Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google has launched the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL, starting at $999, featuring the Gemini AI assistant, advanced photography, 8K video, sustainable design, and over 24 hours of battery life.
Read original articleThe Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL have been introduced as Google's most advanced smartphones, featuring the new Gemini AI assistant. The devices are available for pre-order starting at $999, with financing options. Customers can receive $200 in Google Store credit and unlock Gemini Advanced for a year, which includes access to advanced AI features and 2TB of cloud storage. The Pixel 9 Pro boasts a triple rear camera system with a 50 MP main camera, 48 MP telephoto, and 48 MP ultrawide capabilities, designed for high-quality photography, including low-light and macro shots. The video capabilities include 8K resolution and advanced stabilization features. The design emphasizes sustainability and durability, with a silky matte glass back and polished metal frame. The devices are powered by the Google Tensor G4 chip, offering high performance and a battery life exceeding 24 hours. Additional features include advanced photo editing tools, AI-driven assistance for tasks, and a bright Super Actua display. The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are positioned as premium devices for photography enthusiasts and users seeking cutting-edge technology.
- Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL start at $999 with financing options available.
- Features Gemini AI assistant and advanced photography capabilities.
- Offers 8K video recording and enhanced low-light performance.
- Designed with sustainability in mind and includes a durable build.
- Powered by Google Tensor G4 chip with over 24 hours of battery life.
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Pixel 9 Pro, Pro XL launch with Satellite SOS, Android 14, $999 starting price
Google has launched the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL, featuring 6.3 and 6.8-inch displays, Tensor G4 processor, advanced camera systems, and 7 years of updates, starting at $999.
- Many users express disappointment with the focus on AI features, feeling that core functionalities are lacking or problematic.
- There is a notable concern about the high price point, with several commenters questioning the value compared to previous models.
- Users are divided on the design, with some appreciating the smaller size while others criticize the aesthetics and camera bump.
- Several comments highlight past issues with Pixel devices, such as software bugs and hardware reliability, leading to distrust in Google's quality.
- Some users remain loyal to the Pixel brand, citing the camera quality and software updates as key reasons for their continued interest.
https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_9
https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_9_pro_fold
Usually the Pro is bigger than the non-Pro but this time they're exactly the same size, and they've added a bigger Pro XL variant.
https://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Google-Pixel-9,Google...
The Pro and Pro XL appear to have identical specs aside from the screen size/resolution and a slightly bigger battery in the XL.
Mostly just curious as to why there are ~0 positive comments here. I suspect could be:
1) anti-google HN bias - perhaps deserved? 2) it's simply more tempting/satisfying/rewarding to complain about rather than to praise big companies 3) any other ideas?
I'm guessing the 95% negative comment proportion isn't representative though so I was curious if anyone had any explanations for the HN skew
It looks like it's coming "later this year". Lots of chatter about it, see a few details at https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-9-satellite-sos-34676...
* apparently coming with android 15, but they are shipping android 14
* turning on satellite sos later, but this year
* us only
* free for 2 years on pixel 9 phone, but probably would cost more later?
If you go on a lot of backcountry trips, maybe you already have something like a Garmin device with paid in-reach service with texting and emergency service button - no voice support. I have this, it works well. You can do 2 way texting, also you can have your location uploaded as you travel if you wish.
I have been using Pixel 7 for almost the past 2 years. But the amount of basic core issues are crazy. Recently,since the July update, every place where the phone cannot catch network signal, it shutdowns. And with the update, somehow i feel it cannot catch network signal as strongly. That is such a crazy thing. Last year, my friend got locked out of all his valuable pictures with Android 14 upgrade on Pixel 6.
My experience of Google is so bad with hardware that it has finally pushed me towards buying an iPhone for the very first time in my life after having been exclusive with Android OS for over 10 years.
Who thinks they are booking phone sales as AI revenue to juice the numbers?
On-device inference improves not just its latency, this also removes a huge chunk of LLM's economical constraints from software companies. The biggest advantage of software is its marginal cost being nearly zero. LLM hasn't enjoyed this luxuries but the dynamic is going to change.
My Consumer Report: Do not fall for hardware backed by software that costs the seller money to keep running.
I'm still rocking a Pixel 5, which is actually my second Pixel 5. I really like using it without a case. It's light, small, can handle a fall without the back shattering, and I like the matte finish.
All I want is a version with more modern specs, but every manufacturer keeps optimizing for the advertising shots, and people keep falling for this. Right now the camera is the only thing tempting me to upgrade, but I'll probably wait another year.
BTW, for those talking about issues: I bought my Pixel 6 at release, and yes, I had some strange Bluetooth issues during a few months. Not anymore, and for a while the phone is solid.
Also, this is probably the first phone that I have that I don't feel the battery got worse after 2+ years of usage, maybe thanks to the Adaptive Battery. My wife iPhone 12 (that she bought around at the same time as me) already had a ok-ish battery when she bought, but nowadays the battery is just plain sucks (battery health is 87%, that doesn't explain the whole story), one of the reason that she may switch to a Pixel too. Another thing I like from my Pixel is after those 2 years, the phone still feels snappy. I know people like to say that Tensor CPUs are bad, but I never had any issues with them.
