Available on Amazon 256GB Google Pixel 9 It’s on sale at a discount of $649 and $250. This transaction applies to all color options except Peony (Pink).
I had the opportunity to attend the Made by Google event in August 2024, and after the keynote speech I was excited to put into practice the baseline version. Pixel 9 More than the Pro or Pro XL. why? The accessibility of the Pixel 9 is an attractive device and is a recommended device for several reasons.
We also changed the 10 settings for pixel phones to significantly improve the user experience
I’m ruining this review at the top, but that’s true. Google’s latest entry-level flagship, the Pixel 9, is here, and starts at $799. The hardware is a minor improvement over the Pixel 8, but overall it’s an impressive phone. It offers a new design, slightly upgraded performance, a slightly better camera, a slightly larger battery, and new AI features.
Google has placed the Pixel 9 as a default Android alternative to the iPhone 16. Google gave the entire flat side of the Pixel 9 family to the rounded corners. This makes it look like something from Cupertino’s Design Lab. The good news is that these phones look great.
In fact, they are my favorite pixel phones. The Pixel 9 offers a particularly unique feel, yet a touch of chill premium feel when picked up. The sides are made of aluminum, with Corning Gorilla Glass Vicks 2 on the front and back. The whole is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, making it the perfect size for one hand use.
Another feature of the pixel is its fantastic display, and the Pixel 9 definitely has one. It features a 6.3-inch Actua display 10 inches larger than Pixel 8. Sharp 2424×1080 resolution, OLED panel, and 120Hz dynamic refresh rate provide exceptional pixel 9 visuals, even reading emails or watching your favorite movies. This year, the screen can reach brightness of up to 2,700 nits, making it one of the brightest Android phones to buy.
Also: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro XL with 9A for a month – it was pretty close
And the performance makes you feel good. With a new tensor G4 processor, 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, the Pixel 9 is a screamer. This is one of the most responsive Android phones I’ve been using all year round, and it’s the standard version of this phone only.
The camera is also impressive. Google kept the same 50MP main camera as last year, but replaced the old 12MP superwidth for the new 48MP 123 degree camera. The photos are stunning on this phone, and Google’s post-processing algorithm does an ideal job of maintaining the details and contrast. The video quality is also very good, especially with the company’s video boost technology. This phone can easily rival devices worth $200 or more.
If your hardware has any downsides, it includes a low-quality 10.5MP selfie camera, but the Pro Phone has a new 42MP camera. Pro models also have an extra telephoto camera, so you won’t get the same zoom quality on your regular Pixel 9.
Google is pretty packed with the Pixel 9 when it comes to AI features on this phone. Not only does it ship your company’s Gemini chatbot out of the box, but thanks to the Tensor G4 processor, it comes with Gemini Live so you can have real conversations.
Also: I found a physical keyboard for my Pixel 9 Pro, which is no joke
You will need the Google One AI Premium Plan, but you can get it for free when you purchase Pixel 9. I asked a number of questions similar to web queries (“What is the best place to live near relatively affordable New York City?” “The number of stars in the sky – in the galaxy, do you wait in the galaxy?” It’s in the early stages, but it’s an exciting technology that can change the way you use your phone.
It also gets features like Add Me. This will take a photo of your friends, take your photos in the same place, merge the two, and make sure no one leaves behind. I played around during the test and it worked surprisingly well. There are also some great updates to the Magic Editor for framing photos.
Google also includes two new AI-powered apps in the Pixel 9 series: Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio. The former allows you to organize your screenshots and search them at AI prompts to easily browse information such as Wi-Fi passwords and recipes.
On the other hand, the latter allows you to generate images on the fly and customize them with text, stickers and other effects. I enjoyed using both apps with limited testing time, but I need to play with them in the long run to see if they’re worth it.
Also: Best GooglePixel Phones to Buy in 2025
I felt the battery life was very good. There are 4,700mAh cells inside, and can last for a full day of charging. This means you don’t have to worry about the battery on this phone after a long day. Google includes 45W charging support for the Pixel 9 series, which is great, but you’ll need to buy a different Wall adapter to take advantage of it. Plus, there’s 15W wireless charging (not QI2) and 5W reverse wireless charging, known as “battery share.”
ZDNET purchase advice
If your budget is $800, it’s hard not to recommend it Google Pixel 9especially for sale at $250. Certainly, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is a tough competitor, but I think this is actually a better purchase. This gives you access to some useful new AI features and get all the perks of the pixel experience, including excellent software, display quality, cameras and more.
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL models can be flashy, but don’t overlook the baseline version of Google’s flagship phone.
This article was originally published on August 22, 2024 and updated on June 6, 2025
Recent US tariffs on imports from countries such as China, Vietnam and India aim to increase domestic production, but are likely to raise prices for home appliances. Products like smartphones, laptops, and televisions can become more expensive as companies rethink their global supply chain and weigh the costs of changing production.
CNET: Customs Price Tracker: See 11 products you may need to buy
Smartphones are one of the new US tariffs affected, with devices imported from China and Vietnam facing a sudden job that could raise retail prices by more than 20%. Brands like Apple and Google are heavily dependent on Asian manufacturing, and could either pass these costs to consumers or absorb them at the expense of profit margins.
Tariffs could lead to delays in product launches and changes in the location and method of phones being manufactured, encouraging companies to diversify production in countries with more favorable terms of trade.
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