Google Pixel 9 Review: Is This the Best Android Phone Yet?
Google Pixel 9 offers a sleek design, AI features, a 50MP camera, and a 120Hz OLED display, but lags behind rivals in performance.
Google Pixel 9 offers long-term software support, a stylish design, and practical AI features. While it lacks some premium extras like an additional camera lens and advanced AI tools, it shares the same screen size, processor, and main cameras as the Pixel 9 Pro. If you’re looking for a high-end phone at a lower price, the Pixel 9 is a great option—especially if you find it on sale.
Google Pixel 9 Specification
| 📌 Category | 📱 Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓 Release Date | August 22, 2024 |
| ⚖ Weight | 198g (6.98 oz) |
| 📏 Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm |
| 🏗 Build | Glass front & back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| 💦 Water & Dust Resistance | IP68 (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| 📶 SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| 📺 Display Type | OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| 🔆 Brightness | 1800 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak) |
| 📐 Screen Size | 6.3 inches (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| 🎨 Resolution | 1080 x 2424 pixels (~422 ppi density) |
| 🛡 Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| 🖥 Operating System | Android 14, upgradeable to Android 15 (7 years of updates) |
| 🧠 Processor | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) |
| 🚀 CPU | Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| 🎮 GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 |
| 💾 Storage & RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM (UFS 3.1) |
| 🔄 Expandable Storage | ❌ No |
| 📷 Main Camera | Dual: 50 MP (wide), 48 MP (ultrawide) |
| ✨ Camera Features | Laser AF, LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take |
| 🎥 Main Camera Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR |
| 🤳 Selfie Camera | 10.5 MP (ultrawide) |
| 🌄 Selfie Features | HDR, panorama |
| 📹 Selfie Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| 🔊 Loudspeaker | Yes, stereo speakers |
| 🎧 3.5mm Jack | ❌ No |
| 📡 Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band |
| 🔵 Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| 🗺 Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| 📲 NFC | ✅ Yes |
| 📻 FM Radio | ❌ No |
| 🔌 USB | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| 🛑 Fingerprint Sensor | Under-display (ultrasonic) |
| 🎛 Other Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| 🛰 Satellite SOS | ✅ Yes |
| 🔋 Battery | Li-Ion 4700 mAh (non-removable) |
| ⚡ Wired Charging | 27W (55% in 30 min, PD3.0, PPS) |
| 🔄 Wireless Charging | 15W (Pixel Stand), 12W (Qi compatible), reverse wireless |
| 🎨 Colors | Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony |
| 🏷 Models | G2YBB, GUR25, G1B60 |
| 📶 SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head), 1.40 W/kg (body) |
| 💰 Price | $492.98 / £429.79 / €598.30 |
| ⚙ Performance Tests | AnTuTu: 1,224,020 (v10), GeekBench: 4489 (v6), 3DMark: 2587 (Wild Life Extreme) |
| ☀ Max Brightness | 2232 nits |
| 🔊 Loudspeaker Test | -25.0 LUFS (Very good) |
| 🔋 Battery Life (Active Use) | 13 hours 5 min |
Google Pixel 9 Price and Availability
Google Pixel 9 starts at $799 for the 128GB version, with a price increase for the 256GB model at $899. While the price might seem high, it comes with 12GB of RAM, which is quite good for this price range. If you need more storage, you can upgrade to 256GB for an extra $100, or there’s a deal in the UK at launch to double the storage for free.
The Pixel 9 is available in four colors: Wintergreen, Peony, Porcelain, and Obsidian. The Peony color stands out the most, and I found it to be very eye-catching. You can get any color with any storage configuration, unlike the Pixel 9 Pro, which limits certain colors to lower storage options.
Though the price is a bit high, the Pixel 9 offers many of the same features as the Pixel 9 Pro, making it a good deal. When compared to similar phones like the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24, which cost about the same, the Pixel 9 stands out with its unique AI features. Plus, the price is likely to drop soon especially around holiday sales.
The curved edges of the Pixel 9 provide a smooth and pleasant grip, making it a pleasure to hold. Because of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 protection which makes it impervious to water, dust, and scratches, it is also twice as durable as the Pixel 8.
Google Pixel 9 Design
Google Pixel 9 features a sleek and elegant redesign, most significant change since the Pixel 6. Camera bar now pops out from the back with smooth lines and a contrast between textures—satin-finished camera bar and frame against the glossy glass back.
The new colors are eye-catching, especially Wintergreen and Peony, which is a unique, modern pink. The black Obsidian is classic, and the porcelain retains its classy off-white appearance, with more depth and shine than the Pixel 8.
Pixel 9 feels great to hold, with curved edges that offer a smooth and comfortable grip. It’s also twice as durable as Pixel 8, thanks to Gorilla Glass Victus 2 & IP68 protection making it resistant to scratches, dust and water.
