DJI Phantom 3

Every EV and its range for late 2021


Every EV and its range for late 2021

If you've been thinking about putting an electric car or truck in your driveway, there's likely a defining factor: driving range. That is, how far an EV will go on a single charge before needing to be plugged in to get more juice. It's a crucial part of ensuring a battery-powered car or truck fits your lifestyle and won't be a burden. Let's face it, EVs aren't for everyone, at least not yet.

If you're looking for that information, you've come to the right place. We've rounded up every EV on sale today and listed its EPA-estimated range. You'll find all that info below, so get to scrolling.

Editors' note: This list only includes vehicles that have been certified by the EPA. More EVs might be in the news, but they will not be added to this compilation until they're about to go on sale in the US and have official range ratings.

Audi

On the surface, Audi's first purpose-built battery electric road car hasn't changed much since its 2019 debut, with only minor tweaks and a few revisions to its options. Yet a combination of software and hardware updates have helped the electric SUV squeeze a few extra miles out of its 95 kilowatt-hour battery, climbing to an EPA estimated maximum range of 222 miles. Somewhat sweetening the pot, the E-Tron's starting price (including destination) has also dropped to $66,995 for the base Premium model.

Chris Paukert/Roadshow

The E-Tron has been joined by a new Sportback variant. The underpinnings, powertrain and tech are all the same as the aforementioned electric SUV, but the E-Tron Sportback features a slightly lower roofline and a windswept and silhouette -- coupe-like, if you squint. You'd think that the more aerodynamic profile would net more range, but the Sportback's sportier tuning only returns about 218 miles per charge. It's pricier, too, starting at $70,195.

Read our 2021 Audi e-tron Sportback preview.

Audi

In 2021, Audi introduced its E-Tron GT, a high-performance grand-touring four-door sedan as a racier companion to its E-Tron SUVs. Think of the model as a battery-powered A7 with front and rear trunks, and you won't be far off. With a starting MSRP of $103,445 (including a $1,045 delivery fee), the base 2022 E-Tron GT Quattro carries 238 miles of range. The RS E-Tron GT, which starts at $143,445 delivered, offers up to 637 horsepower and 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. Range for the more-powerful RS unsurprisingly dips slightly, to 232 miles

BMW

BMW's i3 has always been a little weird looking and expensive at $45,445, but it does offer a few things nothing else in the class can match. The biggest of these is its carbon-fiber chassis, which increases stiffness, reduces weight and looks great on a spec sheet. The i3 is definitely meant to be a city car with a relatively short range -- up to 153miles. But it's easy to park and a nice place to spend time, so we can't fault it too much.

Steven Ewing/Roadshow

The Bolt EV was the mainstream car industry's first real, practical answer to Tesla's electric juggernauts. It's an affordable little hatchback that doesn't stick out like the i3 and today, it packs plenty of all-electric range at 259 miles -- a nice increase over its initial 236-mile range. With a starting price of just $36,620, the Bolt has positioned itself as the perfect alternative to Tesla's impossible-to-spec $35,000 Model 3.

Read our 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV review.

Steven Ewing/Roadshow

Chevrolet Bolt EUV

247 miles

The Bolt EUV tucks the Bolt EV's battery pack and electric car platform beneath a slightly taller and longer body. The increased weight and aerodynamic profile cost the electric utility vehicle a bit of range, dropping to a still-decent 247 miles, according to the EPA. Other reasons you may want to consider the larger EUV include its increased capacity for cargo and second-row passengers and to get your hands on -- or rather, hands off -- GM's Super Cruise advanced driver assistance tech. The bigger Bolt strikes this summer starting at $38,495.

Read our 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV review.

Nick Miotke/Roadshow

Ford's Mach-E may be a Mustang in name alone, but it's an EV through and through. This electric SUV is offered in a variety of configurations, from the single-motor "Select" spec starting at $43,995 to the Premium AWD Extended range model at $54,400. At its best, the rear-driven California Route 1 Edition cruises for up to 305 miles with a full charge.

Later this year, high-performance Mach-E GT and GT Performance models will join the lineup, boasting up to 634 pound-feet of torque and a 0-60 sprint in just 3.5 seconds. We'll update when the EPA gets its hands on them. Until then, here's what Ford is offering:

  • Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD: 211 miles
  • Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD Extended: 270 miles
  • Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD: 230 miles
  • Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD Extended: 300 miles
  • Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD California Route 1: 305 miles

Read our 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E preview.

