Google’s Pixel 9 is the goto best Android phone for most people

Should you consider a switch to a Google Pixel phone? Compared to the major smartphone brands of Apple and Samsung, Google has a relatively small share of the UK’s smartphone market but its phones are experiencing a steady rise in appeal, even if they’re not the most popular picks out there yet.

But are they the best? That can depend on your priorities. I’d argue they’re at the top of the pile if you’re in the Android world. If you want attentiongrabbing photos, smart design and useful exclusive features, there’s loads about the Pixel lineup to recommend. And, now that I’ve been using the new Pixel 9 for over a week, I can confidently say it’s the best of Android for most people.

So why would I recommend these smartphones over other Android devices? It comes down to how well the interface works with all the tech packed inside. Since the Google Pixel 6 launched in 2021, we’ve seen the company pair the cleanest version of its Android operating system with considerate design and some of the best cameras in the business. All of that continues in the latest Google Pixel 9 launch, yet there’s now the latest buzzword of “artificial intelligence” (AI) to think about too, something that’s all over these new releases.

The most notable change to the Google Pixel 9 series is an overall design revamp, with all of the phones now featuring flatsided edges and a distinct camera housing that replaces the edgetoedge “camera bar” of the Pixel 8a, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

It now has a 6.3inch screen, up from the 6.2inch display on the Pixel 8, in addition to a slightly larger battery size and should still last you for a whole day of moderate use (or more than that when used lightly).

The Pixel 9 also has the newest Google Tensor G4 processor and extra memory to handle features that are going to dominate the Pixel 9 marketing campaign: the builtin Gemini assistant and new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. In many ways, it can do more than phones ever have before, but I’ve got a few concerns about the direction of these advancements (more on those later).

Elsewhere on the handset, there’s an upgraded camera setup with a new 48megapixel (MP) ultrawide camera with a “macro” ability for closeup photos, a new 10.5MP frontfacing camera with autofocus for better selfies, a 35% brighter display, and a new range of colours featuring lovely black, white, pink and green shades (the colou'”r of the model used for this review). The price has also gone up: the Pixel 8 started at £699 when it launched, and this model starts at £799.

Google Pixel 9: At a glance

Google Pixel 9

Key specifications

Screen size	6.3 inches
Screen resolution	1,080 x 2,424 pixels
Operating system	Android
Processor	Google Tensor G4
Battery life	4,700mAh, over one day of normal use
Cameras	50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 10.5MP frontfacing
Builtin storage	128GB, 256GB
Weight	198g

This refreshed look brings us some of the most evident changes to the Google Pixel lineup in years, and it’s a new design language that’s visible across the entire range.

There’s a very slight increase in the weight of the Pixel 9 compared to the Pixel 8 (187g up to 198g), the edges around the display are slimmer, and the phone itself has a more refined and sturdy design for better protection against drops. The new camera “island” may take a little getting used to but it’s, overall, a much more sleek approach that pairs well with a case for a seamless look, allowing it to lie flat on a table.

These also feel like better materials compared to the last few Pixel generations when the phone isn’t in a case. I’ve noticed that it seems far less likely to slip out of my hands or unexpectedly drop from the desk to the floor – trust me, that was an issue with several previous Pixel phones.

There isn’t a big difference between the display on the Google Pixel 8 and the Pixel 9 but it’s a great highresolution panel for accurate colours and smooth animations. The best change here is that its brightness has had a big increase, so it’ll be easy to read even on the sunniest days. It also now has an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor beneath the display – it’s a super fast and reliable way to unlock the handset.

Every advert you see for the Google Pixel 9 is likely to put either its new camera features or its AI software smarts under the spotlight. These benefits are the big selling points of the phone lineup. Google’s builtin Gemini assistant (which is its version of the ChatGPT conversational assistant) now takes the place of Google Assistant when you press and hold the power button, and there are new ways to edit photos, arrange and manage your screenshots within the Screenshots app, and to create visuals within the new Pixel Studio app.

Overall, as much as these features can feel advanced and futuristic, I can’t help but feel like the tech industry is rushing to progress artificial intelligence without sufficient guardrails or protections for users.

The one feature I’m most impressed by is the new Screenshots app, which will take all your screenshots and organise them, making it easier for you to find images of a dress you were researching (and it’ll attach the web link to the picture too) or all the screengrabs you’ve taken of receipts, licence plates or directions you’ve saved. It’ll prompt you to add things to your calendar, your reminders or your maps app. It’s helpful – a good example of how AI should work for you.

On the other hand, the new image generation features feel somewhat questionable. We used the Pixel Studio app to invent illustrations and pictures and, while I appreciate that it won’t generate images of people (for now), there’s nothing to stop people from creating images of copyrighted characters or sharing misinformation, for example, and more limits are needed here. But if you’re only using this to create a silly picture of a cat wearing a sombrero, as I’ve done below, you’ll probably like it.

The same can be said for the “Reimagine” feature within the Magic Editor in the Google Photos app. It’s the most concerning part of this whole feature set for creating realistic images that didn’t happen. While “Add Me” (explained below) can invent a group photo moment that isn’t real, it at least takes some effort.

