The Google Pixel 9 is packed with more AI smarts and a better ultra-wide camera, all wrapped in a more polished design. But is it worth it? Let’s dive in.

First Impressions of the Google Pixel 9

I’ve spent a few days using the Google Pixel 9, and so far, it’s really making me curious about where Google’s AI could go in the future. I spent way too much time creating silly photos in Pixel Studio and playing around with a new feature called “Add Me,” which uses AR to take group photos. However, using the Google Pixel 9 has also shown me that, despite the hype, AI isn’t a reason to upgrade your phone—at least not yet. Google is on the right track with some of the Pixel 9’s new features, like the ability to search for anything in your screenshots.

While it’s not a reason to upgrade your phone, I do really like the way Google is thinking about AI, and I’m looking forward to a time when it truly makes our phones a lot easier to use. But that day isn’t quite here just yet. The Google Pixel 9 shines for a lot of the same reasons its predecessors did. It has solid cameras, really clean software, and beautiful hardware. However, Google does have a higher bar to live up to now that the Google Pixel 9 starts at $799, which is $100 more than the Pixel 8 was at launch. Here’s a closer look at my thoughts so far, but don’t forget to read my full review for more details.

Design Changes in the Google Pixel 9

First, let’s start with the obvious: the Google Pixel 9 has a new look. The camera bar now has a floating island-style design rather than stretching across the entire back of the phone, and the metal edges are flatter as well. This gives the Google Pixel 9 a more seamless shape since the edges aren’t interrupted by the camera module. I love the way it looks and feels so much that I don’t even want to put a case on it, especially in this new “Pey Pink” color.

I’m just going to say it: it looks more like an iPhone—and in a good way. The screen is also a bit larger and brighter compared to the Pixel 8, which makes it slightly easier to see in sunlight. Although I did still find myself cranking the brightness up all the way to use it outdoors, it’s really the software that makes the Google Pixel 9 different from previous versions of Google’s phone. These new phones have a handful of AI-powered features, such as an image generator app, a tool for changing objects in photos into something else, and a new app that lets you search for content in your screenshots.

AI Features in the Google Pixel 9

Pixel Studio, the image generator, was so much fun to play around with. I went down a rabbit hole typing in whatever I could think of, although it can’t make images of people yet, which limits some of its usefulness. I can see this being useful for really any situation where you might need to come up with a custom graphic for something, like maybe a party invitation. Personally, I could see it being really useful for creating characters for games like Dungeons and Dragons once it can create people, but we’ll have to wait and see where it goes.

In my experience, the results were pretty accurate based on the prompt, but there were some instances where they were a little off. I tried creating an image of Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and Mew in a forest together, for example, and instead of making Mew, it made some kind of hybrid of Mew and Jigglypuff. Either way, I really enjoyed typing in the prompts and seeing what Google would make of them.

Reimagine and Pixel Screenshots

Reimagine, another new feature, lets you select objects in photos and change them into something else entirely. In my experience, this feature works best when selecting a flat object in the background rather than something with a lot of depth. Pixel Screenshots seems like one of the most practical new AI features. You can basically search for any piece of information that’s stored in a screenshot, like a Wi-Fi password for your Airbnb or an order confirmation, and it will pull it up.

The “Add Me” Feature

Then there’s “Add Me,” which is probably one of the wildest new features I’ve seen on a phone in a long time. So we’re going to try out a new feature called “Add Me,” which basically makes it so that you can take a group photo while everyone is actually in the photo, even when no one’s there to take it for you. Here’s how it works: one person takes the photo, then they hand off the phone to another person in the photo to take a second photo. The phone then combines both images to create one photo with everybody in it.

It definitely works. It does look a little less natural than if we were both just standing next to each other in the photo. The positioning is definitely correct, but it just looks like two people that don’t know that they’re standing next to each other, because that’s exactly what it is.

Gemini Live on the Google Pixel 9

Basically, those are some of Google’s pixel-specific features, but I also got to play with Gemini Live on the Google Pixel 9, which is the more conversational version that requires a paid subscription. You can interrupt Gemini and ask follow-up questions, with the goal being to make talking to Gemini feel as natural as talking to a person.

“What are some good ice cream spots nearby?”

“There are a couple of great options for classic high-quality ice cream. Head to Van Luin on Hudson Yards. They’ve got tons of creative flavors, plus some vegan options.”

