Introduction
The Pixel 9 has been somewhat overshadowed by the recently released compact flagship, the Pixel 9 Pro. So, is the Pixel 9 still worth getting, or should you opt for the Pro? Let’s dive into what the Pixel 9 has to offer in our full review.
The Vanilla Pixels are known for providing a clean Google software experience and powerful cameras, all within a compact form factor. This 2024 model brings a new chipset, a brighter display, a larger battery, and a new ultrawide camera. That’s a pretty decent haul of upgrades. The design has changed too, and so has the size.
Design and Build Quality
The Pixel 9 is not as compact, being bigger and heavier than the Pixel 8. It also has a flat back now, as well as a flat aluminum frame, lending a tangible iPhone vibe. The back is made of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 here, and it’s quite glossy. The camera bump has gotten an overhaul; it’s still horizontal but doesn’t extend across to meet the frame. It’s oval-shaped now too. But one thing that hasn’t changed is that the Pixel 9 still brings an IP68 certification for dust and water resistance, which is always welcome.
Display
The OLED display of the Pixel 9 is a bit larger than the Pixel 8’s at 6.3 inches. It has a 1080p resolution, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Google calls it an Actua display, as it doesn’t get the LTPO tech from the Pro models' Super Actua displays. This means the refresh rate can only toggle between 120Hz and 60Hz; it can’t dial down lower or use intermediate steps.
On the upside, the max brightness has received an impressive boost this year. Some testers or tech enthusiasts like us were able to measure around 1,200 nits of brightness when adjusting it manually, and with the auto-brightness mode enabled, it went to an incredible 2,200 nits. That’s better than any of the competition right now and excellent for outdoor use on a sunny day. The display is also plenty sharp with a pixel density of 422 PPI, and it supports HDR10+ video playback. There’s also support for displaying Ultra HDR-compliant images with boosted highlights.
Audio
For audio, the Pixel 9 has a stereo speaker setup, which earned a very good rating for loudness. The sound quality is decent; vocals and highs sound fine, but the low end is a bit thin. Google finally upgraded the underdisplay fingerprint reader from optical to ultrasonic. It works well and is super reliable.
Storage and Software
When it comes to storage, you can get the Pixel 9 with 128 or 256GB onboard, and that isn’t expandable through a memory card. With the Pixels, you get Google’s vision of the Android software experience, but unlike previous Pixel releases, which debuted the new version of Android, the Pixel 9 launched with Android 14 because, at the time of its release, Android 15 hadn’t been rolled out yet. Now, the phone supports Android 15, and Android 15 was released in October 2024.
Google has packed plenty of AI features here. For example, the Pixel 9 can summarize calls, texts, and emails, so you can get the relevant info faster. Google’s AI assistant is called Gemini, and you can ask it natural language questions and engage in conversation. It speaks over 100 languages from the get-go and is very good at understanding context, but the accuracy of its answers varies, as with all current AI tools.
Another feature relying on AI is the Pixel Studio, which allows you to make AI-generated images and designs. The Pixel can also keep track of and organize your screenshots, allowing you to search for specific topics or info you’ve saved before. The Magic Editor within Google Photos provides various tools, including Best Take—you can replace faces or objects with a better version of them taken from another shot. A neat trick within the camera app is Add Me; it allows you to combine people from separate shots into a single group photo, or you can just clone yourself if you want.
The Pixel 9 series also brings satellite SOS support, but right now, that’s only available for users in the USA. Google promises 7 years of complete software support for the Pixel 9. Plus, you can also rely on spare parts during that time should anything happen to your Pixel.
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| image by IGN |
Performance
All of the new Pixels run on a Tensor G4 chipset made in-house by Google. Compared to the previous one, it packs a new CPU design, while the GPU only gets a higher clock speed. The TPU for AI tasks is unchanged since last year as well. The Pixel 9 scored 1651 in single-core and 7087 in GPU performance on Geekbench 6 and 12809 on PCMark for Android Work 3.0, showcasing solid all-around performance.
Based on these scores and past experiences with Tensor chips, the peak performance is expected to be lower than other flagships running the top Snapdragon chipset. Still, it didn’t have any issues during use. The interface, apps, and games ran glitch-free.
