If you had asked us what the perfect mobile phone would be, we would have said an iPhone 15 Pro Max with Google’s pure Android operating system, complete with AI smarts and computational photography. It seems the universe has a sense of answering questions or wishes because someone at Google championed the design of Pixel 9.
After years of running smooth software with below-average hardware, we can comfortably say that Google has finally pulled it off. Their latest release, the Pixel 9, not only has a premium feel with its vibrant colors and sleek new look but also takes on Apple’s and Samsung’s latest releases. It’s perhaps why many gamers and gamblers are using it to play heavy games offered on platforms such as Verde Casino, Steam, and more. Add Google’s mastery of photography and AI, and we have a genuine contender for phone of the year.
In this article, you will learn everything that is there to know about Google Pixel 9 and why it has become quite a sensation online.
Display and Audio
The phone’s 6.3-inch Actua OLED display is undoubtedly one of the highlights. With a resolution of 1080 x 2424 at 422 PPI, users can look forward to sharp, vibrant visuals, which are supported by HDR to deepen color richness and contrast. Its display of 2700 nits peak brightness ensures you can comfortably use the phone, even when under scorching sun.
Whether you want to play mobile games, scroll through your Instagram timeline, or binge-watch Netflix, the display will impress you with vivid colors and sharp details thanks to the 24-bit color depth and 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Additionally, the Smooth Display technology, seamlessly adjusting from 60Hz to 120Hz, warrants buttery-smooth gaming and scrolling. Surely, the lack of an LTPO panel, which could easily drop to 10Hz, is a small challenge, but it’s good to see that Google has included it in the Pro models.
Pixel 9’s fingerprint sensor has also seen a lot of improvements that were much needed. More accurate and faster than in the past models, it has tackled past issues of sluggishness. However, unlike the S24 Ulta, your screen must be on for it to function.
On the audio bit, there’s not much to talk about. The Pixel 9’s speakers put out the performance that they’ve always had, with clear tone and separation. However, they lack the volume power that you will see in the iPhone or Samsung speakers.
Battery
Google claims the Pixel 9 has a 24+ hour life. Well, according to reviews online and personal experience, this claim is true. After charging the phone fully, it managed to stay up to 37 hours without the need to recharge it at any point. Of course, during this time, we only used it lightly and didn’t play games or stream videos. On paper, the 4,700mAh battery might seem to be below average. However, when it comes to real-world efficiency, it is quite impressive, thanks to the Tensor G4 chip’s technology. This is an intelligent power management that learns your usage pattern and optimizes your battery’s performance to fit your habits.
Quite frankly, no one should complain about the battery life of the Pixel 9 because there’s no device that can match its power-saving capacities. Should you find yourself in a pinch, you can switch to the Extreme Battery Saver mode, which can prolong its life to more than 100 hours.
Charging has also seen a major upgrade. Thanks to the 30W fast charging capacity, you can get your phone to 55% in under 30 minutes. You can also use wireless charging services, which top out at 15W. And if you have a friend who owns an iPhone and can’t seem to shut up about MagSafe, you’ll be happy to know that you can share their charger using your Pixel 9.
We cannot overlook the new “Battery Share” feature that allows you to charge other smartphones and electronic devices wirelessly using the Pixel 9. All you need to do is place whatever device on the back of your Pixel 9 and let it charge.
It Could Improve
When you’ve written such a positive review about a product, people would expect it to have something that needs to be improved. Quite honestly and disappointing at the same time, it is the camera for Google Pixel 9. Not to say that it has a substandard camera, but it could be better given the efforts put into designing the other features.
The main reason why it needs an upgrade as far as the camera is concerned is the lack of a telephoto lens. Many of us have grown so accustomed to zooming in when taking videos and photos. When it comes to Pixel 9, the best you can do is x2, which is way below the x30 or x100 seen in other devices.
