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Google’s Pixel 9 line packed a variety of firsts when it launched in late August—together with two dimension choices and a foldable model—however these had been principally reserved for the Professional fashions. With regards to the bottom cellphone, there’s not as a lot flash. However underneath the floor, it feels nearly nearly as good as its costlier cousin. Because of a redesigned digicam bar and a few up to date digicam specs, that is Google’s greatest base mannequin cellphone shortly, so neck-and-neck with the Pixel 9 Professional that I guess some much less discerning eyes couldn’t inform the distinction. Earlier than shelling out $999 or extra on the Professional, contemplate choosing the common Pixel 9 as an alternative. You may be stunned.
A redesigned digicam bar
This 12 months, a lot of the aesthetic adjustments have been reserved for the Pixel 9 Professional, which now is available in two sizes in addition to a foldable model. However that doesn’t imply there’s nothing new on the usual Pixel 9.
Essentially the most noticeable replace is the redesigned digicam bar, which Google additionally added to the Professional. In contrast to earlier fashions, the digicam bar on the Pixel 9 doesn’t stretch throughout the entire width of the cellphone anymore, as an alternative being sequestered to its personal little oval. That doesn’t imply a lot from a practical standpoint, however it does make all the things look just a bit cleaner, if solely as a result of it’s a bit smaller and extra rounded. It’s additionally now a bit simpler to carry the cellphone horizontally with out unintentionally touching your digicam lens, too.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
In any other case, the Pixel 9 nonetheless makes use of your typical “sweet bar” format. There are not any extra buttons, the corners are nonetheless rounded, and the scale and weight are the identical as on the Pixel 8—6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches, weighing 7 ounces. The audio system on the underside of the cellphone have been consolidated right into a single gap, however their capabilities stay the identical.
It is a bit disappointing that, just like the Pixel 8 however not the 8a price range refresh, the again remains to be shiny right here, that means that it seems to be fancy however is vulnerable to reflections and fingerprints. I are inclined to desire matte finishes, and the 9 Professional is the one solution to get one.
Colours for the Pixel 9 embrace Peony (pink), wintergreen (mild inexperienced), porcelain (white), and obsidian (black). It’s a disgrace to not see Bay Blue (mild blue) coming back from the 8 Professional and 8a, however that is nonetheless a extra strong set of colours than the bottom Pixel 8 had at launch, so my fingers are crossed that we’ll see extra all year long.
Disappointing AI additions
Google’s Pixel telephones are identified for his or her unique software program like Stay Transcribe or Magic Editor, and this 12 months, the corporate is very beneficiant by making its largest additions accessible throughout Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold. I’ve already checked out these apps—Screenshots, Pixel Studio, and Gemini Stay—whereas reviewing the Pixel 9 Professional, they usually work simply as nicely right here.
That mentioned, I solely actually like considered one of them. Screenshots makes use of AI so as to add descriptions to screenshots in your cellphone, permitting you to rapidly search by way of them such as you would Google Pictures. It’s nice for locating paperwork like live performance tickets or boarding passes at a second’s discover, and whereas the descriptions aren’t all the time strictly correct, they often have sufficient key phrases in them to floor the pic you want in the direction of the highest of your outcomes. My solely situation is that this solely applies to screenshots and never photographs, though that’s promised to be coming down the road.
There’s undoubtedly a privateness concern right here, particularly as Screenshots may learn and summarize any textual content that may be in your captures, though a Google consultant advised me all of the processing for Screenshots is completed on-device. It’s only a easy, unobtrusive utility that doesn’t demand I modify how I exploit my cellphone and does one thing I couldn’t earlier than, making it my clear favourite regardless of its extra humble nature.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
A bit extra flashy is Pixel Studio, primarily an AI picture generator baked into your cellphone. Pixel Studio makes use of a mixture of native and cloud AI fashions, and permits you to extra simply edit and remix photographs generated by Gemini. Google suggests utilizing it to design issues like celebration invitations, because it’s at present unable to depict people, even with easy requests like “a cashier at a grocery retailer.” Sadly, which means it’s fairly restricted in comparison with rivals, however even that hasn’t stopped it from producing some unhinged outcomes.
Regardless of the lack to generate people, Pixel Studio can generate copyrighted characters, and I used to be capable of make some photographs of Mickey Mouse in quite a lot of compromising positions. Once more, test my Pixel 9 Professional overview for extra particulars, however even weeks after launch, it’s clear there are nonetheless safeguards that have to be put in place, until Google needs to go full Grok.
In truth, as soon as the novelty of placing cartoon characters in mature conditions wears off, there’s not lots I might see myself utilizing Pixel Studio for: The extra mundane use instances really feel about as compelling as “make your personal greeting card” software program from the ‘90s. Gemini Stay can also be one thing I don’t see myself utilizing usually. It primarily takes Google’s Gemini chatbot and allows you to work together with it over voice, with an AI-generated dialog accomplice in return. The baseline tech right here is spectacular—Gemini Stay sounds pleasant, and I used to be capable of minimize it off and alter the topic usually with out situation. However the issue is that it nonetheless makes errors simply as usually because the common Gemini chatbot.
