Review of the Google Pixel 9: Expensive at first, but worth it
Introduction to Pixel 9, The Pixel model that most people should think about is the standard Pixel 9. And not just because it costs $800, a significant reduction over the $1,000+ Pro variants, but also because it's a really amazing phone in and of itself. It is powered by the same Tensor G4 chipset and shares most of its design language with its Pixel Pro siblings.
The rear cameras are identical to those found in the Pro versions.
The good news is that this Pixel feels more sophisticated than earlier models. The slightly greater price is the bad news. The Pixel 7 cost $600 two years ago, the Pixel 8 cost $700 last year, and the new Pixel 9 now costs $800. This places it squarely between the most formidable rivals, the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S24. Let's see if the Pixel 9 can justify its higher price in the marketplace.
Note: Due to a change in our review rating system, PhoneArena's overall score may now be lower than it was previously. That does not, however, imply that the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a subpar handset. Rather, it is how our new system functions. Comparing the score to other phones in the same price range is the goal, and the new Pixel actually performs on par with competitors like the OnePlus 12.
This rating is the result of extensive testing in twelve distinct categories; the specific scores for each category are displayed above. Click here to find out more about our PhoneArena Review Score.
Contents Table:
Specifications
- Create and Present
- Snapshot
- Achievement
- Applications
- Rechargeable batteries
- Is it something you should purchase?
Specifications for Pixel 9
A few intriguing figures, The Pixel 9 has a few fascinating new features. One notable improvement over the previous model is the new ultrawide camera, which is now identical to that of the Pro versions. Additionally, you have extra RAM and the updated Tensor G4 chip, which opens up new AI features.
It also has a significantly larger battery and a larger display than the Pixel 8 model from before.
Pixel 9 Layout and Presentation
The same spirit of Pixel, but with a new appearance
We adore the new, more robust appearance with flat corners (Image via PhoneArena) - Review of the Google Pixel 9: More expensive, but well worth it
We adore the updated style, which has flat sides and is stronger as well. (Photo credit: PhoneArena)
The entire Pixel 9 family has a completely new appearance, doing away with the earlier generations' pebble-like design and switching to a more blocky one. The phone's sides are curved, but the front and rear panels, as well as the frame, are all flat.
Given that Samsung and Apple design their phones rather identically, we believe Google has done a fantastic job maintaining the overall distinctive Pixel style and what sets it apart from the competition.
Google used aluminum and glass for the flat frame, which has a matte appearance, and glossy, reflective glass for the rear panel. Additionally, the more robust Gorilla Glass Victus 2 makes the regular Pixel just as secure as the more expensive Pro models.
In terms of dimensions, the Pixel 9 is somewhat larger—6.3 inches—and slightly thinner—than the Pixel 8, which is 6.2 inches. The Pixel 9 Pro variant is precisely the same size as the dimensions, which are 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm.
The box contains very little, therefore the process of unboxing the Pixel 9 is quite straightforward. We appreciate that the packaging is lightweight and composed of recycled materials, but we are disappointed that practical accessories like a case, screen protector, and charger are not included. All that is included is the SIM tool, the user handbook, and a USB-C charging cord.
With one more color, the Pixel 9 offers a greater range of colors than it did the year before. This year's hues are likewise more vivid, particularly when examining the Wintergreen and Peony varieties. Additionally, this year's hue is porcelain (beige) rather than the drab gray.
Regarding the screen, Google refers to the 6.3" OLED panel on the Pixel 9 as "Actua" (rather than "Super Actua" like on the Pros). Is this a decent screen? All of our lab testing have been completed, and as you can see, there have been some notable advancements.
Display Dimensions:
Peak brightness, according to Google, is 2700 nits, up from 2000 nits on the model from last year. We assess the brightness on an all-white display rather than peak brightness, which is determined by measuring the percentage of the screen that is white (only 5% of the screen is black). In our tests, the Pixel 9 received 1,970 nits, a significant improvement over the majority of the other phones we evaluated. That implies that using this phone outside in the direct sunlight will be significantly simpler.