Hyundai

The Kona Electric is one of the most exciting new EVs you can buy right now. It has excellent range, weird-but-fun styling, tons of standard equipment and all the other killer Hyundai stuff (including a great warranty). The Kona EV is a lot quicker and more fun to drive than you'd expect, while its range of 258 miles puts it among the upper echelon of modern battery-electrics. With a price tag starting at $36,990, you're getting a lot for your money.

Read our 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric review.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Jaguar was one of the last companies we'd have expected to release a purely electric SUV. But it did, and the decision ended up working in its favor. The I-Pace looks like nothing else, drives like a Jag and offers a real alternative to the Tesla Model X. The I-Pace is a practical beast: Having been designed from the ground up to be an EV, it has plenty of space for people and things and a substantial range of 234 miles.

Read our 2020 Jaguar I-Pace review.

Kandi

No, we're not joking. This newcomer has the distinction of being the least expensive new electric car you can buy today: The K27 costs a no-haggle, no-nonsense $19,999. And that's before the $7,500 federal tax credit, which brings the cost down to $12,499. That's cheap for any new car, but that price also only gets you a ridiculously short range of just 59 miles per charge and an… unorthodox aesthetic.

Kia

Kia's Niro EV is Kia's best effort yet at making a fully battery-electric SUV that offers good range for not a lot of money (239 miles, $38,500 to start), and it surprised us when we drove it for the first time. It's more fun than its looks or specs would suggest, and it's packed with a deep roster of standard features that make modern Kias so hard to beat for value.

Read more about the 2021 Kia Niro.

Andrew Krok/Roadshow

The Lucid Air is a top dog in the EV realm with up to 520 miles of range. The EPA confirmed Lucid's internal estimates earlier this year, though that figure is only for a special Dream Edition. Otherwise, the ranges do come in a tad lower for the first cars the startup plans to build. These figures also drop slightly when choosing larger wheel options.

  • Lucid Air Dream Edition Range: 520 miles
  • Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance: 471 miles
  • Lucid Air Grand Touring: 516 miles
Mini

You may not remember this, but Mini was actually an early pioneer of modern EVs. Back in 2009, the automaker underwent a large-scale test of electric Mini E hatchbacks, building hundreds and leasing them to hand-picked consumers and utility companies. It gave up on the tech after a couple years, and it's taken until now for the brand to offer a BEV for sale. 

The 2021 Mini Cooper SE Electric promises to be one of the most affordable EVs on the market. Priced from $29,900 plus delivery, when you factor in the full federal tax credit and potential state and local incentives, you could own one for well under $20,000. There's a catch, of course: limited range. The Mini Electric is only estimated at 110 miles of range, about as short an e-leash as you'll find today. It's not a compliance car sold only in California-emissions markets -- Mini says the SE is a 50-state model.

Read our 2020 Mini Cooper SE Electric review.

Jon Wong/Roadshow

Ah yes, the granddaddy of all affordable electric cars. There is a reason that the Leaf is the world's bestselling EV by a factor of a zillion. And if you've spent time in one recently, you'll know it's easy to see why. The Leaf is a simple, well-built and affordable electric car that offers reasonable range -- 149 miles -- but still feels like the future.

The Leaf Plus is Nissan's answer to cars like the Tesla Model 3, the Kona Electric and the Bolt. It has the Leaf line's best range yet at 226 miles, and while it's not as cheap as the standard Leaf, it offers more for your money. More what? Power and torque mostly. Some of its tech is a little old, but that means it's well-proven at this point.

Polestar

The second plug-in model from the fledgling Polestar brand is also its first to run completely on battery power. The Polestar 2 fastback -- a sort of tall, liftback sedan chimera -- hits the ground running with impressive interior appointments and gorgeous Scandinavian style. The Polestar 2 boasts a range of 233 miles per charge. We think that's more than enough range for daily driving and then some, but the 2's starting price of $61,200 puts it in the unenviable position of being cross-shopped with the much longer-ranging variants of the Tesla Model S and Y.

Read our 2021 Polestar Polestar 2 review.

Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Porsche's first battery-electric car arrives to take on the Tesla Model S. It initially went on sale in Turbo and Turbo S forms, packing 670 and 750 horsepower, respectively. The Turbo starts at $150,900 while the more powerful S comes in at $185,000. This year sees the addition of a new rear-drive Taycan base model, starting at $81,250. The EPA-estimated ranges have also been revised, improving across the board for 4S and Turbo models. That lines up somewhat with our independent testing, where we found the Turbo's previous EPA numbers to be a bit conservative.

