This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
Remember the good old days of the Pixel phone? I do. I anxiously awaited every new model, wondering what cool thing the big G would bake in that particular Pixel. The first generation brought us one of the best cameras on a smartphone at the time, and it was mostly software magic.
The first two Pixel models' aluminum unibody was durable. With the Pixel 2, Google introduced front-facing stereo speakers, a feature that even some of the latest flagships lack in favor of a bottom-firing loudspeaker.
The Pixel 4 was hands down the most innovative of all the Pixels, not only at the time but even now, considering the bold changes Google made with that model. The phone ditched the fingerprint scanner for an IR-based facial recognition tech, and it also had a gesture mode that used radar technology to let users control their phone without… touching it.
Yeah, the company dropped that feature the very next year, as it wasn’t very good, but still, it could’ve been improved.
The next generation moved toward an all-screen design with a hole-punch front camera and a high-refresh-rate screen, which was not unheard of then but still a rarity. When the Pixel 6 came along, we got the most significant design and hardware change.
The Pixel 6 introduced the Pro model, a radically different design that stood out in the growingly unified smartphone market, and an in-house-developed chipset, the Tensor G. This series, just like the previous ones, was instantly recognizable among the crowd, mainly because of the Camera Bar design on the back and the gently curved and soft design.
The Pixel 7 was more of the same, really, but with the Pixel 8 Series, Google threw another bomb and shook the industry. The company pledged to support the series for seven years.
This meant not only getting the latest Android version for seven long years, but also getting it first, as Google distributes new versions to Pixel phones first.
And now, the Pixel 9 series. Where do I start? Well, let's start with the positives first.
What's good about the Pixel 9 series?
The Pixel 9 series is probably the first in a long line of Pixels that really feels like a flagship. Its design, build quality, hardware (even though the Tensor G4 is not there yet), and the portfolio of four different models all comprise a very competitive package.
The cameras are as great as ever, with software AI algorithms that can probably take a spaceship to Mars on autopilot if configured for the task. Gemini is onboard and more capable than ever (although, unsurprisingly, the Gemini Advanced version is now a paid subscription).
But all these pros are actually cons in disguise. What really happened is that Pixel phones have joined Apple and Samsung (which was the idea, I guess), and that makes them boring and not the quirky, geeky phones they used to be. Google now offers the same portfolio of models as Apple and Samsung, and they look almost the same as well.
Where's the Magic?
The Pixel 9 series feels a bit... ordinary, that's the best way to put it. It's a good series, but it lacks that particular "cool factor" that made earlier Pixels so special. The design now resembles the design of the iPhones and Galaxies of late.
The size of the Pixel 9 Pro XL is almost identical to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, down to fractions of a millimeter (162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm vs 163.0 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm). The weight difference is 6 grams. And the design is pretty similar too, with flat sides, back, and front. The only differences are the camera housing and the logo on the back. If you cover those, you can't tell which is which.
Recommended Stories
The software side of things is also not that exciting—almost every Android flagship now relies on Gemini, so there are almost no Pixel-exclusive features. Samsung also called Google's bid on the update cycle and now offers the same seven years of major OS updates on the Galaxy flagships as the Pixels.
The battery and charging are also very comparable between the new Pixel and the iPhones and Galaxies. There is no crazy 120W wired charging and no exotic materials in the batteries.
What can be done?
Google Pixel 10 series wish list
Let me share a simple wish list for the Pixel 10 series that would not only make me buy one but also give the series an advantage over Samsung and Apple phones. I'll keep my wishes as realistic as possible, with no science fiction involved.
Break that glass ceiling
Why not change this boring glass sandwich material status quo and break the glass ceiling (pun intended) all modern flagships now exhibit? Take notes from Motorola and the ThinkPhone with its aramid fiber back or the latest Edge family with their faux wood backs.
People would love to use their phones without a case if they're sure a simple drop won't shatter the back into a thousand pieces.
Where are the quirky controls?
I'm sorry, but I'm currently using an Honor Magic 6 Pro, and the latest software update lets you control the phone WITH YOUR EYES! Yeah, I know what you're thinking: it's a gimmick, much like LG's air gestures and Pixel 4's radar controls. But no – it's not a gimmick; it works like a charm.
How does it work exactly? When a notification pops up, you can look at it (a dot appears showing where your gaze is), and if you hold for a second, that notification opens up. It's very helpful.
The Chinese version of the phone also supported scrolling with your eyes, clicking on things, and opening apps with a blink. Now, that's what I expect from a Pixel phone! Google has (used to have?) a department dedicated to crazy ideas, which is kind of a skunkworks division. The modular ARA phone was a brainchild of that division. Enough said.
We want new batteries!
This is such a quality-of-life improvement! The aforementioned Honor Magic 6 Pro features a 5,600 mAh silicon carbon battery, and it makes a difference. No matter what you do, the phone just can't be drained in a day.
You can browse for 20 hours, watch videos for 14 hours straight, or game for 12 hours. The phone still ranks second in our Battery ranking of phones tested in the last two years and first among flagships.
The OnePlus 13 also adopts the silicon-carbon tech. It comes with a 6,000 mAh battery, and I can't wait to put it through our battery test. These phones can also charge their huge batteries in under one hour (in some cases under half an hour even).
Hell, give us the solid state batteries Samsung promised with the Note 20 series way back in the day!
Conclusion
The sad reality, however, is that Google will probably sell the most Pixels to date with the Pixel 9 series. This inevitably will lock the company in the same vicious circle of incremental updates, uninspiring design, and smartphone uniformity that Samsung and Apple are already in.
I may be wrong. People might get fed up with the same phones with different branding and stop buying them in bulk. Only time will tell.
What do you think? Are you disappointed in the Pixel 9 series, or do you think it's great and I got it all wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Create a free account and join our vibrant community
Register to enjoy the full PhoneArena experience. Here’s what you get with your PhoneArena account:
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: