It’s been more than a year since the Google Pixel 9 launched. The Pixel 10 came, and it has been a severe letdown for most. Pixel 9 is now cheaper, and does it look like an ideal option?
(image credits to @nikewrayy on X)
Design and build
There’s nothing much to say. It’s built well, and it feels solid in hand. The only issue I have is that the back glass smudges too easily due to the glossy finish.
Display
The display is solid in all aspects except one MAJOR area where it lacks behind significantly. The display has a 240Hz PWM flicker rate, which is too low and can cause eye-strain if used for long periods of time. One other small limitation is that it lacks LTPO display tech. I wish it had LTPO since the battery life would’ve been much better.
Speakers
The speakers are good. But not class leading like Samsung, Apple or OnePlus. You still cannot go wrong with it!
Haptics
There are two phone manufacturers that nail this. Guess which one are they? Google and OnePlus. IT’S SO CRISPY AND PREMIUM! The haptics feel a bit too strong by default, so you can turn that down if you wish.
Software
Let me say one thing: Material 3 Expressive is FINE. But, the implementation is still NOWHERE as promised. Even with this, PixelUI is lovable, fast and simple. You’ll start appreciating it the more you use it. There’s some sort of ‘attachment’ to it, y’all will understand once you use it. It feels like home.
For those who don’t want to stay basic, Google lets you easily unlock the bootloader and use a Custom ROM or root the default software the way you want. This comes with its own burdens, but it’s worth it if you’re a tweaker.
The Google Pixel 9 still gets most of the features from Pixel Drops due to 12GB RAM. Let’s see how it fares in receiving new features with Pixel Drops because the Pixel 8 and lower have stopped receiving most of the new AI features…
Performance
Recently, Google has launched Android 16 December 2025 patch based on QPR2. From initial impressions, the performance has significantly improved on the Google Pixel 9. This can be seen clearly in GeekBench 6 benchmarks.
Thermals are never the best part of the Pixel, but trust me, the 9 and later is much better with it compared to older generations. Still, do NOT expect great thermal performance. It’s going to be fine for day-to-day use (which does not include heavy gaming). Additionally, don’t expect to play heavy games on your phone. It can game well in low-medium intensive titles such as Asphalt Legends and CODM.
Cameras
This base Pixel 9 has the same main and ultra-wide camera hardware as the Pixel 9 Pro series. This means it has a large main and ultra-wide on paper.
Here are the camera specifications:
| 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31″, 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/1.7, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, dual pixel PDAF |
Overall, I am pretty satisfied with the cameras. It has a classic Pixel look, and some people will not like it, especially if they are coming from Chinese phone brands. Furthermore, the camera app experience is VERY basic. You don’t get any sort of pro controls at all. I wish the camera app was a little bit faster, but it is what it is due to UFS 3.1 storage speed.
(image credits to @Cartidise on X)
As usual, portrait modes on newer Pixel devices are horrible. I think Google is pushing/indicating towards the use of Magic Editor to enhance portrait photos. For that, you need to take a normal photo and use the ‘Portrait’ effect in Google AI Magic Editor tools.
Battery life and charging
Due to the lack of LTPO and somewhat average efficiency of the Tensor G4, the battery life has been inconsistent. However, the Android 16 QPR2 December 2025 patch seems to have fixed the inconsistency in battery life. Before, it used to get around 4-6 hours of SoT with mostly mobile data usage. QPR2 patch has pushed it upto 7-8h of SoT. I use Airtel, I would imagine the battery life would be much worse on Jio.
Charging speeds are not something to praise about either. It can do 27W wired and 12/15W wireless. It takes about 1h 30m to fully charge.
Also, my unit has 93% health after 419 cycles, which I think is a normal amount of wear. The phone was bought in September 2024.
Biometrics
The Google Pixel 9 comes with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which is so much faster and more reliable compared to its predecessors. Face Unlock is fast too! I don’t have any complaints with this phone in the biometrics department, the same cannot be said for the older Pixels…
Miscellaneous
- Awful network reception on the Jio network, so Jio users stay away!
- First-party accessories, such as chargers and cases, are expensive for what they offer.
- Indian models ship with 256GB as base, but still are equipped with UFS 3.1 (you need to get a Pixel 10 for UFS 4.0)
- Pixels have had a wonky display quality. (Pixel 8 green screen issues, Pixel 9 Pro series display issues) But the only good thing is that you can get a good replacement from Google even if you are out of warranty. Sources:
– Google Pixel 9 Pro Extended Repair Program – Android Authority
– Official Google Pixel Repair Program Details – Google Support
Summary
Overall, I would give this phone a 7/10. This is because:
1. Good camera performance
2. Loveable software
3. Good build quality and comfortable in-hand feel
4. Class-leading haptics
5. Pixel 9 goes on sale on Flipkart for 39K INR
6. UFS 3.1 is a mis-step.
7. Wonky modem experience on some ISPs
8. Questionable display longevity, but so far the Pixel 9 thankfully hasn’t been affected (but the bright side is that they fix up the phones for free for up to three years from the purchase date).
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