipset will save more internal space, which Google could very well exploit by putting a bigger battery instead. And if the Snapdragon 765G follows the trend of the rest of the mid-range processors of being more efficient, the battery life on the Pixel 5 should no longer be a concern. At last, Google’s upcoming premium Pixel phone will no longer have us pulling our hair out for featuring a relatively small battery. Well, at least Google will have less reason to do so. But even so, the efficiency advantage of having a mid-range chip at the heart of the Pixel 5 will be surely appreciated by all of us.
Better 5G support
As mentioned earlier, the Snapdragon 765G features an integrated 5G modem which supports both sub-6 and mmWave 5G standards out of the box. This means that Google’s smaller Pixel 5 actually holds a great advantage over some of the flagship smartphones it will contest. Whether you have a T-mobile SIM card or an AT&T one, the Pixel 5 will be compatible with the 5G network provided by both carriers. This is an area where a flagship like the Galaxy S20 falls short, which only supports T-mobile’s sub-6 5G standard. So if you are an AT&T user and have access to AT&T’s mmWave 5G spots, you would have to splash some cash on the bigger S20 Plus or the huge S20 Ultra models and make peace with their bigger size and form factor. This is something you won’t need to think of if you are set to buy the upcoming Pixel 5. To be fair, mmWave still hasn’t gained that much steam to give Samsung that much flack about. But when you consider the price tag of the Galaxy S20, that argument can be justified.
Where could it go wrong?
While it might sound like a complete stroke of genius, things might get a little bit tricky.
Since last year, Google seems to have started a new strategy of already releasing a mid-tier, more affordable model around this time of the year. The Pixel 3a, for instance, featured the same software witchcraft and camera sorcery that was found in the flagship Pixel 3 phones of the previous year, accompanied by a slower mid-range processor and a less premium look and feel to make up for the lower price. It was a big gamble that has certainly paid dividends, with the Pixel 3a making a strong case for itself being the best affordable smartphone money can buy. And with the recent rumors considered, it looks like Google is on set to resume this strategy with the imminent release of its successor, the Pixel 4a.
Following Google’s timeline of the past year, the Pixel 4a is expected to be released sometime around May while the Pixel 5 should make its debut around October again. This year, however, the Pixel 5 is not expected to be Google’s fully-fledged flagship of the year many of us anticipated. This way, Google could be a victim of its own success.
In case Google wanted to retain the price difference between both phones, the Pixel 5 will lose one of its main advantages of incorporating a less expensive chipset, making it a very hard sell. And if Google lowered its Pixel 5 price tag noticeably, this could eventually bombard the sales of the Pixel 4a, losing a lot of profit in the process. True, there will still be a gap between both phones in terms of performance and maybe the display specifications. But to the already confused public, it might not matter that much. Ultimately, it all depends on how Google will price its phones on launch. Let’s just hope Google does it right this time.
Featured-Image: Wccftech
