Google Pixel 9 Review - is Pixel 9 an Upgrade?

Introduction of Google Pixel 9

Ever since Google launched its new flagship phone Google Pixel 9, the tech world has been in a tizzy. With its new design, AI features, and powerful camera, the Google Pixel 9, performance is expected to be very good. But is this phone just a minor upgrade or a new innovation?

Google Pixel 9 Review

In this review, we'll take a closer look at the Google Pixel 9. Google Pixel 9's design, performance, camera, battery, and even new features. All this is for you to decide whether you want to buy this phone or not. Let's get started!

Design & Build Quality of Google Pixel 9

Google has launched a quite amazing design of Pixel 9. The back of the phone is made of matte finish, which shows less fingerprints and also feels comfortable to hold in hand. Google has designed this phone with rounded corners which makes it even more stylish compared to Pixel 8.

The camera bar of the phone has a slim and elegant touch, but the classic Pixel identity of this phone is still intact. The frame is made of aluminium and the phone is IP68 water & dust resistant, meaning even if it gets a little water or dust, it cannot harm it at all.

Pixel 9 comes in three colors. Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), and Bay (blue). Which suits every taste. The overall build quality of the phone feels strong and durable. The Google Pixel 9 can also be a little slippery, so a good cover is a must.

Display Quality

One of the features of Google Pixel 9 is that it has a 6.2-inch OLED display that supports Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Its display is very smooth and vibrant, and scrolling or animations feel quite fluid.

One of the great features of Google Pixel 9 is that its screen is clearly visible even in bright sunlight, because its peak brightness is now even better. Now whether you watch YouTube, use Netflix or do gaming, the brightness and sharpness in colors remains intact, and the blacks feel quite deep (which is a special feature of OLED).

The touch response of the display is also fast and accurate, and the Gorilla Glass Victus protection keeps it safe from scratches. The bezels are slim, and one of the best things is that the punch-hole camera gives a modern look to the display design.

If you are a media lover or spend a lot of time on mobile, then you will definitely be impressed by the display of Pixel 9.

Performance & Software

Google Pixel 9 has a new Tensor G4 chip which makes its performance very fast and efficient. It makes daily tasks like opening apps, multitasking, and social media scrolling very smooth. Even if you use heavy apps or games, the phone does not lag much. But if you play extreme gaming (like PUBG or Genshin Impact), you may complain of heating. 

Pixel 9 has 8GB RAM and fast storage, due to which the performance feels smooth. App switching is also fast and background apps are also handled well.

Talking about the software, the Pixel 9 comes with Android 14, but the most special thing is Google's clean and ad-free experience. There is no bloatware, and you get the first AI-powered features like Magic Compose, Live Translate, and Call Assist.

Google has promised to give updates for 7 years for Pixel 9. Which covers both security and Android upgrades. This feature makes this phone future-proof.

Google Pixel 9 Camera Review

Google Pixel phones are famous for their camera quality, and Pixel 9 has maintained that standard. It has a 50MP main rear camera and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. There is a 10.5MP selfie camera on the front, due to which the result of portraits and video calls is quite sharp.

One of the specialties of the main camera of Google Pixel 9 is that it gives tremendous performance even in low light. The Night Sight mode is very improved, it gives a very good color and detail balance even in dark scenes. During the day, photos come out naturally vibrant, without over-processing.

The background blur (bokeh effect) looks quite natural in portrait shots, and the subject is clearly highlighted. The ultra-wide camera makes it easy to take wide-angle shots, but sometimes there is a slight loss of detail.

Video recording is also supported up to 4K, and image stabilization works very well – especially when taking videos in a moving car or while holding hands. The front camera also takes sharp selfies, and keeps skin tones quite realistic.

It also has a Magic Editor feature, through which you can edit photos with AI – like removing the background or moving an object – everything is done from the phone itself.

If you are a photography enthusiast, then you will definitely be impressed by the Pixel 9 camera.

Battery Life & Charging

Google Pixel 9 has a 4,600mAh battery which easily lasts for a day in normal usage. Even if you use social media, browse YouTube and do a little gaming, the battery does not run out too quickly. For light users, this phone can easily last 1.5 days.

Google Pixel 9 Review

Talking about charging speed, Pixel 9 supports 27W fast charging. Wired charging charges the phone up to 50% in about 30 minutes. Apart from this, the option of wireless charging is also given, but the charging brick is not available in the box – you will have to buy it separately.

Screen-on time is available for an average of 6 to 7 hours, which is quite impressive. Battery optimization is further improved by Android 14 and the Tensor G4 chip.

If you have a busy day and need a reliable battery that doesn't demand too much charge, the Pixel 9 performs quite well in this regard.