  • Porsche Taycan Performance: 200 miles
  • Porsche Taycan Performance Battery Plus: 225 miles
  • Porsche Taycan 4S Performance: 199 miles
  • Porsche Taycan 4S Performance Battery Plus: 227 miles
  • Porsche Taycan Turbo: 212 miles
  • Porsche Taycan Turbo S: 201 miles
RJ Scaringe/Twitter

The Rivian R1T's been a long time coming, but it's finally here. The startup began production of the electric pickup truck in September and the EPA dished out a final range rating: 314 miles. That's with the truck's "Large Pack." Keep in mind, Rivian also has a "Max Pack" forthcoming, which should push the range even higher, but we don't have final estimates for that just yet. 

Tesla

This is the EV to which all other midpriced electric vehicles have to answer. The Model 3 is just that good. It's comfortable, fun to drive, has tons of cargo space and one of the best ranges in its class. For 2021, Tesla simplified the Model 3 lineup, dropping from six configurations to three optimized specs:

  • Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus: 263 miles
  • Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD: 353 miles
  • Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD: 315 miles
Tesla

The Model S has been around in more or less the same form since 2012. It's gotten several updates to its hardware, styling and performance. The biggest update came with a refreshed interior for 2021. It's also $96,190 before adding things like different wheels, paint or Tesla's dubiously named Full Self-Driving feature, which feels like a lot for one of the oldest vehicles here.

The Long Range model remains the range champ at Tesla with a 405-mile estimate, while the performance-oriented Model S Plaid will do 396 miles.

  • Tesla Model S Long Range: 405 miles
  • Tesla Model S Plaid: 396 miles
Tesla

The Tesla Model X is like the Model S in that it's fast and expensive, but it's also bigger, roomier and has the craziest doors to be found on a production car this side of the Lamborghini Aventador. Thanks to a similar update to the Model S, the X also comes in just a Long Range and Plaid form. Here's how the Model X line shakes out:

  • Tesla Model X Long Range: 332 miles
  • Tesla Model X Plaid: 313 miles
Tesla

Think of the Tesla Model Y as the larger, frumpier version of the Model 3: Smaller than the Model X, the Y still offers seating for seven (somehow) and the same powerful electric powertrain. According to the EPA, it'll do an impressive 326 miles on a full charge in Long Range Spec. The Performance model offers better performance (of course), but at the cost of a few miles range versus last year. And, like the rest of Tesla's lineup, the Standard Range model is no more.

  • Tesla Model Y Long Range: 326 miles
  • Tesla Model Y Performance: 303 miles

Read our 2021 Tesla Model Y review.

Tim Stevens/Roadshow

The XC40 Recharge's $20,000 premium over the combustion-powered XC40 is a hard pill to swallow, but if you look past the sticker, the price is somewhat justified. For starters, the $54,985 EV's 486 pound-feet of performance are a class beyond the standard T5 powertrain's 258 torques, as are its all-new Android Automotive cabin tech and luxurious interior appointments. We just wish its range was equally impressive: The 208 miles it offers is a touch low for this class and price range.

Read our 2021 Volvo XC40 preview.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Taking the place of the humble E-Golf is Volkswagen's first dedicated electric vehicle in the US, the 2021 VW ID 4. The first deliveries of its electric SUV should begin later this year. The performance is fine and the styling is unobtrusive, but its promise of utility, capacity and up to 250 miles of range make the ID 4 a fairly practical choice for families looking to go electric. The Tesla Model Y offers more range and better driving dynamics, but starting at $41,190 before incentives, the VW is more budget-friendly.

Read our 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 review.

Every EV available for 2021

Make, model and trim Best range MSRP
Audi E-Tron 222 $66,995
Audi E-Tron Sportback 218 $70,195
BMW i3 153 $45,445
Chevrolet Bolt EV 259 $36,620
Chevrolet Bolt EUV 247 $38,495
Ford Mustang Mach-E California Route 1 305 $51,500
Hyundai Ioniq Electric 170 $34,250
Hyundai Kona Electric 258 $38,565
Jaguar I-Pace 234 $71,000
Kandi K27 59 $19,999
Lucid Air 520 $169,000
Kia Niro Electric 239 $40,265
Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 door 110 $30,750
Nissan Leaf S Plus 226 $39,220
Polestar 2 233 $61,200
Porsche Taycan 4S Performance Battery Plus 227 $110,720
Rivian R1T 314 $73,000
Tesla Model 3 Long Range 353 $53,690
Tesla Model S Long Range 412 $100,690
Tesla Model X Long Range 371 $111,690
Tesla Model Y Long Range 326 $62,190
Volvo XC40 AWD BEV 208 $55,085
Volkswagen ID 4 250 $41,190

A few truly charming electric cars have disappeared from the list this year and will be missed, but overall the list is longer than ever. That means more choices running a wider gamut of ranges, prices and body styles. That's good news for electric car enthusiasts, early adopters and regular drivers looking for flexible and reliable transportation. And there will be more to come even by the end of 2021 -- from the newly announced Ford F-150 Lightning to budget-friendly offerings like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and more. We'll be updating the list as more models are certified by the EPA, so check back often.

