Google Pixel 9 Review: Smarter Every Day, But Is It Enough?

As a long-time admirer of Google’s Pixel series, my excitement was palpable when I got the opportunity to review the Google Pixel 9. Google has consistently pushed boundaries with its smartphones, blending cutting-edge technology with an intuitive user experience. After spending one month with the Pixel 9, I’m eager to share my in-depth impressions of what it’s like to use this device on a daily basis. Before diving into the review, let’s look at Pixel 9’s specifications: Also Read: Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2025: 5 Smartphone Deals That Are Worth Waiting For

Design and Build Quality

The Google Pixel 9 adopts a flat design that closely mirrors the aesthetics of the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24. Its aluminum flat frame with rounded corners and a matte finish gives it a sleek, premium look, much like the iPhone 15. The minimalist, streamlined design also echoes Samsung’s flagship style, particularly with its modern, flat surfaces. The Pixel 9’s increased size, being taller and broader than both the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24, further aligns with the current trend of larger smartphones. Additionally, the camera bar on the Pixel 9, replacing the older visor, adds a distinct but subtle visual update, while still maintaining a familiar premium feel. Also Read: Google Pixel 10 Vs Pixel 9: 7 Major Differences That You Must Know Before Your Next Buy

The Google Pixel 9 brings a refined touch to its design with the use of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, offering exceptional durability and scratch resistance. In addition to its resilience, the polished finish adds a sleek, premium feel to the device, giving it a smooth and glossy texture that feels great in hand while maintaining a refined look. The Google logo subtly placed on the back further enhances its minimalist aesthetic.

On the right side, you’ll find the power button and volume rocker, both offering a satisfying click response and easily accessible for one-handed use. The top of the phone features a microphone, ensuring clear audio capture, while the bottom houses a USB Type-C port for fast charging and data transfer, a speaker grille delivering clear sound, a SIM card tray, and another microphone for optimal noise cancellation. Notably, the left side of the Pixel 9 is completely clean, adding to its minimalist aesthetic

Display

One of the first things I was eager to test was the display. The Pixel 9 boasts a vibrant screen that truly enhances the media consumption experience. When it comes to watching HDR videos on the Google Pixel 9, the experience is absolutely stunning. The display supports HDR10 and HDR10+, which means you’re getting vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and excellent contrast. Streaming high-quality content is smooth, especially since the phone comes with Widevine L1 certification, allowing me to enjoy Full HD content on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video without any limitations.

Another subtle yet important change is the hole-punch cutout at the top of the screen. It’s small and barely noticeable after a while, blending into the content without being distracting.

Scrolling through social media, browsing the web, and reading articles were also a pleasure. The display’s smoothness and responsiveness make these tasks feel effortless. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures that animations and transitions are fluid, which significantly enhances the overall user experience.

One of the biggest upgrades I’ve noticed is the inclusion of an ultra-sonic in-display fingerprint sensor. It’s fast and accurate, a huge improvement over the optical sensors I’ve used in the past. Unlocking the phone is quicker, and it feels more secure, without compromising on convenience. Overall, the Pixel 9 nails performance both in terms of display and daily usability.

Software

When it comes to the Google Pixel 9, I couldn’t help but notice that Google decided to skip directly from Android 14 to Android 15, leaving Pixel 9 with the current version instead of an even newer release. While it might seem like a missed opportunity for cutting-edge features, Android 14 still delivers a robust and polished experience.

Google’s choice to skip Android 15 for the Pixel 9 might be surprising, but in practice, Android 14 has proven to be more than capable. The focus on refining existing features and ensuring a smooth, reliable performance means that, despite missing the incremental update, the Pixel 9 still feels modern and well-supported. So, even without Android 15, the Pixel 9 stands strong with its solid software and hardware integration.

Plus, you get timely updates and the latest features first, which is one of the big advantages of having a Pixel device. So, while some might argue that Android 14 isn’t revolutionary, I honestly believe it does exactly what it’s meant to do—offer a smooth, reliable experience that enhances the phone’s overall performance. For me, that’s more than enough.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the Google Pixel 9 doesn’t quite stack up against the heavyweights like the Samsung Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15. While the Tensor G4 excels in AI and security features, it doesn’t quite measure up to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon or Apple’s A-series chipsets.

If you’re into mobile gaming or other processor-intensive activities, you might find the Pixel 9 lagging behind. It’s not that the Tensor G4 isn’t a capable chip—it’s just that when compared to the top-tier chips from Qualcomm and Apple, it doesn’t deliver the same level of performance. Google’s focus on AI and security is evident and certainly useful and ahead, but if you’re seeking peak performance for demanding tasks, there are other options out there that might better suit your needs.

I’ve been putting the Google Pixel 9 through its paces with some graphic-intensive games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Asphalt, and I have to say, the performance is generally solid.

Even when playing BGMI, which is known for its demanding graphics, the Pixel 9 handles the game well, delivering smooth performance and vibrant visuals. But I’ve found that the rear panel and frame start to get noticeably warm in just a couple of minutes of gameplay. This heat buildup becomes even more apparent when I open the camera app after gaming. It doesn’t take long for the phone to feel quite hot to touch, which can be a bit uncomfortable.

