Google Pixel 9 Review: A Mature Phone with Nice Upgrades
The Google Pixel 9 lineup now consists of four phones, offering a size and shape for everyone. The base model, the Pixel 9, is a compact phone that’s perfect for those who prefer a smaller device. The phone features a 6.3-inch OLED display, a new AI-powered camera system, and a more premium design.
Design and Display
The Pixel 9 has a flat design with an aluminium frame and a matte finish that resembles the iPhone. The phone is taller and wider than the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24, but the display is still compact. The rear panel is a slab of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with a polished finish and a Google logo positioned at the centre. The phone features a hole-punch cutout at the top and an ultra-sonic in-display fingerprint sensor, which is faster and more accurate than the optical one on the Pixel 8.
Camera
The Pixel 9 has a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera that’s also used on the Pro models. The main rear camera uses the same sensor as last year, but you get better results in low light conditions. The phone also features a 10.5-megapixel selfie camera with autofocus, which takes better selfies than before.
Performance and Battery Life
The Pixel 9 is powered by a 4,700mAh battery, which is slightly larger than the Pixel 8. The phone supports fast charging up to 45W and wireless charging up to 15W. In our HD video loop test, the phone lasted about 25 hours, which is pretty good for a Pixel.
AI Features
The Pixel 9 runs Android 14 out of the box and features a lot of AI-powered features. You can use Gemini Live with the Google One 2TB plan to have a natural conversation with the AI assistant. The phone also features a new Weather app with AI-generated forecasts and a new AI-powered camera mode that can add yourself in group pictures.
Verdict
The Google Pixel 9 is a very mature phone with nice upgrades. It’s a bit more expensive than last year, but it’s a premium device with a nice design, a better display, and improved camera performance. However, it’s not perfect, and I wouldn’t recommend it over the Pixel 8 until Google fixes the heating issues. If you’re looking for an alternative, the Samsung Galaxy S24, OnePlus 12, or Xiaomi 14 are good options.