For a list of just our favorite electric vehicles, check out our best electric cars for 2021 roundup. There's also our list of the best kids electric cars for 2021, because it's never too early to cultivate a love of cars -- electric or otherwise.


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Compare 15-Year Mortgage Rates for August 2022


Compare 15-Year Mortgage Rates for August 2022

Buying a home is a major financial decision, and interest rate levels have a major impact on how much your mortgage will cost you over the years. When you become a homeowner, you'll want to secure the right type of mortgage at the lowest possible rate. If you can manage a higher monthly payment, a 15-year mortgage is an attractive option if you're looking to pay off your home loan sooner while saving on interest.

Current 15-year mortgage rate trends

Rates for the 15-year mortgage are currently in the mid-to-upper 4% range, having dropped slightly since the Federal Reserve's most recent interest rate hike to combat inflation. Although rates had been steadily increasing since the beginning of 2022, they dropped because the Fed's increase was in line with market expectations. Interest rates typically go up when inflation soars, and the pressure on rates and prices has been most apparent in the real estate industry.

Even though mortgage rates dipped slightly, home prices will remain high in 2022. The more expensive homes get, the bigger the mortgage you'll need to afford that home. Make sure you shop around for mortgage lenders that can make worthwhile rates available to you. You should always meet with multiple lenders to figure out which loan offers make the most sense for your personal financial situation. 

Here's what you need to know to lock in the best mortgage rate possible for a new home.

The pros of a 15-year fixed mortgage

  • Shorter loan term: The obvious benefit of a 15-year fixed mortgage is that it takes half the length of time to pay off compared to a 30-year mortgage. You will have higher monthly payments, but you'll pay this home loan off twice as fast, resulting in less interest over time. 
  • Lower interest rates: Usually, 15-year fixed interest rates are lower than 30-year rates because the lender does not have to predict rates for an additional 15 years into the future, like they do for a 30-year loan. 
  • Build equity in your home much faster: A 15-year fixed mortgage allows you to build more equity in your home faster. This means you can enjoy some of the advantages of homeownership, such as refinancing your home loan when rates go down again, sooner. Typically, to get a good refi rate, lenders like to see at least 20% in home equity.

The cons of a 15-year fixed mortgage

  • Higher monthly payments: One downside to a 15-year mortgage is that you're stuck with high monthly payments for the duration of the home loan. For example, say you make a 20% down payment on a $500,000 mortgage at a 4% interest rate with a 15-year fixed mortgage, your monthly payment will be about $3,350, compared to just $2,300 with a 30-year fixed mortgage.
  • The maximum mortgage amount you can borrow is smaller: Since you're making high payments every month, lenders will offer you a smaller mortgage amount than they might with a 30-year loan. This reduces the risk to the lender that you will default on the loan.
  • Less financial flexibility overall: If you put all of your eggs into a 15-year mortgage, it could limit your opportunity to spend your money in other ways. For example, you may have less available to contribute to investment or retirement accounts. You may also have less of a financial cushion to fall back on if you run into difficulties.

Something to consider 

If you like the idea of paying off your mortgage sooner, but are worried about committing to higher monthly payments, there's an alternative to consider. If you choose a 30-year mortgage over a 15-year mortgage, you can make additional payments throughout the year, which will help shorten your loan term. This allows you to effectively pay off your 30-year mortgage sooner, without locking yourself into the higher monthly payments that are attached to a 15-year mortgage.

Current mortgage and refinance rates

We use information collected by Bankrate, which is owned by the same parent company as CNET, to track daily mortgage rate trends. The above table summarizes the average rates offered by lenders across the country. 

FAQs

What is a 15-year fixed mortgage?

A 15-year fixed mortgage is a loan to buy a house that you will pay off over 15 years with a set interest rate. Since it has a shorter loan term than a 30-year mortgage, the monthly payments are much higher than with a fixed 30-year loan.

Who can qualify for a 15-year mortgage?

You must be able to afford higher monthly payments to qualify for a 15-year loan and confirm your ability to pay. That means your salary, credit score and debt-to-income ratio -- that is, how much debt you carry each month divided by your monthly income before taxes -- play a bigger role in a 15-year mortgage than they do for a 30-year mortgage. So if you have high-interest debt you're trying to pay down, a lender will factor in those payments when considering approving you for the loan.

