The Pixel 9 series is the royal crest of Google’s Android throne
It’s no secret that I’ve always had a strong preference for Pixel smartphones. Although I rarely keep one device longer than 6 months (I swapped the Galaxy S24+, Phone 15 Pro Max, and Pixel 8 Pro in 2023 alone), this might change with the Pixel 9.
The Pixel experience has gotten so refined and seamless, as it should be – a key benefit from being made 100% in-house. And thats not just because it’s one of two devices that hardware and software is created under one company’s roof besides the iPhone – it’s also because the company it comes from makes some of the most used apps on any platform.
The Google Ecosystem
It’s not just the world’s most used search engine that Google is known for: the Chrome web browser, Gmail for email, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Keep Notes for School or Work files, YouTube/YT Music, Play Books and Play Games for entertainment, Google Messages for secure RCS text communication, and Meet for video chatting are just some of the apps that many people use on their smartphones – Android OR iPhone.
Google’s suite of apps give the Pixel 9 the only ecosystem that can go toe-to-toe with Apple
Of course most of these apps are available for every other Android and the iPhone, but that’s not my point. The level of reliability and smooth response of the UI is on another level when it’s all done by one company, much like Apple’s products.
So it’s easy to see potential for greatness in the Pixel ecosystem once you realize these are the default apps on the smartphone. No duplicate apps, no middle-man manufacturer who has to “optimize” Android for their hardware. That and the fact Google owns and maintains the Android OS, the Pixel software experience had better be one of – if not – the smoothest, most glitch-free Android experience. Even if the hardware hasn’t always been top-tier.
Luckily those issues have been resolved with the Pixel 9, as Google as released the best hardware to ever come from Mountain City, CA.
Peony Pleasantries
It might have taken 9 iterations, but the Build Quality feels durable – sturdy without being heavy – and the design language lends credibility to the claim that even the base models of the Pixel 9 are on the same level as the best selling smartphones on the market.
Wintergreen Wonder
Display Quality
The display is coined “Actua-Display”, and it’s an awesome screen. The colors are natural, the screen is bright and sharp – and in direct sunlight it goes up to 2700 nits.
Its stands toe to toe with the best from Apple and Samsung, with yearly improvements to an already great display.
6.3-inch Actua display1 20:9 aspect ratio 1080 x 2424 OLED at 422 PPI Smooth Display (60-120Hz)2 Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 cover glass Up to 1800 nits (HDR) and up to 2700 nits (peak brightness)3 >2,000,000:1 contrast ratio HDR support Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors
Rear Camera Summary Advanced dual rear camera system: 50 MP wide | 48 MP ultrawide with Macro Focus | Super Res Zoom up to 8x13 and optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x13
Wide Camera 50 MP Octa PD wide camera ƒ/1.68 aperture 82° field of view13 1/1.31″ image sensor size Super Res Zoom up to 8x13
Ultrawide Camera 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus ƒ/1.7 aperture 123° field of view13 1/2.55″ image sensor size
Single-zone LDAF (laser detect auto focus) sensor Spectral and flicker sensor Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide
Front Camera
10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus ƒ/2.2 aperture 95° ultrawide field of view
Camera Features
Super Res Zoom up to 8×13 Add Me Macro Focus Night Sight Astrophotography Portrait Mode Face Unblur Long Exposure Action Pan Real Tone Panorama Top Shot Frequent Faces
Google VPN at no extra cost End-to-end security designed by Google Multi-layer hardware security: Tensor security core, certified Titan M2 security chip, and Trusty (Trusted Execution Environment) Anti-malware and anti-phishing protection Spam protection in Google Phone and Messages Learn more at g.co/pixel/security and g.co/pixel/certifications
Authentication
Fingerprint Unlock Face Unlock Pattern, PIN, password
Battery
24+ hour battery life5 Up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver6 Typical 4700 mAh (minimum 4558 mAh)7 Fast charging – up to 55% in about 30 minutes8 – using Google 45W USB-C® Charger, sold separately Fast wireless charging (Qi-certified)9 Battery Share10
Material
Scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 cover glass Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 polished back with satin finish metal frame IP68 dust and water resistance14 Fingerprint-resistant coating The aluminum in the housing is 100% recycled content15 Made with at least 20% recycled materials based on product weight 100% plastic-free packaging16
Dimensions
6 in (height) x 2.8 in (width) x 0.3 in (depth)
Weight
7 oz
Colors
Peony, Wintergreen, Porcelain, Obsidian
Launch Date
August 2024
Price
$799 (12GB+ 128GB), $899 (12GB + 256GB) Google Store
Conclusion
With the Pixel 9, it feels as if years of incremental refinements and tweaks build up to one of the most complete smartphone packages available today. A premium, flagship-level build, pro-level cameras even in the base model (minus the telephoto lens) and a well rounded ecosystem that comes with 7 years of OS and security updates promise. What more can you ask for from a company that almost had it right with the Nexus brand. If only the gains in market share respond accordingly.
