Google Pixel 9

Excellent design and build quality ; Super camera ; Tactile haptics ; Fast and reliable security ; Improved efficiency and battery life ; Long software update commitment

Screen isn't always bright enough ; Slow charging ; More expensive than last year

“The Google Pixel 9 is one of the best Pixel phones Google has ever made, and it has nothing to do with AI.”

Brightest display in the class.

Large and heavy.

We'll be quick to admit that we don't necessarily see the vanilla Pixel for 2024 as great value at its list price. But for as long as you can get the free storage upgrade, or if Black Friday brings a nice discount a few months down the line, the Pixel...

Updated design feels more secure in hand ; Fast fingerprint sensor ; Seven years of software and OS updates

No telephoto camera ; AI features are inconsistent ; What is a photo?

That changes with the Pixel 9. It’s finally a phone for someone who just wants a really good phone — someone who doesn’t care about the difference between optical and digital zoom, doesn’t want to fiddle with a lot of customization options, and wants...

New premium design ; Display is delightful ; Great camera performance ; 7 years of software support

Price increase over Pixel 8 ; Fragmented AI experience ; Not great for gaming

The Pixel 9 gets redesigned with a more premium feel, including a boosted display that's a great performer. The camera still shines as one of the best out there, while the typically clean Android software experience remains – and with 7 years of...

Great camera system with accurate skin tones. Strong performance and nice cooling on the Pro models. Bright, sharp, smooth OLED displays. Long software support. Lots of helpful software features.

What is a photo, anyway? No Qi2 support. Price hikes.

Excellent cameras ; Useful and fun AI features ; Good performance ; Competitively priced

Limited storage ; Doesn't include Gemini Live subscription

The Pixel 9 combines thoughtful design, solid performance, and outstanding cameras in a compact Android phone enhanced by Google's burgeoning Gemini AI.

Fantastic Pixel redesign with premium materials and finish ; Excellent cameras rival the best camera phones ; AI tricks are unique and creative without crossing lines

Performance lags significantly behind other flagship phones ; Some AI tricks feel a bit fake when you use them ; Price is high compared to high-performance rivals

The Google Pixel 9 is one of the coolest redesigns I’ve seen, bringing the Pixel phone into a more modern world of bright colors and rounded camera bumps. It packs so many Pixel 9 Pro specs you may wonder what’s missing, until you have to pay for the...

Delightful Industrial Design ; Impressive Photos Despite Less-Than-Pro Array ; Decent Display ; Gemini AI Companion System Shows Promise ; IP68 Dust and Water Resistance ; Google promises 7 years of security and OS updates

Price Continues To Creep Upward ; Fewer Display Options Than 9 Pro ; Some AI Features Require Gemini Advanced Subscription

Premium design and build ; Excellent screen ; Long software support ; Solid cameras

Middling battery life ; Confusing charging speeds ; Unfinished AI

The Pixel 9 is a trickier recommendation than normal due to its price increase, lack of upgrades in certain areas and push towards AI features that aren’t all in a ready to ship state. But software issues can be largely ignored and the phone should get...