Google Pixel 9 Display
Google Pixel 9 has a bright and vibrant display, making it one of the best in its price range. Although Google’s Actua display produces great colors & crisp details, Pixel 9 Pro still surpasses it in terms of brightness and use.
While both models have same screen size, Pixel 9 Pro offers a sharper, brighter LTPO display with a refresh rate that adjusts between 1-120Hz. The Pixel 9, on the other hand, switches between 60Hz and 120Hz to save power.
Unless you compare them side by side, the Pixel 9’s display looks fantastic, easily competing with the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 in brightness.
Google Pixel 9 Software
Google Pixel 9 is packed with AI features, but the best ones require a subscription. Some are useful right away, while others may take time to become relevant.
The voice Recorder app is impressive, and the new Call Notes feature can take notes during calls. Translation and summarization tools also work well. However, if you want to use Gemini Live, Google’s new AI chat tool, you’ll need to pay for the Google One AI Premium plan ($19.99 / £18.99 / AU$32.99 per month). The Pixel 9 Pro includes a free year of this service, making it a better deal if you plan to subscribe.
Right now, Gemini Live isn’t worth paying for. It struggles with accurate recommendations and often shuts down mid-conversation. I wouldn’t subscribe just for the AI – the cloud storage is the real benefit.
The new Pixel-exclusive Screenshots app has potential, but it only works with screenshots taken on the Pixel 9. It can’t index old screenshots from Google Photos, which is disappointing. It might become useful over time, but for now, its real value is unclear. If AI can’t make sense of my 3,000+ screenshots, what’s the point?
Google Pixel 9 Camera
Pixel 9 has the same main and ultrawide cameras as the Pixel 9 Pro, which is impressive. However, it lacks some of the Pro model’s advanced features. While both phones use a 50MP main sensor, the Pixel 9 automatically produces 12.5MP images with pixel binning. Unlike the Pro version, it doesn’t allow full 50MP output, though you can save RAW files.
The Camera app can be confusing. Some features, like Top Shot, aren’t always available, and the app doesn’t clearly explain why. Finding the right settings can be frustrating, buried under multiple menus.
Once you start shooting, the Pixel 9 delivers fantastic image quality, nearly identical to the Pixel 9 Pro. Colors, lighting, and contrast are excellent, making it one of the best cameras in this price range. However, if you shoot a lot of video, the Pixel 9 Pro offers extra AI features and better zoom capabilities.
The Pixel 9 does include Google’s new night panorama mode, which captures impressive detail in low-light scenes. Compared to an iPhone 15, it produces much clearer night panoramas with visible colors and fine details.
Google Pixel 9 Performance
Pixel 9 performs well with Google’s services but struggles with demanding tasks. While the iPhone SE, which is 2.5 years older, outperforms the Pixel 9 in processor benchmarks, the Pixel 9 does have better graphics quality. However, phone can feel slow especially with AI features that rely on heavy processing and cloud-based data, causing performance delays.
Although helpful, the Google Pixel 9’s 12GB of RAM is unable to completely compensate for the Google Tensor chip’s processing limits. The phone might find it difficult to handle increasingly complex tasks if Google adds more AI features. The seven-year software support promise is concerning because it might not handle future features or updates smoothly.
Phone works well for everyday use, but pushing it to the limit can cause apps to slow down or stutter. Interface is quick, however multitasking can cause problems. Although the Pixel 9 has sufficient power for time being, it is unclear how well it will operate as new features are added.
Google Pixel 9 Battery
The Google Pixel 9 runs smoothly with Google apps but struggles with demanding tasks. It has better graphics but is weaker than the 2.5-year-old iPhone SE in processing power. AI features can also slow it down especially for cloud-based tasks.
Its 12GB RAM helps but the Tensor chip has limits. As Google adds more AI features, long-term performance is uncertain. It handles daily tasks well, but multitasking may cause slowdowns. While it works fine now, lasting seven years is uncertain.
- Oppo Reno13 Pro Review: Performance Meets Style
- I Was Wrong About the Huawei Mate XT
- Huawei P60 Pro Review
Pros and Cons of Google Pixel 9
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✨ Premium design with high-quality materials | 🐢 Slower performance than other flagship phones |
| 📸 Excellent cameras that compete with top models | 🎭 Some AI features feel gimmicky |
| 🤖 Unique and creative AI features | 💰 Expensive compared to faster competitors |
Conclusion
Google Pixel 9 has a stylish design with bright colors and a rounded camera bump. It shares many of the same features as Pixel 9 Pro, but unless you pay more, it lacks some sophisticated AI tools. Phone’s camera quality and customization options are good. It’s an excellent alternative if you don’t require high-end AI or zoom especially if the price reduces.
