That’s to not say that there aren’t any enhancements; we’ve acquired the anticipated generational soar to the Google Tensor G4 chipset, in addition to 50% extra reminiscence than final yr, going from 8GB to 12GB of RAM. Storage choices are the identical, although, along with your selection of 128 or 256GB of inside storage and no microSD card help to increase it.
The battery is somewhat larger, too, swelling from 4,575mAh as much as the identical 4,700mAh because the Pixel 9 Professional. Charging speeds aren’t confirmed within the preliminary press launch however Google claims that utilizing a 45W Google charger (which isn’t included within the field) the cellphone can hit 55% battery life from empty in half-hour.
Additionally larger than final yr is the construct: the Pixel 9 measures 72 x 8.5 x 153mm, making it a bit taller and wider than the Pixel 8 but additionally a tiny bit thinner. It’s additionally notably heavier, weighing 198g, in comparison with the Pixel 8’s 187g.
Sitting on high of that chunkier physique is a 6.3in show, as soon as once more barely bigger than the Pixel 8’s 6.2in panel. The decision is 1,080 x 2,424 and the refresh price can toggle between 60Hz and 120Hz – this isn’t an LTPO display screen, nonetheless, so there’s no dynamic dimming for saving battery life, as we get on the Pixel 9 Professional. Scratch resistance is improved, at the least, with a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sitting over each the show and the rear, and the cellphone is as soon as once more rated IP68 for mud and water resistance.
The ten.5MP (f/2.2) selfie digital camera is an identical to final yr’s however flip the cellphone over, and also you’ll see that the rear cameras at the moment are tucked into a large oval housing that doesn’t contact the sides, changing the long-lasting full-width digital camera bar. To me, it is a step backwards, because it seems to be extra tacked-on and generic than the bar, but it surely’s not a dramatic sufficient distinction to be a dealbreaker.
The cameras themselves are much less of a stark departure, with the identical 50MP (f/1.7) essential digital camera because the Pixel 8 main the cost. We have been massive followers of this digital camera, so it’s not terrible to see it return, however paired with the value enhance this does really feel somewhat lazy. That being stated, Google has promised a very rebuilt HDR pipeline, so it’s potential that we’ll nonetheless see a noticeable distinction when it comes time to check the cameras. And the ultrawide digital camera will get some upgrades, at the least, with a bigger 48MP picture sensor and a a lot wider f/1.7 aperture.
Other than the brand new Zoom Improve characteristic, which makes use of generative AI to sharpen digitally zoomed-in photographs, the Pixel 9 will get a lot of the identical digital camera options as its Professional siblings, together with previous favourites like Magic Eraser, Face Unblur and Finest Take. The latter additionally will get a brand new addition within the “Add Me” characteristic, which might insert the photo-taker into group pictures after the image has been taken. Exterior of the digital camera system, we’ve additionally acquired the return of options like Circle to Search and Gemini AI because the default good assistant.
New AI options embody a customized overview within the new Pixel Climate app, the image-generating Pixel Studio, post-phone name transcripts with Name Notes – working solely on machine so your privateness is maintained – and the brand new Pixel Screenshots app, which intelligently organises your screenshots and permits you to seek for them later by key phrases. Lastly, Gemini Reside permits you to maintain a free-flowing dialog with the AI, altering subjects on the fly and interrupting it to make clear or change your thoughts.
The marginally earlier launch window implies that the Pixel 9 collection received’t be debuting with Android 15, as we noticed final yr with the 8 collection and Android 14, however count on these handsets to be among the many first to get the brand new software program when it drops. Past that, the Pixel 9 is as soon as once more promised seven years of OS updates and safety patches, in addition to first dibs on new Android options.
That’s about it for the specs and actually, I’m somewhat underwhelmed. In a vacuum, the Pixel 9 sounds high quality sufficient however the worth enhance places it in direct competitors with the Samsung Galaxy S24 and in that context, the Pixel feels disappointing. The Galaxy S24 is smaller and lighter, so is extra interesting as a compact flagship, has an LTPO show that may regulate between 1Hz and 120Hz on the fly, and has a extra versatile digital camera setup, together with 8K video recording and a 3x telephoto digital camera.
And the place it doesn’t surpass the Pixel 9, the Galaxy S24 nonetheless matches it, together with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 safety, seven years of software program updates and a wealth of AI options. We’ll want to check how nicely the Tensor G4 chipset performs earlier than we will decide whether or not or not the Pixel 9 can sustain with the Galaxy S24’s speeds, however it might have to be a reasonably substantial enchancment over the Tensor G3 to even draw near the Samsung.
We’ve acquired the Pixel 9 coming in for assessment, so we’ll be placing it completely by its paces very quickly. It might but emerge as a worthwhile followup to the Pixel 8 however based mostly on this primary look, I’m removed from satisfied. Examine again quickly to see our last verdict and whether or not one other firm has the prospect to steal the highest spot in our finest Android cellphone record.