Google Pixel 9 vs Pixel 8

    Google Pixel 9 vs Pixel 8 : Details of the upgrades   

After practically everything about it already leaked out, the Pixel 9 is now finally official, as Google announced its newest smartphone range a bit earlier than usual. Not that we're complaining, as the new Pixel 9 series shapes up to be an exciting release consisting of no less than four different devices: the aforementioned Pixel 9, a better-spec'd Pixel 9 Pro, a slightly larger Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold foldable.  Google has officially launched the Pixel 9 series globally, featuring the vanilla Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The lineup comes as a successor to the last year’s Pixel 8 series. In case you’re planning to upgrade to the Pixel 9 from the Pixel 8, we’ll compare the Pixel 9 with the Pixel 8 for you to see what are the upgrades. While the regular Pixel 9 is naturally shaping up to be the modest one among the bunch, it will still deliver some pretty decent upgrades over the Pixel 8, which was released in October 2023. So, how will the Pixel 9 improve the winning race at the end, we will find out here. Pre-order the Pixel 9 with fancy new Gemini AI features at Amazon. The latest non-Pro model with a G4 chip is currently available with a $100 Gift Card.

Performance

The Google Pixel 9 comes with the all-new Tensor G4 SoC at the helm, up from the Tensor G3 SoC of the Pixel 8. Moreover, it also ships with more RAM than the Pixel 8, which can come in handy while multitasking or switching between heavy apps. While we are yet to test the performance of the Pixel 9, some early leaked benchmark results of the Tensor G4 gave us a rough idea of the smartphone’s performance. The Pixel 9 series is based on a 4nm manufacturing node. It appears that Google will transition to 3nm with the Tensor G5 next year; it also looks like that chip will be fully custom as per Google's requirements. We do expect a performance difference between the Tensor G4 and G3, though it probably won't be that big. As a refresher, Tensor chips are built with AI in mind, so the raw performance element is usually secondary in importance. The Pixel 9 also features more RAM than before, some 12GB to be exact. This increase was necessary due to AI's tasking requirements. The Pixel 8, on the other hand, gets 8GB of RAM, which isn't little, but is surely less impressive in comparison and hurts the future-proofness of the Pixel 8. 

Display

Both phones have fairly identical display specifications. However, the Google Pixel 9 has a slightly bigger 6.3-inch screen with 1,800 nits normal brightness than the Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch display with 1,400 nits brightness. The Pixel 9 with a minor display size increase, getting back to the 6.3-inch display size of the Pixel 7. The Actua OLED display is back, now with a smooth 60-120Hz refresh rate (but the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL are smoother) and a very high peak brightness of 2,700 nits of brightness, which sounds awesome. You also get better protection with the Google Pixel 9, as it has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 compared to the Pixel 8’s Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Besides this, you can expect a similar viewing experience from both devices, as they both have an OLED panel with Full-HD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Last year, the Pixel 8 scored a 6.2-inch display with a very high 2,000-nit peak brightness, which was among the big selling points of both said Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro. However, the Pixel 9 seems like a sound upgrade on all fronts that matter. One major improvement which has come with the Pixel 9 series is the use of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, it will likely be a much faster and more accurate than the optical sensor embedded into the Pixel 8 display. We applaud this potential change, as optical fingerprint sensors don't belong in flagships. 

Cameras

The Google Pixel 9 has a better camera setup than the Google Pixel 8. The Pixel 9 comes along with a new ultra-wide camera, which finally improves on the standard 12MP snapper that has been around in the past few Pixel generations. The new 48MP ultra-wide boasts an f/1.7 aperture, so it should have pretty decent low-light capabilities, as well as a rather wide 123-degree field of view. While you get a 50MP primary camera and a 10.5MP selfie snapper with both phones, the Pixel 9 has a 48MP ultrawide lens compared to the Pixel 8’s 12MP ultrawide shooter. The higher megapixel count will likely result in more detailed and superior clarity in ultrawide images taken on the Pixel 9. The main camera remains the same 50MP f/1.68 one with a 1/1.31" sensor that was also found on the Pixel 8. The majority of improvements surely are courtesy of software enhancements. AI also has a lot to play in the camera app, giving users a ton of new features to play with, like Add Me, which will let you automatically add yourself to a group photo using AI. Since, Pixel 8 used the same 50MP f/1.68 main camera, so it relies on a 12MP ultra-wide with f/2.2. Camera image quality was pretty good, up there with the best of the best smartphone cameras, so we expect nothing less of the Pixel 9. 

