Google Pixel 9 Review: Matured Design, But Still Gets Hot

Google’s newest Pixel 9 lineup now consists of 4 telephones as an alternative of two, and there is a dimension and form for everybody. Do you need a compact cellphone? You have the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. Do you want huge screens and may’t lie? There’s the Pixel 9 Pro XL. And lastly, there’s the Pixel 9 Pro Fold for all of the productiveness freaks. You additionally get up to date designs with the brand new Pixel telephones. While you possibly can nonetheless inform they’re Pixel telephones from the again, the smaller Pixel 9 seems loads just like the Samsung Galaxy S24 from the entrance.

And as a result of it is a Google cellphone, you additionally get loads of new AI options. I’ve been utilizing the bottom Pixel 9 for nearly every week now, and whereas it appears like a mature piece of {hardware}, it is nonetheless not fairly there but. If you need to perceive what I imply, you need to learn the total evaluate.

The Pixel 9 is out there in India in a single 12GB RAM and 256GB storage possibility at Rs. 79,999.

Google Pixel 9 Design: Flagship degree

• Dimensions – 152.8 peak x 72.0 width x 8.5 depth
• Weight – 198g
• Colours – Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony

In phrases of design, every thing is now flat, and every thing is iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24-like. The cellphone has an aluminium flat body with rounded corners and a matte end that jogs my memory very a lot of the iPhone. The smallest Pixel can be now not as compact because it as soon as was. The Pixel 9 is taller and wider than each the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S24. Also gone is the digicam visor, which is changed by a digicam bar that runs horizontally throughout just like the visor, however it’s now pill-shaped, resembling the Google search bar. However, you possibly can nonetheless inform it is a Pixel cellphone.

The design is similar to the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S24

 

The rear panel is a slab of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with a cultured end and a Google emblem positioned on the centre. The proper body homes the ability and the quantity buttons, and there is a microphone up high, a USB Type-C port, a speaker grille, a SIM card tray, and one other mic on the backside. The left facet is left empty. The new flat design makes it really feel extra flagship and premium now, however I choose the curved again design and the digicam visor look of the Pixel 8.

Pixel 9 is now additionally taller than its predecessor, however that is primarily because of the barely larger show. It additionally retains the IP68 score, and that digicam bar can nonetheless be used as a finger relaxation.

Google Pixel 9 Display: Brighter and higher

• Panel – 6.3-inch OLED, full HD+ decision
• Refresh fee – 60 to 120Hz
• Protection – Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2

The show on the Pixel 9 is now larger and brighter than the Pixel 8, however it additionally has uniform and slim bezels throughout. It seems like Google lastly determined to wrap the show inwards on the backside to eliminate the thicker chin on earlier non-pro Pixel telephones. The new 6.3-inch OLED show, which Google has branded ‘Actua’, provides 2,700 nits of peak brightness, 24-bit depth for colors, and an adaptive refresh fee between 60 and 120Hz. It’s nonetheless not an LTPO panel, however it’s positively higher than the older mannequin.

The cellphone has an LTPS panel and solely provides a 60 or 120Hz refresh fee

 

You get glorious color output and loads of distinction, and it additionally does justice to HDR movies. The panel helps each HDR10 and HDR10+, and you’ll get Widevine L1 certifications. The software program provides Natural and Adaptive color modes. While I had no downside utilizing the Pixel 8 outdoor, the Pixel 9 is even higher, and every thing’s simpler to learn.

Pixel 9’s show homes a hole-punch cutout on the high and now provides an ultra-sonic in-display fingerprint sensor. This is a pleasant improve from the optical one on the Pixel 8, which was slower and fewer correct than different flagship telephones. The new fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 9 lastly will get it on par with different flagships, and it really works nice. It’s quick and works even with moist fingers.

Google Pixel 9 Software: More AI

• OS – Android 14
• Software help – 7 Years
• Latest safety patch – September 5

Pixel telephones had been recognized for his or her cameras, however now they’re additionally recognized for his or her AI software program options. And there’s loads on the brand new Pixel 9 lineup. The Pixel 9 runs Android 14 out of the field, and I obtained the September safety patch through the evaluate interval. This is a bit unusual for a brand new Pixel cellphone, because the Pixels of the previous have virtually at all times run the latest Android model out of the field. However, the Pixel telephones got here early this yr, and Android 15 simply hit AOSP.

