Pixel 9 Evaluation: The Final AI Cellphone from Google

Google shook issues up by releasing the Pixel 9 sooner than ordinary—dropping it in August as an alternative of the standard October launch. The Pixel 9 brings notable upgrades in design, uncooked energy, and AI capabilities. It’s powered by the brand new Tensor G4 chip, which leans closely into AI developments. 

The design has been revamped with flat edges, providing a cushty grip, although the brand new look would possibly divide opinions. AI options like Pixel Screenshot, Pixel Studio, new Magic Editor, and the Add Me function have additionally been added. 

However the large query stays: has Google lastly resolved the Pixel’s infamous connectivity and heating points? Effectively, you’ll be shocked to know. Let’s dive into the evaluation to seek out out.

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Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Design & Construct

The Pixel 9 sports activities a recent design with a flat body. The visor is now a digicam island. The digicam bump is sort of massive, however that’s a part of the deal. The perimeters have a matte aluminum end which doesn’t appeal to fingerprints. On the again, the shiny glass appears modern (when clear) however attracts fingerprints and smudges simply.

Mud tends to assemble across the digicam island, which generally is a trouble to scrub. The Pixel 9 weighs 198 grams, so it seems like you might be holding one thing but it surely’s not uncomfortable. It additionally comes with IP68 water and mud resistance, so it’s protected from splashes. The cellphone helps a single SIM and an eSIM.

Talking of which, on the backside, you’ll discover the SIM tray, microphone, Sort-C port, and a speaker. Sadly, the speaker placement is lower than supreme. When holding the cellphone in panorama mode, the speaker usually will get blocked by your hand. They need to have positioned the speaker on the best aspect as an alternative.

The left aspect of the cellphone is clear. On the best, the ability button is positioned on the high, with the amount rocker slightly below it.

The buttons themselves really feel a bit low cost when clicked, which is disappointing for a premium machine. The 6.3” display makes the Pixel 9 smaller and simpler to deal with, although.

Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Show

The Pixel 9 encompasses a 6.3” FHD+ AMOLED show. It has a decision of 1080 x 2424 pixels and 422 ppi. The show additionally helps a 120 Hz refresh charge, often known as “Clean show” within the settings. Nevertheless, this refresh charge is turned off by default, so that you’ll have to allow it manually first.

When it comes to brightness, the Pixel 9 impresses with as much as 1,800 Nits of excessive brightness and a peak brightness of two,700 Nits. I had no points with the brightness, even beneath harsh daylight. Nevertheless, when utilizing the digicam or different intensive apps, the brightness does drop mechanically.

The show is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which does an amazing job of resisting scratches. I’ve used the cellphone and not using a case or display protector, and it’s held up properly. The entrance digicam on the Pixel 9 sits a bit decrease than ordinary, not completely aligning with the standing bar. Oh, and the bezels may’ve been thinner.

Coloration copy is sweet however you would possibly discover a bit of hotter tint on the show. Moreover, the show’s 240 Hz PWM isn’t nice for eye consolation. At decrease brightness ranges, it could trigger eye fatigue, which is one thing to pay attention to in the event you’re delicate to display flicker.

The Pixel 9 additionally comes with Adaptive Contact, permitting you to make use of the display with moist fingers, which is fairly useful. Nevertheless, there’s a noticeable concern when scrolling on darkish backgrounds at low brightness ranges—the textual content seems with a pinkish tint.

Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Audio system

The Pixel 9 additionally has stereo audio system. The underside speaker is positioned on the left aspect, which, as talked about earlier, usually will get blocked when holding the cellphone in panorama mode. 

The earpiece doubles as a secondary speaker, however there’s a noticeable channel imbalance. The underside speaker is louder, with first rate bass and clear vocals, however general, the sound isn’t very loud.

Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Software program

The Pixel 9 comes with Android 14 out of the field, however Google has promised that Android 15 is on the way in which quickly. As for updates, you’ll be getting 7 years of OS upgrades, function drops, and safety updates, which is fairly spectacular. 

Google’s monitor report with updates is strong, and the Pixel 9 is already working on September’s safety patch, which is the most recent on the time of writing. No bloatware, no adverts—only a clear, clean UI expertise. 

Nevertheless, Pixel UI does have some gaps. For example, you received’t discover options like cloning apps or a few of the extra customizable floating home windows that different UIs provide. This works for most individuals, however in the event you’re into customization, you would possibly discover it a bit limiting.

