Google Pixel 9 vs Pixel 7: The Pinnacle of Pixel Evolution

Intro

And rightly so! Except for a brand new design and a sooner Tensor chip, the brand new gadget has many different attracts. For instance, do you know that subsequent yr would be the final time the Pixel 7 will formally launch a significant Android replace? Sure, any discuss upgrades is completely not out of the query right here!

How does the Pixel 9 fare towards the Pixel 7, and precisely how a lot better is that this new telephone? Let’s discover out!

Design and Measurement

Two years’ price of change

Pixel 9 positively appears like a wholly totally different gadget (Picture by PhoneArena)

The Pixel 9 comes with a refreshed design language: gone is the marginally curved body of earlier Pixels, as the brand new gadget has a a lot flatter design, just like the most recent iPhones and Galaxies. We like this design language, nevertheless it’s objectively true that it often hurts the general ergonomics on account of caving into the pores and skin of the palm. 

Google hasn’t moved away from aluminum for one thing like titanium or chrome steel. The facet body is matte one, whereas the glass on the rear is polished for a definite contrast-y look. That is just like earlier Pixel telephones. 

There is a notable change in the back of the Pixel 9––the rear digicam island is now not related to the facet body. That is a really drastic change that breaks away from the design language that earlier Pixels employed.

In the meantime, the Pixel 7 has that curved aluminum body that feels pleasingly ergonomic. There’s the enduring 3D Visor digicam strip on the again, which has been a signature Pixel function for years. 

Measurement-wise, the 2 gadgets are equally sized, because the Pixel 9‘s show is in the identical ballpark because the Pixel 7. Each have related dimensions and weight, so other than the overarching design language, not a lot is totally different between the 2 gadgets. 

The Pixel 9 and Pixel 7 have IP68 water and mud resistance. This implies you may go into recent water as much as 1.5 meters deep for half-hour, and in addition be fully protected towards mud. The flagship commonplace lately, so enterprise as traditional. 

When it comes to colours, the Pixel 9 is offered in Porcelain, Obsidian, Wintergreen, and Peony. The Pixel 7, then again, was obtainable in Snow, Lemongrass, and Obsidian colours.

Show Variations

The Pixel 9 has a a lot brighter show (Picture by PhoneArena)

The brand new Actua display screen remains to be an FHD+ OLED, however is way smoother (ranging between 60 and 120Hz), in addition to a lot brighter, with a peak brightness of two,700 nits, which leaves the Pixel 7 within the dim, actually and figuratively. Appears spectacular on paper, certainly. 

In our checks, the Pixel 9 boasts a a lot superior show. It may possibly hit a considerably increased peak brightness––1970 vs 934 nits, which is what you’d name a night-and-day distinction. The remainder of the show check outcomes are principally related, with related show temperature and total colour accuracy. 

Efficiency and Software program

Quicker and newer wins the sport

All Pixel 9 telephones, together with the Pixel 9, make use of the 4nm Tensor G4 chipset. The Tensor G4 definitely introduces some modest bump in efficiency, however when you’re anticipating a significant enhance, that is not what the Tensor lineup is. Tensor chips are constructed with machine-learning and on-device AI in thoughts, so the efficiency component is usually secondary in significance.

The Tensor G4 will enable the Pixels to run the Gemini Nano multi-modality AI on the gadget, so complicated prompts will likely be executed swiftly. Google says this one is probably the most succesful on-device AI mannequin, which is able to not solely understanding textual content and speech, but additionally pictures and audio.

And to spice up AI efficiency, the Pixel 9 comes with 12GB of RAM, as AI is fairly tasking so far as reminiscence goes for these large-language fashions. In the meantime, with a far more restricted set of principally cloud-based AI capabilities, the Pixel 7 packs simply 8 gigs of reminiscence.

How does the brand new Pixel 9 fare towards the Pixel 7? Nicely, completely unsurprisingly, the brand new telephone rating some nice features on the older Pixel. Nonetheless, the distinction is not that nice. That is attributable to the Tensor being not that targeted on intergenerational efficiency enhancements. 

When it comes to software program help, the Pixel 9 scores seven years of main Android updates, safety patches, and have drops, till 2030. The Pixel 7, then again, will likely be supported for 2 extra years, till 2026. 