I don't like the fact that Google increased the prices though: Pixel 6 was an amazing value for EUR649, but at EUR919 the Pro looks a more interesting choice since the gap reduced between the two. I think the reason is because the Pixel a series is such an amazing value that nobody care about the normal Pixel anymore, but if anything this is Google's fault.
When Google bought HTC the idea was the best of Google software and the best of HTC hardware, but we have Google level hardware and HTC level software. The glory days of the HTC One were a decade ago.
Should I try the Pixel Fold, might I like it? (looking for opinions from people who recognize my story; no need to tell me things like "nobody can answer that for you")
The issue is now described in the Google Pixel T&C, and I hope Google will eventually offer a way to buy a Google Pixel phone and Google Fi that offers full functionality for longer trips.
Here's a link about it:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/goog...
Honestly, why is this important? Aside from all the AI hype, I don't see why the event should be so focused on features that are purely software updates that will most likely propagate to other non Pixel devices.
It's just a bummer that the event focused so much on the AI features instead of the HW capabilities: probably they don't have much to show this year.
I just hope they fixed the numerous HW issues the previous Pixel devices had (e.g: overheating, radio, ...)
Right now basically you are forced to buy a Pixel phone, because if you don't buy an iOS or Android device you don't have apps, if you buy an iOS device you lose your freedom, and if you don't buy a Pixel phone you don't have timely updates and GrapheneOS and thus don't have an open source, frequently updated and well-engineered OS.
Pixel Fold (256/512): $760
Pixel 8 Pro (128/256/512/1TB): $699
Pixel 8 (128/256): $490
Pixel 7a: $300
Pixel 7 Pro (128/256/512): $540
Pixel 7 (128/256): $360
Edit: there's a complete overview of all trade in estimates in this post: https://slickdeals.net/f/17689866-buy-pixel-9-pro-or-pixel-9...
No thanks to anything else coming from Google (Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix ...). Have you noticed how they improved their Youtube recommendations in the last year? Creepy, how well it works. Unfortunately, all this tech paired with state of the art psychological research is not used to help people, but to make them media junkies. Everything AI follows the same pattern. The tech is amazing and can be indeed helpful used the right way, but at the end of the day it's used to gather data to make us using their services more and more and to than extract money from us (mostly still via ads). Decades ago, this industry was kind of innocent. Today, they all know exactly what they do and what damage they cause in esp. younger peoples brains. Healthy kids and young people need to be creative, explore the real world, be proactive. Not muted screen zombies. The extend of emotional and general mental illness in young people is heart breaking. We all see it. They don't care.
I hate you, Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Amazon, TicToc ... the world was a better place without you.
Maybe it's the One Plus 12 I'm holding, but this is a hard pass by me.
All I want is a flagship chip, Esim support and a headphone jack. But since earbuds are almost all profit we won't see jacks coming back.
And it was awesome! Super-fast, tactile feeling, right under the finger, doesn't blind you at night. Cannot understand why they removed it, cost-cutting?
Now that Google is offering 5-6 years of updates, you can get a 7 or 8 loaded with Graphene OS and be good for the long haul at about half the price as when they came out.
If I'm paying 500+ for a device it needs to you know... last more than a few years.
Shouldn't mobile phones require much less RAM?
Honestly, Apple Intelligence is looking much better than this. But I suppose it’s no wonder, I don’t think Pixels are a large market for Google, while iPhones kind of are for Apple.
So much for supporting Open Source AV1...
I love the pixel 8a, the size, curvature and camera bump seems ideal. Ofc they removed a freaking 3.5mm jack, but I can make a compromise here and buy 100 type-c to 3.5mm adapters, but I'm super disappointed with the new 9x series, they are now even more blocky and square-ish which i really don't like, plus no "a" model which is usually looking much better for me than the main one.
Does anyone know the phone which is small, has a headphone jack, even camera bump and is still buyable to this day?
My Pixel 5a also had some shenanigans and my dad's pixel 6 as well
No idea why they don't do proper Q&A. Looks like a good phone but yet fails in ways my work iphone never has.
My current Android phone was free from the provider in exchange for buying around 3 months of service in advance. It is no speed demon but certainly does all of your average phone stuff just fine.
I could then use my phone as a thin-client for work or gaming, perhaps even experimenting with proton locally.
Apple already demonstrated that mobile hardware is capable of workstation workloads so I'd see this as a natural step forward.
Beyond that, there isn't any compelling reason to upgrade my Pixel 6a.
If I broke my 6a, I'd probably upgrade to the 7a for the better screen.
Sadly, due to my employer, only Apple and Google are options, so none of the other folding phones are options. I wish Apple would do a fold..
I bought a an iPhone 15 Pro Max few months ago and compared it to my S10+ which I bought in 2019 and still have. There's practically no difference for regular day to day stuff, except for the camera advancements which are notable (but not night & day either).
