Pixel 9 Intro
And not just because of its $800 price, which is considerably cheaper than the $1,000+ Pro models, but also because it’s a darn good phone on its own. It has mostly the same design language as its Pixel Pro siblings, and it is powered by the same Tensor G4 chipset.
Even the rear cameras are the same as on the Pro models.
This rating is based on detailed testing across twelve different categories, and you can also see the individual score for each category above. Learn more about our PhoneArena Review Score here.
Table of Contents:
Pixel 9 Specs
Some exciting numbers
We have a few exciting specs changes on the Pixel 9. The new ultrawide camera, now same as on the Pro models, is a highlight and a major step up from before. Then, you also have the new Tensor G4 chip and more RAM that enables new AI features.
Specs | Pixel 9 |
---|---|
Size and Weight | 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm, 198 g |
Display | 6.3-inch OLED Actua Display, 2700 nits peak brightness, 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, HDR10+ support |
Processor | Tensor G4 (4nm) |
Software | Android 15 |
Cameras | 50MP main, ƒ/1.68, 1/1.31″ image sensor size 48MP ultrawide, ƒ/1.7, 1/2.55″ image sensor size 10.5MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 |
Battery Size | 4700 mAh |
Charging Speeds | 27W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless |
Prices | 12/128 GB for $799 12/256 GB for $859 |
Also, it comes with a bigger display than the previous Pixel 8 model and a slightly bigger battery too.
Pixel 9 Design and Display
The same Pixel spirit but with a fresh look
We love the new design with flat sides, and it is also more durable (Image by PhoneArena)
In our opinion, Google has done a great job at preserving the overall unique Pixel look and what makes it stand out from the competition, which is saying something considering Samsung and Apple shape their phones rather similarly.
The flat frame has a matte finish to it, while the back panel is glossy and reflective, with aluminum and glass being the materials Google has used. There is also more durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2, making the standard Pixel as protected as the pricier Pro variants.
Size-wize, the Pixel 9 is a 6.3-inch phone, so a bit bigger than the 6.2-inch Pixel 8, and it is also a tiny bit thinner. The dimensions are 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm (the Pixel 9 Pro version has exactly the same size).
Pixel 9 unboxed (Image by PhoneArena)
The Pixel 9 unboxing experience is rather simple because there is not much in the box. We like that the box is made of recycled materials and that it is quite slim, but we regret that useful goodies like a charger, a screen protector and a case are missing. You only get a USB-C charging cable, the user manual and the SIM tool.
As for the hues, here are all of the Pixel 9 colors:
- Obsidian
- Porcelain
- Wintergreen
- Peony
We have a wider variety of colors with the Pixel 9 compared to last year, with one additional hue. This year the colors are also more vibrant, especially if you look at the Peony and Wintergreen variants. What’s more, this year we have a beige (Porcelain) instead of a boring gray color.
This screen gets extra bright! (Image by PhoneArena)
As for the display, the Pixel 9 comes with a 6.3″ OLED screen that Google calls “Actua” (and not “Super Actua” as on the Pros). Is it a good screen? We have run all of our lab tests, and you can see some significant improvements have been made.
Google says peak brightness reaches 2700 nits vs. 2000 nits on last year’s model. We don’t measure peak brightness (which is measured at just 5% of the screen being white, and all the rest black), but instead we measure the brightness on an all-white display. The Pixel 9 scores 1,970 nits in our testing, more than most other phones we have tested by a big margin. That means it will be much easier to use this phone outdoors, under the bright sun.
One slight niggle is that at night, the lowest brightness level is 1.8 nits, which is not quite as dim as 0.9 nits on the Galaxy S24. This might seem like a small difference, but night owls will notice it.
Pixel 9 Camera
Big upgrade: new ultra-wide camera
Two rear cameras borrowed from the Pro models, but still no telephoto lens (Image by PhoneArena)
- 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view, 1/1.31″ image sensor size, Super Res Zoom up to 8x, Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide
- 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view, 1/2.55″ image sensor size
- 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 95° ultrawide field of view
The Pixel 9 features a brand new 48MP ultra-wide camera, which happens to be exactly the same one that the Pro models have. It is a big upgrade from the 12MP utlra-wide snapper on the Pixel 8. Unfortunately, you still don’t have the Pro camera mode and you can only capture pixel-binned photos with 12MP resolution (the Pro models can capture full-resolution 50MP photos).
