Smartphone: Google Pixel 9 comes in three variants

Advertisement

Google’s “Made by Google” event is about two months earlier than in 2023. But this year the event will once again revolve around the company’s Pixel series of smartphones. One distinctive detail remains: the camera bridge at the back. Although it no longer stretches completely from one edge to the other, the camera lenses are still arranged horizontally, so that the new Pixel models lie flat on the table without tilting.

To this end, Google is breaking another tradition, which is probably to the delight of many users: the Pixel 9 comes in three variants: 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL. Until now, with Pixel phones you had to decide whether you wanted a useful tool or the maximum detail level of the rear camera, as the telephoto lens was reserved for the much larger Pixel Pro. This time, apart from battery capacity and display, the smaller 9 Pro and the larger 9 Pro XL are equipped identically. The 9 is a technically isolated entry level without the Pro and is just as useful as the 9 Pro.

The Pixel 9’s screen measures 6.3 inches (16 centimeters) diagonally and has a resolution of 2424×1080 pixels (20:9, 422 dpi). At about 15 centimeters high and 7.2 centimeters wide, the size is almost identical to the current Pixel 8. The display supports a variable refresh rate between 60 and 120 Hz. Google has increased the brightness of the display, which is up to 1800 cd/m in the normal control range² Should also achieve a peak brightness of 2700 cd/m for a short time². This would make the Pixel 9 one of the brightest displays on the market. Other manufacturers have promised similar brightness values, but failed to achieve them on the test bench.

The Pixel 9 Pro has a resolution of 2856×1280 with the same diagonal and a somewhat higher resolution of 495 dpi. Even when it comes to the promised brightness, it excels at 2000 or 3000 cd/m² The entry-level model in the short term peaked. In addition, the OLED on the Pro runs between 1 and 120 Hz, which should ensure slightly longer battery life. The big brother is now called Pixel 9 Pro XL and, in addition to the full camera expansion, it has a larger screen diagonal of 6.8 inches (17.1 centimeters) and a resolution of 2992×1344 pixels (20:9, 486 dpi).

Good camera

The entry-level model still has a main camera with a 50-megapixel sensor with an 82-degree field of view and an aperture of f/1.68. It has laser autofocus, a flicker sensor and stabilizes recording optically and electronically. The Super Resolution Zoom function uses AI to achieve a zoom factor of eight – which, at least on the Pixel 8, ensures sharp and attractive photos. The main camera is accompanied by an ultra-wide-angle camera that captures a field of view of 123 degrees, has an aperture of f/1.7 and takes pictures with 48 megapixels. The Pixel 9 Pro and the larger Pro XL are also equipped with a 48 MP telephoto lens.

Thanks to the Tensor G4: even more AI for Google’s Pixel 9 smartphones

In all three Pixel phones, the camera app again includes some AI functions to improve images. The already familiar Night Vision mode is on board, as is the portrait or sharpening function for blurred faces. There are also “Top Photo” and “Add Me” features, which create a synthetic photo from several shots in a group photo in which everyone shows the best facial expression and the photographer is integrated into the group photo via a separate shot.

Concrete Tools

There are some surprises under the hood. The fourth-generation Tensor SoC developed in conjunction with Samsung does the math here. Google promises that it has been improved in terms of performance and power consumption. Apps should start about 17 percent faster and the battery should last 20 percent longer. Runtime and performance have not been the star disciplines of the Tensor CPU so far.

Google does not provide any information about the number of CPU cores in the presentation. However, leakers claim that Google has said goodbye to the nine-core design. According to rumors, the Tensor G4 uses a robust Cortex-X4 with 3.2 GHz, supported by three Cortex-A720 cores with 2.6 GHz and four Cortex-A520 with 1.95 GHz.

Google increases memory: Pixel 9 now has 12 GB of RAM instead of 8; 9 Pro and Pro XL have 16 GB of RAM. Internal storage options are 128 and 256 GB, and for the 9 Pro and Pro XL, customers can also choose versions with 512 GB and 1 TB. Since the phone cannot be expanded using a memory card, it will especially appeal to those who take a lot of photos and movies and/or don’t transfer their data to the Google cloud.

There is no jump when it comes to the battery. For the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, Google has kept the capacity at 4700 mAh, for the XL model it is 5060 mAh. This means that all three phones are at the same level as their predecessors, which are not really known as long-lasting. With hardware and software improvements, Google promises more than 24 hours of runtime. If the juice runs out, all three smartphones charge at 45 watts – but only on a separately sold Google charger. The younger models can be filled up to 55 percent in half an hour, and the Pro XL should have a fill level of 70 percent.

The new thing is that these phones are not the first models to hit the market with the new Android version. Apparently Android 15 is not ready yet, which is why the 9 Pixels are delivered with Android 14. This is not a problem since Google is always the first to supply its phones and updates will arrive from the day of release. Google also guarantees operating system and security updates for the next seven years, so that Android 22 can reach the 9 Pixels with the same release cycle. In addition, for the same period there are also the so-called Feature Drops, with which Google rolls out new Pixel-exclusive functions to older models, as long as their hardware is sufficient.

As hinted at the Google Developer Conference in May, Google is relying heavily on AI. Google Assistant has replaced Gemini AI, which now provides voice assistance on Pixel 9 phones. For demanding AI tasks, Pixel 9 users get a “Google One AI Premium” subscription with Gemini Advanced and 2 TB of cloud storage for a period of one year.

The Pixel 9 can be ordered in Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen and Peony colours – or as we would say: black, white, green and pink. Google offers the 9 Pro and Pro XL in Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel and Rose Quartz colours. All three phones can be pre-ordered from Google now. The Pixel 9 starts at 899 euros and the Pixel 9 Pro at 1099 euros. Google estimates 1199 euros for the XL model. This is 50 to 100 euros more than the cost of the predecessors at launch.

(SPO)