Google Pixel 9/Pro Review: Gimmick or Good?

Summary

The video script reviews Google's new Pixel 9 series, highlighting the phones' hardware upgrades and AI capabilities. The author praises the improved design, bright screens, and the new ultrasonic fingerprint reader but expresses concerns about battery life and charging speeds. The script delves into the camera quality, noting the processed look of photos, and discusses the integration of Google's Gemini assistant, which offers conversational AI but also coexists with Google Assistant. The review also explores various AI features, categorizing them as useful, average, or gimmicky, and concludes that the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro are Google's finest work yet, offering a smart and pleasant user experience with optional AI enhancements.

Takeaways

• 📱 The new Pixel phones feature updated designs, specs, and features, but also come with new price tags.
• 🤔 The Google event focused more on software than hardware, which was unusual considering the history of Pixel and Nexus devices.
• 👍 After two weeks of use, the reviewer found the new hardware to be flagship quality, with brighter screens, improved bezels, and a new ultrasonic fingerprint reader.
• 🔒 There's a desire for the fingerprint reader to work from a completely off display, similar to Samsung phones.
• 🔋 The phones have similar battery sizes to the previous models, with good but not outstanding battery life, and lack fast charging capabilities.
• 💡 The new Pixel 9 and 9 Pro share the same primary and ultra-wide cameras, with the Pro model adding a telephoto lens for 5X zoom.
• 📸 The camera photos are very processed, with lots of HDR, contrast, and sharpening, which may not appeal to everyone.
• 📱 The Pixel 9 series comes with Android 14, not the latest Android 15, which is a notable discrepancy for Google's own phone.
• 🌐 Google's new Gemini assistant is deeply integrated into the Pixel 9, offering conversational AI capabilities that are rapidly improving.
• 🤖 Gemini and Google Assistant coexist on the Pixel 9, which may cause some confusion for users.
• 🛠️ The Pixel 9 introduces several AI features, some of which are useful like Gemini, Call Notes, and Video Boost, while others are more gimmicky.

Q & A

What is the general sentiment towards the new Pixel phones in the script?

The script expresses a mix of excitement and skepticism towards the new Pixel phones. While acknowledging the new designs, specs, and features, it also points out the new issues and higher price tags, suggesting a need to delve deeper into the phones' capabilities.

How does the author feel about Google's event announcing the new Pixel phones?

The author feels that the event was more of a software showcase that happened to include new phones, which did not instill confidence in the hardware of the Pixel phones.

What new hardware features are mentioned in the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro phones?

New hardware features include brighter screens with 2,700 nits for the Pixel 9 and 3,000 nits for the 9 Pro, even bezels, OLED panels with wrapped edges, and a new ultrasonic fingerprint reader that is faster and more reliable.

What is the main criticism regarding the fingerprint reader on the new Pixel phones?

The main criticism is that the fingerprint reader does not allow unlocking at any time when the display is completely off. It requires the always-on display to be on, or the power button to be pressed, or a notification to be received before unlocking with a touch.

What is the new chip featured in the Pixel 9 phones?

The new chip featured in the Pixel 9 phones is the Tensor G4, which includes a more powerful and dedicated NPU for AI tasks and additional RAM also dedicated to AI tasks.

How does the author feel about the camera capabilities of the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro?

The author feels that while the cameras are quick and easy to use, producing consistent good pictures, they tend to have a very processed look with lots of HDR, contrast, dynamic range, and sharpening, which may not be as natural as some users prefer.

What is the new selfie camera feature on the Pixel 9 Pro?

The new selfie camera on the Pixel 9 Pro offers a significant improvement in detail and color, providing a high-quality selfie experience with a lot of dynamic range.

What is the issue with the Android version on the new Pixel 9 phones?

The issue is that the Pixel 9 phones launch with Android 14, even though Android 15 was previewed in February and is expected by the end of the year, making the new Pixels not the first to feature the latest Android version.

What is Gemini, and how is it integrated with the Pixel 9 phones?

Gemini is Google's newest AI assistant, deeply integrated with the Pixel 9 phones. It is designed to be conversational, context-aware, and capable of performing various tasks and providing information.

What are some of the new AI features on the Pixel 9 phones categorized as 'useful' by the author?

The author categorizes Gemini, Call Notes, Video Boost, and Add Me as 'useful' AI features. Gemini for its assistant capabilities, Call Notes for summarizing phone calls, Video Boost for improving video quality, and Add Me for including the photographer in group photos.

What is the author's view on the 'meh' AI features of the Pixel 9 phones?

The author finds features like the new weather summaries in the weather app, Magic Editor's Reimagine feature, and the Screenshots app to be 'meh' or okay. They offer some utility but may not be groundbreaking or essential.

What AI features does the author consider 'gimmicks' on the Pixel 9 phones?

The author considers Zoom Enhance and the Pixel Studio app as 'gimmicks'. While they work and can be fun to use, the author questions their practical utility for the average user.

What is the author's final verdict on the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro phones?

The author concludes that the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro represent some of Google's finest work yet, offering a smart, AI-capable smartphone experience in nice hardware, with additional AI features that users can choose to utilize or ignore.