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Pixel 9
Sharper. Brighter. Smarter.
The Pixel 9 introduces a brighter OLED display, more RAM for smoother multitasking, and a higher-resolution ultrawide camera, but it comes with a higher price tag and a design that may divide opinion.
Strong Points- High-resolution ultra-wide-angle camera
- More RAM for multitasking
- Brighter OLED display
Cons- The price is high at $799
- The design may be controversial
- Marginal improvements in processors
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Pixel 8
Compact power, affordable price
The Pixel 8 sacrifices RAM and camera resolution compared to its successor, but offers a robust, compact design with strong battery life and fast charging.
Strong Points- Low price of $699
- Compact and lightweight
- Powerful fast-charging battery
Cons- Low RAM, only 8GB
- Ultra-wide camera has low resolution
- Protecting old Gorilla Glass
Google has officially unveiled the Pixel 9 to the world, showcasing the device alongside other latest hardware at its annual Made by Google hardware event.
Naturally, there’s a lot of hype surrounding Google’s new high-end products, the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but the regular Pixel 9 looks like it could be a worthy flagship in its own right. In terms of a flagship Pixel phone, the $799 MSRP is certainly more palatable than the much higher $999 MSRP for the Pixel 9 Pro.
Now that the Pixel 9 is available for pre-order, let’s take a look at how it compares to last year’s Pixel 8 and assess whether Google has made enough changes to entice users to upgrade to the new model.
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Pricing, Specifications and Availability
Basic differences
The Google Pixel 9, priced at $799, was announced to be available for pre-order in August 2024. It has a 6.3-inch OLED display, 12GB of RAM, a Tensor G4 processor, and improved cameras. The Pixel 8, which will be available in October 2023 for $699, will have a similar display specs but 8GB of RAM, a Tensor G3 processor, and a smaller battery. Both models are IP68-rated and run Android 14.
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Google Pixel 8
Google’s Pixel 8 offers most of the key features of the high-end Pixel 8 Pro, including a powerful processor, great design and a great camera, at a lower price.
- screen
- 6.3 inch, Actua OLED, 2400 x 1080, 428ppi, 60-120Hz, up to 2000nits
- Ram
- 8GB
- Storage
- 128GB/256GB
- battery
- 4575mAh, 30W fast charging, 12-18W wireless
- port
- USB-C
- operating system
- Android 14
- Front camera
- 10.5 megapixels
- Rear camera
- 50MP wide + 12MP ultra wide
- size
- 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm, 187g
- Weight
- 187g
- IP Rating
- IP68
Design and Build
The Pixel 9 joins the flat design trend
Aesthetically, the Pixel 9 is in line with the rest of Google’s smartphone portfolio for 2024. Following the industry trend set by Apple with the release of the iPhone 12 series, the Pixel 9 sports a boxier, flatter design than its predecessor.
The entire Pixel 9 chassis adopts this new design language, with tight corner radii and flat sides that give the device a fairly industrial look and feel.
What’s likely to be controversial is Google’s choice to change the look of the now-iconic Pixel camera bar on the back of the phone: on last year’s Pixel 8, the camera bar blended into the side frame of the device, but on the new Pixel 9, the camera bar has been separated into a separate island.
Whether this design change is a positive or negative is of course down to personal preference, but the good news is that the Pixel 9 still looks very similar to a Pixel phone, with much of the Pixel’s distinctive DNA intact.
In terms of color options available this year, the Pixel 9 will be available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, and Peony. In comparison, the Pixel 8 was available in Obsidian, Hazel, and Rose.
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screen
The Pixel 9’s display is significantly brighter than its predecessor
Google has equipped the Pixel 9 with a new 6.3-inch OLED panel that the company claims is 25% brighter than last year’s model. The display size is slightly larger than the Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch screen, but the overall footprint of both devices is similar. The Pixel 9 is slightly larger overall to accommodate the new display.
Other display details remain unchanged from previous years, including a 2400 x 1080 FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR support. Protecting this year’s display is a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus 2, a newer generation tempered glass solution than the Pixel 8’s standard Gorilla Glass Victus.
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internal
Say hello to the Tensor G4 processor
Google/Pocket-lint
When it comes to the internal hardware, the Pixel 9 is a prime example of simply bumping up the specs: Google’s new Tensor G4 processor replaces last year’s Tensor G3, and RAM has been bumped from 8GB to 12GB.
There aren’t any major changes beyond this, so we’ll need to test the new Tensor G4 thoroughly to get a better idea of how much of an improvement it is over the older processor.
The extra RAM is a welcome addition as it future-proofs the device, especially considering that Google is keeping its promise of seven years of security and OS updates for the Pixel 9. If that promise holds true, we can expect the Pixel 9 to receive additional Android OS updates that the Pixel 8 does not.
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camera
Ultra-wide-angle lens resolution has improved significantly this year
The Pixel 9 has the same 50MP main camera sensor as its predecessor, the Pixel 8. As such, any changes in image quality will depend heavily on advances in Google’s computational photography algorithms, which will need to be tested in real-world environments.
The big story here is the Pixel 9’s new 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, which is a big jump in resolution compared to the 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens on the Pixel 8. Again, a direct comparison will reveal more details, so we’ll reserve judgment for now.
For selfie fans, Google is offering one more perk with the Pixel 9: autofocus on the front camera, a feature missing from last year’s model, which in theory should result in sharper images than the previous generation.
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Conclusion: Is the Pixel 9 a worthy successor to last year’s Pixel 8?
Value Proposition
Overall, the Pixel 9 seems like a solid, if not spectacular, upgrade over last year’s Pixel 8. The change in design language is entirely a matter of personal preference, but I personally have mixed feelings about the change. Other than that, the new model builds on the solid foundation that Google first laid with the groundbreaking Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro released in 2021.
Editor’s Choice
Google Pixel 9
The Pixel 9 features a 6.3-inch display and a familiar design, and in addition to Google Gemini and AI features, it adds a 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens to the rear camera array.
Best Value
Google Pixel 8
Google’s Pixel 8 offers most of the key features of the high-end Pixel 8 Pro at a lower price, including a powerful processor, great design and a great camera.
I predict Google’s biggest challenge with the Pixel 9 will be the same as it was with last year’s Pixel 8: The device will slot in between the more affordable Pixel 8a and the more premium Pixel 9 Pro, and it’s not entirely clear yet whether there’s enough room for this in-between device in the search giant’s pricing structure.
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1 Comment
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