You will get 7 years of OS updates on the Pixel 9

 

Luckily, Google continues to vow 7 years of OS and safety updates on its flagships, so the telephones needs to be good for some time, no less than software-wise. There’s a brand new Weather app on the cellphone, and also you get loads of customisation choices throughout the system.

Now, let’s speak concerning the cellphone’s AI options. You can now use Gemini Live with the Google One 2TB plan that will get you a free month of Gemini Advanced. It helps you to use the Gemini 1.5 Pro mannequin with a 1 million token context window, which mainly allows you to throw advanced issues on the AI assistant with out worrying about any restrict. You additionally get entry to Gemini Live, which I discovered to be tremendous helpful and really spectacular. It labored flawlessly and had a really pure tone. I did discover it hallucinate typically, however the skill to have a free-flow dialog with an AI is sort of cool. It’s just like the ChatGPT Voice possibility on the ChatGPT app.

Gemini Live on Pixel 9 works nice, and it feels such as you’re speaking to a human

 

You additionally get entry to a number of in-built AI options similar to ‘Help me create a listing’ within the Google Keep notes app and a brand new AI climate report within the Weather app. The former will be fairly useful, however I’m unsure if the AI abstract is definitely helpful.

The Pixel Studio app helps you to rapidly generate AI pictures, however there are limitations

 

There’s additionally the brand new Pixel Studio and Pixel Screenshots app this yr. The latter helps you keep in mind one thing you took a screenshot of and organises your screenshots. I did not actually discover the Pixel Screenshots very helpful as I’ve a foul reminiscence and may’t actually keep in mind what screenshots I took within the first place.

Meanwhile, the Pixel Studio app was enjoyable because it helps you to create pictures utilizing AI. Of course, there are limitations to what you possibly can create, and it will not allow you to create any human topics, however you may get some cool pictures for artistic functions. Simply open the app, faucet on Create, and kind in your immediate. You may attempt completely different kinds for the output, add stickers and textual content to the created pictures, and you too can use the app to create stickers from photographs in your cellphone.

The Pixel Studio app will not allow you to create pictures with people

 

Apart from the Gemini and AI options sprinkled throughout the UI, you additionally get a few new Camera AI options. New this yr is Add Me, which helps you to add your self in group footage the place you are the one behind the digicam. It’s enjoyable and can be utilized for different artistic methods as effectively.

You can use the Add Me characteristic to create enjoyable footage [Tap to expand]

 

Google has additionally added a brand new Auto body and Reimagine software in Magic Editor. The former makes use of AI to reframe outdated photographs for higher storytelling and may broaden the picture. This principally labored effectively, however a few of the crops had been bizarre. Meanwhile, the Reimagine software can be utilized to alter how your photographs look, and it really works very well more often than not. I used to be capable of finding an elephant on a street close by and make my mates consider that I had just lately travelled to Paris. The AI-generated pictures will be tremendous real looking, which is each spectacular and scary.

This is a Reimagined picture. Guess what’s not actual? [Tap to expand]

 

Asked the Reimagine software so as to add an elephant, and it did [Tap to expand]

 

Finally, the Google Pixel 9 additionally improves the Audio Magic Eraser characteristic, which helps you to take away noise from a video. This works effectively and is barely higher than what we acquired on the Pixel 8.

Unfortunately, the non-Pro Pixel nonetheless does not get entry to options similar to Video Boost, Night Sight Video, Zoom Enhance, and some others. However, there are plenty of AI instruments on the cellphone that’ll assist in plenty of methods and make life simpler and enjoyable. Maybe you possibly can even use the Reimagine software to reimagine your life.

