Technology

Google Pixel 9 Review: Initial Thoughts

Published

1 week ago

August 22, 2024

Google’s new flagship range goes on sale tomorrow and I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for almost a week.

I haven’t used it enough to give you a full review yet, largely due to a wave of new software features, including Gemini, but I have a lot of thoughts so far on the design, hardware, and more.

We have a full Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review you should read.

Design

While I’ve been a fan of Pixel phone designs since the beginning, I’m a little torn this year.

Google has always made sure Pixel handsets have had their own character, from the two-tone rear of early generations to the divisive camera bar introduced with the Pixel 6.

I’ve always enjoyed Google’s aesthetic of pebble-like shapes and especially beautiful colors, but the Pixel 9 series has undergone something of an overhaul in a new direction.

The build quality certainly feels better than ever, but Google, to put it simply, has gone with the design for the iPhone this year.

Chris Martin / Foundry

The flat sides and rounded corners are straight out of the Apple design book and aside from subtle details like button placement and glossy back, the camera bump alone would be the big giveaway if you were to blindfold me and hand me the Pixel 9. iPhone 15.

It’s not like Google has done anything overtly wrong here – I like the iPhone 15 – but it’s a shame to lose most of the Pixel personality and adapt to trends instead. I prefer the old camera bar design that blends into the sides, and the glossy back is one of the smoothest I’ve ever used (the Pros have a matte back but glossy metal sides).

Chris Martin / Foundry

A case is pretty much a requirement and as always it’s a shame to hide most of the phone. Mainly because I really like the Wintergreen colorway I tested – Obsidian, Porcelain and Peony are also available.

Hardware

You could argue that Google has always been a little behind on the hardware front with the Pixel phones, although not by much.

However, the Pixel 9 has a number of upgrades that bring it closer to the standards of a premium phone.

Of course, you get the latest Tensor G4 chipset, which has made the phone run perfectly smooth in my testing so far. There’s also a big 50% increase in memory, so you now get 12GB as standard (the Pro models get 16GB).

Chris Martin / Foundry

A more noticeable upgrade is the latest Actua display, which is a lot brighter than before, so I found it easier to use outdoors. A thinner bezel also makes the Pixel 9 look premium.

It’s still missing LPTO technology to bring the refresh rate down to 1Hz, but I’ve found battery life to be decent thanks to the larger 4700mAh cell, so I won’t grumble too much. It’s technology that is understandably reserved for the Pro models.

Luckily, Google has finally switched from an optical fingerprint scanner to an ultrasonic scanner and performance is much better on this front. Facial recognition also works well.

Chris Martin / Foundry

On the camera front, things are similar, with the main upgrade being a jump from 12 to 48 MP for the ultra-wide camera. I’m still testing the cameras, but the results so far are as impressive as we’ve come to expect from Pixel phones.

Of course, you’ll still have to buy a Pro to get a telephoto lens, as well as a higher resolution selfie camera.

Here is a selection of examples from my tests so far.

Software

It may come as a surprise that the Pixel 9 series comes with Android 14. This is because Google launched the series earlier this year than usual and Android 15 is not quite ready yet. However, you’ll be the first to get 15 when it arrives, and Google still offers seven years of OS and security updates, so I don’t see it as a big deal.

There’s still a lot of new stuff anyway, and that’s the main reason why I’m not ready to give you a full review yet. Google Gemini is the most important, and the AI drive in technology is so great right now that there is a lot to be broken down and tried out.

Chris Martin / Foundry

I don’t think Google has done the best job of communicating what Gemini is and what its details are, such as whether it’s a direct replacement for Google Assistant (it’s on the Pixel 9 phones).

As with many AI tools, it is difficult to know exactly what it can and cannot do.

The first time I opened Gemini it told me it could create images, but when I asked it said it couldn’t. The Pixel Studio app, which is dedicated to this task, is also not on the phone, despite being mentioned by name during the installation process.

Gemini should also be able to help with specific requests, such as changing phone settings. For example, while Bluetooth can be turned on and off, it cannot change the length of my screen timeout.

Chris Martin / Foundry

The other bit of confusion, which is very different from Google, is about the new weather app. I really like it so far, but there are actually two: the one built into the home screen under the date links to the old version, and the phone even asked me to create an app icon for it.

We don’t like to see devices being marketed with the promise of features coming in the future, but it might have been better for Google to fix these issues and release them with Android 15 later this year.

I can’t wait to try the three Android 15 features first

What I do have is the Pixel Screenshots app, which I think I’ll find very useful. I take a lot of screenshots – restaurant menus, maps and the like – and the app not only filters them into their own app, but also lets you search for information in the same way you can search for “burgers” on Google Photos. It’s probably a real time-saving boon for information that you know is out there somewhere, but you can’t find it manually.

Chris Martin / Foundry

I also have new features like ‘Add Me’ in the camera app, which allows the photographer to be in the frame by taking two photos and joining them together using AI. I’ll mention how I handle this and other camera features in the final review.

Price

The last thing we need to mention now is that the price has increased again. Over the past few years the Pixel range has grown and has now reached £799/$799 for the cheapest model.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 cost £599/$599, so Google is now clearly positioning itself as a more premium option, rather than a budget option, compared to Apple, Samsung and the best smartphones out there you can buy.

It makes it hard to recommend and makes the ‘buy last year’s model’ argument even more compelling, especially since Google’s seven-year software promise applies to the Pixel 8 range, which has obviously been discounted now that it’s the previous generation.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Early judgment

The TL:DR summary here is that I’m more torn (and confused) about the Pixel 9 than I normally am about Google’s phones.

The design is very iPhone-like and loses on personality, and while there are several welcome hardware upgrades and a bunch of new software features, I’m not entirely sure these are enough to justify another price hike.

Check back soon for my full review.