What is the difference between a 15-year mortgage and a 30-year mortgage?

The main difference between a 15-year mortgage and a 30-year mortgage is that a 15-year mortgage will ultimately cost you less by saving you up to tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the loan. You also pay a lower interest rate for a shorter amount of time, thereby lessening the overall cost of your loan. But paying off the loan in half the time means that your monthly payments can be almost double what they are for a 30-year loan.

More mortgage tools and resources

You can use CNET's mortgage calculator to help determine how much you can afford for a house and work out how to manage financially. The tool takes into account your monthly income, expenses and debt payments. In addition to those factors, your mortgage rate will depend on your credit score and the zip code where you are looking to buy a house.


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Pixel 6 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro vs. Samsung S21 Ultra: Which zoom is best


Pixel 6 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro vs. Samsung S21 Ultra: Which zoom is best

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro might be two of the best phones Google has ever made. The Pro model specifically has a gorgeous 6.7-inch, 120Hz display, a not-too-extreme price of $899 (£849, AU$1,299) and, of course, the cameras. It's always the cameras. The conspicuous camera bar on the back houses a trio of shooters: a main 50-megapixel camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 48-megapixel telephoto that offers 4x optical zoom.

That last camera is particularly important. Following the widespread adoption of Portrait mode and Night mode, zoom is becoming the big phone camera feature for many companies. That's particularly true of Samsung, which marketed its last two Galaxy S flagships based on their 100x zoom.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

So how does the Pixel 6 Pro stack up? I field-tested it here in Sydney against the iPhone 13 Pro to find out. I found that the iPhone generally performed better with optical zoom -- that is, up to 3x, where the 13 Pro maxes out -- but that the Pixel was decisively better as you zoom out farther. I also compared the Pixel 6 Pro to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra for longer zooms, and was surprised to see the Pixel 6 Pro outperform the zoom master. 

iPhone vs. Pixel: Optical clash

Let's start by comparing the iPhone 13 Pro directly with the Pixel 6 Pro at 3x zoom. That means the iPhone 13 Pro is using its dedicated 3x optical telephoto camera and the Pixel 6 is using its main wide-angle camera and digitally cropping in to 3x.

My first example is a photo taken on a bright, sunny day of a painted mural with vibrant colors and action-shot cricketers. 

pxl-20211101-000236310

To set the scene, I took this photo on the Pixel using the standard wide-angle lens at 1x.

Daniel Van Boom/CNET

Zooming in to 3x, we start to see how differently the iPhone and Pixel capture images. The iPhone takes warmer photos, most notably seen in the different shade of green produced by each phone. Whether this is good or bad depends largely on taste, so I'll leave that aside for the moment. The Pixel photo looks like it's applied the Structure filter from Instagram and raised it significantly: Details that look subtle in the iPhone picture become pronounced in the Pixel photo. Notice the crack that runs between the artwork of the bowler and the woman to his left.

I prefer the iPhone's more natural, vibrant look, but you may prefer the details that the Pixel's processing brings out. 

Next up, please enjoy this decaying art piece I found in an alley.

img-0336

For reference, here is a photo from the Google Pixel 6 Pro taken with its main camera at 1x.

Daniel Van Boom/CNET

Below are photos taken at 3x on each phone. Again, the lighting conditions are perfect. This time, though, the results are less ambiguous. The iPhone 13's photo was brighter, had better contrast and captured more. If you look at the rips and tears in the canvas, you'll find far more detail in the iPhone's shot. Depressing detail, in this case, but detail nonetheless! 

Now to a more complicated example. The photos below were taken at night, but in a lit-up environment. This time it's the Pixel's photo that's brighter, but not necessarily in a good way. The light is less balanced in the Pixel's rendition, which results in the iPhone's version having better contrast. (See the blacks in the cactus barrel.) 

At the same time, though, the Pixel managed to pick up details missed by the iPhone. Most notable are the spider webs on the cactus to the right. This is also an example of something I noticed a lot in the Pixel -- its dislike of shadows. The Pixel's cameras work hard to capture details in areas that come up dark in the iPhone. And keep in mind, the Pixel 6 Pro is using its main camera and cropping in, which also gives it a bit of an advantage.

Below is not a zoomed shot, but I wanted to include it to illustrate the point about the Pixel 6 Pro. In the cactus photo above, you see that it can backfire by lighting up areas in a way that looks artificial. In the photos below though, it impresses by catching a lot of information missed by the iPhone. 

When it comes to low light, I generally found the iPhone did a better job, though not always. In the below photos of a mural, the iPhone managed to capture more light and detail. Note, though, that the Pixel's shot has deeper colors. 

birds

iPhone 13 Pro versus Pixel 6 Pro, 3x zoom.

Daniel Van Boom/CNET

And where the Pixel can sometimes produce images that look overprocessed during the day, at night I found it was often the reverse. In the below comparison of a stone cross, the iPhone's version is brighter, but also has more noise and an unsightly hue compared with the Pixel's.

Now let's move closer to 4x on each phone. This means the Pixel 6 Pro is using its 4x optical telephoto camera, while the iPhone uses its 3x telephoto camera and digitally crops in to achieve a 4x magnification. The different isn't major, but it is still noticeable. The digital zoom that takes the iPhone from 3x to 4x zoom results in some conspicuous processing, and some loss of vibrance.

You can see the latter effect in the comparison below. The Pixel's photo is slightly clearer, but the iPhone's digital zoom makes its photo look less saturated. For example, the green in the trees is much richer in the Pixel photo.

It's much the same for these photos of a statue head below. Notice again the Pixel's tendency to light up shadows, in this case on the fellow's face. But also see how much more vivacious the colors in the Pixel's shot are. 

In the photos below of a dog park sign, the iPhone's digital zoom leads to some obvious heavy lifting by image processing. The blades of grass, the ripples in the water and the texture on the sign all look artificially sharpened up. 

The long view

When it comes to longer zooms, the Pixel 6 Pro is the winner -- by a large margin. 

The comparison below is of photos taken by the iPhone 13 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro taken at 10x magnification. We return to the water cooler adorned by cricket figures, but from a greater distance. The difference is significant. The iPhone's shot has more noise and is blurrier. (Also note: The iPhone's "10x" zoom was regularly deeper than the "10x" zoom on both the Pixel and Samsung Galaxy.)

Below are 10x zoom shots taken by the Pixel 6 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which has built its brand on zoom. Considering how amazing the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is at zoom, I was surprised to see that it was outdone here at 10x zoom by the Pixel. The Pixel 6 Pro looked sharper and had more vibrant colors, as you can see in the greens on the field and the water cooler. The Pixel 6 Pro is digitally cropping its 4x telephoto camera, but it has a neat software feature called Super Res zoom to improve the image. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is relying on its 10x optical zoom telephoto camera.

The photos below of my Booker DeWitt Funko Pop were taken in a less sunny environment. The Pixel 6 Pro photo looks far more balanced -- both in colors and in lighting. The iPhone's zoomed photo has an unnatural warm glow to it. The improved clarity on the Pixel isn't limited to Booker either. Compare the text on the book spines.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra did better than the iPhone, but still fell victim to many of the same issues. It also had a warm glow, albeit less distorted, and fewer details both on Booker and the books behind him. The Pixel wins again.

OK, hard mode. See that tree with the lilac flowers all the way to the other side of the field? Let's zoom in 10x.

pxl-20211101-002018264

For reference, I took ths photo at 1x with the Pixel 6 Pro's main camera.

Daniel Van Boom/CNET

The photos below were taken at 10x digital zoom on both the Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone. This is a tough photo for any phone to grab, since the leaves on the trees provide an ample opportunity for noise. And, boy, is there noise. Still, the iPhone pic is more distorted, as you'll notice the the foliage looks much finer on the Pixel. 

And below is a comparison of pictures from the Pixel and the Galaxy S21 Ultra of the same scene taken at 10x. The photo from the Pixel outdoes the one from the Galaxy, which looks flatter and less vivacious in comparison.

That the Pixel 6 Pro beats the S21 Ultra on 10x zoom is impressive, since deep zooms are what the S21 Ultra is known for. Note, though, that digital zoom on the Pixel goes up to "only" 20x, compared with the Galaxy's 100x. 

For more on the Pixel 6 Pro, check out the in-depth Pixel 6 Pro review by my colleague Andy Hoyle.

Stephen Shankland/CNET

The Google Pixel 6 Pro's unique design, great software additions, superb camera quality and solid all-around performance have already earned the phone an excellent rating in our full review. With performance that's every bit as good as its design, it's the best phone Google has ever made. The main camera is on par with those of the best iPhones. And at $899 for the base 128GB model, it trounces its premium phone rivals in price. Read our Google Pixel 6 Pro review.


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Google Pixel 5A review: Snappy performance, familiar design


Google Pixel 5A review: Snappy performance, familiar design

Update, July 21, 2022: Google has since replaced the Pixel 5A with 5G with the Pixel 6A. You can read our full Pixel 6A review for the latest model. Last year's review of the Pixel 5A with 5G continues unchanged below.


