Except for the launch of the unique Google Pixel telephone again in 2016, no different launch was as essential because the Google Pixel 6. It ushered in what turned the defacto Pixel design language, launched Google’s personal Tensor processor line, and proved that Google may make a really premium telephone with out the premium value.
It additionally marked the primary time that Google promised 5 years of software program updates, however that promise got here with a catch: it solely assured three years of Android OS updates. Whereas the telephone will nonetheless see safety updates for an additional two years, the discharge of Android 15 marks the ultimate Android improve the telephone will ever obtain.
Which leads me to the query at hand: is it time to improve your ageing Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Professional? As a complete, I do not suppose so. You need to await the Pixel 10, however there are just a few situations the place upgrading to a Pixel 9 would possibly make sense.
Why you need to improve out of your Pixel 6
The Google Pixel 9 collection simply got here out, and whereas the brand new, much more premium design actually could be tempting, the actual cause to improve to a Pixel 9 this 12 months is the selection of measurement.
For the primary time ever, Google is providing a smaller Pixel 9 Professional with the identical {hardware} configuration because the Pixel 9 Professional XL. Which means people seeking to preserve the wonderful zoom element of their Pixel 6 Professional can improve to a Pixel 9 Professional collection and have a selection between sizes with out sacrificing among the finest components of a high-end smartphone digital camera expertise.
Because the Pixel 6, Google has flattened its telephone shows and decreased the bezels, which means that massive, stunning show could be simply coated with a tempered glass Pixel 9 display screen protector. Whereas I like the appear and feel of curved glass, there isn’t any denying it is a lot more durable to guard than flat glass, particularly when it is bought a tempered glass layer on prime.
Google has additionally additional improved its software program replace promise for the reason that Pixel 6 and now provides seven years of promised working system and safety updates for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 collection. Which means if you wish to maintain on to your Pixel 9 even longer than you probably did together with your Pixel 6, you will nonetheless get the newest model of Android up till Android 21.
The Pixel 6’s fingerprint scanner was at all times fairly terrible, and whereas Google improved it with software program updates, there isn’t any denying it is one of many worst in-display fingerprint scanners for the reason that Galaxy S10. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 each provide considerably improved fingerprint scanners, however every does it with a unique know-how.
For me, the Pixel 8 collection has the very best in-display fingerprint scanners of any Pixel telephone available on the market. It makes use of optical scanning know-how, which suggests the show will get tremendous vibrant beneath your finger so an optical sensor can learn your print. The principle criticism with such a scanner is, in fact, that blindingly vibrant mild in the event you unintentionally faucet it in a darkish room, however I discover its accuracy is greater than well worth the trade-off. Most in-display fingerprint sensors use such a know-how.
The Pixel 9 collection launched with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, which many individuals desire as a result of it would not use mild in any respect to learn your fingerprint. As an alternative, an ultrasonic sensor makes use of high-frequency sound waves to learn your fingerprint. But it surely would not work so properly for everybody, and other people like me discover them to be irritating to make use of as they often fail to learn my fingerprints. Thus far, solely a handful of corporations have chosen ultrasonic together with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 collection.
Get Professional options in a smaller measurement with the Google Pixel 9 Professional, the primary fully-featured Pixel telephone that is extra comfy to make use of with one hand. Plus, with seven years of software program updates, you will not must improve for a really very long time.
Here is why you need to wait to improve
It isn’t too laborious to discover a handful of causes to improve, however I believe it is value holding on to that Pixel 6 for yet another 12 months for one large cause: Google Tensor G5. Earlier than the Pixel 9 was launched, Android Central contributor Brady Snyder wrote about this very matter, because the Tensor G4 contained in the Pixel 9 was rumored to be a fairly minimal improve over the Tensor G3 contained in the Pixel 8.
It turned out that not solely was he proper, however Tensor G4 really downgrades efficiency in some classes. As I famous in my Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL overview, Tensor G4 is slower than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor contained in the Galaxy S22. Contemplating that Samsung will seemingly launch the Galaxy S25 in simply 4 months, the Pixel 9 might be at a considerable drawback.
Some individuals have famous that the Pixel 9’s day by day efficiency feels simply positive and that extra energy is not essential. Others say that the Tensor G4 is designed particularly to make the telephone really feel as Google-like as attainable, which suggests the processor is designed particularly with Pixel-exclusive options in thoughts.