AI Options 

In terms of AI options, Pixel 9 is main the pack. The brand new Pixel Screenshots app permits you to search by your screenshots utilizing on-device AI, which might turn out to be useful. Then there’s Pixel Studio, a brand new app unique to the Pixel 9 collection, the place you’ll be able to generate photographs. 

ALSO READ: Pixel 9’s AI Screenshot App: A Deep Dive Into Google’s Sensible Screenshots 

Pixel Studio continues to be in its early phases, so it solely helps non-human technology, but it surely’s obtained six distinctive kinds to mess around with. Additionally, Pixel Studio will not be on-device however as an alternative makes use of Google’s cloud-based Imagen 3 picture technology mannequin.

ALSO READ: Pixel Studio: How AI Powers Picture Technology On the Pixel 9

For my part, Magic Editor is the place the true enjoyable begins. This function permits you to Recompose photographs, Reimagine sure areas, and even sort in prompts to generate new content material. It’s form of mind-blowing how far AI has come, and it’s thrilling to see it built-in so seamlessly right into a smartphone.

You additionally get the standard Pixel goodies like Unblur and Magic Eraser, and a cool new function known as Sky Coloration (part of Magic Editor). This allows you to change the sky in your images, whether or not you need to swap to golden hour or simply make the sky extra dramatic. 

The one draw back? Google Gallery, the place you do all this modifying, generally is a bit gradual, but it surely will get the job achieved.

Different notable options embrace Name Notes, which mechanically summarizes your cellphone conversations, and a revamped AI-powered Climate app. This new Climate app is clear, fast, and offers you a brief abstract of the day’s forecast. Notably, the 1-year Gemini Superior subscription and Tremendous Res Zoom are solely obtainable on the Professional fashions.

Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Haptics

Haptics on the Pixel 9 are the a few of the finest that I’ve used. They’re built-in superbly, so whether or not you’re swiping down the management heart or simply tapping by the UI, you’ll really feel these refined tactile suggestions.

Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Biometrics

The Pixel 9 comes with a brand new ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that’s quicker and safer than the standard optical scanners. It really works as meant, and I like the position of the scanner. Nevertheless, face unlock continues to be 2D, and it’s a nightmare to make use of through the night time.

Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Efficiency

The Pixel 9 is powered by the Tensor G4 chipset, which is an 8-core CPU. It’s constructed on Samsung’s notorious 4 nm course of, and it’s paired with a Mali-G715 GPU, 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Curiously, half of that 12 GB RAM is devoted to AI duties.

In day by day use, the Pixel 9 handles every thing you throw at it with out breaking a sweat. There’s no vapour cooling system like on the Professional fashions. Nonetheless, it manages to maintain issues beneath management throughout common use, although it will get scorching throughout heavy duties like gaming.

Artificial Benchmarks

The benchmarks inform a combined story. The Pixel 9 performs decently in exams like Geekbench and AnTuTu. However in the case of extended duties, like within the CPU throttling check, it begins to point out some weaknesses, with efficiency dropping over time. The shortage of correct cooling turns into evident right here, particularly in gaming.

Benchmark	Rating/Consequence
Geekbench 6	Single-Core: 1579 Multi-Core: 3787
AnTuTu Benchmark V10	1,046,840
Storage Take a look at	Sequential Learn: 1973 MB/s Sequential Write: 1068 MB/s Random Learn: 618 MB/s Random Write: 590 MB/s
CPU Throttling (30 min)	50 threads, throttled to 55% Common GIPS: 205,997
CPU Throttling (15 min)	20 threads, throttled to 54% Common GIPS: 179,943
PCMark	Efficiency Rating: 11,804
Wild Life Excessive Take a look at	Rating: 2555 Common FPS: 15.30
AI Benchmark Quantized Rating	CPU Rating: 1653 GPU Rating: 693 NPU Rating: 6658

Gaming

Talking of gaming, the Pixel 9 is okay however not nice. It handles common video games like Asphalt 9 and Name of Responsibility at first rate body charges, however you’ll discover the machine heating up, which might result in body drops. Genshin Influence is playable at excessive settings, however in the event you push it too exhausting, the efficiency dips.

