Pixel 9 family: The “just hardware” review (no AI)

I asked Google's Gemini Live chatbot, running on a new Pixel 9 Pro, how easy it was to use the Pixel 9 without all the Gemini AI features?

"It's definitely possible to use a Pixel 9 without Gemini," the bot responded in a remarkably casual voice. "While Gemini adds some cool features, your phone will still work pretty much the same as any other Android phone. You'll still have access to all the basic stuff like making calls, texting, taking photos, and all your favorite apps."

"But," I followed up, "didn't Google emphasize the Pixel 9 as a Gemini phone?"

"Yeah, Google highlights Gemini as a selling point," the bot replied. "It's a smart assistant, so it makes your phone a bit more helpful. But it's not necessary for your phone to work."

So what are the best features of a Pixel 9 without Gemini?

"A fantastic camera that takes amazing photos, a smooth display, and solid battery life. Plus, it'll get software updates straight from Google for a few years," the chatbot said.

After a week with the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL, I have some initial impressions of them as handheld devices. As for all the things that Gemini can do on a Pixel 9, we will cover that in a separate review.

Look and feel

The two big new features of the Pixel 9 lineup, as hardware devices, are 1) that their camera bars have a new design and shape, and 2) that Google says the phones are "twice as durable" as their Pixel 8 predecessors. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro also share the same 6.3-inch screen size, have the same battery and processor, and look identical. But the Pro comes with 4GB more RAM, an additional camera, and more of Google's Gemini offerings. In other words, you can go Pro without having to be "XL."

All three of the devices have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front, and they sport a frame that's even more squared off than the prior generation's already impressive return to right angles. The Pixel 9 has a matte finish on its sides and a polished glass back, while the Pro and Pro XL have matte glass backs and polished sides.

The pill-ish camera bar looks quite pronounced in pictures—because it is. After a few days of use, I was more used to it than I thought I would be; using Google's own case helped quite a bit, as it rounds off the bump-out angle and makes you feel a bit less nervous about smashing that thing on a tabletop. I like the look of the camera bar, too. If you're going to go wide with your camera array instead of tucking it into a corner, why not go wide and big? It feels like finishing the job that the Pixel 6 started. It's also a convenient place to put a support finger when you're holding the phone.

The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro are not a wild design departure from the Pixel 8, apart from the camera bar shape and width. As with the 8, the entire front of the screen is usable and touchable. The glass finish on the back of the Pro and XL still catches scratches, the mirrored sides have fingerprint gravity, and the cost-boosting mmWave antenna cutout remains in place.

It's probably just a personal preference, but I find the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL a bit big, even with fairly big hands. The issue is more about weight and balance for me than about size, though I also explored using one-handed mode with the XL model more than I did with the Pro.