All “Reimagine” needs is for you to circle or select a portion of the picture, and then prompt it to add something. Some of the results can be too realistic and don’t have a “Made with AI” badge or label (I’ve added one on the example below). It’s a feature that could potentially be used to create misleading images. Is this necessary or useful for most of us?

Lastly, when talking about the use of Gemini as an assistant, we’ve got to consider that it’s primarily designed to generate language and hold a conversation, but it’s not always able to verifiably provide true information. This can make it harder to trust what it tells you when compared to a Google search or the results Google Assistant would’ve previously surfaced for you. It’s also a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to doing some basic things that Google Assistant could, like setting timers and alarms and turning on certain device functions like the torch. It’s probably not quite ready to be the primary assistant on these devices, but it will improve over time.

Photography is a huge part of the appeal of the Google Pixel lineup of smartphones, and the Pixel 9 isn’t an exception. I don’t think I’d tell anyone owning a Pixel 8a, Pixel 8 or even a Pixel 7 to rush out and buy this one for its upgraded cameras alone, but it’s going to be a great upgrade from your older device.

The front camera now has autofocus which is a big change compared to the fixed focal length of the old selfie camera. The Google Pixel 9 Pro and the 9 Pro XL got more substantial upgrades with extra resolution in the frontfacing camera, but the addition of autofocus will mean you’ll get better photos of yourself more of the time. This lens has a wide field of view too, so it’s ideal for fitting loads of people into the frame for a group selfie.

You’re still getting an excellent main camera with a 50MP sensor on the back of the phone, and you can crop into this for a 2x zoom. The results from this setup are consistent and have wellbalanced colours and accurate tones.

It’s always a slightly enhanced take on the scene, where the image feels maybe slightly more vibrant and warm compared to reality – they’re a bit more contrastfilled than naturallooking. This is great if you don’t want to fuss around with editing your pictures after taking them, though! The 48MP ultrawide lens on the back will also add more detail to your images when compared to the shots from the Pixel 8.

All of the results I’ve shot on the Google Pixel 9 look impressive, no matter the lens or the lighting situation. The processing isn’t too heavyhanded and retains realistic shadows. It’s great for delivering shareable pictures right away. It does have a few artificial intelligence tricks too, whether that’s the Magic Editor or the “Add Me” feature to bring everybody into a group photo by “adding” the original photographer when taking a second shot. I’ve tried this and it works quite well, even if it’s a little fiddly and creates a moment that didn’t happen in reality.

Google Pixel 9 camera sample photos

Open Gallery

There was once a time when the Google Pixel handsets were positioned as great value phone options when compared to rivals from Samsung and Apple, but they’re now around the same price. This handset has a £100 price increase when compared to last year’s Pixel 8, going up to a £799 starting price.

You’re getting a lot for the money and I think it stands toetotoe with the competition, but it’s not quite as much of a steal as a Pixel might’ve been in the past. It’s worth knowing that the £799 cost is for 128GB of storage. To get 256GB of space costs £899.

While I’m not sure about the utility of all of Google’s new AI features, this is the most refined and capable Google handset for most of us. The Pixel 9’s refreshed design is solid and sturdy and it feels great to use with its speedy processor and stunning 6.3inch display.

Overall, this is a brilliant smartphone with great performance and battery life, in addition to a terrific camera for photos you can share straight to social media or send to your friends with them looking excellent. If you’re after a phone to replace your travel camera, this is a great choice.

The Google Pixel 9 is a clear step up from the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a. However, the optimisations are minor enough that I’d recommend it more if you’re upgrading from a cheaper Android phone or an older phone like the Pixel 6 or 7. And, while some of the AI innovations feel unnecessary, some are genuinely useful like the excellent translations, call screening and screenshot organisation. Don’t buy it for the AI, though. Buy it because it’s a welldesigned phone with the best software experience you’ll find on Android.

The best alternative to the Google Pixel 9 that delivers many of its features will be last year’s Google Pixel 8. The new phone may bring improvements in many areas, but it’s more expensive and not that different if your main focus is the smooth operating system and excellent camera performance.

Last year’s handset still delivers where it matters – it’s much more affordable and still offers extensive support with a promise of software updates until 2030.

Those on more of a budget would do well to consider the Google Pixel 8a as well, which offers many of the same interface and camera benefits at a more affordable price. If you’d like improved specifications and camera performance from Google – or a much larger screen – you’ll want to upgrade to take a look at the rest of its new range and consider an upgrade to either the Google Pixel 9 Pro (which is the same size as the Pixel 9) or the Pixel 9 Pro XL, with a much larger display.

If you’ve been an iPhone user until now, I’d still recommend holding onto your iOS device because moving to Android can be quite challenging, especially if you need to move a lot of files and photos. The iPhone 15 is a topspec smartphone, and it’s safe to assume a new iPhone launch might be around the corner if previous years are anything to go by.

Simon Cocks is Hearst UK’s Technology Ecommerce Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy across a range of titles including Good Housekeeping UK, Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.   

Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, ebook readers and smartphones. He’s reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.  

A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.  

He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and moneysaving advice guides and edited thousands of indepth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.  

He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  

When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.  

You can follow Simon on Instagram at @simonrcocks, on Threads at @simonrcocks, and on Twitter/X at @simoncocks.