All new design Pixel 9
Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL Unveiled in “Made by Google” event in Mountain View, California. Along with Smartphones the Pixel Watch, and the upgraded Pixel Buds Pro 2 were also introduced. These new products signal Google’s deep commitment to creating a seamless ecosystem where devices don’t just work together but elevate each other.
The Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch 1080p display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, which proudly displays Google’s in-house Actua logo. This year’s display is substantially brighter than the previous model, with up to 1,800 nits of brightness for HDR content and a staggering 2,700 nits in high brightness mode. These brightness levels actually exceed those of last year’s Pixel 8 Pro, indicating a significant upgrade.
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL have comparable designs and specs, however their displays differ in size. The Pixel 9 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a larger 6.8-inch display. Both devices have QHD LTPO OLED panels with Google’s Super Actua technology. These displays can dynamically vary the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz to save battery life. Furthermore, both panels offer up to 2,000 nits of brightness in HDR mode and can achieve a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, resulting in colorful and clear images.
Both the basic and Pro models have a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, which now includes Macro Focus for detailed close-ups. However, the Pixel 9 Pro versions go a step further, featuring a 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. Notably, Google has included a 10x “optical-like” zoom to the Pro models, claiming high-quality results even with digital zoom, but this has yet to be extensively verified. Additionally, the Pro versions include a more advanced autofocus sensor.
The Pro models also feature a 42-megapixel front camera with autofocus and a 30% increase in light sensitivity. This camera has the biggest field of view ever seen on a Pixel device (103 degrees), enabling for larger group selfies. In comparison, the regular Pixel 9 has a 10.5-megapixel front camera that now has autofocus for the first time.
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are the first Pixel phones that support 8K video recording at speeds up to 30fps. However, this feature is not immediately available from the device itself. Instead, it’s an expansion of Google’s Video Boost feature, which uploads footage to Google’s servers for enhancement before making it available for viewing after processing. Google has stated that Video Boost is now up to twice as fast as it was on the Pixel 8 Pro, which is critical when working with higher definition files. However, this advanced capability is limited to Pro-tier devices.
All three versions offer 45-watt rapid charging, and Google claims you can achieve 70% battery capacity in just 30 minutes. While battery capacity has increased slightly overall, the Pixel 9 supposedly has a 20% longer battery life than its predecessor, the Pixel 8. Unfortunately, none of the devices support the Qi2 wireless charging standard, which would have allowed for a more accurate, MagSafe-like charging experience. Instead, they use the older, slower Qi wireless charging technology.
The new Tensor G4 engine powers all three handsets, which have 12 GB of RAM in the Pixel 9 and 16 GB in the Pixel 9 Pro variants. Google claims that the chip is 20% faster for web browsing and boosts app startup times by 17%. The Tensor G4 is also touted to be more power efficient and designed to operate huge language models such as Gemini. These are the first phones to enable Gemini Nano with Multimodality, which allows the device’s AI to process not only text but also images, audio, and voice. Additionally, the gadgets are compatible with Gemini Live, a new service that allows for real-time speech discussions with the chatbot.
This year’s Pro models have a design that is similar to the more cheap Pixel 9, but with a premium feel. Google has replaced the glossy coating with a matte glass finish similar to that of last year’s Pixel 8 Pro. The flat frame has a shiny finish that looks great but may gather smudges quickly after unboxing. Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL come in Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose Quartz, providing a variety of stylish color options.
