Introduction
The Pixel 8 was a popular choice in the tiny class, and the Pixel 9 is set to replace it as the new go-to option in this unique niche. With advances in design, processor, screen, camera, and software, we are excited to welcome the smallest Google Pixel 9. But, to immediately put an end to all this tiny rhetoric, the first thing you should know is that the new Pixel 9 is no longer so little.
It now has a bigger 6.3″ FHD+ OLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate and a 30% brightness improvement. The design has also altered, with two flat Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screens, a new flat aluminum frame, and a larger but smaller camera bar with transparent boundaries. Yes, it feels more like an iPhone, but it is still a Pixel, and immediately identifiable at that. Oh, and it’s still IP68-rated, as expected.
The Google Tensor G4 processor included in all new Pixel 9 phones includes 8 next-generation CPU cores, a faster GPU, a more energy-efficient (and better) modem, and additional RAM to support on-device AI activities. In terms of AI, the Tensor Processing Unit, which powers the additional AI features offered through Google Gemini, stays unchanged from the Tensor G3.
The Google Pixel 9 features
the fewest cameras compared to the rest of the 9-series gang; it contains the same 50MP primary camera with 2x high-resolution zoom as the Pixel 8 (and 9 Pro, presumably), as well as the same 10.5MP selfie camera, but with an autofocus lens. There is a brand new 48MP ultrawide-angle camera with a brilliant focusing lens (yes, it enables macro!).
Other new features on the Pixel 9 include the transition to an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which should provide a more dependable experience. It now has Satellite SOS assistance, thanks to a new agreement between Garmin and Skylo. Finally, the Pixel 9 supports 27W fast charging and has an increased battery capacity. The Pixel 9 runs Android 14, the current version of Android, as Android 15 is still a few months away at the time of release. It will receive seven years of comprehensive software support.
Google Pixel 9 specs
Google Pixel 9 specifications at a glance:
Body dimensions: 152.8×72.0x8.5mm, weight: 198g; glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass rear (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistance (up to 1.5m for 30 minutes).
Display specifications: 6.30″ OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak), 1080x2424px resolution, 20.2:9 aspect ratio, 422ppi, always-on.
Chipset: Google Tensor G4 (4nm): Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4, 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720, and 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520); Mali-G715 MC7.
Memory: 128GB (12GB RAM) or 256GB (12GB RAM); UFS.
OS/Software: Android 14 with up to seven major updates.
The rear camera has two modes: wide (50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm, 1/1.31″, 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, single-zone Laser AF, OIS) and ultra-wide angle (48 MP, f/1.7, 123˚, 1/2.55″).
Front camera features 10.5 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1″, 1.22µm pixels, and PDAF.
Video capture: rear camera: 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR. Front camera: 4K@30/60fps and 1080p@30/60fps.
Battery: 4700mAh; 45W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 55% in 30 minutes (as stated), 15W wireless (with Pixel Stand), 12W wireless (with Qi compatible charger), reverse wireless.
Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 6; Bluetooth 5.3, aptX HD; NFC.
Miscellaneous features include a fingerprint reader (under display and ultrasonic), stereo speakers, and satellite SOS service.
The Google Pixel 9 appears to be a real flagship, with all of the features we’d expect from a tiny premium gadget. It is hardly a breakthrough update over the Pixel 8, but it appears to have all that is new to this day.
Unboxing the Pixel 9
The Pixel 9 is packaged in a recyclable paper box with a sleeve. The print is monochromatic. Inside, you’ll find the Pixel 9, a USB-C cable, and a SIM removal tool.
Design, build quality, handling
The Pixel 9 looks very different from the Pixel 8, and that is the first thing you will notice. It is also somewhat larger, perhaps breaching the compact-size boundary and moving closer to the ‘full-size’ category. The latest Pixel generation features an all-flat design, including the camera bar, and is readily liked. The Victus 2 features two Gorilla Glass panels and a flat metal frame. The Pixel 9 has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Naturally, the front is all screen, with the new oval camera bar interrupting the rear glass. The Pixel 9 is available in four colors: Obsidian (ours), Porcelain, Wintergreen, and Peony. In contrast to the Pro models, they are all glossy. The camera bar is thick, with a flat metal frame. It’s a change from the traditional seamless camera housing, and while some may appreciate it, others will find it a bit harsh.
