UPDATE (September 4, 2024): Our Google Pixel 9 review has been added to the article, while Google started rolling out the September 2024 security patch to the phone. More info about the update is available at the very end of the article.
The Google Pixel 9 is the most affordable member of the Pixel 9 series. Some rumors suggested it would also be the smallest, but it turns out it’s the same size as the Pixel 9 Pro variant. The Pixel 9 is quite compact, and even though it is inferior to the Pixel 9 Pro, it’s a very compelling smartphone in its own right. It does have one less camera on the back, and it lacks in some other areas, it’s also the same as the Pixel 9 Pro in many ways.
This phone is not small, but it’s very compact, and it could appeal to many people more than its siblings. It is also the most affordable member of the Pixel 9 series, of course. In that regard, it trumps the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. With that in mind, in this article, we’ll talk more about the phone and show you what it has to offer.
Google Pixel 9 specs
The Google Pixel 9 features a 6.3-inch Actual display. That panel has a fullHD+ (2424 x 1080) resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio. It is a ‘Smooth Display’, its refresh rate goes from 60 to 120Hz. The peak brightness is 2,700 nits, while HDR content is supported. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning protects this panel. The Google Tensor G4 SoC fuels the phone, while the Titan M2 security coprocessor is also included. Google offers 12GB of RAM here along with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.
27W wired & 15W wireless charging is supported
A 4,700mAh battery is included in the package, and it supports fast charging. The company says you can get up to 55% of battery charge in 30 minutes using the company’s 45W charger. The phone supports charging up to 27W, though. Do note that the charger is not included in the box, though. Fast wireless charging is also on offer here, 15W wireless charging, to be exact. You can also charge some other devices thanks to reverse wireless charging support. Android 14 comes out of the box, not Android 15. That’s the result of the phone being announced in July instead of September or October. Android 15 is right around the corner, though. Speaking of software, Google is promising 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates.
There are two cameras included on the back
A 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.68 aperture, 82-degree FoV, 1/1.31-inch sensor, Super Res Zoom up to 8X, OIS, EIS) is included on the back. The second camera back there is a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (123-degree FOV, 1/2.55-inch image sensor). On the front, you’ll find a 10.5-megapixel selfie camera (f/2.2 aperture, 95-degree FoV). This phone is IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. It has an in-display fingerprint scanner and supports facial scanning too. It supports a dual SIM setup (nano SIM + eSIM), while Bluetooth 5.3 is also supported. You’ll also find stereo speakers here. The device measures 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm and weighs 198 grams.
How much does the Google Pixel 9 cost?
The Google Pixel 9 comes in a single RAM variant with two storage options. The availability could vary from one market to the next. The phone’s pricing starts at $799 for the 128GB storage option in the US. So it’s more expensive than its predecessor was at $699. Price tags will be different in different markets, of course.
When will the Google Pixel 9 become available?
The Google Pixel 9 will become available to purchase in stores on August 22, that’s also when pre-ordered units will ship. It has the same shipping date as the Pixel 9 Pro XL, while the other two phones have different shipping dates.
Where can I buy the Google Pixel 9?
You’ll be able to buy the Google Pixel 9 at all of the usual places. That goes for both the carriers and the retailers. The Google Store is the first source that comes to mind, of course. If you prefer Amazon, one of the carriers, or perhaps Best Buy, that’s also an option. At the time of publishing this article, not all links are available, but we’ll be adding them as they become available.
– Google Store
– Amazon
– Best Buy
– Verizon
– AT&T
– T-Mobile
What carriers does it work on?
The Google Pixel 9 will basically work on all US carriers, so you don’t really have to worry about it. That was the case last year, and it’s the case this year too. You’ll be able to use the phone on AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and also all MVNOs that run on the networks of those carriers.
What colors does the Google Pixel 9 come in?
The Google Pixel 9 was announced in four color options. Google assigned fancy color names to those color variants, though, of course. The phone comes in Obsidian, Peony, Porcelain, and Wintergreen colors. In other words, those colors are black, pink, white, and green. The availability could vary from one market to the next, though, of course.
What countries will the Pixel 9 be available in, officially?
The Google Pixel 9 will be available across several continents. The full list is laid out below.
– North America: US, Canada
– EMEA: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Estonia, Germany, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, UK
– APAC: Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan
What new upgrades and/or notable features does the Google Pixel 9 offer?
