Google unveils Pixel 9

Google's highly anticipated Pixel 9 made its debut at the Made by Google event on August 13. Positioned as a more compact alternative to the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, the Pixel 9 offers a premium experience in a smaller package.

The Pixel 9 boasts a fresh design with a centred camera island, replacing the previous camera bar. Its polished metal edges and matte finish in Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, or Peony provide a sleek look.

Its 6.3-inch Actua OLED display promises to deliver impressive visuals with up to 1,800 nits of HDR brightness. The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations.

Equipped with a dual rear camera system featuring a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 48-megapixel ultrawide sensor with macro focus, the Pixel 9 captures detailed and vibrant photos. While it lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, the 4x Super Res Zoom offers decent optical zoom capabilities. The 10.5-megapixel front camera handles selfies and video calls effectively.

Powered by the latest Google Tensor G4 chip and 12GB of RAM, the Pixel 9 can deliver snappy performance for gaming, multitasking, and everyday tasks. The 4,700mAh battery promises all-day usage, and with Extreme Battery Saver mode, users can extend battery life up to 100 hours.

As with the other new Pixel phones, the Pixel 9 is heavily integrated with Google's AI capabilities, including access to its Gemini assistant.

New apps like Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio leverage AI for image editing and generation. Pixel Screenshots particularly make it easier to look up information in screenshots you've taken. (You have to opt in to access this feature.) While Pixel Studio feels like Google's attempt at Midjourney or Dall-E 3. Additionally, the improved weather app provides AI-powered forecasts and information.

For camera-centric AI features, there's Add Me and Magic Editor. Add Me lets you snap two separate images of people or groups and add the photographer by morphing the two shots together. Its AI editor brings new enhancements including framing the photo, expanding scenes, and changing the background.

Starting at $1,099 in Canada, the Pixel 9 is available for pre-order and will hit stores on August 22. While it offers several upgrades over the Pixel 8, the significant price increase ($150 more) might deter some potential buyers.

Overall, the Pixel 9 presents a compelling option for those seeking a smaller flagship device with impressive camera performance and advanced AI features. However, the premium price point may limit its appeal to a wider audience.

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