The metal frame on the Pixel 9 is matte, with a slight curving on the edge for a smoother transition to the glass displays. A close inspection of the front reveals uniformly thin screen bezels and a tiny punch-hole for the selfie camera. Above the screen, there’s an extremely tiny outlet for the earpiece, which also functions as a speaker. Qualcomm has installed a new ultrasonic fingerprint reader beneath the display, which works exceptionally well and is quite dependable.
The shiny back
quickly becomes covered in smudges, which are rather visible on the black model but will be less noticeable on the others. The camera bar is partly metal and has an LED flash. The glass section houses the two cameras as well as the laser-assistance sensors. Because it is so huge, the Pixel 9 does not wobble when placed on a desk. The SIM tray is located at the bottom of the phone, adjacent to the USB port and the second speaker.
It accepts one nanoSIM card. The Pixel 9 has a superb grip due to its all-glossy back and flat form; the glossy surfaces may appear slippery, but they are really stickier, making your fingers less likely to slide. Finally, the Pixel 9 weighs 11 grams more than the Pixel 8 and is 3mm higher and 1.2mm broader. This increases its size in a visible and tangible way. The Pixel 8 felt tiny in our hands, but we’re not sure we can say the same with the upcoming Pixel 9.
Our sole design issue was the increase in size. Perhaps the enormous camera bar has become an eyesore. We still believe the Pixel 9 to be a flagship construction and design, and we liked it, but we’re sure some consumers will find it less appealing than the previous one. We also received Google’s real €40 case, which is available in six different colors.
It fits perfectly well on the phone, particularly around the camera bar. It’s made of soft silicone, but unlike other cheap cases, it doesn’t turn your pocket inside out when you pull your phone out. However, it expands the already supposedly tiny phone even more.
Regular Actua 6.3-inch OLED display
The Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch OLED display, which is somewhat smaller than the 9 Pro’s, despite the fact that the diagonal is intended to be the same. With a FullHD resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, as well as 2,700nits of peak brightness (advertised), the stats aren’t bad, despite not being quite Pro-grade. The Pixel 9’s panel is just called Actua, as opposed to Super Actua like the Pros’ panels.
That implies it’s not an LTPO display and can only flip between 120Hz and 60Hz, whereas the Super Actuas allow for more precise adjustments. The resolution here is sort of a real FullHD+, if you can call it that – 1,080×2,412px vs. the 9 Pro’s 1,280×2,856px, and the pixel density is a little lower at 422ppi vs. 495ppi (still plenty good enough, we believe).
The display here, like on the Pros, is 8-bit, allowing for up to 16 million colors; there are no 10-bit or 12-bit colors on this one. In our tests, the Pixel 9 non-Pro achieved over 1,200 nits of maximum brightness when adjusted manually, with the Adaptive option adding another thousand nits when the phone is in strong light. Both figures are outstanding and much above what any competition can generate at this moment.
Refresh rate
As previously stated, the Pixel 9 does not provide precise refresh rate changes; it is only capable of 120Hz and 60Hz. There is a ‘Smooth display’ toggle in the display settings menu that enables the 120Hz maximum; it was turned off by default, at least on our review unit’s software release, so check and turn it on if you’re not receiving the promised display smoothness out of the box.
With Smooth display enabled, the Pixel 9 will work with you to achieve high frame rate gaming – it enters 120Hz mode for arcade and 3D titles that we often evaluate. It’s also happy to keep 120Hz in browsers and social applications that display dynamic material, and it’ll automatically stay at 120Hz while you engage with the phone, decreasing to 60Hz for static content when it’s idle. With Smooth display switched off, the refresh rate remains constant at 60Hz.
Streaming and HDR
The Pixel 9 supports HDR10 and HDR10+, but not Dolby Digital. YouTube and Netflix do provide HDR streams to the Pixel, and the Widevine L1 certification ensures high-resolution DRM-protected material (FullHD on Netflix). The Google Ultra HDR standard for showing boosted brightness in metadata-enhanced photographs is also supported, both for the Pixel’s own images in Google photographs and for photos from other compatible phones online in browsers or social media.