Whereas I do not disagree with that, I do fear about how the Pixel 9 will really feel in only a few years’ time. If it is already as gradual as a telephone from 2021, how will it really feel when it receives the Android 18 replace in 2027, not to mention the Android 21 replace just a few years after that?
I additionally need to query Google’s pricing construction this 12 months. It is uncommon that somebody pays full value when upgrading to a brand new telephone, whether or not that is as a result of they bought a nice Pixel 9 deal or they bought lots of off by buying and selling of their new telephone. However Google raised the costs of its Pixel 9 line by one other $100 this 12 months, which stacks on prime of the $100 value hike on 2023’s Pixel 8 collection.
Which means you are now paying $200 extra for a telephone that also performs at 2021 telephone ranges, which is only some months after your Pixel 6 was launched. Every day efficiency of the Tensor G4 over the Tensor G1 within the Pixel 6 is not significantly better both. Single core efficiency is barely 13% quicker, whereas multicore efficiency is barely 20% quicker.
I can not consider a single different processor that is solely seen a most of 20% efficiency enchancment over 4 generations—most processor upgrades obtain this metric every 12 months—and I believe that is essentially the most embarassing half in regards to the Pixel 9’s value hike.
The Pixel 10 is meant to repair this drawback with the launch of Tensor G5, a brand new Tensor redesigned from the bottom up and absolutely designed in-house by Google. Tensor G1 to G4 have all been co-developed with Samsung and undergo from the identical points that Samsung’s Exynos line of processors does.
On to the remainder of the telephone, charging is quicker than ever, however it’s nonetheless nowhere close to the pace supplied by telephones just like the OnePlus 12, which absolutely costs in round half-hour from zero %. At greatest, the Pixel 9 will do about half that in the identical time interval.
The Pixel 9 collection delivers the very best battery life on any premium Pixel telephone to this point, however that does not assist a lot on these events once you may need forgotten to cost earlier than heading out for the day.
The show can be as harsh as ever, as Google continues to chase specs like max brightness and pinpoint colour accuracy on the expense of eye well being. Anybody who’s PWM delicate, like me, will discover that the shows on the Pixel 9 collection are tremendous uncomfortable to make use of for a very long time. If you happen to’re already comfortably utilizing a Pixel, this in all probability will not have an effect on you, however it’s the principle cause I not use a Pixel as my foremost system.
If you happen to love the spherical edges and cozy curves of your Pixel 6, you might not like Google’s design for the Pixel 9. The facet rails are utterly flat now, and paired with the flat back and front of the telephone, they make the telephone much less comfy to carry.
My colleague Harish disagrees with me on this half, although, and the greatest Pixel 9 instances might utterly clear up these points for you anyway. I do not suppose this design will change a lot subsequent 12 months, however I can no less than hope.
If you happen to’re planning on maintaining your subsequent Pixel for 3 years or extra, I would advocate ready till the Pixel 10 to improve. Android 15 will nonetheless really feel contemporary till June 2025, when the Pixel 6 receives its final scheduled Pixel Function Drop, and by then, we’ll be absolutely within the thick of Pixel 10 leak and rumor season, the place you’ll make the very best determination about upgrading. Plus, by then, Pixel 9 costs ought to be at an all-time low.
The Pixel 10 is predicted to launch with Android 16 except one thing occurs prefer it did this 12 months. The Pixel 9 marks the primary time that Google hasn’t launched a brand new Pixel alongside a brand new model of Android, including extra arrows within the quiver of disappointment for Google’s newest Pixels.
If you happen to desperately must improve now due to some form of {hardware} concern together with your Pixel 6, I would advocate getting the Pixel 8a as an alternative. Pixel 8a offers from corporations like AT&T will get you the telephone for beneath $6 a month, and you’ll at all times improve to the Pixel 10 when it comes out subsequent 12 months through the use of the corporate’s trade-in promos.
The Pixel 8a is the very best little Pixel the corporate has ever made. With two wonderful rear cameras, an upgraded selfie digital camera, and the identical Tensor G3 processor as its costlier cousins, the Pixel 8a is a winner and a half at a decreased value.
