For the last few eld , Google has released newfangled Pixel speech sound every October . This tradition has been pretty consistent , but not so for 2024 . This class , Pixel fans are getting new phone earlier than ever .
Google formally announce theGoogle Pixel 9series on August 13 , about two months earlier than we ab initio expect . We also have more new Pixels than ever before — admit the Pixel 9 , Pixel 9 Pro , Pixel 9 Pro XL , andPixel 9 Pro Fold . I recently had a luck to spend a couple of hours with all of the non - foldable new Pixels , and even after a brief hands - on sitting , there ’s already a lot that I like .
Google’s new designs are fantastic
As you ’ve probably see in wetting over the last few months , the Pixel 9 series looks a bit different this year compare to previous generation . Ever since the Pixel 6 launched in 2021 , Pixels have feature an iconic television camera prevention designing that stretches across the full backside of the phone . That interchange with the Pixel 9 serial , which has a float camera faculty on the back with a discrete oval bod .
It is a middling dissimilar artistic , but I ’m quite happy with it . It still count distinctly Pixel to my eyes , and it acts as a squeamish sphere to rest your finger when you ’re holding the phones . It also makes the Pixel 9 feel a act fresher and newer equate to previous generations , which is not a bad thing at all .
The residuum of the computer hardware for the phones is undischarged . Compared to the Pixel 8 series , the Pixel 9 sport much two-dimensional frames that are not too unlike from that of theiPhone 15 . Looking at leaked renders online , I did n’t wish this change . After using the phone for myself , though , I conceive I love it . All of the phone still keep rounded corners , and the construction of the phones is very smooth and seamless where the chassis meets the front and back glass . In other words , you get phones that are easy to grip without any sharp or uncomfortable sharpness . I demand more metre to decide if I like this intimately than the Pixel 8 or not , but right now , I ’m pleasantly surprised .
Before Auto FrameJoe Maring / Digital Trends
The smaller Pixel 9 Pro is lovely
For the last few generation , Google has given us two mainline Pixels : the Pro model with a big display and the best specs , and the cornerstone model with a smaller display and pared - down specs . That changes with the Pixel 9 family .
The base Pixel 9 has a compact 6.3 - column inch display , but you now have your selection of two Pro phone . If you want a big presentation — a 6.8 - in one , to be precise — the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the phone to get . It also gets you more RAM , better presentation specs , and nicer cameras . However , you may also pick out the Pixel 9 Pro , which has the same enhanced spec as the Pixel 9 Pro XL but with a much more stocky 6.3 - inch display ( just like the regular Pixel 9 ) .
In other Book , you may get all of the Pro specs — including a triple - tv camera system , 16 GB of RAM , and more presentation light — without having to buy a big phone . It ’s incredible news program for people who wish small flagship ( let in yours truly ) , and it ’s one of the things I ’m most excited about . I do n’t dislike heavy phones , but there ’s something sorcerous about get a no - via media smartphone experience in a truly compact body . That ’s just what the Pixel 9 Pro promises , and after have to try it out for myself , I think Google knocked the low flagship formula out of the park .
After Auto FrameJoe Maring / Digital Trends
These displays look incredible
Google introduced its Actua Display technology with the Pixel 8 serial publication last year , and the result was excellent display for both thePixel 8andPixel 8 Pro . Google ’s Actua Displays are back for the Pixel 9 lineup , and they ’re good than ever this year .
How so ? For one matter , all of the displays are bright . The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro offer 2,000 and 2,400 nit of peak cleverness , respectively , which is very good ! But the Pixel 9 series iseven brighter , offering up to 2,700 nit on the Pixel 9 and up to 3,000 nits for the Pixel 9 Pro / Pro XL . In person , the screens on all three earpiece look fantastic — they ’re sharp , colorful , andplentybright . All three Pixel 9 phones also get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for better durability , which was antecedently only available for the Pixel 8 Pro last year .
My favorite display ascent is how Google improved the bezels . The bezel on all three Pixel 9 phones are now uniform . And they ’re thin , too — up to 35 % thinner on the Pixel 9 compared to the Pixel 8 . It ’s an well-situated upgrade to overlook , but it really does make the headphone looksodarn good . You get more room for your capacity , more exhibit real estate in standardized form factors , and phone that look eminent - end than ever before . What ’s not to like here ?