Google Pixel 9 battery life
The Pixel 9 has a 4,700mAh battery, which is a hefty powerpack for a non-Pro device, even if it is a rather tiny one. It has the same capacity as the Pixel 9 Pro and is just slightly more powerful than the Pixel 8 (4,575mAh) and 8a (4,492mAh). The Galaxy S24, on the other hand, has a battery capacity of 4,000mAh, whilst the iPhone 15’s is just 3,349mAh.
In our testing, the Pixel 9 outperformed the Pixel 8 in terms of endurance, scoring significantly higher in all four tests and about two hours longer in the total Active Use Score. As a result, it has become one of the best alternatives for battery life, outlasting the Galaxy S24 in three of four tests and outperforming the iPhone 15.
Charging speed
The Pixel 9 can charge at up to 27W when using the new Google 45W converter, but it should be able to do so with other excellent USB Power Delivery chargers with the correct volts and amperes pairings in their specs. We didn’t have the new converter, so we tried with the 30W unit and Samsung’s 45W adaptor, which is remarkably similar to the Google 45W one.
Google boasts that the Pixel 9 would be able to charge from 1% to 55% in 30 minutes with the new 45W adapter, which is pretty much what we got with the Samsung charger. Both the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S24 charge similarly in the first half hour, with the Galaxy charging somewhat faster to full capacity than the Pixel, while the iPhone charges more slowly in the later stages.
We also tested the Google 30W charger, and it was only slightly slower (52% in 30 minutes, 1:28h to full), so if you already have that one, there’s no reason to acquire the new one – you won’t gain anything. When utilizing Qi Extended Power Profile-compliant charging pads, the Pixel 9 offers wireless charging up to 12W. When utilizing Google’s own Pixel Stand (2nd generation), the figure rises to 15W. Battery Share is now available, allowing you to charge other Qi-certified devices from the rear of the Pixel 9.
Speaker test
The Pixel 9’s speaker arrangement is the standard Google hybrid stereo configuration. There is a bottom speaker that outputs through a frame aperture, as well as a front-firing top speaker that serves as an earpiece for voice calls. In portrait, the top unit receives the left channel, but in landscape, each spear receives the correct track, based on the phone’s position. Each speaker will also play the opposing channel’s audio, although at a lesser level.
In our tests, the Pixel 9, the Pixel 8, and the Galaxy S24 all received a ‘Very Good’ rating for loudness, while the iPhone received a ‘Good’ grade. However, we believe that the iPhone 15 sounds the finest of the lot. The Pixel 9 has a noticeable lack of low-end depth, but it handles voices and upper frequencies well.
Android 14 with Gemini
Since the Pixel 9 phones were released before Android 15, the latest series of Pixel phones ship with Android 14 out of the box. It is a clean version of the popular operating system that includes the new Gemini AI. Google offers seven years of full software support for all Pixel 9 phones, which includes seven major OS upgrades and all security fixes. During this period, you may also rely on extra components in case your Pixel fails.
Google’s sleek Android 14 is quick and smooth, and it feels comfortable after being around for over a year. The lockscreen is clean and straightforward; the homescreen has app icons, folders, and widgets; there is an app drawer; and the notification shade with fast settings is a permanent feature. The Style option allows you to customize the interface’s accent colors, backgrounds, icon form, and style.
You may also add more shortcuts to the lockscreen and customize the clock appearance. Google’s app suite comprises the following: Phones and Messages, Files and Drive, Gmail and Chrome, Photos and Camera, Calculator, Calendar, Contacts, Clock, Maps, Safety, Wallet, Watch, YouTube, and YT Music. There are some new applications here, including Gemini, Screenshots, Pixel Studio, and a brand new Weather app.
Google’s Gemini AI
plays an important part in the Pixel 9 series. You may ask Gemini to do a lot more, even start full discussions regarding interviews or book/essay topics. It may suggest what to prepare based on a snapshot of your fridge items, whereas Magic Editor can eliminate distractions from images and even create an entire setting in a photo – for example, a stunning sunset instead of a drab one.
You may get ready-to-paste content for emails, email or text summaries, and more. It will also be able to listen to your calls and provide a summary of the conversation – with the other party being told, of course. This way, if the conversation is significant and filled with information, you’ll be able to recall everything, including dates, hours, meetings, plans, and more.
