New premium design ; Display is delightful ; Great camera performance ; 7 years of software support

Price increase over Pixel 8 ; Fragmented AI experience ; Not great for gaming

The Pixel 9 gets redesigned with a more premium feel, including a boosted display that's a great performer. The camera still shines as one of the best out there, while the typically clean Android software experience remains – and with 7 years of...

Fantastic Pixel redesign with premium materials and finish ; Excellent cameras rival the best camera phones ; AI tricks are unique and creative without crossing lines

Performance lags significantly behind other flagship phones ; Some AI tricks feel a bit fake when you use them ; Price is high compared to high-performance rivals

The Google Pixel 9 is one of the coolest redesigns I’ve seen, bringing the Pixel phone into a more modern world of bright colors and rounded camera bumps. It packs so many Pixel 9 Pro specs you may wonder what’s missing, until you have to pay for the...

Premium design and build ; Excellent screen ; Long software support ; Solid cameras

Middling battery life ; Confusing charging speeds ; Unfinished AI

The Pixel 9 is a trickier recommendation than normal due to its price increase, lack of upgrades in certain areas and push towards AI features that aren’t all in a ready to ship state. But software issues can be largely ignored and the phone should get...

Excellent design and build quality ; Super camera ; Tactile haptics ; Fast and reliable security ; Improved efficiency and battery life ; Long software update commitment

Screen isn't always bright enough ; Slow charging ; More expensive than last year

“The Google Pixel 9 is one of the best Pixel phones Google has ever made, and it has nothing to do with AI.”

Brightest display in the class.

Large and heavy.

We'll be quick to admit that we don't necessarily see the vanilla Pixel for 2024 as great value at its list price. But for as long as you can get the free storage upgrade, or if Black Friday brings a nice discount a few months down the line, the Pixel...

That changes with the Pixel 9. It’s finally a phone for someone who just wants a really good phone — someone who doesn’t care about the difference between optical and digital zoom, doesn’t want to fiddle with a lot of customization options, and wants...