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Relying on how massive your palms are (and mine are tiny), the Pixel would possibly not be the most effective compact Android flagship for you.
In a nutshell, Google appears to have gone backwards with elements of the design of the Pixel 9, which makes the Galaxy S24, iPhone 15 (in addition to the upcoming iPhone 16) the noticeably extra compact, lighter flagship telephones.
However how did Google get right here?
Google goes backwards with Pixel 9 design; super-thick bezels make the brand new flagship look much less premium than final yr’s mannequin
The Pixel 9 can be 11g heavier than Pixel 8 – probably as a result of it has a bigger battery. However what’s extra attention-grabbing is how Google acquired to that measurement distinction, and it’s definitely not by merely making the display screen a tad bigger.
The Pixel 9 now has thick-boy show borders, that are noticeably chunkier than these in final yr’s cellphone. As a result of why would you do higher, when you are able to do… no matter you need.
Though I discover the brand new look to be very premium and interesting, it’s plain that Google has gone backwards in a single particular facet of the design of the Pixel 9. The most recent flagship has far thicker show borders when in comparison with final yr’s Pixel 8. Not an awesome look – actually and figuratively.
For the document, though I usually write about this matter, I’m not somebody who obsesses over show borders on my private cellphone. Mockingly, my iPhone 13 mini has the identical bezel measurement because the Pixel 9. Nevertheless, the purpose is that my iPhone 13 mini got here out in 2021 – three years earlier than the Pixel 9.
Furthermore, I’m not too bothered by the best way the Pixel 9’s show borders make the cellphone look – I’m extra postpone by the truth that they make the cellphone bigger than it must be.
On the intense facet, the Pixel 9’s display screen bezel is of even proportions, which (as I’ve all the time stated) is extra essential than how thick it’s.
Pixel and Galaxy designs downgrades as soon as once more show Google and Samsung lack Apple’s strategic planning for the iPhone
Pixel 9 joins Google and Samsung’s listing of downgraded designs – particularly in terms of show borders.
Much like the Pixel 8 – Pixel 9 show border downgrade, Samsung additionally went from skinny show borders on their mid-range Galaxy A51 (from 2020) to thicker borders on the Galaxy A52, and even thicker bezels on the Galaxy A53, A54, and A55. It-makes-no-sense. However right here we’re.
What bugs me is that Android cellphone-makers like Google (and Samsung) would usually regulate the design of their new telephones to higher match the brand new lineup, which makes the extra premium gadgets within the collection look higher.
Nevertheless, they don’t appear to care about making the brand new model of the cellphone look much less premium than the previous one, which is unnecessary.
Alternatively, as confirmed over time, Apple would possibly take years to make progress in sure areas of the design, however one factor’s for positive – Cupertino by no means goes backwards. That’s extremely probably because of the truth that Tim Cook dinner & Co have a clearer long-term plan about future upgrades and the way to steadiness them out.
Some meals for thought there!
Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 make the Pixel 9 really feel like a big cellphone; Google’s flagship is tremendous heavy now
The reality of the matter is that between Samsung, Apple, and Google’s compact flagships, the Pixel 9 now takes the final place by way of pocketability.
The Galaxy S24 is noticeably extra compact than the Pixel 9 even when they’ve nearly the identical display screen measurement – that’s as a result of Samsung’s cellphone has far slimmer bezels.
And for those who don’t thoughts iOS, the iPhone 15 is even smaller because of its 6.1-inch panel, which ought to get barely slimmer bezels on the upcoming iPhone 16.
Pixel 9 is tremendous heavy for its measurement; weighs a whopping 31g greater than the Galaxy S24
You won’t have the ability to inform simply by taking a look at them however the Pixel 9 is approach heavier than the Galaxy S24.
And right here, the Pixel 9 takes a giant “L”, as a result of it feels tremendous heavy in comparison with what Samsung and Apple have to supply.
Right here’s a weight comparability:
- Pixel 9 – 198g
- Pixel 8 – 187g
- iPhone 15 Professional – 187
- iPhone 15 – 171
- Galaxy S24 – 167
Do not forget that placing a case and a glass display screen protector in your cellphone often makes it some 30-50g heavier, which suggests the 198g of the Pixel 9 can simply find yourself being 240g.
Certain, the Pixel 9 has a 4,700 mAh battery versus 4,000 mAh on the S24 and three,350 on the iPhone 15. Nevertheless, it stays to be seen if this enhance in battery measurement will make a giant distinction and compensate for the load of the cellphone.
For instance, each the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24 final not less than so long as the Pixel 8 Professional throughout each day use, and this one has an excellent bigger 5,000 mAh battery.
The Pixel 9 could be too chunky for some folks on the lookout for a pocketable Android flagship, however Google would possibly’ve made the suitable name
In the long run, Google’s newest engineering feat makes the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 the best telephones to advocate to those that need a gentle, compact flagship cellphone.
Is the Pixel 9 a “massive cellphone”? Under no circumstances. Nevertheless, what I’m extra anxious about is how heavy it feels. Some folks would possibly like this, as a result of heavier telephones are sometimes related to being extra “premium”. However I’m not amongst these folks.
That being stated, Google is 100% proper to suppose folks need telephones with bigger shows, as a result of… they do. We’re solely speaking a couple of 6.3-inch panel (vs 6.2-inches on the Pixel 8), however the distinction is there, and it’d assist the Pixel 9 promote higher than the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7.
Or it received’t!
