A LOT MORE THAN A CAMERA FLAGSHIP. Review on Google Pixel 9

Overview:

Google’s Pixel series rose to prominence due to its advanced camera systems, giving color-accurate, life-like shots in every condition. However, their smartphones faced criticism due to a lack of performance despite flagship prices. The new Google Pixel 9 seems to have cracked the code and improved on the performance, with better chipsets and increased RAM for better efficiency.

Apart from the performance, I could instantly feel the difference in cameras, display quality, and battery life since day one. Although the Pixel 9 is a direct successor to the Pixel 8, I feel it is a major upgrade in the Pixel series since Pixel 6. Fresher colors, ergonomic design, and a new camera configuration make this phone stand out from the crowd. I feel it is one of the best value-for-money Android smartphones in the market today.

AI:

First things first, Google has always been a leader in AI features, and the 9 series is no different. The Pixel 9 comes packed with lots of generative AI features. You can see AI weave its magic in photo processing and editing, battery and storage management, summarizing phone calls, and most importantly- an improved Gemini experience. I loved how Gemini gave real-time updates on any topic I searched.

Cameras:

The improved camera system, with a 50 MP wide camera and a 48 MP ultrawide camera captures perfect shots in both day and night. You get a Super Res Zoom up to 8x and a consistent optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, and 2x. The video quality has also improved with more stabilization and minimal sharpening, producing vibrant colors. You also get auto-focus that changes camera zoom depending on the subject’s position. Very handy for vloggers out there.

Design and Displays:

Google’s unique horizontal camera setup already makes it stand out from other smartphones. However, the Pixel 9 comes with unique colors like Wintergreen and Peony with a gloss finish which might tend to leave some fingerprints. The phone is more compact and the bezels are thinner. For the front display, a 6.3-inch Actua OLED display at 120 Hz works perfectly and feels incredibly fluid. The on-screen fingerprint scanner is faster and responsive which was a major concern previously.

Battery & Performance:

As said earlier, Pixel 9 is more than a camera flagship. You get an upgraded Tensor G4 chip for better performance. There are no inconsistencies or lags when it comes to multitasking or playing high-intensity games. With improved 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, I love how Pixel is offering higher RAM and not compromising on speed. The batteries are also bigger this time, 4700mAh to be exact, and faster charging speeds at 45W which is a life-saver in crunch situations.

Overall:

Currently, there is no better compact flagship than Google Pixel 9. Competing with the Samsung S24, the Pixel team has taken the Android experience a notch higher. Everything from displays to cameras and battery life has improved, while the prices are consistent, making it a value-for-money option. Priced at around 80k, I would suggest opting for some bank offers and going for the 12/256 GB configuration for the best Pixel experience in the long term.