Google's iPhone
The Pixel 9 has considerable upgrades over its predecessor; the OLED panel is slightly bigger and brighter, the device is a smidgen faster, and it has a bigger battery. The all-new cameras take incredible shots in any situation, which Pixels has always excelled at.
You get many new AI-focused features and seven years of updates, and there's 45W charging as well. The design has been overhauled, and the Pixel 9 looks closer than ever to the iPhone 15. Google also decided to use flat sides with this generation.
For
- Brighter OLED panel
- Better internals
- New cameras are even better
- Bigger battery with 45W charging
- Seven years of software updates
- Unique AI-focused software extras
Against
- Bigger and heavier than last year
- Design doesn't look as good
- Costlier
- Android 14 out of the box
Still great
The Pixel 8 is still a great phone, but it has been overshadowed by the Pixel 8a — and now the Pixel 9. That doesn’t mean it is inferior; you get a vibrant 120Hz OLED panel, decent hardware, the same number of software updates, and identical software.
The cameras are brilliant and a big part of the Pixel 8’s allure. I like that the device is smaller than the Pixel 9, and if you currently own one, it would make sense to hold on to it for longer.
For
- Good OLED panel
- Decent hardware
- Great cameras
- Clean software with unique extras
- Seven years of software updates
Against
- Slow charging
- Thermal limitations
