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Google’s Pixel phones were once the underdogs of the smartphone world, known for offering flagship features while also reducing the value of the competition. They presented the purest Android experience and the latest generation of photography and artificial intelligence from Google without the high value of its rivals. But with the Google Pixel 9, those days of economic genius are probably long gone. Google has taken an ambitious step into the high-end smartphone market and comes with the corresponding high-value label. . .
The Pixel nine marks a significant change for Google’s smartphone lineup, moving from a “best bang for the buck” option to a true flagship contender, with a sleek, subtle design and premium features. With the new Google Tensor G4 chip, this phone promises amazing functionality and impressive AI features that put it squarely in the ring with Samsung and Apple.
The Pixel nine is no longer the cut-price purchase it once was, but Google’s move into the premium market begs the question: Does the Pixel nine’s new premium experience have value?
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The move to a more premium segment is noticeable with the Pixel 9. Google has swapped the smooth, rounded edges and plastic back of the Pixel 8 for straight edges, sharp corners, a glossy glass back and matte steel sides. The design is reminiscent of an iPhone 15 (which is a compliment) and actually elevates the overall premium aesthetic of the phone.
The camera bar remains an iconic feature of the Pixel’s design, once it returned to the mid-level to underscore Google’s commitment to photography. This year, it’s evolved from an edge-to-edge strip to a pill-shaped island that protrudes noticeably from the phone. I found that this can carry you in your pocket, but this challenge temporarily disappears once you get a case.
With a 6. 3-inch display, the device is well-balanced and can be held even with one hand. The fabrics and finishes give the phone a secure grip.
However, those looking for more screen space should opt for the 6. 8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL model.
For those who need even more screen real estate, Google now offers a 6. 8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Unlike previous generations, where going for the Pixel meant sacrificing premium camera features exclusive to the larger Pro model, Google now offers 3 options: Pixel nine, Pixel nine Pro, and Pixel nine Pro XL. The arrival of a 6. 3-inch Pixel 9 Pro, the same length as the model, adds a new layer of complexity to your decision.
That said, the style doesn’t look any less premium than its Pro siblings. In fact, I prefer the glossy rear and matte aluminum sides of the Pixel nine to the matte back and polished aluminum sides of the Pro style.
Durability has also been improved: Google claims that the Pixel nine is twice as durable as its predecessor. As expected from a flagship phone in this price range, the Pixel 9 has IP68 water resistance.
The Pixel nine comes in a variety of bold colors, with “Peony” (pink) being the boldest option. For those who prefer a more understated look, “Wintergreen,” “Porcelain,” and “Obsidian” are more reserved options. In particular, I take inspiration from the new color palette — those sunglasses are more sophisticated and give the phone a more premium feel than previous Pixel models. My review unit, in “Porcelain” (white), also does a good job of hiding fingerprints.
Being compact, the solution hasn’t been replaced since last year, meaning the Google Pixel nine has a 2,400 × 1,080 OLED panel spread across 6. 3 inches. On paper, there’s not much that I’ve replaced.
The big improvement here, however, is in the brightness. The new Actua display is a significant improvement over its predecessor, as it’s 35% brighter than the Pixel 8 (reaching a peak brightness of 2700 nits, more than the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24). This build-up of brightness ensures visibility even in bright conditions. Sunlight: I had no problem scrolling through Instagram on a sunny day.
Deep blacks and colorful colors are the norm for an OLED panel, and the Pixel nine is no exception. It’s a screen to look at, with still images and shocking yet realistic videos.
Personally, I found the default settings to be too saturated, so I opted for the Natural color preset which toned it down a bit. No matter which profile you choose, get a sharp, saturated and well-defined image.
Like last year’s phone, the refresh rate tops out at 120Hz. It’s worth noting that you can’t force it to run constantly at 120Hz, as Google dynamically switches between 60 and 120Hz depending on what you have on hand. the screen. You can turn it off to save battery life, but I think the smooth swiping and scrolling is worth it.
