Have you ever stayed up late at night engrossed in a deep conversation with a close friend? In fact, that happened to me with Google's new Pixel 9 Pro, which I've been testing for the past week. One night, when I couldn't sleep, I decided to “talk” using the phone's flagship feature, Gemini Live (which is basically the new Assistant's conversation mode).
I told Gemini I couldn't sleep and asked him what to do, and in his eerily human voice he offered suggestions on how to sleep better and reduce work stress, though I'm aware that the conversation itself was actually about work.
During our “conversations,” Gemini understood me just like a human would, even when I was half asleep asking questions, interrupting, muttering, and going off topic. The whole exchange felt natural, and I never had to say “Hey Google.” At one point, Gemini encouraged me to read Pride and Prejudice to help me fall asleep. I began to feel like Gemini understood me.
But all the while talking to Gemini, I found myself thinking: Would I be like Joaquin Phoenix in the movie “Her?” And then I had a frightening revelation: Would I be obsessed with a Pixel smartphone?
Then everything stopped. My new sweet buddy went quiet. Gemini stopped and wouldn't talk to me. Had I said something? Had Gemini dumped me?
In just five minutes, I began to truly understand the hype and potential of Google's Gemini, only to ultimately see it fail. We are still a long way from the day when generative AI and large-scale language models become a seamless and reliable part of our daily lives.
I'm not alone in my experience with Gemini. My CNET colleagues Lisa Eadicicco and Andy Lanxon were impressed with the AI-powered assistant in their reviews of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL, respectively. And like me, they both ran into issues. Eadicicco was similarly stumped when Gemini became unresponsive; Lanxon received inaccurate answers, for example, when he asked for recommendations for places to get a drink, and Gemini suggested a bar that closed years ago.
Gemini Advanced is integrated into every part of the Pixel 9 series, but it's not exclusive as it's also available on other Android phones.
James Martin/CNET
While testing the Pixel 9 Pro, it became clear that the phone itself wasn't Google's shiny new product, but Gemini was. With its latest phone lineup that includes the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold, Google has simply wrapped it up in four different packages. Want a phone with Gemini without putting too much strain on your wallet? Get the Pixel 9. Want a Gemini with a great telephoto camera? Yes, there's the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL. Want a Gemini with a bigger screen that folds up to fit in your pocket? Consider the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Of course, Gemini isn't exclusive to Pixel phones, which takes a bit of away from the Pixel 9 Pro's appeal. Google typically positions its Pixel phones as the best Android experience, and it's clear that it wants Gemini to be a big part of that appeal this year.
Here's a tap-dancing iguana doing jazz hands (or jazz claws), all created by Google AI in the Pixel Studio app.
Patrick Holland (via Pixel Studio/CNET)
Other new AI-powered tools and features include Call Notes, which transcribes and summarizes phone calls; a new Screenshots app that acts as an on-device hub for storing and quickly finding information contained in screenshots; the Pixel Studio app lets you generate clip-art-like images from text prompts; and the Photos app's Magic Editor now has a Reimagine tool that lets you alter or generate aspects of a photo from a prompt.
All of these, and the “Add Me” camera tool (which helps you add the image creator to a group photo using AR), seem to try to address a specific problem or use case. But more often than not, they're not the problem or use case that applies to me. Sure, it was fun to generate an image of a tuxedo-wearing iguana tap-dancing, but how many times am I going to use that?
Weird and wonderful images from Google Pixel Studio
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For better or worse, the Pixel 9 Pro's AI overshadows its hardware, which is a shame because the phone's design is actually pretty good. I'm glad Google made a smaller version of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but it's a far cry from tiny phones like the 5.9-inch Asus Zenfone 10 and 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini. It's essentially the same size as the regular 6.3-inch Pixel 9, but it comes with premium features like a better display, a higher-resolution selfie camera, more RAM, a telephoto camera, and a thermometer (yes, Google left that in).
The Pixel 9 Pro, and the entire 9 series, has a flatter design with angular edges, but look at that protruding camera bump.
James Martin/CNET
The Pixel 9 Pro feels more solidly built than previous Pixel phones, thanks to a new flat-sided design that's reminiscent of the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15. The camera bar that defined the look of recent Pixel phones has been reduced to a thick, flat-sided, pill-shaped camera bump, making the phone look like it's wearing a tiny VR headset.
The new ultrasonic under-display fingerprint reader is super-fast: At CNET's San Francisco office, my colleague and I spent a few minutes marveling at how quickly the Pixel 9 Pro unlocked.
The Pixel 9 Pro's visor-like camera protrusion.
James Martin/CNET
The camera is nearly identical to last year's Pixel 8 Pro and takes similarly great photos, though there are some issues with pixelation in low-light and night mode images. The 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL have a new 42-megapixel camera for selfies and video calling, which I felt was a noticeable improvement over the Pixel 8 Pro's 10.5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Image from the Pixel 9 Pro's main camera.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Another photo from the main camera, but taken indoors in mixed lighting.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The 9 Pro's ultra-wide camera shines in bright, even light.
Patrick Holland/CNET
This is a photo taken with the main camera in night mode.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Here's a great example of the natural bokeh produced by the 9 Pro's main camera.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Battery life was good during my time with the Pixel 9 Pro, lasting me a day, but I worry about how that will play out as more features and AI tools are added over the next few years.
The Pixel 9 Pro is priced at $999, the same as the Pixel 8 Pro. But that's not all. The $1,099 Pixel 9 Pro XL is effectively the true successor to the 8 Pro, aside from the name change. I think the Pixel 9 Pro is worth the price, but I can't believe that for $1,000 you only get 128GB of storage. The $300 Moto G Power 5G comes with 128GB of storage and is $700 cheaper.
Google's Pixel phones have always been a showcase for the latest version of Android. Now they're clearly a showcase for Gemini. If you needed any more proof, the Pixel 9 family will run the current version of Android, rather than a new, upcoming version of the operating system like past Pixels. This is another sign that the Pixel 9 series marks a turning point for Google. We're moving from the Pixel phones we've known for years to a future where AI features are the biggest draw. And we're not there yet.
The new design of the Pixel 9 Pro XL is one of my favorites
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