Gemini is still in progress, but it is ready for use and extremely enjoyable! Cooking, writing, creating content, searching, and asking inquiries have never been easier. It also speaks more than 100 languages right out of the box, which is great! Pixel Studio is the next stage, where you may design personalized pictures. Note that generating pictures of persons is not currently supported.
Here, you may try to generate numerous crazy graphics, depict your thoughts, create a concert poster, or even your next book cover. The options are virtually endless. And, for the most part, the maker works well, and you can then further personalize the picture’s look using the extra choices. Pixel Screenshots is a screenshot organizer that allows you to browse through your endless screenshots.
Product keys,
trailer screenshots, phone numbers, sandwich sports, recipes, favorite meals, gift ideas, that t-shirt stamp, landmarks, companies, and places to visit – ask here and you will receive a response, as well as a screenshot summary if applicable. The software utilizes Gemini to recognize content in all of your screenshots, allowing you to recall information from them.
Circle to Search is also accessible; simply press and hold the nav bar at the bottom of the screen, then draw on anything on your screen to search for. It eliminates the need to screenshot and open it with Google Lens, and it works just as advertised: you circle something, and Google finds it for you. Magic Editor is included in Photos and includes Zoom Enhancer, Magic Eraser, Blur/Unblur, and other features.
The Camera app has some cool AI techniques, such as include Me, which allows you to include the photographer to a group image by taking one with the group and one with him, and the AI will mix them. Best Take is also available, which allows you to replace faces/objects with a superior version of them. Google thinks you’ll rely on AI even more in the future, so it created Gemini Advanced, a more focused and accurate AI with expanded capabilities.
It needs a paid membership and is not currently accessible in all areas, but it will be free for the first year for all Google Pixel 8 Pro or 9 Pro XL customers. The majority of the features, including those we discussed previously, are free and perform effectively even without the Advanced version, which appears to be aimed at power users. Finally, Satellite SOS is becoming a more prevalent function on modern devices.
Google has teamed
with Garmin Response to provide emergency response coordination services for the new Pixel 9 series’ satellite SOS function. This service is currently only accessible in the United States and is limited to owners of the new Pixel 9 series, which includes the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold. Older models are unsupported. Garmin Response handles approximately 17,000 SOS activations every year in more than 150 countries.
However, Google is now only providing satellite SOS in the United States. That’s how Apple got started, and maybe after the problems are smoothed out, Google may spread the service to additional areas. Garmin has already partnered with a global network of search and rescue specialists, coast guards, embassies, and other organizations to help you get out of difficulties. Skylo is Google’s other partner in this.
Skylo is a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service provider, which means that it collaborates with a variety of satellite operators and carriers throughout the world to provide emergency access in locations without cell or Wi-Fi coverage. Skylo’s network operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thus there is no reason why the Pixel 9 satellite SOS feature should not be expanded further. And possibly more.
Software and performance
The latest Pixels rely on Google’s next-generation processor, the Tensor G4. It has a brand-new processor with eight cores, one less than the G3’s: 1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4, 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720, and 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520. All cores have been updated to the newest generation. The GPU remains the same as on the Tensor G3 – Mali-G715 MC7 – but has a higher clock rate of 940Hz, up from 890Hz.
All new Pixels feature more RAM than previously, including the Pixel 9, which has 12GB of LPDDR5X. The TPU for AI tasks has remained constant from the Tensor G3 – now in its third iteration. Finally, Samsung has introduced a new energy-efficient modem, the Exynos 5400, which supports satellite communication.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you with test scores at this time since the benchmark apps we use were marked as “incompatible” on the Play Store, and sideloading them yielded results that were far too low (lower than the Pixel 8 Pro, for example) to be deemed representative. Let’s hope the restrictions are eliminated later on and we can provide you with accurate benchmark results.
No Pro – no telephoto
In general, the Pixel 9 retains the Pixel 8’s camera system: it has a wide main camera and an ultrawide on the back, but no telephoto – optical zoom is only available to Pro users. Nonetheless, the 2024 vanilla model receives a handful of enhancements, including a new ultrawide camera and autofocus for selfies. The primary camera is the same as on the Pixel 9 Pro (and Pro XL), and the module is shared with last year’s models and, to a lesser extent, the 7 generation.
