Google has finally (and officially) unveiled its newest Pixel 9 series phones, which bring new changes across the board. If you were looking to upgrade your Pixel phone this year, then you might be interested as to what Google has to offer this time around.
In particular, the base model Pixel 9 serves as a symbol of how far Google’s phones have come, and while it might lack some “Pro” features found on its more expensive siblings, there are some worthwhile features that might warrant an upgrade, especially for folks looking to grab Google’s latest flagship phone. Let’s take a look!
A Fresh New Look
On the outside, the Pixel 9 comes with two big changes with the screen and overall design. The Pixel 9 now comes with flatter sides and a rear panel, and the signature camera bar on the back is now more of an island, a stark contrast to how it was designed on the Pixel 7 and 8, for example. Google uses aluminium for the phone’s frame, which surrounds the front and back of the phone (both of which use Gorilla Glass Victus 2).
As for the display, the phone features a 6.3-inch LTPO panel with a peak brightness of up to 2700 nits, and an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, all notable upgrades which bring it up to speed with rival devices, although different manufacturers have featured similar hardware in their phones for quite a number of years now.
Other Upgrades
The Pixel 9 also comes with upgrades to internal hardware – there’s the new Tensor G4 chip of course, which according to Google is faster than previous models. While we are certain that this is indeed the case, there are reservations to be made especially when comparing it to industry contemporaries like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for example, which itself shines when it comes to overall performance.
Other changes include more RAM at 12GB, a larger 4,700 mAh battery (with slightly faster charging), a newer front facing camera with autofocus, a higher-resolution 48MP ultrawide camera, and Google’s suite of AI software features like Gemini and Magic Editor, to name a couple.
Points to Consider
Now if you were considering getting the Pixel 9, there’s nothing wrong with that of course, especially when taking the hardware upgrades into account. But it should also be noted that the Pixel 9 is more expensive now starting at £750, versus the £599 launch price of the Pixel 6 and 7, for example. Unless you really want the newer hardware, Google’s Pixel 8 is cheaper now at £599, and comes with several years’ worth of software updates and feature drops, not to mention impressive camera performance as well.
Of course you can always hunt for bargains and promos to lessen the blow to your wallet, in which case the Pixel 9 might be a worthwhile purchase. With Black Friday just a few months away, it might even be worth holding out for a bit longer for a considerable price drop. At the moment however, the Pixel 9’s starting price warrants a lot of consideration.