The lowest brightness level at night is 1.8 nits, which is not quite as low as 0.9 nits on the Galaxy S24. This is the only minor drawback. Even though it might not seem like much, night owls will notice this change.
Pixel 9 Lens
Major improvement: a new ultra-wide camera
Pixel 9 camera specifications:
Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide-angle lenses, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view, 1/1.31" image sensor size, Super Res Zoom up to 8x
48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera featuring a 1/2.55" image sensor size, a ƒ/1.7 aperture, a 123° field of view, and autofocus
10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera featuring a 95° ultrawide field of vision, a ƒ/2.2 aperture, and autofocus
The Pixel 9 boasts an entirely new 48MP ultra-wide camera, which coincidentally matches the one found in the Pro variants. Compared to the Pixel 8's 12MP ultra-wide camera, it is a significant improvement. Sadly, the Pro camera mode is still unavailable to you, and the only full-resolution 50MP photographs that can be taken with your device are pixel-binned 12MP ones.
The Pixel 9 also features autofocus for the selfie camera, which is a welcome addition to the camera. While it may not be the most revolutionary upgrade, it helps you stay in focus when you move across the picture. This standard model lacks the new super-wide selfie camera included in the Pro variants, which may account for some users' dissatisfaction.
Sample Images from the Pixel 9 Camera
The image quality is actually rather close to that of the Pixel 8, with very slight adjustments made to the processing and color.
The Pixel 9 scored marginally higher than its predecessor in our in-house comprehensive process, the PhoneArena Camera Score, although it was primarily due to newly added features like the ability to preview portrait mode images (finally!).
Expect no significant differences in video quality between the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8.
Regretfully, the Pixel 9 standard does not include the new 8K upscaling feature and is not compatible with the Video Boost feature that is included with the Pixel Pro and Pro XL.
Benchmarks & Performance for Pixel 9
establishing the foundation for in-device AI
The Pixel 9 series now comes with the latest Tensor G4 chipset from Google. Although it doesn't seem like the largest increase, it does have 20% faster web surfing and 17% faster app opening.
Naturally, in order to assess its performance against peers, we conducted the standard benchmarks, and the results are as follows.
Benchmarks for Performance:
Although the Pixel 9 is a modest improvement over the Pixel 8, it is still not as potent as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3–powered Galaxy S24 or the iPhone 15 series, either for basic chores or for gaming.
At least the Pixel 9 now has 12GB of RAM instead of the previous model's 8GB, which is a welcome increase as RAM is essential for AI activities.
A sizeable portion of the Pixel 9's memory has been set aside by Google expressly for the on-device AI functions. This is also beneficial for the recently released multimodal Gemini Nano.
Because of its multimodality, Google's new AI assistant can manage challenging jobs without transferring your personal information to outside AI firms. Gemini creates messages, makes appointments, summarizes documents, and more using the data on your phone to offer individualized support.
The storage choices are still available, so you may choose between 128 GB and 256 GB models.
Software for Pixel 9
Additional AI camera functions
AI is everything (Photo by PhoneArena) - Google Pixel 9 Review: A little more expensive, but still worth it
AI is everything. (Photo credit: PhoneArena)
Though the fact that the Pixel 9 ships with Android 14 may disappoint some who were hoping for the newest, you are covered for the future with 7 years of significant Android OS updates, security patches, and Pixel Feature Drop updates (new features exclusive to the Pixel line).
That is that an upgrade for Android 15 should be available over the course of the next few months.
Naturally, it makes sense that we would also acquire some additional AI features. This year, the majority of new AI functions center on the camera. One is called "Add Me," and it lets you merge two group selfies into a single one so that everyone is included. This is even more amazing than last year's "Best Take" section, and it feels like an extension of it.