I had Gemini Stay inform me to hold an umbrella in 80 diploma climate, or inform me that Kamala Harris could be debating Tim Walz the evening I wrote this overview. As with most AI hallucinations, these statements had been mentioned with complete confidence, making it exhausting to belief something Gemini mentioned. I used to be capable of name out the app on hallucinations and get it to stroll again errors, but when I did this too many occasions, it will simply crash, making Gemini really feel a bit like a pissed off baby taking their ball and going dwelling.
Outdoors of Gemini Stay, Google can also be pushing Gemini extra strongly throughout the Pixel 9 line, making it the default substitute for the Google Assistant. This can be a mistake, flat out. Gemini can do some easy issues like set timers or alarms, however as of but, it’s nonetheless unable to carry out different widespread duties like setting reminders or turning on Stay Captions—issues Google Assistant does with ease.
Past the brand new devoted apps, Google’s present options obtained a number of AI upgrades this 12 months, too. These are most outstanding within the Pictures app, the place you’ll have the ability to entry Add Me and Reimagine.
I used to be trying ahead to Add Me, which makes use of AI to sew two photographs collectively so no one must be neglected of a shot. You simply take a photograph of your group, hand the cellphone off to another person who was in that first group shot, and take a brand new photograph with you in it. Then, the cellphone intelligently mixes the photographs so that you’re all there.
Sadly, it didn’t actually work out in observe, with all outcomes trying noticeably altered. When my fiancé and I attempted it, our heights in relation to one another had been all flawed, the shadows and lighting didn’t look pure, and it was greatest for us to not stand shut to one another, or else the function would possibly mix our our bodies collectively whereas mixing the photographs. It’s a cute demo, however not one thing I’d use even for an off-the-cuff social media put up.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Reimagine is a little bit of a touchier topic. Basically, this lets you use AI to generate pretend imagery inside your real-life photographs. Like Pixel Studio, it makes an attempt to introduce safeguards however nonetheless can’t catch all the things. As an illustration, I used to be ready so as to add reasonable used needles to a number of photographs with out situation. You may think about the issues that may trigger for one thing like cyberbullying, ought to edited photographs of a goal be posted on-line or handed onto a less-than-discerning authority determine.
I’m not the primary individual to elevate this situation, however as I’m posting this overview a month after launch, it’s a disgrace that Google nonetheless hasn’t performed something about it.
Sadly, whereas it’s good to see Google’s new AI options typically obtainable throughout all Pixel 9 fashions, they in the end nonetheless really feel like betas to me. That’s not a fantastic signal about the place Google’s Pixel software program will head sooner or later, particularly because it continues to discover delicate topics like AI imagery.
Cameras that really feel pro-level
I beloved the Pixel 9 Professional’s digicam setup, and the excellent news is that photographs taken on the common Pixel 9 look nearly nearly as good. That’s as a result of these telephones have the identical vast and ultrawide sensors, so each customary photographs and shut ups will look similar between gadgets. Plus, irrespective of which cellphone you decide, they’ll rival photographs taken on the iPhone 15 Professional.
If that sounds too good to be true, the catch is that the Pixel 9 has no telephoto lens. Optical zoom maxes out at 2x, and software program zoom received’t permit for something greater than 8x. Not that you just’ll actually wish to go previous that—photographs begin to look fairly muddy even earlier than then.
The entrance digicam additionally tops out at 10.5 MP vs. the Pixel 9 Professional’s 42 MP, so selfies will look extra detailed on the costlier mannequin.
Right here’s a number of Pixel 9 photographs taken at varied occasions of day. Notice that I’ve needed to compress these for this webpage, and that evening photographs use the Pixel’s “Evening Sight” function to intelligently brighten the background.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
And listed here are some equal photographs from my iPhone 15 Professional. Typically, it’s spectacular to see a non-Professional cellphone maintain its personal in opposition to Apple’s premium cameras.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Sadly, regardless of the digicam’s energy, the bottom Pixel 9 doesn’t include Professional digicam controls in its menu, which continues a irritating development on Google’s half. This implies you’re not capable of activate the 50 MP photograph mode, which saves 50 MP jpegs to your cellphone, despite the fact that the digicam has a 50 MP sensor. You may nonetheless seize RAW photographs, so you continue to have a method to make use of your digicam’s full energy, however the RAW file format could be annoying for informal customers. Most individuals are most likely going to only hold taking 12 MP photographs with out even realizing their cellphone can do extra. This will likely be nice for his or her space for storing, however Google has no excuse for limiting 50 MP photographs to the Professional fashions when the bottom {hardware} is completely able to them.
Efficiency remains to be missing
Efficiency on the bottom Pixel 9 needs to be about nearly as good because the Pixel 9 Professional, because it has the identical chip, the Google Tensor G4. It comes with much less RAM, and didn’t all the time carry out as nicely in my checks, however the Pixel 9 undoubtedly felt prefer it stored up with the Professional in actual world use—which is to say, it has some points.