The Pixel 9 also receives the same ultrawide as the 9 Pros, with the new 48MP 1/2.55″ Quad Bayer unit representing a significant improvement over the Pixel 8’s 12MP 1/2.9″ conventional sensor. Aside from the loss of a telescopic camera, there are a few other differences between the Pixel 9 and this year’s Pro versions. For starters, the basic 9 receives less laser aid for focusing – single-point here against multi-point on the Pros, a discrepancy carried over from last year.
You also don’t have the extra ‘Pro’ tab in the camera settings, which houses the full-resolution 50MP mode, thus the Pixel 9 can only capture binned shots – not a problem, just a difference. Another generational advance is the inclusion of focusing to the selfie camera. We’re still not clear why the Pixel 8 was rejected when the 8 Pro had it, but what matters is that the 9 gets it right. The 9 Pros have a better selfie game, with a 42MP Quad Bayer sensor and an even wider lens, but the 9 isn’t too terribly equipped on the front either.
Main camera
The Pixel 9’s primary camera performs admirably in bright sunlight, producing high-quality photographs. We receive excellent detail displayed in a natural manner, with well-judged sharpening and just the few jaggies in isolated circumstances, while noise is completely absent. Pixels delivers the usual strong contrast, with a focus on highlight retention and somewhat black shadows. Colors are also really lovely, even without pushing the saturation slider too much.
Skin tones are also effectively reproduced on the Pixel 9, and we like how people pictures seem in Photo mode. We’re not very fond of the somewhat high background blur in Portrait mode, though. With no telephoto lens on the Pixel 9, 2x zoom is perhaps the maximum you can achieve while maintaining decent image quality. We’d say it has a noticeable edge over the iPhone 15, but the Galaxy S24’s dedicated 3x camera will produce higher-quality zoomed-in images.
Daylight main camera (2x)
The 2x persons images retain a high degree of clarity, however Portrait mode is noticeably softer. Regardless, the shooting distance is far more comfortable for both the subject and the photographer, and the viewpoint is more attractive.
Ultrawide camera
The ultrawide camera also produces decent photos, which are notably crisp in the middle and little less so in the corners, but are still quite good. Additionally, the dynamic range and color reproduction are excellent.
Daylight, ultrawide camera (0.5x)
The ultrawide also handles closeups on the Pixel 9 series. It can focus as near as 15mm from the phone’s camera bump, but at that minimum subject distance, you’ll most likely be casting a shadow on it unless you take some precautions, and the depth of field will be minimal. However, the macro mode images (taken with the ultrawide, but zoomed in to match the main camera’s field of view) are still rather nice. You may, of course, just shoot with the ultrawide in its original field of view at the same minimum focus distance.
Selfies
The Pixel 9’s selfies are also quite appealing. They catch great detail, have appealing skin tones, and use vibrant colors. The inclusion of focusing this time around means the Pixel 9 can now take selfies from less than an arm’s length away, boosting your framing options and matching the capabilities of the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24 in this regard.
Low-light photo quality, Main camera
After dark, the Pixel 9 takes acceptable photographs. The detail isn’t remarkable, especially in the shadows, which can be a touch soft, but the overall rendering is decent. Exposures are spot on, with decent highlight retention and rather bright shadows – that increase, together with the noise reduction, is presumably to blame for the little softness, but it’s a trade-off we don’t dislike too much.
White balance is stable (more so than with the Pro XL), and saturation is well-judged. Pixel-level detail isn’t very high at 2x, but there’s still enough definition to qualify as a decent low-light shot. Naturally, better-lit situations will appear better. The Pixel remains competitive against the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S24 (albeit its 3x camera is not the most dependable in low light).
Low-light, Ultrawide camera
The ultrawide catches wonderfully bright exposures as well, remaining pretty crisp in well-lit parts and good in low-light zones. The colors are also great. It consistently outperforms its Galaxy and iPhone equivalents.
