Google finally fixed its biggest smartphone flaws, and Pixel 9 is proof it’s paying off

2 weeks ago 2

The Pixel 9 series seems to be a massive hit for Google, and it comes at least in part from Google fixing the biggest problems with from its past smartphones.

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Through the entire Pixel series, Google has had a lot of ups and downs in the smartphone industry. There have generally been some big downsides, oversights, or deal-breaking flaws in a lot of the company’s smartphones.

Looking back to the first Pixel generation, Google put out a very solid experience, but it was understandably viewed as sitting behind the curve on smartphone design. That was well outweighed by the software experience and the cameras, but there’s no denying that Google was very much on its first generation.

Fast-forward to the Pixel 2 series and the main flaw was that Google had two drastically different devices. The smaller Pixel 2 had a very outdated look for 2017, while the Pixel 2 XL had a display that was maddeningly inconsistent, and often awful. Pixel 3 finally solved a lot of these problems, with better designs and better hardware, though plenty of users couldn’t look past the gigantic “bathtub” display notch.

Google’s Pixel 4 series was among my favorite of the entire series, with a very unique design that really fit Google’s aesthetic of the time. It also pushed into delivering some ideas we’d not really seen on Android, like an IR-based face unlock system and Google’s “Soli” radar. Ultimately, though, the good was outweighed by the truly terrible battery life of the smaller model (the XL was fine) that hardly anyone could ignore. It really put a stain on that generation as a whole.

Through the pandemic, Google had a weird in-between year with the Pixel 5. It was inherently a good smartphone, but the lack of a larger size option was a deal-breaker for plenty of people.

Then, we entered the Tensor era. Google’s big reboot in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro was a step in the right direction, but early issues with Tensor, especially in regards to cell reception, really put a stain on the lineup which Google couldn’t escape on Pixel 7. Both devices also left users underwhelmed, or even actively frustrated with the fingerprint sensor being less reliable compared to prior generations.

Pixel 8 was the first time where Google had two, nearly no-compromise smartphones. The overheating issues were largely fixed, Tensor was more powerful and stable than ever, and the displays were exceptionally good, even briefly being (arguably) the best smartphone buyers could get in the States. But, personally, I suspect the damage done by the mixed reputation of Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 left many wary of the Pixel 8.

Finally, I think Google has escaped that reputation, and the sales prove it.

The Pixel 9 series launched in August as Google’s best smartphones to date, full stop. All four devices have grown into mature smartphones that finally nail all of the fundamentals. The displays are great. The cameras, as has been the case since the beginning, are among the best you can get. And Google’s clean and intuitive software is easy to understand and learn. Google has also done a good job marketing these devices to appeal to a specific audience, the people looking to try something that’s not an iPhone. Combined with the arrival of RCS on iOS, a move that takes away one of the biggest hurdles to using an Android phone in the US, it’s really been a perfect storm for Google to finally get some traction in the States.

And it really seems that’s happened.

Google recently mentioned that there was “strong demand” for the Pixel 9 series, but the company really undersold that if recent data is correct.

According to recent reports, Q3 2024 (ending in September) saw Google’s “highest-ever” quarterly sales, while also seeing 20% year-over-year growth just in the United States. The Pixel 9 Pro XL in particular seems to stand out, as it’s said to be one of the top 10 premium phones in the States as of Q3, a list that also likely includes every iPhone that’s still on sale – 14, 15, and 16 – and all of Samsung’s flagship devices too.

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping data was that Google Pixel smartphones apparently now make up over 14% of tracked web traffic in the US. That tracked traffic is on millions of websites and ca see what device people are using. Apple unsurprisingly makes up over 50% of this traffic in the US, but Google is making up a percentage that’s over half of what Samsung makes up in the States. That’s huge if it is true, especially because it’s nearly 3x growth in a single month. It still seems too good to be true, but it’s a big deal if it is.

To me, Google’s work in fixing the biggest Pixel issues – namely cell reception, overheating, and battery life – have finally paid off in Pixel 9. There’s still a vocal group frustrated that Google isn’t using the best chips, and others annoyed that the pricing went up this year, but it really seems that the customer has spoken.

What do you think?

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Pixels are on sale for Black Friday already

Google has kicked off its Black Friday deals for the Pixel very early, with some great sales available. As we’ve detailed:

Pixel 9 down to $649
Pixel 9 Pro Fold down to $1,499
Pixel Watch 3 – $70-100 off

These deals are also mirrored at Amazon (Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 3) and other retailers as well. Check out our full coverage for Google’s entire list of deals.