In Geekbench 6, an artificial benchmark for testing common efficiency throughout a number of various kinds of duties, I obtained a rating of 1,227 on single-core duties and three,172 on multi-core duties, indicating that, at the very least on paper, this cellphone is extremely CPU restricted. By comparability, I obtained a rating of 1,924/5,628 on the Pixel 9 Professional, and a pair of,938/7,250 on the iPhone 15 Professional. Curiously, my outcomes had been even under the Pixel 7’s.
Granted, artificial benchmarks aren’t all the time a fantastic indicator of real-world use. To check precise, in-the-hands efficiency, I took the Pixel 9 into Genshin Affect, a graphically demanding open-world sport. Right here, I obtained outcomes about on par with the Pixel 9 Professional, though I sometimes lagged a number of frames behind it. I obtained between 50–60 fps on the sport’s lowest settings, and about 40–55 fps on the best settings, though numbers had been extra persistently excessive on the lower-end. I additionally wouldn’t advocate gaming at excessive settings for lengthy, because the cellphone heats up fairly rapidly underneath that sort of pressure, finally getting painful to the contact. It’s subjective, however for me, the warmth gave the impression to be an even bigger downside on the 9 than the Professional.
Whereas this cellphone isn’t for gaming, my points right here don’t essentially paint a form image for different excessive efficiency apps, like video editors. This downside isn’t new for the Pixel, since Google’s chips are designed to place Pixel software program exclusives and AI first. For these, it really works nice, hitting a nice stability between efficiency and effectivity. However those that frequently stray exterior of Google’s ecosystem will most likely desire a cellphone with a extra jack-of-all-trades Qualcomm chip, just like the Samsung Galaxy S24.
Battery life
Google guarantees at the very least a 24 hour battery life, if no more, for the Pixel 9 underneath “median” circumstances, and in my testing, it got here fairly shut. Whereas enjoying a 24-hour YouTube video at 720p and 50% brightness over wifi, I obtained about 22 hours and 40 minutes of battery life, and that was with all battery saver options turned off. That is truly 4 extra hours than what I obtained on the Pixel 9 Professional, and needs to be greater than sufficient for most individuals. It truly matches Apple’s guarantees for iPhone 16 battery life nearly precisely. In additional strenuous circumstances, resembling prolonged photograph or gaming classes, battery additionally did not show to be a difficulty, as I used to be capable of get a number of hours in between expenses, however your mileage might fluctuate relying on what number of photographs you’re taking or which sport you are enjoying.
A powerful show
Not a lot has modified on the Pixel 9’s show over the Pixel 8’s. It’s nonetheless 6.3-inches lengthy, nonetheless makes use of Google’s “Actua” display tech (the corporate’s advertising and marketing time period for a shiny OLED), and nonetheless caps out at 2,700 nits.
That’s lots for most individuals, though I discovered I needed the brightness someplace within the 80% vary indoors and 90% vary open air. I’ve gotten to be a little bit of a brightness snob of late, although, and most of the people will most likely be OK round 60%. It’s most likely greatest simply to go away the cellphone’s Adaptive Brightness function on and let it select for you.
One good improve to the show right here is definitely so simple as a software program tweak. For some cause, the Pixel 8 required you to dig into settings to allow its 120Hz mode, which provides you a smoother show at the price of some battery life. This implies most individuals most likely by no means bothered with it, however it was on by default on my overview mannequin. To test when you’ve got 120Hz enabled, go to Settings > Show and make sure the “Easy Show” toggle is switched on. I’d say it’s nicely value utilizing Easy Show, because the cellphone will robotically decrease the fps when your always-on show ticks on, which is able to assist counteract the battery life drain.
As for viewing content material, it’s OLED. Blacks are deep, colours are vivid, and textual content is simple to learn, particularly in darkish mode. I used the Pixel 9 to look at an Astro Bot stream as I used to be penning this overview, and the sport seemed so fairly that I’m having a tough time not instantly shopping for it. (I nonetheless haven’t completed Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth.)
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Do you have to purchase the Pixel 9?
Google’s Pixel 9 is a scrappy little cellphone, and regardless of not being as flashy as a Pixel 9 Professional, Professional XL or Professional Fold, it’s most likely sufficient for most individuals. That is considered one of Google’s most beneficiant fashions, packing all the Pixel 9 line’s largest new AI additions in addition to an up to date digicam setup that’s nearly nearly as good because the Professional mannequin’s. The display isn’t fairly as shiny or excessive decision, and the bottom mannequin nonetheless has the identical points as its costlier cousin, particularly on the subject of third occasion app efficiency, however you’re not going to lose out on a lot in the event you go together with the common Pixel this time round. It’s nonetheless a dedication, beginning at $799, however when you’ve got but to enter Google’s ecosystem and don’t wish to purchase an older cellphone, this can be a great way to take action whereas spending just a bit bit much less.