"Reimagine" is the most potent one since it lets you alter an image's appearance. You can alter the sky's color from a clear blue to a cloudy one, or you can go one step further and insert an object such as a tank on the street, a cockroach in a food photo, or a rocket in the sky behind you. It's quite potent, but also a little unsettling because, other from the metadata, which is easily removed, there is no sign that this image was edited by AI.
A few new apps are also available to you, like Pixel Studio, an AI image creator with fewer styles than the Reimagine option but more restrictions.
The first native Weather app on a Pixel, it's a brand-new app that you get.
With your new Screenshots app, you can easily search through all of your previously taken screenshots using artificial intelligence.
Battery for Pixel 9
A little hump
Pixel 9 Google
( 4700 mAh )
Pixel 9 Google
Estimated Battery Life
7 hours and 31 minutes
In the last two years' worth of phone tests, it ranks #12
It takes 6 hours 46 minutes on average.
Perusing
17 hours, 34 minutes
15 hours and 22 minutes is the average.
Watch Video
8 hours and 28 minutes
The mean is 10 hours and six minutes.
Playing games
10 hours and 4 minutes
It takes 8 hours 48 minutes on average.
Charge rate
27W
Battery
51 percent
thirty minutes
One hour and 39 minutes
Complete payment
For phones released in the last two years, it ranks #88.
Charging Wirelessly
15W
Battery
Not at all
thirty minutes
Not at all
Complete payment
Visit our PhoneArena Battery Score page to learn more about the battery and charging specifications of every phone we've tested.
The 4700 mAh battery in the Pixel 9 is a minor increase over the 4575 mAh battery in the Pixel 8. According to Google, the phone may run for up to 100 hours when the Extreme Battery Saver mode is on or for more than 24 hours on a single charge. It is a one-day battery phone, to put it another way.
We had to test this, so we performed our three in-hours battery tests. The outcomes are as follows:
Results of the PhoneArena Battery Test:
The Pixel 9 scored an impressive 17 hours and a half on our lightest web surfing test, almost two hours higher than the Pixel 8. It also performs far better in this test than the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 Pro, which is fantastic news.
The Pixel 9 in this instance achieved the score you see above when we played the identical YouTube playlist via a Wi-Fi connection for our second test.
Lastly, there is a separate test just for gamers, and the Pixel 9 does very well on it. This indicates that the Tensor G4 graphics operating a little bit cooler and the fact that the performance isn't quite as excellent as flagships and iPhones with Snapdragon processors also assist.
The Pixel 9's maximum charging power of 27W is the same as it was for the Pixel 8, although we noticed that it charged a little more slowly.
Our testing shows that a 30-minute top-up provides you 51% charge on the Pixel 9 and 55% on the Pixel 8. In comparison to the Pixel 8, which takes one hour and twenty-four minutes to fully charge from 1% to 100%, the Pixel 9 takes one hour and forty-nine minutes.
Results of the PhoneArena Charging Test:
A maximum wireless charging speed of 15 watts is supported for the Pixel 9, but only when using a Pixel Stand 2nd Gen. Since the Pixel Stand Gen 2 appears to be out of stock in most markets, we haven't had a chance to test wireless charging yet. However, a complete charge using this method should take more than two and a half hours.
Is it wise to get a Pixel 9?
In contrast to earlier Pixel models, the new $800 Pixel 9 feels more sophisticated.
We appreciate the upgraded design, the phone's even greater AI readiness thanks to its 12GB of RAM, the quicker Tensor G4 CPU, and the improved ultrawide camera.
Was that all worth the increase in price? And is the Pixel a better option than the Galaxy or iPhone?
Although we wish the Pixel had been a little less expensive when it first launched, we believe it to be the most cutting-edge AI phone available and the one that is most suited for the future. That ought to be the #1 item on your wish list if that's what matters to you.
Review of the Google Pixel 9: Expensive at first, but worth it
Introduction to Pixel 9
The Pixel model that most people should think about is the standard Pixel 9.
