| Specs | Google Pixel 9 | Google 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 50MP, f/1.7, 1/1.31″ sensor, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS | 50MP, f/1.7, 1/1.31″ sensor, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Telephoto camera | – | – |
| Ultra-wide camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 1/2.55″, PDAF | 12MP, f/2.2, 1/2.9″, AF |
| Front-facing camera | 10.5MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1″, PDAF | 10.5MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1″, PDAF |
Overall, the main camera is the same, but the ultra-wide is entirely new. It quadruples the resolution and employs faster autofocus, a larger sensor, and a much faster aperture. That’s what we like to see, but these are just hardware changes, remains to see if Google has successfully tamed the Pixel 9‘s new ultra-wide camera.
Pixel 9 Camera Score compared to its rivals
| Phone | PhoneArena Camera Score | Photo Score | Video Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 9 | 144.2 | 152.9 | 135.6 |
| Google Pixel 8 | 143.1 | 146.5 | 139.7 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 | 152.2 | 157.1 | 147.3 |
| Apple iPhone 15 | 146.7 | 153.7 | 139.8 |
And the results are in: the Pixel 9 is a minor upgrade over its predecessor. The Pixel 9 beats the Pixel 8 in terms of overall photo image quality (by a lot), but fails to impress in video recording. Those two even out, so we get a minor improvement in the total score.
Google Pixel 9 Camera spider chart
Main Camera
The Pixel 9 delivers the same image quality as the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL, since both have the same main cameras. This is great news for the small Pixel, as it essentially means we get superb dynamics, exceptional color reproduction, and most importantly, a very detailed and sharp image that doesn’t lean on oversharpening.
Ultra-wide Camera
The ultra-wide camera, while quite decent, isn’t that well-optimized. It suffers from soft details in the corners of the frame, which is important with ultra-wide shots. The older Pixel 8 actually fares better in this test, and so does the iPhone 15. Overall, you can count on the ultra-wide camera as long as you are aware of the softer corners.
Front Camera
The selfie camera is the same as the one on the Pixel 8, but the new phone’s selfie camera has more oversharpening and the details are not as clean. Still very decent for the casual selfie or a Teams video call.
Main Camera – Video
The Pixel 9 fares mostly okay in terms of video when compared to the iPhone 15 and the Pixel 8, which are in the same ballpark, though the Galaxy S24 pulls ahead. With the Pixel 9, you get decent detail and okay dynamics, though there’s room for improvement on both accounts. And finally––you can pause video recordings, unlike on the iPhone.
Ultra-wide quality – Video
Ultra-wide video quality isn’t impressive. The corners tend to lack sharpness, and now, the center of the frame also suffers from soft details, which further diminishes the overall performance of the ultra-wide camera.
Front camera – Video
Videos taken with the front camera are not good. The image is too soft and generally lacks to capture finer details, which isn’t an issue with the Pixel 9‘s rivals. Even the Pixel 8 is significantly better.
Conclusion
The Pixel 9 has a decent, albeit not very versatile, camera system. Overlooking the obvious lack of a dedicated telephoto camera, the rest of the camera setup has some issues, which are mainly found in the ultra-wide and the front-facing camera, both of which simply aren’t sharp enough.
The main camera more than makes it up for all the shortcomings, though. It’s tack sharp and has superb dynamics, so both the highlights and shadows get resolved perfectly. The same applies to the color temperature, which is a level above the Galaxy S24, Pixel 8, and iPhone 15.
If Google addresses the sharpness of the ultra-wide and selfie cameras, the Pixel 9 could be an even stronger contender.
