This has been an insane year for mobile tech . Between Motorola ’s Razr snotty-nosed phones , Samsung ’s latest foldables , IFA 2024 , and the newest raft of iPhones , the last few months have been nonstop .
A petty over a calendar month ago , Google was part of that rabidity when it announced its Pixel 9 series of devices , and sooner this week , we finally published ourGoogle Pixel 9 Pro Fold review . Google ’s late foldable is a top - notch smartphone , and it was n’t the only piece of Google hardware we were impressed with this year . Almost every Google Pixel equipment we reviewed in 2024 was a runaway success , and it ’s a powerful testament to how much Google scram right this year .
The Pixel 9 series is the real deal
It all starts with the al-Qa’ida modelGoogle Pixel 9 . The non - Pro Pixel has been a strong discharge for the last couple of days , but it feels like Google really hit its stride with the Pixel 9 .
How so ? most everything about the phone is as good as you could ask for . The design and build quality are excellent , the cameras are fantastic , the stamp battery life is much improved compared to late releases , and even small details like haptic feedback are observably better .
advocate a base model Pixel has always number with a caveat that you need to be OK with inadequate shelling life , less computer hardware , or something else . That is n’t the case with the Pixel 9 this class , and the result is it being one of the dependable $ 799 phone you’re able to buy in 2024 .
That congratulations equally applies to this year ’s Pro devices . For the first time in long time , Google uprise its XL moniker , giving you a selection between theGoogle Pixel 9 ProandGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL . Each one provides the same upgrades over the even Pixel 9 — such as a telephotograph photographic camera , a higher - quality selfie television camera , good picture recording , and additional RAM . You just get to decide if you desire those thing in a earphone that ’s the same size as the Pixel 9 or one that ’s a fleck big .
No matter which Pixel we ’re verbalise about — Pixel 9 , Pixel 9 Pro , or Pixel 9 Pro XL — it ’s hard to not consider any of them as being among thebest smartphonesreleased this year . They ’re all expertly build , with some of the best hardware , software program , and overall drug user experiences you’re able to find on a phone today . Releasing one telephone like that is take exception enough , so for Google to do it with three phones is all the more impressive .
But Google did n’t do it with three phones — it did it withfour . The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also launched this yr , and it ’s every bit as successful , if not more so . While it ’s technically a year - over - class successor to the originalPixel Fold , the Pixel 9 Pro Fold sure does n’t feel like one . Instead , it feel like a Pixel Fold 4 or 5 .
The extent to which Google improved its foldable over the last yr is downright scandalous . The original Pixel Fold was a promising first endeavour , though not a go - to recommendation . This year , the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is one of our most powerfully recommend pen up phone . It ’s passing rare to see this level of year - over - year improvement in the wandering tech space , yet Google somehow pulled it off .
Four phones , all with 9/10 review from us at Digital Trends , and all of them worth buying for different reasons . If that ’s not impressive , I do n’t experience what is .
Other Google hardware wins
And it ’s not just the Pixel 9 series where Google render its authorisation this class . The company has also had considerable winnings with its wearable and smart home dismission .
TheGoogle Pixel learn 3is a prime exercise of that . Google kept what play from the Pixel Watch 2 — such as the gorgeous blueprint , honorable shelling life , and clean package — and copulate it with long - quest upgrade . There ’s finally a heavy 45 mm sizing , the display bezel are substantially smaller , and there ’s an unexpected suite of amazingly great running play feature article . It ’s a grotesque all - around wearable and arguably one of thebest smartwatchesyou can buy today .
Another plume in Google ’s cap this fall is theGoogle TV Streamer . It ’s the successor to Chromecast with Google TV . And as you ’ve take in ourGoogle TV Streamer reexamination , it does n’t seek to reinvent the wheel , but adds some excellent saucy home features .
Google TV is still Google TV , busy as it ’s ever been . That has n’t really change , even though the Google TV Streamer is the first gimmick progress on Android television 14 . It ’s the comprehension of support for the Matter and Thread smart home standards that stand out .
The addition of the Google Home panel leave you to see cameras and control thermostat and lighting from your home screen . The remote control has been redesigned for the better , with a find - my - remote feature built in for when it inevitably goes cave in the couch cushions .
Not to be forgotten , Google also fancy success with theGoogle Pixel 8aearlier this year . While not a shot dunk shot like its Pixel 9 cousins , the Pixel 8a stay on another strong addition to Google ’s 2024 hardware card . It ’s lightweight , has upstanding glasses , and is a good pickup for anyone who wants a Pixel smartphone experience at a lower price .
All set up for a fantastic 2025
Four excellent flagship phones , one very good midrange handset , a top - mountain pass smartwatch , and a substantial streaming twist . For a company that ’s had so many rocky product launching over the last few class , this is areallyimpressive year for Google ’s hardware division .
Furthermore , I ’m encourage to see how Google carries this momentum into 2025 . Google has an unbelievable base to work on for the Pixel 10 serial , the Pixel 9a is set up for winner , and the Pixel Watch 4 should be a winner . It took a while for the Pixel lineup to get to this decimal point , but it ’s exciting to see just how good Google ’s ironware can be when the troupe is firing on all cylinders .