And not just because it costs $800, a significant reduction over the $1,000+ Pro variants, but also because it's a really amazing phone in and of itself. It is powered by the same Tensor G4 chipset and shares most of its design language with its Pixel Pro siblings.
The rear cameras are identical to those found in the Pro versions.
The good news is that this Pixel feels more sophisticated than earlier models. The slightly greater price is the bad news. The Pixel 7 cost $600 two years ago, the Pixel 8 cost $700 last year, and the new Pixel 9 now costs $800. This places it squarely between the most formidable rivals, the iPhone 15 and the Galaxy S24. Let's see if the Pixel 9 can justify its higher price in the marketplace.
Note: Due to a change in our review rating system, PhoneArena's overall score may now be lower than it was previously. That does not, however, imply that the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a subpar handset. Rather, it is how our new system functions. Comparing the score to other phones in the same price range is the goal, and the new Pixel actually performs on par with competitors like the OnePlus 12.
This rating is the result of extensive testing in twelve distinct categories; the specific scores for each category are displayed above. Click here to find out more about our PhoneArena Review Score.
Contents Table:
Specifications
Create and Present
Snapshot
Achievement
Applications
Rechargeable batteries
Is it something you should purchase?
Specifications for Pixel 9
A few intriguing figures
The Pixel 9 has a few fascinating new features. One notable improvement over the previous model is the new ultrawide camera, which is now identical to that of the Pro versions. Additionally, you have extra RAM and the updated Tensor G4 chip, which opens up new AI features.
It also has a significantly larger battery and a larger display than the Pixel 8 model from before.
Pixel 9 Layout and Presentation
The same spirit of Pixel, but with a new appearance
We adore the new, more robust appearance with flat corners (Image via PhoneArena) - Review of the Google Pixel 9: More expensive, but well worth it
We adore the updated style, which has flat sides and is stronger as well. (Photo credit: PhoneArena)
The entire Pixel 9 family has a completely new appearance, doing away with the earlier generations' pebble-like design and switching to a more blocky one. The phone's sides are curved, but the front and rear panels, as well as the frame, are all flat.
Given that Samsung and Apple design their phones rather identically, we believe Google has done a fantastic job maintaining the overall distinctive Pixel style and what sets it apart from the competition.
Google used aluminum and glass for the flat frame, which has a matte appearance, and glossy, reflective glass for the rear panel. Additionally, the more robust Gorilla Glass Victus 2 makes the regular Pixel just as secure as the more expensive Pro models.
In terms of dimensions, the Pixel 9 is somewhat larger—6.3 inches—and slightly thinner—than the Pixel 8, which is 6.2 inches. The Pixel 9 Pro variant is precisely the same size as the dimensions, which are 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm.
Unboxing the Pixel 9 (Photo via PhoneArena) - Google Pixel 9 Review: Worthy but a little pricey
Unboxing the Pixel 9 (Photo via PhoneArena)
The box contains very little, therefore the process of unboxing the Pixel 9 is quite straightforward. We appreciate that the packaging is lightweight and composed of recycled materials, but we are disappointed that practical accessories like a case, screen protector, and charger are not included. All that is included is the SIM tool, the user handbook, and a USB-C charging cord.
With one more color, the Pixel 9 offers a greater range of colors than it did the year before. This year's hues are likewise more vivid, particularly when examining the Wintergreen and Peony varieties. Additionally, this year's hue is porcelain (beige) rather than the drab gray.
This screen brightens up extra! (Photo credit: PhoneArena) - Review of Google Pixel 9: More expensive, but well worth it
This screen brightens up extra! (Photo credit: PhoneArena)
Regarding the screen, Google refers to the 6.3" OLED panel on the Pixel 9 as "Actua" (rather than "Super Actua" like on the Pros). Is this a decent screen? All of our lab testing have been completed, and as you can see, there have been some notable advancements.