Design 

The Google Pixel 9 has come with a slightly refreshed design over the Pixel 8. The Pixel 9 comes forth with a mostly flat design, which is trendy these days. Both the front and back of the phone, as well as the frame on the sides, are completely flat. It has a flat glass body with a matte finish and metal frame. The rear panel features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection and houses a pill-like camera island, featuring a dual camera setup and an LED flash. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 8 has a flat back with rounded corners featuring a glossy finish and metal frame. The rear panel comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection and features a rectangular camera visor, housing a dual camera setup and an LED flash. The Pixel 9 has an aluminium frame, with a matte side frame, while the rear glass has a glossy look. This is to differentiate the affordable one from the more premium Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL, which have the opposite design. A notable design change can be seen on the back of the phone. The side-to-side camera strip at the rear has been redesigned and is no longer connected with the side frame. Instead, it sticks out of the back of the phone, similarly to the Google Pixel Fold. Both phones are IP68 rated for protection against dust and water and can survive underwater for 30 minutes up to 1.5m. However, the Google Pixel 9 has better durability than the Pixel 8, thanks to the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. Last year's Pixel 8 employed a slightly curved side frame and back glass, which surely boosted the ergonomics when holding the phone and made for a pleasant experience in the hand. The Pixel 9 has inherited the Pixel 8's IP68 water and dust resistance. This means both devices allow for submersion in up to 1.5m of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, and complete protection against dust. That's the flagship standard these days, so we expected nothing less of Google. Colors-wise, the Pixel 9 is available in Porcelain, Peony, Wintergreen and Obsidian colours. The Pixel 8, on the other hand, is available in Mint, Hazel, Obsidian and Rose. 

Battery and charging

The Pixel 9 arrives with a solid 4,700mAh battery, which is marginally larger than the 4,575mAh one on the Pixel 8. Both phones support reverse charging technology and 27W charging which the company claims can charge the device around 50%  in 33 minutes. During our testing, the Pixel 8 offered over 5 hours of screen-on time on a single full charge and took around 1 hour and 23 minutes to fully recharge to reach 100% battery life. However, Google has downgraded the wireless charging speed with the Pixel 9. The Pixel 8 supports 18W wireless charging speed, while the Pixel 9 only supports 15W with the Pixel stand or 12W with any Qi-compatible wireless charger. Regardless, we expect slightly better battery life, not only due to the larger battery inside the new phone, but also due to the hopefully more efficient Tensor G4 chip. As per our Pixel 8 review, the compact flagship boasted mostly an average battery life, so there's room for improvement for the Pixel 9. In terms of charging, things aren't any different. Both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 9 support 27W of wired charging. Wireless charging support is also a common feature of both phones. 

Software

Both phones ship with Android 14 out of the box. Google promises seven years of Android releases, security patches, and Pixel drop updates with the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8. This means both phones will receive OS updates until Android 21. The Pixel 8 currently runs Android 14, but will get Android 15 as soon as that one gets released. Interestingly, the same applies to Pixel 9, which will come with Android 14 and get Android 15 down the line. You get similar AI features with both Pixel devices. However, the Pixel 9 has a few exclusive AI tools that you don’t get with the Pixel 8. Both devices will enjoy a lengthy seven-year software support, including major Android releases, security patches, and feature drops. The Pixel 8 will be supported until 2030, while the Pixel 9 until 2031. 

Pixel Screenshots: It lets you make searchable screenshots and interact with an AI chatbot to search for what you’re looking for.

Add Me: It blends two photographs into one, making it ideal for integrating multiple group photos into one, ensuring that no one is left out. 

Reimagine AI: this feature can transform any object in a photo into something completely different–for example, a building into a rocket. 

Comparison of Specs

Here's how the Pixel 9 vs Pixel 8 specs will likely compare. Here's how the hat these are still based on preliminary, unofficial specs, so everything regarding the Pixel 9 is subject to change. 

Display

Google Pixel 9  

6.3-inch FHD+ OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1080×2424 resolution, 2,700 nits peak brightness, 422PPI, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Google Pixel 8

6.2-inch FHD+ OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1080×2424 resolution, 2,000 nits peak brightness, 428PPI, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus

Dimensions

Google Pixel 9

152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm

Google Pixel 8

150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm

Weight

Google Pixel 9

198g

Google Pixel 8

187g

Software

Google Pixel 9

Android 14

Google Pixel 8

Android 14

Rear camera

Google Pixel 9

50MP primary, 48MP ultrawide

Google Pixel 8

50MP primary, 12MP ultrawide

Selfie camera

Google Pixel 9

10.5MP shooter

Google Pixel 8

10.5MP snapper

Video

Google Pixel 9

4K at 60fps

Google Pixel 8

4K at 60fps

SoC

Google Pixel 9

Google Tensor G4

Google Pixel 8

Google Tensor G3

Battery & charging

Google Pixel 9

4,700mAh battery, 27W charging

Google Pixel 8

4,575mAh battery, 27W charging

Storage

Google Pixel 9

12GB RAM, 256GB storage

Google Pixel 8

8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage

Colours

Google Pixel 9

Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony

Google Pixel 8

Obsidian, Hazel, Rose, Mint

Conclusion

The Google Pixel 9 offers plenty of upgrades over the Pixel 8 in both hardware and software departments. The Pixel 9 won't be the one to reinvent the formula behind the compact Google flagship. However, it will freshen things up with a new design, but we also get better performance, likely better camera, and possibly some great new AI features. If you are planning to buy a new Pixel phone, the Google Pixel 9 makes more sense than the Pixel 8, considering the price difference. However, if you already own a Pixel 8 and want to upgrade to the Pixel 9, you will get a better display, more powerful SoC, superior camera setup, larger battery capacity, and exclusive AI features, making it worth upgrading. Most importantly, however, it's the most affordable way to experience the best of Android and Google's AI. The Pixel 8 is still a mighty capable phone which surely won't feel outdated when the Pixel 9 comes along. After all, it's been less than a year since the Pixel 8 entered the real world.