It was only the frustrating battery life, and desire to enter the superior iPhone camera ecosystem that forced me to upgrade.
This is why I love my pixel. They build stuff that affects my life day to day. My biggest vote of confidence: since buying my wife a pixel, I've had zero tech support requests. it really just works.
Though seriously, just bought a pixel 8 pro for the camera as my cheap Samsung whatever camera took aeons to focus and had garbage image quality. Overall the default Google app experience is very unimpressive with frustrating quirks and pointless changes.
Though what do you expect from company where your work performance is based on feature visibility meaning useless feature creep is all that matters instead of a quality user experience. Google it's not at all about quality and will never be. AI bullshit being added is more feature visibility metrics so they will keep adding stupid crap and then turning it back on after you've disabled it because someone wants a promotion.
Very soon not having an AI integrated into a phone will be a very good positive differentiation for a phone or PC brand.
So far, looking at this, I can't find any differences between the 8 Pro and the 9 Pro XL that I think I'd actually notice. It would be kind of nice to get the smaller 9 Pro for the sake of my wrists, but not enough to pay an extra $400 for.
Am I missing anything? Or is this just a heavily hyped release of a tiny incremental upgrade?
*I'd be more inclined to hold this against Google and not get another Pixel if my previous phone, a Samsung flagship, hadn't died in approximately the same way after approximately the same lifespan.
I would like a phone with 7 years of updates, that's the reality. This is so annoying because I would go to LineageOS since it keeps getting updates, contrary to manufacturers roms.
Denmark does not have trade-in deals. But between my wife and I, we can get a whole phone free with the trade-ins in the US.
We can also do international shipping and such through forwarding services, and that would eat into the savings, but still do so.
Then there is bands. THey are almost identical, except a few here and there, and I can't find a concrete place to get info on Denmark bands (multiple sources have different info or lack of info).
Is it worth switching out and going through the hassle and getting US pixels, and just deal with the Denmark prices, and try to sell the Pixel 6s we have. It is annoying.
I don't even pretend to know what else I'm paying for at this point. I just scan reviews until it feels like I've found a phone that will reward my $1000 (or so) with a significantly better camera. Too soon to say if these Pixels will lore me away from my S23 Ultra. Though I will say I am beyond sick and tired of Samsung's bloatware and associated problems and miss the days when I had a Pixel (or, before that, a Nexus). That, plus the fact that my S23 is almost paid off, might compel me to upgrade.
From AndroidCentral review.
Minor rant: All of this powerful technology, and yet the examples they can come up with are always about e-commerce/shopping, photos, calendaring etc. Why can't they talk about something more fundamentally useful, like a feature that would reduce your phone usage or budget better, etc.? I guess I can dream.
The Pixel 6 pro has had its screen break 4x and I have to pay every time despite having the insurance. Terrible, weak screen. The phone feels cheap too. Lots of software errors now. This is the result of Google moving away from merit based hiring.
I will never buy another Google phone.
The Fold 2, sorry Pixel 9 Pro Fold, is the most interesting one for me but the price is too high. I've been waiting for a while for these foldables to go down in price but they still haven't.
Other than that, it's all about the "AI". Which I don't have much interest in, plus, didn't they already said last year that the Pixel 8 was "all about AI". At this point, there's no use in buying a phone to have these features when the following year your phone that's supposedly made with AI in mind is phased for for a new phone that this time around for real is the one that's "made for AI".
Eh.
Phone tech specs: both models have "Ultra-Wideband chip for accurate ranging and spatial orientation"
Tracking tag: ??
Any experiences with that?
I'm still using my Pixel 6a and will probably continue until it fails or the battery life gets really bad.
Way to go, the 7 years of updates was the reason I bought my Pixel 8 Pro
To be honest, it's probably not their fault though if games/apps are not optimized for that. But I can't wait around, using a flagship phone with sub-optimal performance.
Also, I think buyers think if you have a cheaper phone strangers may think you are poor. Personally I want people to think I am poorer than I am.
Also why can't we have decent 5" display smartphones anymore?
I have a Pixel 3a, and it's still larger than I'd like. I realize that the market for folks who would prefer something smaller is, well, small. But, I look at the phone landscape, and I hate every one of them. I like the Pixel, because it's stock Android. I wish they would release a Pixel "Basic" or something. 5.5" screen, basic camera, no AI bullshit. Just a no-frills basic phone.
That is the question.
It such a small feature that 200$ Xiaomi phones have and Google's flagship do not, because people in their silicon valley bubble can't understand there's many carries in the world that don't support esims properly or the issues that people that live in two countries need to face.
For the size off the phone, that is sort of lame.
Otherwise email works, the web works, mms works, and the camera, screen, and RAM, on phones ten years ago was already way more than you need.
The phone specific software barely justifies maintaining a phone (and doesn't for me so I don't even own a modern smartphone.) There's certainly nothing to justify upgrading it.
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