Display Dimensions:
Peak brightness, according to Google, is 2700 nits, up from 2000 nits on the model from last year. We assess the brightness on an all-white display rather than peak brightness, which is determined by measuring the percentage of the screen that is white (only 5% of the screen is black). In our tests, the Pixel 9 received 1,970 nits, a significant improvement over the majority of the other phones we evaluated. That implies that using this phone outside in the direct sunlight will be significantly simpler.
The lowest brightness level at night is 1.8 nits, which is not quite as low as 0.9 nits on the Galaxy S24. This is the only minor drawback. Even though it might not seem like much, night owls will notice this change.
Pixel 9 Lens
Major improvement: a new ultra-wide camera
Pixel 9 camera specifications:
Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide-angle lenses, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view, 1/1.31" image sensor size, Super Res Zoom up to 8x
48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera featuring a 1/2.55" image sensor size, a ƒ/1.7 aperture, a 123° field of view, and autofocus
10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera featuring a 95° ultrawide field of vision, a ƒ/2.2 aperture, and autofocus
The Pixel 9 boasts an entirely new 48MP ultra-wide camera, which coincidentally matches the one found in the Pro variants. Compared to the Pixel 8's 12MP ultra-wide camera, it is a significant improvement. Sadly, the Pro camera mode is still unavailable to you, and the only full-resolution 50MP photographs that can be taken with your device are pixel-binned 12MP ones.
The Pixel 9 also features autofocus for the selfie camera, which is a welcome addition to the camera. While it may not be the most revolutionary upgrade, it helps you stay in focus when you move across the picture. This standard model lacks the new super-wide selfie camera included in the Pro variants, which may account for some users' dissatisfaction.
Sample Images from the Pixel 9 Camera
The image quality is actually rather close to that of the Pixel 8, with very slight adjustments made to the processing and color.
The Pixel 9 scored marginally higher than its predecessor in our in-house comprehensive process, the PhoneArena Camera Score, although it was primarily due to newly added features like the ability to preview portrait mode images (finally!).
Expect no significant differences in video quality between the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8.
Regretfully, the Pixel 9 standard does not include the new 8K upscaling feature and is not compatible with the Video Boost feature that is included with the Pixel Pro and Pro XL.
Benchmarks & Performance for Pixel 9
establishing the foundation for in-device AI
The Pixel 9 series now comes with the latest Tensor G4 chipset from Google. Although it doesn't seem like the largest increase, it does have 20% faster web surfing and 17% faster app opening.
Naturally, in order to assess its performance against peers, we conducted the standard benchmarks, and the results are as follows.
Benchmarks for Performance:
Although the Pixel 9 is a modest improvement over the Pixel 8, it is still not as potent as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3–powered Galaxy S24 or the iPhone 15 series, either for basic chores or for gaming.
At least the Pixel 9 now has 12GB of RAM instead of the previous model's 8GB, which is a welcome increase as RAM is essential for AI activities.
A sizeable portion of the Pixel 9's memory has been set aside by Google expressly for the on-device AI functions. This is also beneficial for the recently released multimodal Gemini Nano.
Because of its multimodality, Google's new AI assistant can manage challenging jobs without transferring your personal information to outside AI firms. Gemini creates messages, makes appointments, summarizes documents, and more using the data on your phone to offer individualized support.
The storage choices are still available, so you may choose between 128 GB and 256 GB models.
Software for Pixel 9
Additional AI camera functions
AI is everything (Photo by PhoneArena) - Google Pixel 9 Review: A little more expensive, but still worth it
AI is everything. (Photo credit: PhoneArena)
Though the fact that the Pixel 9 ships with Android 14 may disappoint some who were hoping for the newest, you are covered for the future with 7 years of significant Android OS updates, security patches, and Pixel Feature Drop updates (new features exclusive to the Pixel line).
That is that an upgrade for Android 15 should be available over the course of the next few months.
Naturally, it makes sense that we would also acquire some additional AI features. This year, the majority of new AI functions center on the camera. One is called "Add Me," and it lets you merge two group selfies into a single one so that everyone is included. This is even more amazing than last year's "Best Take" section, and it feels like an extension of it.
