Google held its Pixel 9 event last week and left us with a few thoughts. So without further ado, here they are.
Having the event in August instead of October makes all the difference
The Pixel 8 series was announced on October 4, 2023. The Pixel 7 series was announced on October 7, 2022. This time, Google unveiled more devices and managed to do so in mid-August — impressive!
The shift from an early fall reveal to a summer glow changes the entire launch dynamic, and the Pixel 9 series is now a viable choice to take over your summer vacation photography — a huge deal for the photography-focused Pixel phones. Not to mention that Google’s phones now sell a full month earlier than Apple’s iPhones.
We like the new flat aesthetic
It seems like everyone is making their phones flatter these days. Apple did it a few years ago, Samsung started with the Galaxy S23 series, and finally made the S Ultra flat this year. And now Google has done the same with the Pixel.
We like the new look of the Pixels. Plus, their corners are slightly rounded, making them comfortable to hold, and they’re a bit less rectangular.
The flat design also means that the phone is less likely to break if you drop it, but more importantly, the glass protectors are easier to put on. The flat side also makes it easier to make the most of the available volume.
But please, let’s make all surfaces matte next year
The Pixel 9 Pro’s frame has a polished metal finish that attracts fingerprints like nothing else (aside from maybe the piano black plastic finish on cars…). And while the Pros have a matte finish, the vanilla Pixel 9’s rear glass panel is also glossy and gets dirty in a matter of minutes.
Look at the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24 Ultra and make everything matte, please and thank you!
Making the Pixel 9 Pro a compact phone is a bold undertaking – but will it succeed?
The smaller Pixel 9 Pro is probably the biggest (ha!) story of the event, with many people preferring a compact phone over an ultra-flagship but not wanting to compromise on specs.
But looking at the sales numbers, most people want a big display – current media consumption trends are a pretty obvious explanation for why that is. That could mean the Pixel 9 Pro faces bleak market prospects.
To make matters worse, Google made the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL model available a week after its launch, while the Pixel 9 Pro is set to launch in September, further limiting its prospects.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a mature foldable smartphone that has only just debuted in its second generation
After the original Pixel Fold, which was a bit of a dud, we were pleasantly surprised by the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Google made a lot of the right choices in creating its new book-style foldable phone — the screens are bigger, the external display has a natural 20:9 aspect ratio, the phone is impressively thin, and it has a capable camera system.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold might even make the Galaxy Z Fold6 look edgy in the rearview mirror. The foldable Pixel has better displays, better cameras, and more RAM — not bad for a company often criticized for being too conservative with hardware upgrades!
Pixel 9 Pro XL is a smart and secure update
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL will be the breadwinner for the family, and for good reason. It’s the best choice if you want the best Pixel — it has the biggest display and the best camera.
Google has made its flagship significantly better than its predecessor, with a better camera system, thanks to a brighter ultra-wide lens and a new, wide-angle selfie camera. It also has an annual chipset update and a smarter new design, especially around the back.
New Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner Is the Path to Success
A change that may go unnoticed but will certainly be felt by anyone who decides to purchase a Pixel 9 device is the switch to an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
Until now, Pixel phones have used optical scanners that scan fingerprints using light. Users have been unhappy with their responsiveness and consistency, especially with screen protectors.
Ultrasound technology, provided by Qualcomm, is the best there is. The scanner works even in the dark, is faster and generally more reliable.
Pixel 9 is not a small phone like Pixel 8
We received the Pixel 9 for review and found that it’s not as small as you might expect.
When you A/B it against the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the smaller Pixel feels smaller. But it lacks the “hey, this is impressively compact” feel of the Pixel 8. It’s 11 grams heavier, but more importantly, it’s 1.2mm wider and 2.3mm taller. Throw a case on it, and it becomes a thick, heavy phone that’s only slightly more compact than the available Ultra.