Google's $449 Pixel 5A with 5G is the second major Pixel announcement this year, hot on the heels of the Pixel 6 teaser earlier this month. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor that powers a 6.34-inch OLED display. The phone also has IP67 water- and dust-resistance.

So while Google's highest-end Pixel 6 and 6 Pro phones will include the new in-house Tensor chip, the 5A (as I'll call it from now on) will have more in common with last year's Pixel 4A 5G. For Pixel fans with deeper pockets, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro's chip and redesign could be exciting, but this Pixel likely will be shooting for a more budget-conscious crowd. 

For the value, it's hard to not like what Google has done with the Pixel 5A. The only real thing holding it back is Google's inability to commit to supporting upcoming 5G networks that are set to start coming online in a few months. 

Like

  • Nice screen
  • Speedy performance
  • IP67 water-resistant
  • Affordable price

Don't Like

  • No wireless charging
  • 5G support in the US is unclear

If you're looking for a cheaper Pixel, you won't have to wait for the Pixel 6's release date sometime this fall, as the 5A will be released on Aug. 26 and can be bought in the US carrier-unlocked directly from Google or with Google Fi. The phone will also be available in Japan. (While it's not coming to the UK or Australia, the price converts to roughly £320 or AU$630.)

I've spent the past few days with Google's new phone. While it feels like a worthy successor to the Pixel 4A 5G so far, here's what you'll want to keep in mind if you want a cheaper 5G Pixel or Android phone on a budget

Snappy performance, familiar design

The 5A's chip is the same as the one used in last year's 4A 5G: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor. The similarities don't end there, as both phones also have 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. They each have similar front and rear cameras with a hole punch for the front camera, and both have a fingerprint reader on the back and a 3.5mm headphone jack on top. 

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Sarah Tew/CNET

The camera system is nearly identical to last year's Pixel 4A with 5G (and the Pixel 5). It has the same lenses and all the same features, including a portrait mode, Night Sight and an ultrawide lens. In my week with the phone, the cameras proved versatile and more than capable of taking crisp photos during the day and at night.

For more on the Pixel's cameras, see our Pixel 5 review last year.  

In daylight, the Pixel 5A does a nice job capturing details and colors. 

Eli Blumenthal/CNET

Night Sight isn't the sharpest but it remains an impressive -- and capable -- feature for a $449 phone. 

Eli Blumenthal/CNET

The differences begin with a larger 6.34-inch OLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio that's similar to the Galaxy S21. That's compared to a 6.2-inch display on the 4A 5G at a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, which we've seen on devices such as the Pixel 5 and iPhone 12. 

The 5A is running Android 11 in my tests, but if past Pixel trends hold true the phone will likely be among the first to get Android 12. The new OS will include the new Material You design, refreshed notifications and even more customizable options that could be exclusive to the Pixel series.

Watching videos on YouTube, Netflix or Disney Plus worked fine. Games on Stadia or Xbox Game Pass also played well, though some (particularly those on Xbox) were letterboxed and wouldn't play in full screen. I encountered a similar issue with YouTube TV (though not the regular YouTube app). 

Pixel 5A with 5G YouTube TV

The Pixel 5A letterboxes certain apps like YouTube TV. 

Eli Blumenthal/CNET

Performance, however, was solid and it was certainly playable with a good internet connection. More intensive localized games such as Call of Duty: Mobile also worked largely as expected. 

The stereo speakers, however, lack clarity. While they can get loud they aren't as full or rich at maximum volume as other devices. 

The phone's IP67-rated water and dust resistance should help withstand the elements and features a significantly larger battery (4,620 mAh compared to 3,800 mAh) that can be fast-charged using the included 18-watt USB-C wall charger. 

The Pixel's fast charging wasn't particularly speedy in my tests, going from empty to 21% in 20 minutes and needing around 47 minutes to hit 50%. The OnePlus Nord 2 can go from zero to 70% in an hour using its 30-watt fast charger. 

Getting up to a nearly full charge took around two hours on the Pixel. I do like that the battery indicator in the notification tray continues to show how much battery you have left, as opposed to a vague percentage. 

Google claims the battery should be able to run a full day, and from my limited testing these few days the phone seems to hold up to that estimate even after I was taxing it with gaming, video watching, hotspotting and photo taking.

Impact of the chip shortage

The global chip shortage appears to have affected the Pixel line's tradition of offering a bounty of colors, with the 5A just coming in "mostly black" (which to me looked a little green in certain light). Brian Rakowski, vice president of product management at Google, told reporters that this was a result of "supply chain challenges."

