Google Pixel 9 Review: Has It Finally Arrived?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve considered getting a Pixel phone, only to hesitate at the prospect of network connectivity and battery problems. On paper, the newly launched Pixel 9 promises to address these concerns. But does it truly deliver, or is it all just talk? After using the Pixel 9 as my primary device for over a week, I’m ready to share my findings. Let’s dive into this detailed review and determine whether the Pixel 9 is worth your investment.

 Pixel 9: Quick Specs Overview

 Pixel 9: What’s in the Box

The Pixel 9’s box is notably minimalist. Google has eliminated the Quick Switch adapter this year—something I always found useful. What you’ll find inside the box:

– Google Pixel 9

– USB Type-C to Type-C cable

– SIM ejector

– Some paperwork

The model I have is the Porcelain color with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.

 Pixel 9: Design and Build

The Pixel 9 boasts a curvier design compared to its predecessor, especially around the edges. The polished aluminum frame, while sleek, makes the phone quite slippery. I’ve had a few near-misses with it slipping from my hands.

The phone is noticeably heavier and bulkier than the Pixel 8, weighing in at 197 grams compared to its predecessor’s 187 grams. The placement of the volume rocker and power button on the right side of the frame could be more ergonomically designed. The Pixel 9’s flat rear panel contrasts with the Pixel 8’s curved design, making it less comfortable for one-handed use. Fortunately, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides offers some protection.

The redesigned pill-shaped camera module, which my colleague Anshuman likened to the Google Search bar, is an improvement over the older design. It stands out more distinctly and helps keep the phone stable on a desk without wobbling. The Pixel 9 continues to feature an IP68 rating, ensuring resilience against dust and water.

 Pixel 9: Display

The Pixel 9 comes with a slightly larger 6.3-inch display, though the bezels have not been slimmed down. Although the OLED panel supports 120Hz and offers HDR, its lack of LTPO technology is puzzling, especially when other budget phones have adopted it.

The display can reach up to 2,700 nits of brightness, marking a substantial upgrade from the Pixel 8. Top of Form

Bottom of Form

However, while visibility indoors is excellent, outdoor readability suffers due to heat-induced brightness reduction and reflectivity issues. HDR content often lacks clarity, particularly in darker scenes.

 Pixel 9: Speaker Performance

The dual-stereo speakers are impressively loud, eliminating the need for earbuds in a quiet room. However, the audio lacks richness, with muddled mids and subpar sub-bass. While the high and mid-range frequencies are well-tuned, crackling can occur at maximum volume, and audio separation is biased toward the bottom-firing speakers, especially noticeable in landscape mode.

 Pixel 9: Software Experience

The Pixel 9 incorporates a range of AI features that elevate the user experience, including tools like Pixel Screenshots and the Add Me feature. While these additions are impressive, the Pixel UI feels less feature-rich compared to other Android skins like One UI or ColorOS.

The interface is free of major bugs or lags, and the haptic feedback and animations are smooth. However, RAM management still needs improvement, as some apps reload when switching between them. Additionally, the presence of two weather apps, only one of which is functional, is a minor annoyance.

 Pixel 9: Performance

The Pixel 9 is powered by the Tensor G4 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Unfortunately, the storage technology is outdated, as it still relies on UFS 3.1.

Benchmarks: The Tensor G4 doesn’t show significant improvement over the Pixel 8’s Tensor G3, falling short of my expectations.

Daily Use: The Pixel 9 performs well in daily tasks, managing heat better than previous models and offering improved RAM management. Switching between apps is generally smooth, though occasional reloads still occur.

Gaming: The Pixel 9 handles popular titles like CoD Mobile and Genshin Impact reasonably well, though it suffers from an unoptimized touch sampling rate, causing noticeable delays in controls. The phone stays cool under load, with temperatures not exceeding 42°C in an air-conditioned environment.

 Pixel 9: Cameras

The Pixel 9 features a dual rear camera setup with a 50MP main sensor and a 48MP ultra-wide sensor, plus a 10.5MP front camera.

Daytime Photography: The primary sensor delivers mixed results, with inconsistent dynamic range and detail retention. The ultra-wide sensor performs reliably, offering good dynamic range and accurate colors.

Night Photography: Low-light performance is decent but inconsistent, with occasional lens flares and noise in some shots.

Selfies: The front camera lags behind, providing subpar detail and over-sharpened images.

Videos: The Pixel 9 supports up to 4K 60FPS video recording across all sensors, with stable footage thanks to OIS, though occasional jitters are noticeable.

 Pixel 9: Battery and Charging

The Pixel 9’s 4,700mAh battery shows improvement over its predecessor, providing 5 to 6 hours of screen-on time with a constant Wi-Fi connection. However, using mobile data cuts this down to 3 to 3.5 hours. The 27W fast charging remains unchanged, taking around 1.5 hours to fully charge.

 Pixel 9: Connectivity

Connectivity issues, a common complaint with previous Pixel models, show some improvement. The Pixel 9 maintains a stable 5G connection more reliably than its predecessors, with decent speeds and fewer call drops.