Title: Google's Pixel 9 Series: Flagship Potential Meets AI Ambition
By Fidaullah Rahim
Google’s new Pixel 9 series has arrived — bringing with it refreshed designs, powerful internals, new AI-driven features, and yes, some quirks and compromises. After using the phones for a couple of weeks, here's a deep dive into what Google nailed, what needs polish, and how these devices stack up in today’s flagship smartphone market.
🛠️ Design & Hardware: Finally Feels Premium
Visually and physically, the Pixel 9 lineup now truly feels like a premium smartphone. We get squared-off sides, a new camera bump that feels more like a shelf than the older "visor," and brighter OLED displays — 2,700 nits for the Pixel 9 and 3,000 for the Pixel 9 Pro.
A few small but meaningful improvements include:
- Even bezels around the display.
- New ultrasonic fingerprint reader — much faster and more reliable than before.
- Clicky buttons and great haptics.
- A welcome Pro model in a smaller size, bridging the gap between standard and XL.
However, some design quirks persist: the Pixel 9 has matte sides and a glossy back, while the Pro flips that. A matte-on-matte option would’ve been ideal.
⚙️ Performance: Tensor G4 & AI Muscle
While the new Tensor G4 chip doesn’t bring a massive performance leap over last year, it houses a significantly improved NPU (Neural Processing Unit). That, combined with increased RAM, is specifically geared toward powering Google’s growing suite of AI features.
Battery life holds steady with decent screen-on time, but charging speeds are underwhelming — topping out at 37W. A 50–60W standard would’ve been a nice upgrade.
📸 Cameras: Still Pixel, Still Punchy
Google’s camera system remains reliable and responsive, with strong focus and quick processing. Across all models, you get the same primary and ultra-wide cameras (now 48MP, binning to 12MP). The Pro also includes a 5X telephoto lens.
What’s noticeable:
- Photos have the "Pixel look" — punchy, high contrast, slightly over-processed.
- The new Pro selfie camera is a nice upgrade, offering sharper, more color-accurate shots.
- Video quality is good, especially with enhancements like Video Boost — although it can appear a bit "tuned" or unnatural.
Overall: photos are social-media ready, but photography purists might prefer something more neutral.
💡 Software & AI: The Real Star
Watching Google’s launch event made it clear: this wasn’t just a phone launch — it was a software showcase with phones included. And with good reason.
Pixel 9 introduces several new AI-driven features — some useful, others more experimental:
✅ Useful AI Features
- Gemini: Google's conversational AI assistant — now capable of smart home control, media recognition, and contextual tasks. It’s fast, smart, and improving quickly.
- Call Notes: Automatically transcribes and summarizes calls.
- Add Me: Seamlessly adds the photographer to group shots.
- Video Boost: Enhances low-light footage and stabilizes videos post-capture.
😐 "Meh" Features
- Reimagined Magic Editor: Now lets you rewrite parts of a photo using text prompts. Cool, but limited — especially around editing people.
- New Weather App: Polished, but nothing groundbreaking. Weather summaries are AI-generated but basic.
- Screenshots Organizer: Useful for saving key info, but still a niche tool.
🌀 Gimmicks & Gripes
- Gemini vs. Google Assistant: The coexistence of two assistants is confusing. Gemini is improving fast but still leans on the old Assistant for basic tasks.
- Android 14 at Launch: The Pixel 9 ships with last year’s OS, despite Android 15 being in preview.
- Base Storage: Still starts at 128GB for the $999 Pixel 9 Pro — not ideal in 2024.
🎙️ Gemini Live: Conversational AI Goes Full-Time
Gemini Live is an interactive, full-screen mode where the assistant acts more like a human assistant. You can have back-and-forth conversations, ask follow-ups, and even get help with real-life problems (like identifying wasps or finding local pest control).
It’s a promising direction — especially when paired with Gemini Extensions, which allow the assistant to pull in data from Gmail, Calendar, and Google Docs for more personalized help.
📦 So... Should You Buy It?
The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro deliver what many have been waiting for: a true, full-featured Google flagship. The hardware is finally matching the ambition of its software, and AI integration is no longer a gimmick — it’s the foundation of the experience.
However, some drawbacks remain: slow charging, storage limitations, and the ongoing confusion between Assistant and Gemini.
Still, if you want a smartphone that’s smart in a way others aren't, the Pixel 9 series stands apart — not for raw power, but for its seamless integration of intelligence and usability.
✨ TL;DR Summary
- Pros: Beautiful design, flagship feel, AI features that actually help, great camera hardware, useful Gemini assistant.
- Cons: Slower charging, 128GB base storage, overlapping assistants, Android 14 at launch.
- Verdict: A solid leap for Google. If you’re AI-curious or a long-time Pixel fan, this might be the phone you’ve been waiting for.