Video recording
The Pixel 9 can capture 4K60 video with all of its cameras, including the three on the back and one on the front. The rear cameras can also shoot in 4K at 24fps rather than 30fps, although the selfie camera does not have this feature. There is no 8K on the standard Pixel. There is the standard choice between the h.264 codec for more compatibility and the more efficient h.265 alternative. The menu also has a 10-bit HDR recording option.
There are three approaches to stabilization, with ‘Standard’ accessible in all settings and cameras. For action shots, ‘Active’ mode locks you into 1080p30 on the ultrawide, while ‘Locked’ allows for zoomed-in recording at up to 4K60 at 2x or even 5x zoom (a bit much on the tele-less Pixel 9). You may even disable the stabilization completely if you have other procedures in place to assure stable footage.
Video clips from the Pixel 9 are softer than we’d anticipate for the class, as we experienced with the 9 Pro XL. This applies to both the primary and ultrawide cameras. Contrast is also on the high side of average, resulting in some very harsh shadows, but let’s just accept that this is how Pixels are and go on. Colors have a decent amount of saturation and a pleasant tone that we don’t mind.
In low light, the Pixel’s primary camera videos are roughly equivalent to those of its competitors, with a reasonable amount of resolution, strong dynamic range, and true colors. The ultrawide performs similarly to the Galaxy S24, and both outperform the iPhone 15’s. We have nothing but admiration for the Pixel 9’s stabilizing algorithms, which effectively smooth out walking wobble. Pans are also stable, and stationary photos appear to have been taken using a tripod.
Competition
The Pixel 9, a sort-of-but-not-quite flagship from a premium brand, faces a few similarly positioned competition. Depending on your perspective, you may consider the previous generation or perhaps one of the clamshell foldables. The Galaxy S24 is most likely rival number one – the most visible other Android device in compact size. It earns points specifically for compactness, given that the vanilla Pixel is both bigger and heavier than last year’s – the 30g difference is rather significant.
The Pixel will provide you longer battery life and probably better images in most situations, but the Galaxy will win for video and zoom. The Galaxy is also drastically discounted in many regions of the world, allowing you to save a large amount of money. In most locations, the iPhone 15 costs around the same as the Pixel 9. The Pixel is typically a superior choice for stills, however the iPhone will likely produce better films.
Battery life is comparable,
as is charging speed. The Pixel’s display is superior in a couple of ways: it’s brighter (though this is probably not that essential at this level), and it’s also 120Hz, whereas the iPhone’s screen is trapped in the past with 60Hz. Naturally, if you’re on one side of the OS split, you might want to stay there, but hopping ship isn’t uncommon.
If you want to continue with #teampixel, you may consider investing a little more and obtaining the 9 Pro, which has zoom capabilities in roughly the same physical form. However, $200/€200 isn’t really ‘a little’ extra. If you want a smaller size and some savings, you could go for the Pixel 8, but it seems like too many compromises (no AF for selfies, an older ultrawide, and poorer battery life) for $100 in savings.
However, it may make sense if you still have €200 in your pocket. And, if pocketability is your main priority, consider the Motorola Razr 50 (same MSRP as the Pixel 9 in Europe) or, if you’re in the US, the Razr 2024 ($100 less than the Pixel 9). The Moto will not be as good a cameraphone, but it can perform camera tricks with its cover display and has excellent speakers. Plus, it’s foldable, which is amazing.
Verdict
With this year’s Google Pixel range, the vanilla model may appear a little misplaced at first glance: it’s no longer the tiny Pixel, and there isn’t a compact Pixel in this iteration. The fact that it is as huge and hefty as the 9 Pro and weighs the same as Apple and Samsung’s Plus-size models limits its attractiveness to a sizable portion of its target demographic.
However, in addition to the heaviness, there are several enhancements that may assist make its case. One such justification for the Pixel 9 is the extended battery life, with each gram of battery capacity adding an hour or two of active use. The camera changes, while not significant, do boost the 9 above the previous version.
The AI advancements and the overall Pixel software experience are virtually the same across the two versions, but it remains an edge over the competition for the proper audience. We’ll be honest: we don’t think the vanilla Pixel for 2024 is very good value at its advertised price. But, as long as you can obtain the free storage upgrade, or if Black Friday delivers a wonderful deal a few months later, the Pixel 9 might be the appropriate item for you, if you don’t care about having the best camera system and simply want a Google Phone.