On the audio side, the Pixel nine holds its own. Despite the loss of a speaker, the sound is loud and crisp with decent bass. Sure, they don’t reach the level of a Bluetooth speaker, but for listening to podcasts, listening to music, or watching YouTube in general, I found the speakers to be perfectly clear.
As with previous models, there’s no headphone jack, so you’ll have to rely on Bluetooth or USB-C audio for personal listening.
The camera formula has been a strong point of the Pixel series, and the Pixel 9 enthusiastically continues that tradition. The main camera still has a 50 MP sensor, however, the highlight is the ultra-wide angle lens, which is now an impressive 48 MP. sensor, a significant improvement over its predecessor. The result is even sharper, more detailed images with a wider field of view, making it an exceptional choice for landscape and organizational photography.
As always, Google’s computational photography sets the Pixel nine apart from the competition. With AI-powered features like Magic Editor and Best Take, photo editing is intuitive and smooth, allowing you to edit your photos effortlessly. Google’s combination of complex hardware and top-notch symbol processing ensures that each and every photograph is meticulously perfected before you can see the final result.
Google’s newest trick is the “Add Me” feature, which lets you take the photo and participate in it too. Camera mode allows you to take a photo of the organization, then switch photographers and take a photo of the moment (with the organization’s first photographer). The Pixel nine will magically join the two photos. It’s a clever trick and very undeniable thanks to the on-screen prompts. However, the organization deserves to sit still between photos, which can be difficult if it includes small children or other people who have had a few drinks. This feature is still classified as “Preview”, so it may work over time.
Magic Editor can now also crop your photo, recommend the most productive crop, and even zoom in on your symbol to get more out of the scene. It’s useful if you don’t have Photoshop, but I’ve found that the effects can be hit or miss (especially under close examination).
Low-light functionality remains exceptional, with the Pixel 9 excelling at capturing detailed, well-lit photos in difficult conditions.
The 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens beautifully complements the main camera, delivering the perfect color consistency, dynamic diversity, and exposure, with only minimal smoothing and distortion at the edges. Google’s Super Res Zoom also returns, delivering up to 8x magnification thanks to the software. Tricks. Even if enlarged photos may lose a bit of sharpness at higher magnifications, they are still perfectly usable, especially between 2x and 4x zoom.
The front camera has the same 10. 5 MP sensor as the Pixel 8. It’s a selfie sensor, ensuring your selfies are sharp and vibrant, even in low-light conditions.
The overall camera experience on the Pixel nine is exceptional, offering stunning detail, dynamic range, and natural color balance in every shot. Google’s Real Tone skin tone mapping continues to excel, generating accurate and flattering skin tones, while autofocus is fast and reliable.
However, for those looking for the ultimate photography experience, the Pixel 9 Pro goes a step further with advanced zoom features and an advanced 42MP front-facing camera. However, the Pixel 9 still offers an excellent overall photography experience at a more available price.
With video features that support 4K up to 60fps and impressive slow-motion options, the Pixel nine is a flexible device for photography and videography enthusiasts. Overall, the Pixel nine builds on Google’s reputation for offering top-notch smartphone cameras, raising the bar for what’s imaginable in cellular photography.
Google’s Pixel phones are known for their clean, bloatware-free Android experience, and the Pixel nine is no different. Running on the latest edition of Android, the Pixel 9 gets seven years of operating system and security updates, making it a solid long-lasting phone. Term investment for those who do not update their phone every two years.
Since the Pixel phones arrived later this year, they come with Android 14 instead of Android 15, meaning the core software experience remains similar to previous Pixel models. Of course, the Pixel nine will be the first to get the next edition. for Android when it becomes available later this year.
The Tensor G4 chip powers a number of AI-based features that the Pixel 9 user experiences, some of which are more useful than others. . .
Gemini Live, exclusive to Gemini Advanced subscribers, offers an immersive, hands-free and continuous experience, allowing you to have natural and fluid conversations with Gemini, like the movie Her. Subscribers can exchange ideas, practice dialogue and even choose from 10 different ones. Voices for a more consistent and personalized experience. The demos look impressive, I haven’t had a chance to see them myself as I don’t pay $20/£19 per month for a Gemini Advanced subscription.
