The Pixel 9’s Biggest Weakness isn’t the Tensor G4
The Pixel 9’s arrival on the smartphone scene is certainly nothing short of exciting – sure, all the good bits have mostly been spoiled by leaks, but certain hardware components such as the improved display quality, newer front camera and larger battery (to name a few) are attractive upgrades that might compel some users to finally upgrade, or even switch sides.
With that in mind though, a lot of shade has been thrown towards the phone’s chipset, the Tensor G4. This isn’t anything new however, as Google’s custom SoCs have always been the target of criticism when it comes to performance, and for good reason – compared to other flagship chips like Snapdragon’s 8 Gen series and Apple’s Bionic chips, Google Tensor is notably underpowered, and this remains the same for the Tensor G4 inside the Pixel 9.
On a personal note however, I’d like to think that the Pixel 9’s biggest weakness isn’t the Tensor G4 – rather, it’s the device’s price tag. Compared to earlier Tensor-powered Pixel flagships like the Pixel 6 and 7, the Pixel 9 is expensive. It’s priced starting at $799, which is two hundred dollars beyond the launch price of its predecessors (excluding the Pixel 8).
You might then think how this factors in to the whole equation. You see, while the Pixel 6 and 7 weren’t performance champs when compared to other flagship phones, they were decent performers for the most part. Sure, they weren’t marketed as gaming phones for example, but they had a more-than-decent user experience, with Google’s built-in software smarts, amazing cameras, and regular software support.
Their best advantage over the competition though were the prices – Google’s 2021 and 2022 flagships launched at $599, making them considerably cheaper than rival phones from Samsung and Apple. At this price point, you could even say that some users were able to get over the moderate processing power, in exchange for a device that would get a considerable length of software support and cameras that out-performed other handsets on the market.
Obviously this advantage in pricing has now disappeared with the Pixel 9. Starting at $799, the Pixel 9 joins the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 in the 800-dollar phone club, only without the additional telephoto lens, fast-charging capabilities or powerful chipsets. For the same amount of money, one could instead go for a device which will no doubt be better for gaming, or have less overheating and battery issues (and don’t get me started on its 128GB base configuration).
…Google’s much more expensive asking price isn’t doing the Pixel 9 any favours
Of course one could also argue that it’s too early to tell how the Tensor G4 will fare in the long run, or that the Pixel 9’s many hardware upgrades warrant such an increase in pricing. It is a matter of perspective overall, but I do think that Google’s much more expensive asking price isn’t doing the Pixel 9 any favours, especially since it’s bound to be more affordable once Black Friday arrives.
Undoubtedly, the best approach if you’re really intent on getting the Pixel 9 is to hunt for trade-in deals, carrier promos, and such. It’s understandable that some people might find the 800-dollar price tag exorbitant, and will probably wait for a significant price drop or maybe next year’s Pixel 10 instead, which is expected to feature a much better processor.
Will you be getting the Pixel 9? Let us know in the comments below!