Pixel 9 review: a painless transition from iPhone to Android laced with artificial intelligence

Package contents: in the spirit of modern times

The packaging of the new Pixels is adapted to current trends and, apart from the phone itself, only contains a USB-C power cable, a pin for pulling out the slot for a nanoSIM card and the necessary documentation. In addition to the nanoSIM, the Pixel can also be connected to the network using an eSIM.

Parameters: flag in true style

Look and feel: more iPhone-like than ever before

At first glance at this year’s generation of Pixels, it is clear which target group Google is attacking, clearly fans of Apple devices. All Pixels are more angular this year, still retaining the rounded corners and premium finish well known from previous generations. After all, Google itself admits that it does not expect an increase in new users from other Android devices, but rather from Apple users who are looking for a change and are looking for a relevant alternative in the Android device range.

The biggest change this year is without a doubt the redesigned camera bar, which no longer extends directly into the frame and, instead, is completely disconnected from it in its oval shape. In other respects, it is a typical Pixel, as we all know it well, i.e. symmetrical antenna partitions on the sides in an aluminum body, the back and front display protected by durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2, increased IP68 resistance and, typically for Pixels, overlaid volume buttons with power button.

This year’s Pixel 9 is very comfortable to hold in the hand, which is greatly helped by the raised photo module, which “rests” against when holding the index fingers and overall improves the security of the grip. Although I was more impressed by the appearance of the previous Pixels, after the initial adaptation and wear and tear, this year’s design doesn’t really bother me or offend me.

Display: as premium as last year

This year, Google worked not only on the design of its phones, but also on the display. The main highlight of the Pixel 9 is the 6.3″ OLED panel with a resolution of 2424 × 1080 px. Unfortunately, even this year, Google did not provide the basic Pixel with LTPO technology, so you will have to make do with switching between 60 and 120 Hz refresh rates.

On the other hand, Google has improved the maximum brightness, which this year reaches up to 1800 nits across the entire surface, i.e. up to 2700 nits for a short time in a few places when displaying HDR content. The display does not lack full-fledged Always On, night mode or the option of color customization.

User interface and Pixel AI functions: still quiet on the trail with us

Apart from the iconic appearance and cameras, the main attraction of all Pixels is the famous system. If you are tired of all kinds of complex overpaid add-ons and are looking for Android in its purest possible form, the Pixel is the right choice.

In addition, Google adds a wide range of its unique functions, unfortunately for us, we will not officially try most of them here in the Czech Republic, i.e. the whole of Europe. It even exists websitewhich will tell you what functions we are deprived of in the Czech Republic. We can indulge our appetite for the most enticing features that make Pixels so unique. Of the few that we can use in the Czech Republic, Circle to Search, Gemini, which helps generate text in messages or automatically recognizes the song being played, is worth checking out. Unfortunately, that is not enough.

With a bitter taste on the tongue, let’s move on to the system itself. The phone runs on pure Android 14 with a guaranteed 7-year software support, which makes the phone a theoretically relevant companion until 2031. Movement in the system is snappy and fluid exactly as you would expect from a premium phone. Pixel 9 all received an ultrasonic fingerprint reader, which ranks among the top in its field and will be a real pleasure to work with.

Performance: disappointing and surprising at the same time

At the heart of all new Pixels is the Tensor G4 chipset, which was criticized even before its release due to insufficient intergenerational performance improvements. Even though the processor is more powerful compared to the previous generation, in reality the performance is far below the competing Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Its raw performance can be compared to the power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

Even so, the processor offers decent performance for everyday, more or less demanding work. There are no problems even when playing more demanding games, although here the processor can properly flood during longer sessions. While playing Genshin Impact, I had to turn down the graphics settings slightly to get the game to run smoothly and without stuttering.

Durability: a nice change compared to last year

This year, Google has noticeably worked on endurance, which in the case of the Pixel 9 is several times better than the previous generation. The battery has grown to exactly 4700 mAh, and thanks to the optimization processes of the Tensor G4, the phone can work with you for a day and a half without having to reach for the charger. Personally, I used to charge my phone every other day before going to bed, and I always had a few tens of percent of the battery before I connected it to the charger.

Due to the sustainability of the battery, Google is still keeping only 27W wired charging, or 15W wireless using the official Pixel wireless charger. Using any other Qi charger, you will get a maximum of 12 W. For completeness, I will also add support for reverse wireless charging, for example for headphones.

Camera: great as always

Cameras have always been the domain of all Pixels, and this year’s Pixel 9 is no exception. Just like last year, the basic Pixel 9 offers a trio of cameras, namely the main 50MP sensor accompanied by a 48MP wide and a 10.5MP front selfie camera. And the quality? Pixel precise.

The main 50 Mpx sensor with an aperture of f/1.7 creates images that, in terms of quality and sharpness, can be equal to other current flagship cameras. Photos are beautifully sharp in good light, with ideal color balance. Also, exposure and focus speed thanks to dual pixel PDAF is lightning fast on both rear sensors.

You can also get the same high-quality photos during the day with the 48 Mpx ultra-wide-angle sensor, which is also the only one that represents a significant change compared to last year’s Pixel 8. Like the main camera, the photos from it are beautifully sharp with excellent HDR. The phone itself recognizes the deterioration of lighting conditions and activates the night mode, in which the photos are sometimes too overexposed, which can sometimes cause the creation of artifacts in the night sky, for example.

Standard Pixel functions such as Long exposure or Background blur have been newly enriched by the Add me function, which can add a character to a photo by merging two photos into one. In practice, you will not use this function very often, and when examining it in more detail, you can see places of overlap, but Add me comes in handy for quick photos of family celebrations without a tripod.

The front 10.5 Mpx camera does not belong among the premium ones in terms of resolution, but it certainly does not have to be ashamed of its photo quality. Also exemplary is the support for recording 4K videos at 60 FPS on all three cameras and optical stabilization on the main camera.

Conclusion: except for the absence of AI functions, perfect

This year’s Pixel 9 represents a worthy successor, which in principle does not lack anything, but unfortunately nothing remains either. As is usual with Google, for their money, users get a precisely crafted smartphone with an eye-catching design and proper flagship durability, an excellent display, photo equipment and software support.

On the other hand, the absence of most of the interesting AI functions that Google boasts and promotes so much overseas, unnecessarily harms the phone in our country and deprives it of its exclusivity. The absence of Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio or a full voice assistant can be somewhat disappointing, but on the other hand, those features may arrive in our parts over time. For now, however, this is a very good smartphone, by purchasing which you will ensure a reliable companion for many years to come.

However, the price is a little worse. While the Pixel 8 started sales with a price tag of $699, the price of this year’s Pixel 9 with the basic 128GB storage rose by exactly $100 to $799. Here, the price is set at CZK 22,990 for the 128GB version, which is not exactly cheap. If you grind your teeth on your phone, you can take advantage of various redemption bonuses and reduce the price to around 19,000.