Other than 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 worth.
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 one more 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 getting old Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Professional? As a complete, I do not suppose so. You need to watch for the Pixel 10, however there are a number of situations the place upgrading to a Pixel 9 may make sense.
Why it is best to improve out of your Pixel 6
The Google Pixel 9 sequence simply got here out, and whereas the brand new, much more premium design definitely may be tempting, the actual cause to improve to a Pixel 9 this yr 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 hold the wonderful zoom element of their Pixel 6 Professional can improve to a Pixel 9 Professional sequence and have a alternative between sizes with out sacrificing among the best components of a high-end smartphone digital camera expertise.
For the reason that Pixel 6, Google has flattened its telephone shows and lowered the bezels, that means that huge, lovely show may be simply lined with a tempered glass Pixel 9 display protector. Whereas I like the feel and appear of curved glass, there isn’t any denying it is a lot tougher to guard than flat glass, particularly when it is received a tempered glass layer on prime.
Google has additionally additional improved its software program replace promise for the reason that Pixel 6 and now affords seven years of promised working system and safety updates for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 sequence. Which means if you wish to maintain on to your Pixel 9 even longer than you probably did along with your Pixel 6, you will nonetheless get the newest model of Android up till Android 21.
The Pixel 6’s fingerprint scanner was all the time 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 special expertise.
For me, the Pixel 8 sequence has one of the best in-display fingerprint scanners of any Pixel telephone available on the market. It makes use of optical scanning expertise, which suggests the show will get tremendous shiny beneath your finger so an optical sensor can learn your print. The principle criticism with such a scanner is, after all, that blindingly shiny mild in case you unintentionally faucet it in a darkish room, however I discover its accuracy is greater than definitely worth the trade-off. Most in-display fingerprint sensors use such a expertise.
The Pixel 9 sequence launched with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, which many individuals choose as a result of it does not use mild in any respect to learn your fingerprint. As a substitute, an ultrasonic sensor makes use of high-frequency sound waves to learn your fingerprint. But it surely does not work so properly for everybody, and other people like me discover them to be irritating to make use of as they repeatedly fail to learn my fingerprints. Thus far, solely a handful of firms have chosen ultrasonic together with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 sequence.
Get Professional options in a smaller measurement with the Google Pixel 9 Professional, the primary fully-featured Pixel telephone that is extra snug to make use of with one hand. Plus, with seven years of software program updates, you will not have to improve for a really very long time.
Here is why it is best to wait to improve
It is not too exhausting to discover a handful of causes to improve, however I feel it is value holding on to that Pixel 6 for yet one more yr for one enormous cause: Google Tensor G5. Earlier than the Pixel 9 was launched, Android Central contributor Brady Snyder wrote about this very subject, 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 truly downgrades efficiency in some classes. As I famous in my Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluation, Tensor G4 is slower than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor contained in the Galaxy S22. Contemplating that Samsung will possible launch the Galaxy S25 in simply 4 months, the Pixel 9 will probably be at a considerable drawback.
Some individuals have famous that the Pixel 9’s every day efficiency feels simply positive and that extra energy is not vital. Others say that the Tensor G4 is designed particularly to make the telephone really feel as Google-like as potential, 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 sluggish 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 a number of years after that?
I additionally must query Google’s pricing construction this yr. It is uncommon that somebody pays full worth when upgrading to a brand new telephone, whether or not that is as a result of they received a nice Pixel 9 deal or they received tons 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 yr, which stacks on prime of the $100 worth hike on 2023’s Pixel 8 sequence.
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. Each day efficiency of the Tensor G4 over the Tensor G1 within the Pixel 6 is not significantly better both. Single core efficiency is simply 13% sooner, whereas multicore efficiency is simply 20% sooner.
I am unable to 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 yr—and I feel that is essentially the most embarassing half concerning the Pixel 9’s worth hike.
The Pixel 10 is meant to repair this downside 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 endure from the identical points that Samsung’s Exynos line of processors does.
On to the remainder of the telephone, charging is quicker than ever, but it surely’s nonetheless nowhere close to the pace provided by telephones just like the OnePlus 12, which absolutely prices in round half-hour from zero p.c. At greatest, the Pixel 9 will do about half that in the identical time interval.
The Pixel 9 sequence delivers one of the best battery life on any premium Pixel telephone up to now, however that does not assist a lot on these events if you might 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 coloration accuracy on the expense of eye well being. Anybody who’s PWM delicate, like me, will discover that the shows on the Pixel 9 sequence 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, but it surely’s the primary cause I not use a Pixel as my predominant system.
If you happen to love the spherical edges and cozy curves of your Pixel 6, you could not like Google’s design for the Pixel 9. The facet rails are utterly flat now, and matched with the flat back and front of the telephone, they make the telephone much less snug 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 yr, however I can not less than hope.
If you happen to’re planning on preserving your subsequent Pixel for 3 years or extra, I might suggest ready till the Pixel 10 to improve. Android 15 will nonetheless really feel recent till June 2025, when the Pixel 6 receives its final scheduled Pixel Characteristic Drop, and by then, we’ll be absolutely within the thick of Pixel 10 leak and rumor season, the place you can make one of the best choice 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 until one thing occurs prefer it did this yr. 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 have to improve now due to some type of {hardware} situation along with your Pixel 6, I might suggest getting the Pixel 8a as a substitute. Pixel 8a offers from firms like AT&T will get you the telephone for below $6 a month, and you’ll all the time improve to the Pixel 10 when it comes out subsequent yr through the use of the corporate’s trade-in promos.
The Pixel 8a is one of the best little Pixel the corporate has ever made. With two superb rear cameras, an upgraded selfie digital camera, and the identical Tensor G3 processor as its dearer cousins, the Pixel 8a is a winner and a half at a lowered worth.