As is the case every year, new models of devices do get a number of upgrades. The same is the case with the Google Pixel 9. That device not only got a new look, but it also received a spec bump, and some other upgrades. It’s packed with AI features too. In this section, we’ll talk about the most notable Pixel 9 upgrades/features.
SoC improvements
Needless to say, the Google Tensor G4 is the best chip from Google thus far. The Tensor G5 next year is expected to be a huge improvement, unlike the Tensor G4. It’s an improvement, but not a big one. Google claims this chip offers 17% faster app launching and 20% faster web browsing. The company also claims industry-leading mobile output rate is on offer, 45 tokens/second. The Titan M2 coprocessor is also a part of the package.
More RAM
The Google Pixel 9 offers more RAM than its predecessor. Google opted to include 12GB of RAM this time around, which is a good thing for general performance, and for AI’s sake. It will certainly help with Gemini. As a reminder, the Google Pixel 8 arrived with 8GB of RAM.
Pocket friendly
This smartphone sure is pocket-friendly. Truth be said, it’s a bit larger than the Pixel 8, but not by much. It has a slightly larger display at 6.3 inches, but it’s quite compact with the following dimensions: 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm. Not many people will require a smaller device, even though Google could have gone even smaller, of course. It’s a great alternative to the large Pixel 9 Pro XL, though.
A proper 7-year software support
Google is promising 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates. That’s the same promise Google made with the Pixel 8 series, but it’s certainly worth noting here as well. It’s great software support, and not only for security updates.
Brighter display
The Google Pixel 9 is coming with a 6.3-inch Actua display. This panel offers a refresh rate of 60-120Hz, and it’s well-protected thanks to Corning. It does have one improvement compared to the Pixel 8’s panel, it’s brighter, by 35%, says Google.
Uniform bezels
The Google Pixel 9 features uniform bezels. In other words, bezels on all four of its sides are the same thickness. This is very nice to see on the most affordable out of four Pixel 9 models, that’s for sure. The bezels themselves are rather thin too.
AI, AI, and some more AI
Needless to say, Google is injecting a lot of AI inside the Pixel 9 series. The all-new Pixel Weather app is here, and it offers an AI weather summary. Gemini is getting smarter all around, and Pixel Screenshots are also on the way. Pixel Studio will be able to use AI for image generation to boost creativity and more.
Camera performance improvements
The Pixel 9 series is also getting a camera performance boost. Google rebuilt the entire HDR pipeline, and you’ll also get some nice improvements across Real Tone. Night Sight has improved too, while the new Add Me feature has also been added. Magic Editor is getting Auto Frame and Reimagine features and much more.
What cases are available for the Google Pixel 9?
Google is offering its own case for the Google Pixel 9. In addition to that, a number of other cases are available on the Google Store. Google once again partnered up with various companies to make ‘Made for Google’ cases. Those companies include Mous, Bellroy, Otterbox, and more. You can check out all the available cases via this link. Below, we’ll talk more about Google’s official case.
The company’s official case comes in six color options for the Google Pixel 9. You can grab it in Hazel, Obsidian, Peony, Porcelain, Rose Quartz, and Wintergreen colors. The case is priced at $34.99, and it’s a “shock-absorbent” case made out of “stain-resistant silicone”. It also has a microfiber lining on the inside. You can check out all the colors in the gallery below, just note that Google uploaded the same case images for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, so those are the ones shown below. Click here to buy the official Google case for the Pixel 9. The rest of the ‘Made for Google’ cases are available via this link.
Should I buy the Google Pixel 9?
If you really want a new Pixel 9 smartphone, and you like rather compact smartphones, this could be just the phone for you. It’s the most affordable Pixel 9 smartphone, and it doesn’t cut a lot of corners. Sure, you won’t get some camera benefits, such as the periscope telephoto camera, but the main camera is the same across all models. The Pixel 9 is basically all the phone that most people need, so if you’re not too in need of a truly large smartphone, this seems to be a great offering by Google. We’ll have far more information when we review the phone, though, of course.
Updated September 4, 2024: (September 2024 security update)
Google has started rolling out the September 2024 Android security update to its Pixel smartphones. The Pixel 9 is one of those phones. In addition to a number of security improvements that have not been detailed one by one, Google also fixed a specific problem with this update. The company improved Wi-Fi stability and performance in certain conditions. The update is rolling out in stages, of course, so be patient if it didn’t arrive to your phone already.
2024-09-04 15:06:57