“Do they have gluten-free options too?”

“Both places have options.”

“Oh, okay. Do they also have coffee at any of those ice cream places?”

“Yeah, Van Luin has great coffee. They roast their own beans, so it’s really good. Bambina Blue focuses more on the gelato, but there are some cafes nearby if you want coffee with your ice cream.”

Gemini Live certainly sounds more natural and can continue the conversation even after I’ve interrupted, but its answers weren’t always accurate. At times, it would cut out and stop responding. For example, when I asked about a show happening on Little Island, Gemini gave me the wrong dates. When I used the Gemini overlay to ask questions about a restaurant’s food selections, it gave me dishes that weren’t on the menu. I love the idea of being able to ask Gemini questions rather than sifting through menus and documents myself, but these results make it a little hard for me to trust the responses right away.

Camera Quality in the Google Pixel 9

Like Samsung, many of Google’s AI features are impressive and really fun to use, but they do feel siloed. They feel designed for individual use cases rather than making your entire phone software feel smarter as a whole. But I think that’s where things are headed, so I’m interested in seeing where this goes. AI is definitely the big new thing on this year’s Google Pixel 9, but it’s not the only thing worth talking about. Camera quality is also another area Google has traditionally paid a lot of attention to.

The Google Pixel 9 generally has the same camera as the Pixel 8: a 50-megapixel main camera and a separate camera for taking ultra-wide shots. However, the ultra-wide camera on the Google Pixel 9 has a new 48-megapixel sensor, which is an upgrade from the Pixel 8’s 12-megapixel sensor. I could definitely see the difference in some photos, but in others, the ultra-wide upgrade was less noticeable. This photo of a park at Little Island has much more color than the Pixel 8’s image, but in this other picture of the amphitheater, I couldn’t really tell the difference until I zoomed in and looked at the wooden stage area.

Panoramic mode also has a new interface that makes it much easier to time and line up your shots. Otherwise, the Google Pixel 9’s camera is more or less the same as the one on the Pixel 8. I’m still trying out the camera, but in my early tests, I’m getting photos that are colorful, feel punchy, but are still realistic and true to life, which can be a tough balance to strike. I didn’t see too much of a difference between the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 8, but I did think the iPhone 15 took sharper photos than the Google Pixel 9 in most circumstances.

Battery Life and Performance

The Google Pixel 9 also has a larger battery than the Pixel 8, and so far, I’m seeing promising results. On a really busy day that involved going to a park, taking lots of photos, keeping the screen brightness high, and going out with friends at night, I still had 38% of my battery left after about 16 hours of general use. On a much less busy day that was mostly spent at home, I had 64% after roughly the same amount of time. But of course, battery life will always vary depending on how you use your phone, and we’re still running battery tests, so be sure to check out the written review for future updates.

Powering all of this is Google’s new Tensor G4 processor. The new chip, combined with the new 12 GB of RAM and the high refresh rate display, makes this phone feel fast and clean.

Pros and Cons of the Google Pixel 9

So after using the Google Pixel 9 for a few days, here’s what I like and don’t like. I really love the new design, and I think the Pixel Screenshots app will save me a lot of time. I also appreciate that Google is paying attention to improving the ultra-wide camera, even if it is a small upgrade, and you get seven years of software updates with this phone, meaning it’ll get new features for a while to come.

However, I’m not convinced AI is a reason to upgrade, and when you strip away the new AI features, this phone isn’t all that different from the Pixel 8. Google also has a track record of bringing software features to older Pixel phones, so we’ll have to see if it continues that tradition with these new features.

Conclusion

Now that the Google Pixel 9 is $100 more expensive, it’s also in a different class of device. It doesn’t feel like a high-end mid-range phone anymore; now it’s a premium phone. At that price, Samsung offers a dedicated telephoto camera in addition to the wide and ultra-wide cameras on the Galaxy S24, which makes the competition even fiercer.

Overall, if you are a Pixel fan and you’re upgrading from an older phone, you’ll probably find a lot to like in the Google Pixel 9. Its design is sleek, the camera quality has improved, and the new AI features show promise for the future. However, if you currently own the Pixel 8 or a recent flagship from another brand, the incremental upgrades may not justify the higher price tag just yet. The Google Pixel 9 is a solid device that excels in many areas, but potential buyers should weigh the enhancements against their own needs and consider whether the improvements align with their expectations for a smartphone in this price range.