After Auto FrameJoe Maring / Digital Trends
Google’s new photography features are wild
As with every Pixel spill , picture taking is a big focus for the Pixel 9 family . There are ample television camera specification upgrades across the board , and we ’ll dig up into how the fresh sensors perform in our upcoming review . What I will talk about now , though , are two new picture taking software program characteristic being introduced with the Pixel 9 series .
The first is cry Add Me . Say you ’re with a couple of friends and need to get a group photograph together , but no one is around to take the impression for you . With the Pixel 9 , you start the camera app , choose the fresh Add Me mode , and take a picture of your acquaintance . The Pixel 9 then prompts you to change places with one of your friend , so you ’re in the frame while one of them learn a second photo .
The Pixel 9 then learn those two photos , uses a moment of AI magic , and create a single composite image with everyone in the same picture . And the solution are good ! I ’m eager to see how Add Me works in the real world , but in my demo with a few Google employees , the example they showed me was impressive .
I’m in love with Pixel Screenshots
When you get your hands on any Pixel 9 , you ’ll bump a new app called Pixel Screenshots . allow ’s say you conduct a screenshot of an forthcoming music festival you regard on Instagram , and you want to remember what daylight the tickets for the festival go on sale . As it stands today , you ’d need to endlessly scroll through your screenshots until you find out the one you ’re expect for . With Pixel Screenshots , you could simply open up the new app and lookup “ When do the festival tickets go on sales event ? ” Pixel Screenshots will coat that screenshot , paired with a clear answer at the top of your screen .
And that ’s just the kickoff . Screenshots with a mint of text get AI summary to make them easier to support . you may also aggroup screenshots into folders , determine monitor about sure screenshots , and more . I saw another deterrent example where someone did a Google Search for “ When are the Olympics end ceremony . ” They then accept a screenshot of the search result and tapdance a undivided clitoris to make a calendar outcome for it . The meat is that the Screenshots app will make it much , mucheasier to find information about the screenshots you ’re take , and it has the potential to be incredibly useful .
A couple of things I’m worried about
As you’re able to see , I’m look forward to the Pixel 9 series a mass . However , it ’s only fair to mention a few concerns I have , too . Perhaps the biggest is the Tensor G4 chip powering the Pixel 9 batting order . The Tensor G4 seems to be a pretty insidious upgrade compared to the Tensor G3.The G3 chip was n’t horrific , but it was behind compete chipsets from Qualcomm and MediaTek . I expect good carrying out out of the Pixel 9 phones — especially with 12 GB of RAM for the groundwork modelling and 16 GB of RAM for the Pros — but Qualcomm ’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ( and soon the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 ) may still have a pretty crowing technical lead .
likewise , I ’m occupy about barrage fire life . The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro never impressed in this department , with their 4,575mAh and 5,050mAh assault and battery , respectively , producing mediocre one - day barrage life at best . The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro each have a 4,700mAh battery , while the Pixel 9 Pro XL gets a 5,060mAh battery . Those are crowing numbers , but not by much . Combined with tepid efficiency improvements for the Tensor G4 , it ’s not particularly promising . I hope I ’m proved wrong once I begin my review of the earpiece , but this is top of thinker .
The Pixel 9 series makes a great first impression
I ’ve had a roller - coaster relationship with Google ’s Pixel phones . The Pixel 7 series was an absolute mess for me — with endless bug and performance issues that made me not require to utilize the phones . The Pixel 8 was a night - and - day difference , with the Pixel 8 Pro being one of my favorite phones from 2023 .
Two hour is n’t enough clip to form a full opinion on the entire Pixel 9 serial , but from what I ’ve seen so far , I ’m counting down the years until I get to use these headphone again . Between great ironware , a properly small flagship , celebrated display upgrades , and some really telling software program features , Google ’s doing a lot proper . The Pixel 8 lineup leave grown shoes to fill , and it seems that the Pixel 9 serial wo n’t have any event doing precisely that .
The Pixel 9 starts at $ 799 , the Pixel 9 Pro starts at $ 999 , and the Pixel 9 Pro XL set about at $ 1,099 . Preorders for all three phones are bouncy now .