"Reimagine" is the most potent one since it lets you alter an image's appearance. You can alter the sky's color from a clear blue to a cloudy one, or you can go one step further and insert an object such as a tank on the street, a cockroach in a food photo, or a rocket in the sky behind you. It's quite potent, but also a little unsettling because, other from the metadata, which is easily removed, there is no sign that this image was edited by AI.
A few new apps are also available to you, like Pixel Studio, an AI image creator with fewer styles than the Reimagine option but more restrictions.
The first native Weather app on a Pixel, it's a brand-new app that you get.
With your new Screenshots app, you can easily search through all of your previously taken screenshots using artificial intelligence.
Battery for Pixel 9
A little hump
Pixel 9 Google
( 4700 mAh )
Pixel 9 Google
Estimated Battery Life
7 hours and 31 minutes
In the last two years' worth of phone tests, it ranks #12
It takes 6 hours 46 minutes on average.
Perusing
17 hours, 34 minutes
15 hours and 22 minutes is the average.
Watch Video
8 hours and 28 minutes
The mean is 10 hours and six minutes.
Playing games
10 hours and 4 minutes
It takes 8 hours 48 minutes on average.
Charge rate
27W
Battery
51 percent
thirty minutes
One hour and 39 minutes
Complete payment
For phones released in the last two years, it ranks #88.
Charging Wirelessly
15W
Battery
Not at all
thirty minutes
Not at all
Complete payment
Visit our PhoneArena Battery Score page to learn more about the battery and charging specifications of every phone we've tested.
The 4700 mAh battery in the Pixel 9 is a minor increase over the 4575 mAh battery in the Pixel 8. According to Google, the phone may run for up to 100 hours when the Extreme Battery Saver mode is on or for more than 24 hours on a single charge. It is a one-day battery phone, to put it another way.
We had to test this, so we performed our three in-hours battery tests. The outcomes are as follows:
Results of the PhoneArena Battery Test:
The Pixel 9 scored an impressive 17 hours and a half on our lightest web surfing test, almost two hours higher than the Pixel 8. It also performs far better in this test than the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 Pro, which is fantastic news.
The Pixel 9 in this instance achieved the score you see above when we played the identical YouTube playlist via a Wi-Fi connection for our second test.
Lastly, there is a separate test just for gamers, and the Pixel 9 does very well on it. This indicates that the Tensor G4 graphics operating a little bit cooler and the fact that the performance isn't quite as excellent as flagships and iPhones with Snapdragon processors also assist.
The Pixel 9's maximum charging power of 27W is the same as it was for the Pixel 8, although we noticed that it charged a little more slowly.
Our testing shows that a 30-minute top-up provides you 51% charge on the Pixel 9 and 55% on the Pixel 8. In comparison to the Pixel 8, which takes one hour and twenty-four minutes to fully charge from 1% to 100%, the Pixel 9 takes one hour and forty-nine minutes.
Results of the PhoneArena Charging Test:
A maximum wireless charging speed of 15 watts is supported for the Pixel 9, but only when using a Pixel Stand 2nd Gen. Since the Pixel Stand Gen 2 appears to be out of stock in most markets, we haven't had a chance to test wireless charging yet. However, a complete charge using this method should take more than two and a half hours.
Is it wise to get a Pixel 9?
In contrast to earlier Pixel models, the new $800 Pixel 9 feels more sophisticated.
We appreciate the upgraded design, the phone's even greater AI readiness thanks to its 12GB of RAM, the quicker Tensor G4 CPU, and the improved ultrawide camera.
Was that all worth the increase in price? And is the Pixel a better option than the Galaxy or iPhone?
Although we wish the Pixel had been a little less expensive when it first launched, we believe it to be the most cutting-edge AI phone available and the one that is most suited for the future. That ought to be the #1 item on your wish list if that's what matters to you.
Source: phonearena.com
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