Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8: Which should you buy?

Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8: Design

Google has one of the best flagship designs, and the switch to the wide camera housing starting with the Pixel 6 series gave its devices a distinctive look. With the Pixel 9, Google is tweaking the design; there's still a wide camera bar, but it doesn't extend to the sides — you instead get an elongated housing with the modules to one side.

The design doesn't look quite as elegant, but to Google's credit, it is offering color-matched camera housings, so that's a start. The back of the Pixel 9 doesn't look too busy as it has two cameras, but the same design doesn't translate nearly as well on the Pixel 9 Pro — it just ends up looking too busy and cluttered.

I still prefer the design of the Pixel 8, and the way the camera bar smoothly flows into the mid-frame is gorgeous. Another design change that I'm not onboard with is the flat sides; I've always liked Pixel phones because of the curvy sides, but like most other manufacturers, Google is using flat sides with the Pixel 9 generation.

Just like the camera design, I don't see the need for Google to change what is an established design. Last year's decision to offer flat panels on both phones while still having a design that curved at the back was absolutely the right move, and with the Pixel 9, it looks like Google is tweaking the design just for the sake of it. It is objectively more difficult to hold and use the Pixel 9 than its predecessor, and you'll need to use the phone with a case.

The Pixel 8 doesn't have these shortcomings, and it is shorter and lighter than the Pixel 9. Of these two devices, the Pixel 8 obviously gets my vote, and it's annoying that Google is now making its phones look closer to iPhones.

Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8: Display

You don't see as many small phones these days, but the Pixel 8 is shorter and easier than use than most devices around. That's down to its 6.2-inch panel, and while it is small, you still get a lot of usable real estate. The 120Hz OLED panel also has vibrant colors and great contrast, and having used it extensively over the course of the last year, I didn't run into any issues whatsoever.

Google is marginally increasing the screen size to 6.3 inches this time around, and while that makes the Pixel 9 a little taller and wider, it is still on the smaller end of the scale. While Google doesn't have the best OLED panels in the business — the Chinese flagships I used this year have been much better — the brand is consistently delivering better screens every year, and the Pixel 9 is brighter and has better colors than its predecessor.

That said, the Pixel 8 still holds its own in this area, and I never had any issues using the phone in harsh daylight.

Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8: Hardware and cameras

Google isn't the best when it comes to hardware, and the brand has different priorities, focusing on its AI engine instead of the latest Arm designs. That means the Tensor G4 on the Pixel 9 isn't as fast as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and if you want the absolute best hardware, you really need to consider something like the OnePlus 12.

Having said that, the Tensor G4 does enough to ensure you won't see any slowdowns in daily use. I used the Tensor G3 on the Pixel 8 extensively over the course of the last year, and the only problem I ran into is thermal management; Google doesn't use any effective means to manage heat on its devices, so when you play a game, the chip tends to throttle sooner than its rivals.

I'll have to test that on the Pixel 9, but I'm positive Google hasn't changed anything in this area. Another issue with Google's devices is that they continue to come with just 128GB of storage; this was a big issue last year, and nothing's changed on the Pixel 9. While every other brand now has 256GB of storage as standard in this category, Google still offers a paltry 128GB variant, and that just isn't enough in 2024.

Yes, there is a 256GB model of the Pixel 9, but you'll need to pay an additional $100 to pick that up. Thankfully, Google managed to change one thing this generation: battery life. The Pixel 9 has a bigger battery that should last longer, and it now charges at 45W. That is a big deal, and the fact that Google uses the standard USB PD 3.0 standard means you can use any of the best GaN chargers with the device — you'll need to buy one, as you won't find it in the package.

There isn't much to fault with the Pixel 8 in this regard, but the bigger battery and 45W charging tech gives the Pixel 9 an edge. On that note, the Pixel 9 also gets a new 48MP wide-angle lens at the back, and that should take better photos. Cameras have always been the biggest reason to buy Pixels in the past, and I'll update this post once I've pitted the Pixel 9 against last year's offering.

Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8: Software

All Pixels up until this point debuted in Q4, and that allowed Google to bundle its devices with the latest version of Android. That was true of the Pixel 8 series as well, but because Google moved up the launch window of the Pixel 9 up by two months, the phone is debuting with Android 14 — the same as its predecessor.

That means the Pixel 9 will get the same number of software updates as the Pixel 8, and there won't be any difference between the two in this regard. Both phones are guaranteed to receive seven years of Android OS and security updates, and that is the best in the industry.

I think Google will rethink its Android release strategy to better coincide with the Pixel launches starting in 2025, but this time, the Pixel 9 is in an awkward position where it doesn't run a newer version of Android. That said, Google is offering a slate of new features, including Pixel Studio, an on-device image generation engine that's nothing short of astounding.

Google has the best on-device AI feature-set of any brand, and it is extending that lead with the Pixel 9. Additions like Pixel Screenshots allow you to take screenshots of any content on the screen, with all of it saved in a single location — and searchable. Magic Editor is now able to reframe photos, and there's a nifty addition called Add Me that lets you add yourself to shots after the fact.

The software itself is clean and uncluttered, and I'm a big fan of what Google has done with the interface on its devices. There isn't as much customizability as other Android skins, but the Material You design is quirky in its own right, and there's a lot to like.

Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8: Which should you buy?

The Pixel 9 starts at $799, but you'll ideally need to get the 256GB model, and that will set you back to the tune of $899. As of writing, the Pixel 8 is available at $699, with the 256GB model at $799. So you're shelling $100 more to get the latest phone, and there are a few new features that justify the price.

What I like the most is that the Pixel 9 charges at 45W; after limiting its devices to 27W, Google is finally being sensible about charging tech, and that's great to see. The new wide-angle lens at the back should take better photos as well, and there's more memory; that may not make a difference right now, but it absolutely will a few years down the line.

This is how I see it: if you want the latest that Google has to offer, get the Pixel 9. The phone does enough to warrant a recommendation, but if you want a good deal or are interested in maximizing value, I'd suggest waiting a few weeks to see if the Pixel 8 goes down to around the $500 figure — that would make it a much better choice than the Pixel 9.