Google held their Pixel 9 event last week and left us with some thoughts. So, without further ado, here they are:
Holding the event in August instead of October would make a big difference.
The Pixel 8 series was announced on October 4, 2023. The Pixel 7 series was announced on October 7, 2022. Google is announcing more devices this time, and they’re doing it in mid-August. Awesome!
The move from early fall to mid-summer has changed the overall launch dynamic, making the Pixel 9 series a viable option to take over summer photography, which is a big opportunity for Pixel smartphones that are avid photographers. Not to mention, Google’s smartphones are now on sale a month ahead of Apple’s iPhones.
I love the new flat aesthetic
It seems like everyone is making their phones thinner these days: Apple did it a few years ago, Samsung started with the Galaxy S23 series and finally slimmed down the S Ultra this year, and now Google has done it with the Pixel.
I like the new design of the Pixel, plus it has slightly rounded corners which makes it easier to hold and a little less rectangular.
A flat surface may also reduce the chance of your phone breaking if dropped, but more importantly, it makes it easier to apply a glass screen protector, plus a flat surface makes it easier to make the most of the available storage space.
But I want the surface to be matte next year.
The Pixel 9 Pro’s frame has a shiny metal finish that attracts fingerprints more than anything else (except maybe the piano-black plastic trim in your car…), and while the Pro has a frosted finish, the regular Pixel 9’s glass back panel is also shiny and will get smudged within minutes.
Look at the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24 Ultra and make everything matte. Thank you!
It’s a bold move to make a compact Pixel 9 Pro, but will it work?
The tiny Pixel 9 Pro was probably the biggest talking point of the event. Many people prefer a compact smartphone over a giant flagship, but don’t want to compromise on specs.
But sales numbers show that most people want a larger display, and if you look at current multimedia consumption trends, it’s easy to see why: This could mean the Pixel 9 Pro faces tough market prospects.
To make matters worse, Google launched the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL just a week after launch, while the Pixel 9 Pro is scheduled to launch in September, further worsening its prospects.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a mature foldable smartphone, only in its second generation.
After the original Pixel Fold was a bit of a misfire, I was pleasantly surprised by the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Google got a lot of things right with its new book-style foldable smartphone: the screen is bigger, the cover screen has a natural 20:9 aspect ratio, the phone is surprisingly thin, and it has a capable camera system.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold might make the Galaxy Z Fold6 look uneasy in your rearview mirror. The Pixel foldable has a better display, better cameras, and more RAM — not bad for a company often criticized for being too conservative with its hardware upgrades.
Pixel 9 Pro XL gets smart and safe updates
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL will be your family’s breadwinner, and for good reason: if you want the best Pixel, this is the best choice. It has the biggest display and the best camera.
Google has made some big improvements to its flagship phone over its predecessor, with an improved camera system thanks to a brighter ultra-wide lens and a new wide-angle selfie camera, as well as its annual chipset upgrade and a sleeker new design, especially around the back.
New ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is the best
One change that may go unnoticed, but will certainly be felt by those upgrading to a Pixel 9 device, is the move to an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
Previously, Pixel phones used an optical scanner that uses light to scan fingerprints, but not everyone was happy with its responsiveness and consistency, especially when using a screen protector.
The ultrasound technology provided by Qualcomm is the best: the scanners work in the dark, are faster, and are generally more reliable.
The Pixel 9 is not a small phone like the Pixel 8.
We received a Pixel 9 for review, and it didn’t feel as small as we expected.
When A/B-testing it against the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the smaller Pixel feels smaller, but it doesn’t have that “oh my god, this is so compact” feeling that you get with the Pixel 8. It’s 11 grams heavier, but more importantly, it’s 1.2mm wider and 2.3mm taller. With a case on, it’s a thicker, heavier phone that’s just a little more compact than the other Ultras.