Pixel 9 at ₹35,999: This or the S24?

Summary

The Pixel 9 is being offered at a huge discount, making it a strong contender against the Snapdragon S24. The review highlights the Pixel 9’s solid build, impressive software experience, and superior main camera, though it falls short in gaming performance, battery life, and connectivity compared to the S24. While the S24 offers better performance, more versatile cameras, and reliability, the Pixel 9 stands out with its unique design and personality, making it a great option for those who prioritize user experience and features under 40K.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pixel 9 is currently available at a major discount of ₹36K, down from ₹80K, making it an attractive deal.
• 😀 The Pixel 9 has a compact, boxy design with rounded edges and weighs 198g, providing a solid, premium feel in hand.
• 😀 The 6.3-inch OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate is color-accurate, bright outdoors, and great for media consumption.
• 😀 Software experience on the Pixel 9 is clean, with no bloatware, fast updates, and tight haptics, offering a smooth user interface.
• 😀 The Pixel 9 comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage in the base variant, providing a good value compared to the Galaxy S24's 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.
• 😀 Pixel 9's main camera and ultra-wide are better than the S24, offering more detail and less noise in general shots.
• 😀 Samsung S24 has a more versatile camera setup, especially with its dedicated 3x telephoto lens and better portrait, zoom, and selfie shots.
• 😀 The Tensor chipset in the Pixel 9 isn't the best for gaming, but it delivers solid day-to-day performance with no major lags or stuttering.
• 😀 The Pixel 9 has decent battery life, lasting longer than the S24 in regular use, with 5.5 hours of screen-on time.
• 😀 The Pixel 9 charges slowly, taking over 1.5 hours for a full charge, similar to the S24.
• 😀 Connectivity on the Pixel 9 is improved compared to older models but may face issues with Jio network speeds in certain areas.
• 😀 While the Pixel 9 offers personality with its unique design and features, the Snapdragon S24 is better for those seeking raw performance and a more versatile camera setup.

Q & A

What is the price discount for the Pixel 9 and how does it compare to its original price?

The Pixel 9 is currently available at a discounted price of ₹36,000, down from its original price of ₹80,000, which is a ₹44,000 discount.

What are some of the standout features of the Pixel 9 in terms of design?

The Pixel 9 has a compact and premium design with a boxy shape and rounded edges. It features a large camera module, especially noticeable in the pink color, and weighs 198 grams, offering a solid, premium feel.

How does the Pixel 9's display perform compared to other phones in the same price range?

The Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It offers excellent color accuracy, high outdoor brightness, and smooth visuals, making it a top-tier option for media consumption.

What are the advantages of the Pixel 9's software and user experience?

The Pixel 9 provides a clean, bloatware-free UI with smooth animations and crisp haptics. It also benefits from regular software updates every 3 months, delivering new features and the latest Android versions quickly.

How does the camera performance of the Pixel 9 compare to the Galaxy S24?

The Pixel 9's main and ultra-wide cameras generally outperform the S24 in terms of detail, noise reduction, and sharpness. However, the S24 has an edge in portrait and zoom photography, with its dedicated 3x telephoto lens and better selfie quality.

What are the performance limitations of the Pixel 9 due to its Tensor chipset?

The Tensor chipset is not as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, leading to subpar gaming performance. While day-to-day tasks run smoothly, the Pixel 9 struggles with more demanding games like 'Bothering Waves,' showing choppy performance.

How is the battery life of the Pixel 9, and how does it compare to the Galaxy S24?

The Pixel 9's battery life is decent, with a slightly better battery performance than the Galaxy S24. In side-by-side testing, the Pixel 9 had 10% more battery left after extensive use. It also offers around 5.5 hours of screen-on time in regular usage.

Does the Pixel 9 support fast charging, and how does it compare to other devices?

The Pixel 9 charges slowly compared to other phones, taking over 1.5 hours to charge fully. This is similar to the Galaxy S24 but slower than other competitors with faster charging speeds.

Are there any connectivity issues with the Pixel 9?

The Pixel 9 does have some connectivity concerns, especially with Jio in India. Users may experience inconsistent internet speeds, though there are no significant issues with AI or call drops. It also supports dual SIM with one physical SIM and eSIM.

What makes the Pixel 9 a better choice despite the concerns with performance and connectivity?

The Pixel 9 stands out for its personality, design, and software experience. Despite performance and connectivity concerns, it offers a premium user experience, good cameras for the price, and the exclusive Pixel features like bloat-free software, haptics, and regular updates.