Battery Life
The Pixel 9 has a 4,700mAh battery, slightly bigger than the 4,575mAh of the Pixel 8. The improvement in battery life is sizable, though. The Pixel 9 did better than the Pixel 8 in all of the tests and earned a good overall active-use score of 13 hours and 5 minutes. Like last year, charging maxes out at 27W, and there’s no charger in the box. With a compatible adapter, the phone was able to charge from 0 to 55% in 30 minutes, and a full charge took an hour and 25 minutes. That’s far from impressive and in line with what the Pixel 8 did. There’s also support for wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
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| image from Youtube by @GSMDome |
Cameras
When it comes to cameras, the Pixel 9 brings a couple of upgrades—a new ultrawide camera and autofocus for the selfie camera. On the back, you get a 50MP main camera and a 48MP ultrawide camera, both with autofocus. It’s the same setup you get on the Pro models minus the telephoto cam. Also, the plain Pixel 9 gets a lesser laser assist for its autofocus. It’s single-zone here versus multi-zone on the pros. A somewhat strange omission here is that there’s no Pro mode in the camera interface.
Image Quality
When it comes to image quality during the day, the main camera captures excellent photos. There’s plenty of detail rendered in a natural way with well-judged sharpening. There are hints of pixelation in certain situations, but it’s not a big deal. There’s the usual high contrast you’d expect from Pixels, with a focus on highlight preservation and somewhat darker shadows. The colors look really nice. Shots of people also look great, with well-rendered skin tones. There’s no telephoto cam, so you have to rely on a digital crop from the main camera if you want to get closer. There’s a bit less detail, but the quality is acceptable, and shooting people this way is more comfortable.
Low-Light Performance
After dark, the main cam captures respectable photos. Detail is amazing, particularly in the shadows, which can be a little soft, but overall, the rendition is good. Exposures are on point, with good highlight retention and shadows that aren’t too dark. The color saturation is well-judged.
Ultrawide Camera
The new ultrawide camera captures solid images as well. They’re tack sharp in the middle and slightly less so towards the corners, but they’re not bad there either. Dynamic range and color rendition are great as well. Thanks to its autofocus, the ultrawide camera can also shoot extreme close-ups, and these shots come out great. There’s also a dedicated macro mode, which adds some digital zoom to the mix. In low light, the ultrawide cam captures good photos with nicely bright exposures. The sharpness is decent in the better-lit areas and okay in the darker zones. Colors are also nice.
Selfies
The Pixel 9 selfies are very likable. They capture excellent detail and have pleasant skin tones and overall lively colors. The addition of autofocus this time around also expands the possibilities for different framing and perspectives.
Video Recording
The Pixel 9 can record video in up to 4K at 60 fps with all of its cameras. There’s no 8K recording here, unlike on the Pro models. Video clips from the Pixel 9 have plenty of contrast and nicely saturated colors, but the detail leaves more to be desired from either camera. The clips are softer than what's expected from the class. In low light, videos from the Pixel’s main camera have a decent level of detail, good dynamic range, and accurate colors. The electronic video stabilization deserves nothing but praise. Walking shake and pans are nicely smoothed out.
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| image by Tech Advisor |
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) |
| Build | Glass front & back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), Aluminum frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| IP Rating | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display | 6.3 inches OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2700 nits (peak), 1080 x 2424 pixels |
| OS | Android 14 (upgradable to Android 15) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (3.1 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720, 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 |
| Memory | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM (UFS 3.1) |
| Main Camera | Dual: 50 MP (wide), 48 MP (ultrawide) |
| Selfie Camera | 10.5 MP (ultrawide) |
| Video Recording | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Battery | Li-Ion 4700 mAh, 27W wired charging |
| Price | $799 |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Clean Google software with 7 years of updates.
- Bright 6.3-inch OLED display (2,200 nits).
- Improved 4,700mAh battery with longer life.
- New ultrawide camera with autofocus and macro mode.
- Useful AI features like Magic Editor and Pixel Studio.
- Durable design with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 rating.
- Excellent photo quality and vibrant colors.
- Smooth performance with Tensor G4 chipset.
- Reliable ultrasonic fingerprint reader.
- Satellite SOS support (USA only).
Cons:
- Heavier and less compact than Pixel 8.
- No adaptive refresh rate (LTPO tech missing).
- Lacks telephoto camera and Pro mode.
- Slower performance than Snapdragon rivals.
- No expandable storage.
- 27W charging with no charger in the box.
- Softer video quality than competitors.
- Satellite SOS limited to the USA.
Conclusion: Is the Pixel 9 Worth It?
So, that’s the Google Pixel 9. It’s a solid Pixel phone that offers nearly everything the Pro models can. Compared to previous models, you have a bigger and brighter display, longer battery life, and a new and improved ultrawide camera. It does lose a bit of its compact feel, and its video is not as crisp as some of its rivals. However, it remains a great option if you’re looking for a solid, all-around phone with reliable performance and camera quality.