Sport	Graphics Settings	Common FPS
Asphalt 9	Default	55-60 FPS
BGMI	Clean + Excessive	50-60 FPS
Genshin Influence	Excessive 60 FPS	40-50 FPS
Name of Responsibility	Max Settings	60 FPS

Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Cameras

The Pixel 9 comes with a primary digicam and an ultra-wide on the rear. There’s no telephoto on this setup. Listed below are the digicam specs:

• Major: 50 MP, 1/1.3” 1.4μm, f/1.68, 24mm equal, OIS, PDAF
• Extremely-Extensive: 48 MP, 1/2.55” 0.7–1.2μm, f/1.7, 123° 12mm equal, PDAF
• Entrance: 10.5 MP, 1/3.1” 1.22µm, f/2.2, 20 mm equal (0.7x), PDAF
• Video:
  • Major: 4K/1080p at 24/30/60 fps, 1080p at 120/240 fps, Blur/Lively Video Stabilization 1080p at 30 fps
  • Extremely-Extensive: 4K/1080p at 24/30/60 fps, 1080p at 120/240 fps
  • Entrance: 4K/1080p at 30/60 fps

Major 

The Pixel 9 encompasses a 50 MP primary digicam that performs properly in daylight with good dynamic vary. Nevertheless, the colour science will be inconsistent, leading to images that generally seem too heat or too cool. 

Element is first rate, even when zoomed in, and low-light efficiency is passable with minimal noise and efficient HDR. Nonetheless, there are points with lens flare and occasional subpar images.

Portraits

Portraits taken with the Pixel 9 have good element and comparatively correct pores and skin tones, however the edge detection wants plenty of enchancment. Backlight dealing with is poor, particularly in low-light situations, making portraits photographs actually poor. Even with post-processing, the outcomes are lower than par, and the blur impact appears unnatural at occasions.

Panoramas

Panoramas are a powerful go well with for the Pixel 9. They’re well-exposed, straightforward to seize, and preserve constant publicity throughout the body. They’re detailed and sharp, even in low-light situations, although they aren’t exceptionally huge.

Extremely-Extensive 

The 48 MP ultrawide digicam supplies a really huge discipline of view with first rate element and minimal chromatic aberration. Nevertheless, HDR efficiency will be inconsistent, and pictures usually have a heat tone.

In low-light, ultrawide images are a toned-down model of these from the primary digicam.

Macro 

I really like the macro mode on the Pixel 9. You’ll be able to take detailed close-ups with a minimal focus distance of three cm. Macro images are sharp and sometimes don’t want additional modifying for social media. I took these photographs with a 2x crop within the macro mode.

Entrance

Selfies from the ten.5 MP entrance digicam have a large discipline of view and good pores and skin tones, and the HDR is common.

Additionally, there’s noticeable noise in low-light situations. Portrait mode selfies are a bit underwhelming, with poor edge detection.

Add Me

One nifty function is “Add Me” within the Digicam app. It’s for group images, permitting you to take a photograph, then step into the shot and have Google sew every thing collectively to make it seem like one single picture. It’s certainly an amazing idea, however in actuality, it solely works properly about half the time, particularly in low gentle. So, you would possibly have to experiment a bit to get it proper. 

Video Efficiency

Movies from the primary digicam are typically good with first rate stabilization, although 4K footage generally is a bit stuttery, particularly at 60 fps. 30 fps movies additionally present some stuttering however are extra secure. 

Extremely-stabilized movies are restricted to 1080p, and there’s no 4K choice. The cinematic blur function can be restricted to 1080p and lacks stabilization.

Extremely-wide, movies have hotter tones and first rate element, however HDR efficiency could possibly be higher. On the entrance, HDR is sweet, and movies are typically secure. 

Each the primary and ultrawide cameras deal with low-light fairly properly with good element and fewer noise, although lens flare is an inconvenience. The entrance digicam performs poorly in low-light, with extreme noise and poor HDR.

Google Pixel 9 Evaluation: Battery Life and Charging

The Pixel 9 has a 4,700 mAh battery, which, on paper, appears first rate. Nevertheless, in apply, it’s a unique story. The battery helps as much as 27W wired charging, however in the event you’re utilizing a typical PD charger as an alternative of Google’s official adapter, be ready for an extended wait. Charging this factor to 100% took me round two hours—and generally even longer. 

There’s additionally help for wi-fi charging at as much as 12W with a daily Qi charger. However not solely does it take longer to cost, however I additionally encountered an annoying concern the place the wi-fi charging would randomly disconnect after some time. It’s fairly irritating, particularly in the event you’re somebody who likes to make use of wi-fi charging in a single day or through the day when you work.

Now, again to battery life, which has been, properly, fairly first rate at finest. With heavy utilization—assume digicam, gaming, and plenty of multitasking—I used to be getting round 4.5 to five hours of screen-on time. Nevertheless, with lighter, extra common use (principally social media apps), I used to be in a position to squeeze out round 7 hours of screen-on time. 

Evaluation Verdict: Ought to You Purchase the Google Pixel 9?