Google Pixel 9 Performance: Still runs scorching

• Chipset – Tensor G4
• RAM – 12GB
• Storage – Up to 256GB

I actually suppose Google ought to reduce ties with Samsung for the Pixel processors and simply return to Qualcomm. The Tensor G4 chipset is new this yr, however it’s nonetheless not a performer and continues to run scorching even when doing staple items. While you’ll not see any lag or random app freezes, the cellphone will get heat after half-hour on Instagram. However, this occurs with some apps, and I did not face any warmth points when watching YouTube movies. Run a sport, the cellphone will warmth, open the digicam and it simply takes lower than a few minutes for the rear panel and body to get heat. Google ought to’ve actually added a vapour-cooling chamber on the cellphone. The Pro fashions have it, even telephones that value half the worth run cooler and supply vapour cooling.

The cellphone does not have a vapour-cooling chamber

 

As for gaming, you possibly can play all types of video games on it, however you will not take pleasure in it after 15-20 minutes. With BGMI, as an illustration, I acquired glorious body charges, and every thing ran easily, however the cellphone grew to become too scorching to make use of after about 35 minutes. For common use, efficiency is sufficient. App launches are quick, and so they even keep in reminiscence fairly lengthy. Overall, it does not really feel sluggish except you give it some heavy stuff to run. I ran some artificial benchmarks on the cellphone simply to match the numbers to equally priced telephones, and this is what occurred.

It is value noting that I wasn’t capable of set up many of the benchmarking apps as Google did not enable them. I needed to sideload them and that could possibly be why a few of the scores are decrease than I anticipated them to be. Either means, when you’re shopping for a cellphone for efficiency, this isn’t it.

Moving on to speaker, earpiece, and mobile efficiency. The Pixel 9 will get a hybrid twin speaker setup with a major loudspeaker on the backside and an earpiece that acts because the second speaker. Audio separation is sweet, and the audio system do get lots loud with none crackling, even at full quantity. The audio system do lack bass, although. Call high quality is sweet, and connectivity can be improved in comparison with the Pixel 8, because of using a more recent modem.

Google Pixel 9 Cameras: Going wider

• Main rear digicam – 50-megapixel, f/1.68, OIS, Octa PD
• Ultrawide digicam – 48-megapixel, f/1.7, Quad PD, 123 diploma FoV
• Selfie digicam – 10.5-megapixel, f/2.2, autofocus, 95 diploma FoV, Dual PD

The principal rear digicam on the Pixel 9 makes use of the identical sensor from final yr, however you get a brand new 48-megapixel ultrawide digicam that is additionally used on the Pro fashions. Google additionally added autofocus on the entrance digicam, however the sensor stays the identical as final yr. Another characteristic that continues to be the identical is the absence of a Pro mode within the digicam app, which is disappointing.

There’s a brand new ultrawide digicam on the Pixel 9

 

Alright, let’s discuss digicam high quality. The principal rear digicam continues to take glorious daylight photographs with no noise, nice dynamic vary, fairly correct white steadiness, on-point publicity, and loads of element. The pictures have a contrasty Pixel look with barely darker shadows and a really pure look. Saturation is not boosted like on the Galaxy S24, and footage aren’t on the hotter facet just like the iPhone 15. Skin tones are additionally very effectively finished on the Pixel 9.

You additionally get 2x digital zoom on the cellphone, and it is just about the identical as final yr in terms of high quality. The 2x pictures retain plenty of element and are sharp, particularly when there’s loads of gentle. The pictures are higher compared to the iPhone 15. The portrait photographs on the Pixel 9 are good however not nice. I discovered most photographs to have an excessive amount of blur, which does not look good on individuals’s photographs. Edge detection is generally good, however issues like hair could make issues troublesome for the software program. Once once more, pores and skin color may be very precisely depicted in Portrait photographs.

The ultrawide digicam is new, however you possibly can’t instantly inform it is higher than the Pixel 8. There’s extra element within the corners of a photograph when in comparison with the 8, however the centre space seems just about equivalent. What I like probably the most is the consistency within the colors between the primary and the ultrawide digicam. The sensor additionally permits for Macro images, and you may get fairly near the topic – 15mm to be actual. You can get some actually detailed photographs in macro mode.

