We’re getting the Pixel earlier than ever. With less time in the oven, can the Pixel 9 improve on the Pixel 8? Here are a few things we think could be improved in the next iteration of Google’s flagship smartphone lineup.
Suffering from Success: Pixels and Glitches
Nearly every Google Pixel has encountered some issue, concern, or compromise. Over the years, these issues have ranged in severity or complexity. From screen tint to screen gaps, battery life to overheating, slow modems to unreliable unlocks, we’ve seen a range of issues facing the Pixel since the series launched in 2016.
We all know that the Pixel was softly relaunched with the Pixel 6, and for anyone with a recent phone (circa 2021 and later), many common complaints stem from the switch to Samsung’s in-house developed and produced Tensor processor. For better or worse, Google publicly declared that their work on the Tensor processor was “never about speed” or even “traditional performance metrics.”
Our collaboration with Tensor was never about speed, flows, or traditional performance metrics. It was about advancing the mobile computing experience.
All three versions of the Tensor processor have remained at the bottom of the scale, relying on the same basic Exynos design. The Tensor G3 is actually less powerful than last year’s best Qualcomm processor or the best MediaTek processor of 2023. AI capabilities have always been a key selling point of Tensor, but the aforementioned chips are more than powerful enough to perform many AI tricks. It’s easy to see why some hardcore hardware fans might be disappointed so far after three chip revisions.
Many people have called the Tensor series of processors a disappointment, and it’s not just in terms of performance. Creating a new SoC is difficult, and the first generation was met with a litany of complaints, from overheating to the modem simply not working as it should. Recording 4K video for more than a few minutes was enough to cause the Pixel 6 to overheat and shut down in some cases.
The first in-display fingerprint reader was nothing short of a disaster. For many people — myself included — it was absolutely perfect. Slow, but perfect. That said, it was one of the biggest complaints, and Google even addressed the terrible scanning issue with a new in-display reader on the Pixel 6a. Potential processor issues could explain why the Pixel 6 Pro never got Face Unlock to alleviate significant biometric unlocking issues — another downer for the first-gen Tensor chip.
Battery drain is an issue I personally encountered a lot with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. I don’t know if it’s improved with software updates and newer versions of Android. The reason? Battery life is often subjective, but it’s something that was noted by many owners right from launch. One point of contention is that since the Pixel 6 Pro, the internal cell in the “Pro” tier has been around 5,000mAh.
This isn’t a small internal cell. Many Snapdragon-powered phones have similar capabilities but don’t have the same longevity issues. The Pixel 7 helped improve efficiency, and the Pixel 8 series added even more boosts. The battery is now “reliable,” but in my experience, it still has an “off” day every now and then. It’ll drain faster one day, but be back to long life the next. I know that’s not the case for everyone, though.
Cellular connectivity and stable connections remain an issue despite numerous updates to the 2021 flagship. 5G speeds are often slow when you can get a connection, which is one of the biggest issues. This is more confusing given that Samsung uses Exynos modems. Typically, they’re among the best. The upgrade to the Exynos 5300 from the Pixel 7 helped a lot, but it’s still not the fastest.
Where can the Pixel 9 improve over the Pixel 8?
If you read this list of complaints and issues, you might think that Google hasn’t made a decent device in the last few years. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are solid phones that have improved in every area where issues are pronounced. We want to see that continue this year, too.
One of the great things about the Pixel 8 series is that it has a lot of iterative changes that have addressed glaring issues. Is it perfect? No, but it’s the best starting point for the Pixel 9 ahead of its launch.
Battery life and charging speed
If the new Tensor G4 chip is just another revision with minor efficiency improvements, then we’re hoping the Pixel 9 can improve day-to-day battery life. Unless it gets an even bigger battery, it’s unlikely we’ll see major battery life gains this year. That’s not to say the Pixel 8 has “bad” battery life – far from it, in fact – but it’s not quite in the “great” category like the OnePlus 12 or Galaxy S24 Ultra.
We’re also hoping to finally see another boost in charging speeds. By modern standards, 30W wired charging and 21-23W wireless charging are slow. Even a bump to around 45W with a wired charger would be a nice boost when you want to charge your phone quickly. Charging habits differ from person to person, which might narrow down the list of improvements you’d like to see in the Pixel 9 series.
Improved zoom
Despite promises of this feature on the Pixel 8 Pro, we’ve been waiting nearly a year for Google to reveal more details about Zoom Enhance. The radio silence and lack of additional information could be a sign that Google is saving the enhanced zoom option for the Pixel 9 launch.
The camera zoom hasn’t changed much since the Pixel 6 Pro, and knowing Google’s penchant for software-based enhancements, Zoom Enhance could be a very big addition to the Pixel 9’s photography arsenal.
Improved camera performance
The Pixel 8’s (and older models’) camera is solid overall. It’s easy to use, takes great photos, and is reliable. However, there’s one issue: the camera’s UI can be sluggish when you press the shutter button multiple times.
While taking photos at a sporting event recently, I noticed that when I was taking photos like this, the camera could freeze and practically freeze. There is also some lag when changing lenses or zooming. If the Pixel 9 can improve this, the experience will be infinitely better than it is today. The autofocus can also be a little finicky, it would be great to see Google fix this with the Pixel 9.
Best Fingerprint Scanner
While the Pixel 8 series has excellent scanners, a faster and more accurate in-display fingerprint scanner will improve the unlocking experience on the Pixel 9 series. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is expected to feature a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner that will likely have fewer issues and more consistency…
Improving the thermal performance of devices
The Pixel 8 struggled with heat dissipation and management. Gaming and video editing exacerbate this issue, which can lead to throttling and performance degradation. With better heat management, the Pixel 9 could maintain peak performance for longer, providing a smoother and more consistent user experience, especially for users who push their phone to the limit.
Consistent mobile data connections
There are several new features coming, and we hope they will address some of the connectivity issues that previous Pixel users have had. The Pixel 9 is expected to get an improved modem. The Samsung Exynos 5400 is said to be integrated into the Tensor G4 chip, and satellite connectivity will also be available for emergency connections in remote areas. Even with a backup solution, we need better connectivity because your phone is, after all, a phone.
Software Stack Improvements
We know that Android 15 isn’t going to bring a major overhaul over Android 14. It’s all about improvements and refinements to the existing operating system, but we want the Pixel 9 to catalyze even more improvements.
I’d like to see better coverage of the themed icons, as this has been in beta for nearly three years. Google has talked a lot about “Magic” in the initial marketing, which we hope is a hint at more AI-based features and functionality. Perhaps we’ll finally see Gemini better integrated into the Pixel 9 and improve the experience of using the improved voice assistant to control certain aspects of your phone.
What improvements do you expect from the Pixel 9?
With the Pixel 9 on the horizon, many Pixel 8 users are eager to see Google fix some issues. Which improvements are most important to you? Let us know in the comments section.
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