The Pixel Studio app is a new feature. It allows you to create photos on the device with AI-based tools, similar to OpenAI’s Dall-E or Midjourney. The speed at which it generates photographs is very impressive.
Surprisingly, one of the standout features is the new “Screenshots” app, which organizes your screenshots and uses AI to recognize the text they contain. This causes express photographs to be sought later. It’s a small thing, but as a serial screenshot I found it to be a very useful addition.
The Pixel nine ships with Google’s newest in-house processor, the Tensor G4 chip, which delivers a significant improvement in functionality over its predecessor. I found that the new chip improves the overall speed and responsiveness of the device, resulting in a faster application. Smoother loading times and transitions. During my review, I found that the Pixel nine handles switching between apps, generating AI symbols, and editing high-resolution symbols with ease.
Paired with 12GB of RAM, the Pixel nine is ideal for handling a wide variety of everyday tasks. If you need even more strength (and longevity), I would recommend the Pixel nine Pro, which has the same Tensor G4. The processor still combines it with 16 GB of RAM.
Battery life has also noticed a noticeable improvement on the Pixel 9, with the phone now having about 20% more battery life than its predecessor. This extended battery life is a welcome improvement, especially since battery life is historically the Pixel’s strong suit. This means you still only get one day of use and rating each night, but I no longer felt the constant anxiety about battery life that I had with previous phones.
The Pixel nine has an “Extreme Battery Saver” mode that extends the battery up to one hundred hours, but this necessarily turns the phone into a dumb phone and is therefore only useful in critical situations.
Power users would likely have to opt for the Pixel nine Pro XL with its larger battery; However, for most users, the Pixel nine’s battery functionality is more than adequate.
While the increased battery life is a positive change, it’s vital to note that charging speeds are still lagging behind the competition. Google claims that the Pixel 9 can reach 50% speed in just 30 minutes (27W charging speed) using Google’s 45W evaluator, but that’s still slower compared to the fast charging speeds featured by other flagship devices, such as the OnePlus 12. and Xiaomi 14. These competitors have set the bar high when it comes to charging technology. So while the Pixel nine’s charging features are respectable, they don’t quite match the speed of industry leaders.
One of the biggest tweaks to the Pixel 9 is the price. Historically, Google’s Pixel phones were known for offering great value for money, but the Pixel 9 breaks that mold. Starting at $7 nine nine / £7 nine nine, the Pixel nine is more expensive than its predecessors and now competes with flagship models from Samsung and Apple.
While the Pixel nine offers a great cost in terms of features, the premium value would possibly make some potential buyers pause. Gone are the days when the Pixel was the flagship budget killer.
This price increase puts the Pixel 9 on par with the Samsung Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15, both of which offer great options. The Galaxy S24, for example, has a more flexible camera formula with incredible zoom capabilities, while the iPhone 15 continues to impress with its integration into the eco-friendly formula and build quality. Choosing between those high-end devices is much more difficult.
The Google Pixel 9 is an incredible smartphone that ticks all the boxes to be a flagship device in 2024. With its robust AI features, amazing camera system, and sleek design, the Pixel 9 is one of the top contenders in the crowded high-end smartphone. Market. Google has delivered a device that stands out in its use, thanks to its perfect integration of AI and hardware.
However, the accumulation of value could make it difficult to sell for those who were attracted to the previous Pixel models due to their affordability. In addition, the Pixel 9 Pro offers even better camera features and a larger screen at a premium price, making the price even higher. The choice between the two is more complicated than ever.
If you’re looking for a sleek, rugged smartphone with state-of-the-art AI features, the Pixel nine is a great choice. But for those who require the best camera functionality or need a larger screen, the Pixel 9 Pro may be worth the extra investment. No matter which style you choose, Google’s Pixel nine series is an impressive phone.
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