"It's an industry-wide shortage," he said, noting that the limited chips available has also meant limiting the places Google will sell the 5A as opposed to offering a wide distribution through a variety of carriers and retailers. 

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Sarah Tew/CNET

"We definitely could not get as many chips as we wanted for this." 

As with last year's Pixel 4A 5G, there's no wireless charging on this new model. Google also appears to have dropped the "spectral and flicker sensor," which could impact taking pictures or videos of screens or shooting under artificial lighting like fluorescent lights. (These changes may not necessarily be related to the chip shortage.)

The good news is that the 5A keeps most of Google's Pixel software features, including call screening for fighting robocalls, car crash detection and a recorder app that can transcribe in real time, as well as photography features like Night Sight for improved images in low light.  

Google is promising three years of Android software and security updates in addition to the feature updates it has routinely offered for Pixel phones. 

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Sarah Tew/CNET

5G… with a catch 

5G support is indeed part of this cheaper Pixel, but the details of that support get complicated. You should be able to connect to low-band 5G networks from T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. 

But whereas last year's Pixel 5 included support for higher-frequency millimeter-wave 5G networks, the 5A does not. This means faster speeds, from what Verizon calls Ultra Wideband and what AT&T calls 5G Plus, won't be supported. For a midrange phone this isn't a deal-breaker, but it isn't ideal. 

Since Google Fi runs on T-Mobile's network, it works fine on that carrier's low-band as well as its faster midband 5G offering, which it calls Ultra Capacity 5G. 

Looking into 5G's future, the 5A's support will be even more complicated. The phone's support of 5G networks running on the C-band is unclear. This is wireless spectrum that Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile spent billions on earlier this year. For Verizon and AT&T, that should provide a significant speed boost beyond just a handful of city blocks. 

The first of these networks from AT&T and Verizon should arrive later this year, with Verizon stating earlier this year that this C-band network will allow it to offer peak download speeds of 1 gigabit per second. The Pixel 5, ironically, was announced as one of the first phones to support Verizon's C-band network

On a hardware level, the 5A should support these forthcoming networks as it has the proper band support inside (what's known as band N77 or N78). The issue is that Google won't commit to updating the software on the Pixel 5A with 5G to enable it. 

"The hardware is capable but there hasn't been a lot of deployment yet in the US so the software work would still need to be done," Rakowski said. "We don't have any plans to announce on that front." 

When pressed, Rakowski added that Google will "stay in touch with the carriers and evaluate" future support but added that "we're not going to commit, we're not going to make a statement now about future support for what might come in an update."

We already know that more people are holding onto devices for longer, so the lack of support from Google for this upcoming network upgrade -- especially when the physical hardware supports it -- is concerning. 

If you're with T-Mobile or a carrier that runs on its network (like Google Fi) you have less to worry about when it comes to accessing a speedy midband 5G network. As for prospective buyers who have AT&T or Verizon, that lack of future support could muddy what's otherwise a solid $449 phone.

Pixel 5A 5G specs


Pixel 5A 5G Pixel 4A 5G Pixel 3A
Display size, resolution 6.34-inch OLED, 2,400x1,080 pixels 6.2-inch OLED, 2,340x1,080 pixels 5.6-inch OLED, 2,220x1,080 pixels
Pixel density 413ppi 413ppi 441ppi
Dimensions 156x73x8.8mm 154x74x8.2mm (Sub-6 only); 154x74x8.5 mm (mmWave + Sub-6) 151x70x8.2mm
Weight 6.45 oz; 183g 5.93 oz; 168g (Sub-6 only); 6.03 oz; 171g (mmWave + Sub-6) 5.19 oz; 147g
Software Android 11 Android 11 Android 9.0
Camera 16-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (dual pixel) 12.2-megapixel (standard), 16-megapixel (ultrawide) 12.2-megapixel
Front camera 8-megapixel 8-megapixel 8-megapixel
Video 4K 4K 4K
Chipsets Snapdragon 765G (processing power chip), Titan M chipset (security chip) Snapdragon 765G 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
Storage 128GB 128GB 64GB
RAM 6GB 6GB 4GB
Headphone Jack Yes Yes No
Battery 4,620 mAh 3,800 mAh 3,000 mAh
Special features 5G, IP67 water resistance, dual SIM (nano-SIM and e-SIM), stereo speakers, 18W fast charging 5G, dual-SIM (nano-SIM and e-SIM), fast charging AR in Google Maps, time-lapse video shooting
Price (USD) $449 $499 $399

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