Digicam

New cameras for the brand new Pixel

The Pixel 9 is best, however not by a lot (Picture by PhoneArena)

The brand new Pixel 9 comes with a 50MP fundamental digicam, however the thrilling bit right here is the brand new 48MP ultra-wide digicam, which was inherited from final yr’s Professional fashions. With reportedly as much as 110% higher gentle sensitivity, it holds the promise for a lot better low-light sensitivity. 

From a {hardware} standpoint, the principle digicam is similar one which got here with the Pixel 8. It is a 50MP one, with a 1/1.31″ sensor and a large, f/1.68 aperture. On the entrance of the Pixel 9, we’ve got the identical 10.5MP selfie digicam as earlier than. 

In the meantime, the Pixel 7 comes with a 50MP wide-angle digicam with a barely narrower f/1.9 aperture and 12 ultra-wide digicam.

The {hardware} may be principally just like the Pixel 7, however the great thing about the Pixel is that almost all of enhancements are nearly at all times on the software program facet of issues. 

Predominant Digicam

When it comes to the principle digicam, the Pixel 9 delivers images with a hotter colour temperature and barely higher particulars with out the marginally extreme oversharpening of the Pixel 7. The dynamics of the Pixel 7 are barely higher, although, because it squeezes higher shadow element.

At night time, each Pixels do a implausible job. Nonetheless, we as soon as once more discover that the older Pixel really has higher dynamics and captures extra data in these pesky shadow areas of the scene, which is essential for low-light images situations. 

Zoom High quality

The 3X zoom degree is the one one we would advocate utilizing, as something above that fails to ship really usable images with both telephone. The considerably hotter colour accuracy of the brand new Pixel telephone is apparent right here as nicely, and whereas the Pixel 7 seems extra sensible, we additionally love the hotter hues that the Pixel 9 delivers. 

Extremely-wide digicam

The Pixel 9 has some nook sharpness points with its ultra-wide digicam, whereas the Pixel 7 delivers a sharper picture. Nonetheless, it is the newer telephone that accurately meets the standards of an ultra-wide digicam. You’ll be able to seize a a lot wider scene with the Pixel 9 because of its 123-degree field-of-view, whereas the Pixel 7 solely captures a 114-degree field-of-view.

Selfies

Selfies are positively higher on the Pixel 9: the higher publicity of the topic’s face and the hotter, pleasing colours are exactly what one has to search for in an amazing selfie. 

Battery Life and Charging

Adjustments are coming

Pixel 9 simply beats the Pixel 7 (Picture by PhoneArena)

The Pixel 9 packs a considerable 4,700mAh battery, a bigger one than the 4,575mAh battery contained in the Pixel 8. We hope that the Pixel 9 will have the ability to ship first rate battery life with its battery/chipset combo. Google cites a 24-hour battery life, however we’re itching to place the brand new telephone by means of our checks.

The Pixel 7, then again, boasts a considerably smaller 4,355mAh battery on board, with a battery life that was under the common for the class. Final yr’s Pixel 8 was a step in the appropriate course, and we certainly do hope the Pixel 9 takes an enormous stride ahead. 

Charging-wise, the Pixel 9 scores 27W wired charging, which is able to have the ability to high up the telephone to 55% in half-hour. The Pixel 7 caps out at round 25W wired charging. As per our checks, each cost at the same charge, in round an hour and forty minutes.

Specs Comparability

Abstract

Getting the Pixel 9 is a protected guess (Picture by PhoneArena)

Google’s most inexpensive flagship telephone is strolling the protected path with well timed and small enhancements right here and there. The bounce between the Pixel 9 and Pixel 7 is there, nevertheless it’s not that main.

The Pixel 7 was a superb telephone in its heyday, however is beginning to present its age already, so even when you’re happy along with your gadget, it might nonetheless make sense to think about the Pixel 9 if all of the rumors we have mentioned above materialize. 

With a for much longer projected life, higher battery life, efficiency, and digicam that may solely get higher with further AI options and updates, it is a protected guess to advocate the Pixel 9 to all happy Pixel 7 homeowners on the market.