Google Pixel 9

MSRP: $799.00

The Google Pixel 9 is one of the best Pixel phones Google has ever made, and it has nothing to do with AI.

Pros

• Excellent design and build quality
• Super camera
• Tactile haptics
• Fast and reliable security
• Improved efficiency and battery life
• Long software update commitment

Cons

• Screen isn’t always bright enough
• Slow charging
• More expensive than last year

Google made a mistake with the Pixel 9 during its launch event. It said barely anything at all about the hardware, yet when you finally get hold of the phone, you instantly find it borders on the exquisite. So, by only talking about AI for an hour, Google did us all a disservice.

But was all the AI talk justified, and does it elevate the Pixel 9 above and beyond models that have come before it or that challenge it today? I’ve found out by using the Pixel 9 everyday.

Google Pixel 9: design

Not only is the Google Pixel 9 the most attractive and well-presented standard Pixel phone yet, but it’s also one of the best-looking smartphones you can buy today. It’s glorious in a way Pixel phones haven’t always been before, as it gets both the aesthetics and ergonomics right, which oddly seems to be quite a challenge for other manufacturers. I don’t think photos do it justice either, as they can’t convey how excellent the phone feels in your hand or how polished and high-quality the hardware itself is.

Google Pixel 9: screen

The Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch Actua screen with a 1080 x 2424 pixel resolution and a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. Google does set the refresh rate at 60Hz by default, though, so make sure you change this in the settings. Compared to the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, which feature higher resolutions and a dynamic 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, the base Pixel 9 has the lesser screen.

Google Pixel 9: software and performance

I’ve been reviewing the Pixel 9 with Android 14 installed, and it has received a few software updates since I started using it. Google will keep it updated with major OS versions, security updates, and Feature Drops over the next seven years, starting August 22, 2024.

Google Pixel 9: AI and Gemini

All this talk about Screenshots and Pixel Studio brings us neatly to the Pixel 9’s AI, which is what Google spent most of the launch event talking about. I’ve been using basic Gemini AI, but not Gemini Advanced, as the Pixel 9 does not come with a free year of its use, unlike the Pixel 9 Pro range.

Google Pixel 9: camera

The Pixel 9 has two cameras on the back: a 50-megapixel main camera and a 48MP wide-angle camera that also enables a macro mode. The camera is supported by laser autofocus, a spectral sensor for color accuracy, and optical and electronic image stabilization. There’s no optical zoom or telephoto camera, but the camera app has a 2x shortcut, and there’s Google’s 8x Super Res Zoom mode, too.

Google Pixel 9: battery life and charging

What a happy surprise the Pixel 9’s battery life is. Previous models have all suffered from average-at-best battery life, but the Pixel 9 goes beyond this. While it’s not stellar, it’s more than acceptable for general use. The 4,700mAh capacity cell may sound small, but on days when I don’t play games but do use GPS, the camera, media, and apps for a total of four hours of screen time, it’s ending the day with around 30% remaining.

Google Pixel 9: price and availability

The Google Pixel 9 was released on August 22 and costs $799 for the 128GB version or $899 for the 256GB version, although some offers may alter this price depending on when you order.

Google Pixel 9: verdict

Much to Google’s chagrin, I’m sure the Pixel 9’s appeal is the same as it always has been. The software is the best interpretation of Android, the camera is excellent, and for the first time ever, the hardware meets and even exceeds the competition.