Withings, a global leader in connected health devices, unveils the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant Edition, its latest offering merging timeless design with the precision of medical-grade technology. Available for purchase in November 2024, in time for the holiday season, ScanWatch Nova Brilliant is the most spectacularly designed smartwatch Withings has ever made. The expanded line comes in titanium silver and stunning bicolor silver and gold, adding to the color choices of the current ScanWatch Nova lineup, and is available in a smaller size for daintier wrists thanks to a 39mm case.
At first glance, ScanWatch Nova Brilliant Edition is a testament to elegance. Its sleek, minimalistic design is highlighted by a fluted bezel that exudes sophistication, paired with an ultra-durable box-shaped sapphire glass face. This smartwatch combines durability with elegance. Water-resistant up to 50 meters (5ATM) and featuring a 5-link bracelet, it’s designed to keep up with your active lifestyle.
Scanwatch Nova Brilliant Edition in titanium silver
This hybrid smartwatch has an analog-style design and provides essential heart tracking features, notifications, messages, and information through its high-resolution OLED screen. It is available in luxurious gold and refined silver finishes, making it a versatile accessory for any occasion. The silver model features a bezel made of titanium for durability, while the gold model comes with a unique bicolor wristband. Beyond its attractive appearance, the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant Edition also houses advanced health sensors capable of performing powerful health scans, including a medical-grade electrocardiogram (ECG) for detecting atrial fibrillation. With a phenomenal 30-day battery life and leveraging the advanced health sensors and tracking capabilities of the acclaimed Withings ScanWatch 2, its medical insights and measurements include:
On-Demand Medical-Grade ECG: ScanWatch Nova Brilliant Edition performs an on-demand medical-grade electrocardiogram to detect a potential heart anomaly at any time such as atrial fibrillation which is one of the most prevalent forms of arrhythmias, characterized by irregular heart rhythms. In just 30 seconds, users can initiate an ECG reading by touching the bezel, with results available instantly on the Withings app. Since 2020, more than 2 million episodes of AFib have been detected using Withings devices.
May indicate the onset of an illness: ScanWatch Nova Brilliant tracks body temperature fluctuations day and night, potentially indicating the onset of an illness and boosting your ability to manage performance and workout recovery. This technology combines heat flux sensors with high-accuracy temperature sensors to provide top-tier temperature variation assessments.
Assess part of the respiratory system: Users can track their blood oxygen levels (SpO2) and monitor overnight breathing disturbances. Good blood oxygenation is necessary to supply the energy the muscles need to function, and it increases during sports activities.
Help achieve more restful sleep: Wake up to a Sleep Quality Score and detailed insights into sleep metrics, including phases, depth, duration, and interruptions, along with personalized improvement advice.
Boost your activity with advanced tracking: ScanWatch Nova Brilliant Edition can track parameters such as steps, calories, elevation, workout routes (via in-app connected GPS) and can automatically recognize more than 40 daily activities such as walking, running, swimming, and cycling. In addition, it offers Fitness Level assessments through estimation of VO2 Max, which measures the heart and muscle’s ability to convert oxygen into energy during physical exercise.
Scanwatch Nova Brilliant Edition in silver and gold
Availability
ScanWatch Nova Brilliant will be available to purchase on Withings.com from early November 2024, in the U.S., EU, and the UK, priced at $588.95, €599,95 and £ 549.95 and from mid-November at our selected retailers.