It’s clear that Google could have done more in terms of cooling. I really think the addition of a vapor-cooling chamber would have made a big difference here. With the phone getting warm so quickly, it’s evident that better thermal management could have helped maintain performance and comfort during extended use. Overall, while the Pixel 9 performs well in terms of gaming and other tasks, the heat issue is something that stands out and could have been addressed more effectively.

Artificial Intelligence

I’ve been really impressed with the Google Pixel 9 and its AI features. One that I’ve found incredibly useful is the “Help me create a list” option in the Google Keep app. I just tell it what I need, and it automatically generates a list for me. It’s saved me so much time and effort—I can’t imagine organizing my tasks without it now.

The Weather app has also gotten a nice upgrade with a new AI-powered weather report. It doesn’t just give me the basics; it offers a detailed, personalized forecast that’s tailored to my location. I love how it provides more insightful weather updates and even suggests what to wear based on the conditions.

On top of that, the Pixel 9’s real-time translation in the camera app is fantastic for quickly reading foreign text, and the AI-driven photo editing tools make tweaking my pictures a breeze. The adaptive battery is smart enough to learn my app usage and optimize battery life, which is a game-changer for me. All these features really enhanced my daily routine, making the Pixel 9 not just a phone but a versatile tool that adapts to my needs.

One feature that caught my eye on the Google Pixel 9 is the Pixel Screenshots app, which now functions as a standalone application. It’s really convenient to have a dedicated app for managing and editing screenshots separately from Google Photos. I can easily access all my screenshots, annotate them, and even organize them without having to sift through other images in my gallery.

However, I find myself wondering why this app wasn’t integrated into Google Photos. It seems like a natural fit, given that Photos is already used for managing all kinds of images. Having a separate app for screenshots feels a bit redundant, especially when it could have been streamlined within the existing Google Photos interface. Despite this, the standalone Pixel Screenshots app is a handy tool, and it’s great to have more control over how I handle and edit my screenshots

Gemini Assistance

I’ve been trying out Gemini Assistant, and overall, it’s been quite an experience. One of the standout features for me is how it handles back-and-forth conversations. It’s pretty impressive to see how well it keeps up with the flow of dialogue, allowing for a more natural and engaging interaction. It feels like I’m having a real conversation, which is great for tasks that require a bit of back-and-forth.

Also Gemini does have the ability to remember past conversations, which helps tailor its responses more effectively. This feature adds a personal touch, as it seems to understand the context better and can build on previous interactions. It’s useful for getting more relevant and tailored answers based on what we’ve talked about before. Overall, while there’s room for improvement, Gemini Assistant offers a sophisticated conversational experience that’s impressive and quite useful.

Camera

The new Google Pixel 9 comes with a fresh take on its camera design, and I have mixed feelings about it. The pill-shaped camera bump replaces the old signature camera visor, giving the phone a cleaner and more modern look. While the new design is more minimalistic, I do miss the bold and distinctive look of the previous camera bar that made the Pixel stand out.

As for the main rear camera, it continues to deliver excellent results, especially in daylight. Photos are sharp, with great dynamic range, accurate white balance, and solid exposure. The 2x zoom shots, in particular, are impressive, retaining plenty of detail and sharpness, especially in good lighting conditions. In fact, I found these images to be a step above the iPhone 15’s in similar conditions.

However, portrait mode could use some work. While the photos are decent, the blur effect sometimes feels overdone, especially in shots with people. The edge detection also struggles at times, especially in artificial lighting, which can be frustrating when trying to get a clean portrait.

Low-light photography, while okay, lacks the vibrancy I’d expect from a flagship device. The pictures are decent but miss the punch of color and detail that’s often needed in darker conditions. Similarly, the front camera performs well in well-lit environments, producing clear and detailed shots. But as soon as the light drops, the quality takes a hit, with images appearing soft and lacking in detail.

Overall, the camera is still a strong point for the Pixel 9, but there are areas, especially in portrait and low-light photography, where it doesn’t quite live up to expectations.

Battery

I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised by the Google Pixel 9’s battery performance. I was a bit concerned at first, especially with all the heat the phone generates during heavy tasks like gaming or using the camera for extended periods. I expected that heat to drain the battery quickly, but it turns out that wasn’t the case at all. Even after pushing the phone with a lot of usage—whether it was gaming, streaming, or taking photos—the battery still managed to last me through an entire day.

The phone’s battery management is better than I anticipated. It seems to handle power efficiently, especially during lighter tasks or when the phone is in standby mode. A full charge easily got me through a day of mixed use, without constantly needing to top up the battery. I also noticed that charging is faster. The Pixel 9 now supports up to 45W fast charging, so with the right adapter, I was able to get a decent charge in a short amount of time, which is really convenient when I’m in a hurry.

Overall, while I went into this expecting some battery struggles because of the heating issues, I’ve actually been quite impressed. The Pixel 9 manages to hold its own and provides a solid all-day battery life without much fuss.

Verdict

After using the Google Pixel 9, I find it to be a solid mix of innovation and shortcomings. The sleek design, improved AI features like Gemini Assistant, and great battery life with fast charging stand out. The camera performs well in daylight, but portrait and low-light shots could be better. While the Pixel may not have captured a massive user base yet, it firmly appeals to those who prioritize AI advancements and the pure Google Stock Android experience—features that set it apart from other Android skins.