Daylight photographs from Main digicam, Ultrawide, and 2x Digital zoom [Tap to expand]

 

Portrait photographs: 1.5x, 2x [Tap to expand]

 

In low gentle situations, the primary digicam does a reasonably good job, and with Night Sight, you get higher outcomes. What’s additionally good is the truth that you now not have to carry the cellphone nonetheless for six seconds such as you needed to on the older Pixel 8. Like the competitors, you may get usable low-light photographs in simply 3 seconds. The Pixel nonetheless delivers darker shadows in low gentle, which may make the picture look softer. However, you do get the astrophotography mode on the Pixel, which continues to be higher than the competitors. Yes, it takes for much longer to supply an excellent evening picture, however it’s definitely worth the wait.

Lowlight photographs: Main digicam, Ultrawide, 2x Digital Zoom [Tap to Expand]

 

Turning round, the selfie digicam produces higher outcomes than earlier than, because of the addition of autofocus, which helps you to take nearer selfies. Plenty of element, correct pores and skin tones, and good color copy exist.

In phrases of movies, the Pixel 9 can shoot 4k60fps on all three cameras, with the rear sensors providing further help for 4k 24fps and 4k 30fps. You additionally get a 10-bit HDR recording. Video efficiency is fairly good, and I just like the stabilisation on the Pixel, and it additionally provides three modes – Standard, Active, and Locked. Videos have barely hotter tones and darker shadows with distinction on the upper facet, however the colors are well-saturated. The focus is sweet, however the software program does attempt to brighten up faces. It does a commendable job in low gentle situations, however I want Google additionally supplied Video Boost and Night Sight video on the smaller Pixel. You do, nevertheless, get a Cinematic blur characteristic within the video, which is okayish. Overall, you would be stunned at how effectively the video recording on the Pixels has in comparison with the iPhone.

Google Pixel 9 Battery: Can run longer now

• Capacity – 4,700mAh
• Fast cost – Up to 45W
• Wireless charging – Up to 15W

The battery efficiency on current Pixel telephones hasn’t precisely been nice, and that is principally the identical with the Pixel 9. Most days, I acquired a day’s value of utilization, however I needed to plug the cellphone in at evening as I’d be left with lower than 20 % cost. My days principally included utilizing the cellphone for calls, texting, checking emails, doom scrolling on Instagram and Twitter, taking part in a sport or two, watching YouTube movies, utilizing the digicam, and shopping the online.

You’ll want to purchase a charger individually

 

In our HD video loop take a look at, the Google Pixel 9 lasted about 25 hours, which is fairly good for a Pixel. It’s additionally an enchancment over the Pixel 8, and that is because of the marginally bigger battery. Charging can be quicker, with the brand new cellphone now supporting as much as 45W quick charging with the precise adapter. I used Google’s 30W adapter and acquired about 51 % of cost with half-hour of charging, and a full cost from 1 % took about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Google Pixel 9 Verdict

The Google Pixel 9 is a really mature cellphone, and that is factor. It lastly feels as premium as its competitors and packs in some good upgrades. There’s a barely higher and greater show, a nicer ultrawide digicam, autofocus on the selfie digicam, many new AI options, higher battery life, and an total nicer bundle. However, it is also slightly dearer than final yr.

Should you purchase it over the Pixel 8? I do not suppose you need to. I’d watch for Google to repair the heating points first as a result of I consider that is the one factor holding me again from recommending this cellphone to my mates or anybody who asks me what cellphone to get.

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 (Review) is an effective different. It’s extra compact, provides on-par digicam efficiency, and has an excellent show and battery life. However, you will not get the identical AI options, and the cellphone runs an Exynos chip in India, which does run scorching. There’s additionally the OnePlus 12 (Review) or the Xiaomi 14 (Review), each of that are good options and cheaper. The former has a bigger show, a really succesful digicam setup, and longer battery life, whereas the latter is best total as a cellphone. Then there’s the iPhone 15 (Review) from the Apple camp, which is quicker, is extra compact than the Pixel 9, provides higher video efficiency, and related battery life. You may think about the newly launched iPhone 16, however clearly, we’ll must evaluate it first to see if it is value it.