Pixel 9 Camera Sample Photos
The image quality is really quite similar to the Pixel 8 with some tweaks to the colors and the processing of images, but really minor ones.
Video quality is mostly similar between the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8, so don’t expect major changes.
Pixel 9 Performance & Benchmarks
Laying the groundwork for on-device AI
This new Tensor G4 chip is better, but still not quite on par with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Image by PhoneArena)
Of course, we ran the usual benchmarks to compare its performance against peers and here is what we got.
Performance Benchmarks:
The Pixel 9 is a slight step up from the Pixel 8, but it is clearly not as powerful neither for general tasks, nor for gaming as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Galaxy S24 or the iPhone 15 series.
At least, we are happy that the Pixel 9 gets more RAM, which is crucial for AI tasks, as it jumps from 8GB on previous models, now to 12GB.
Google has carved out a considerable amount of the Pixel 9’s memory specifically for the on-device AI features. This also helps with the new Gemini Nano, which is now multimodal.
Multimodality means that Google’s new AI assistant can handle complex tasks without sending your data to third-party AI companies. Gemini uses your phone’s data to provide personalized assistance, like scheduling appointments, writing messages, and summarizing documents.
The storage options remain the same, which means you can pick from 128 GB and 256 GB variants.
Pixel 9 Software
Even more AI camera features
It’s all about AI (Image by PhoneArena)
Of course, it is only fitting that we also get some new AI features to boot. Most of the new AI features this year are around the camera. One is “Add Me,” and it allows you to combine two group selfies into one so that everyone can be in the image. This feels like an extension of last year’s “Best Take” feature, although even more impressive.
The most powerful one is “Reimagine”, which allows you to change the way a picture looks. You can change the sky from a perfect blue to a cloudy one, or you can go even further and place a rocket in the skies behind you, or a cockroach in a photo of food, or a tank on the street. It’s incredibly powerful, and a bit scary because there is no indication this is an AI altered photo except for the metadata (and that is not hard to get rid of).
You also have a few new apps such as Pixel Studio, which is an AI image generator offering a few styles, but with more limitations than the Reimagine feature.
You get a brand new Weather app, the first native one on a Pixel.
You have a new Screenshots app, which again uses AI to analyze all of your screenshots and make it easy to search something you have screenshotted long ago.
Pixel 9 Battery
A slight bump
The Pixel 9 has a battery capacity of 4700 mAh, which is a small jump from the 4575 mAh battery on the Pixel 8. Google says the phone can last more than 24 hours on a single charge, or up to 100 hours with the Extreme Battery Saver mode turned on. In other words, it’s a one-day battery phone.
PhoneArena Battery Test Results:
On our lightest web browsing test, the Pixel 9 scored a cool 17 hours and a half, nearly two hours more than the Pixel 8. It also beats the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 Pro by a good margin on this test, which is a great sign.
For our second test, we play the same YouTube playlist over a Wi-Fi connection and the Pixel 9 here finished with the score you see above.
Not the fastest charging phone around, but not the slowest either (Image by PhoneArena)
Charging speeds are the same as last year, maxing out at 27W, but since the Pixel 9 has a slightly bigger battery, we measured it charges a bit slower than the Pixel 8.
A 30 minute top-up, gives you 51% charge on the Pixel 9 and 55% on the Pixel 8, according to our testing. We measured it takes 1 hour and 39 minutes to fully charge the Pixel 9 from 1% to 100%, compared to 1 hour and 24 minutes for the Pixel 8.
PhoneArena Charging Test Results:
The Pixel 9 supports a maximum wireless charging speed of 15 watts, but only if you use a Pixel Stand 2nd Gen. We have not been able to test wireless charging yet, as it seems that hte Pixel Stand Gen 2 is out of stock across most markets, but expect a full charge this way to take more than 2 hours and a half.
Should you buy the Pixel 9?
The Pixel 9 offers the best value for the money in the series (Image by PhoneArena)
The new $800 Pixel 9 feels refined in a way that previous Pixels did not.
We like the new design, we like that the phone is even better prepared for AI with 12GB of RAM, we also don’t mind the faster Tensor G4 chip, and that ultrawide camera is better indeed.
Was all of that worth the price bump? And should you get the Pixel over a Galaxy or an iPhone?
While we wish the Pixel was a bit cheaper as in the past, we think it is the most advanced AI phone on the market at the time of its launch and best prepared for that future. If that’s what you care for, it should be at the top of your wishlist.
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