My Google Pixel 9 wishlist might anger some Android fans (but it’s worth it)

I am getting closer and closer to deciding that the upcoming Nothing Phone 3 will be my next phone. Why? I have listed two main reasons why this choice is looming, and I know I am not alone in this position. While AI is far from a tipping point for most people, as it is for me, another issue with this article is pretty universal.

Also, I’m an avid Pixel user and am considering a change for two reasons (I’m not the only one)

We also know that Google is so deep into AI that there’s no turning back from this point. There’s at least a little bit of hope when it comes to bland hardware design.

Like most Pixel fans, I’ve been following the rumors and leaks closely, and I like what I’ve seen. One issue I had with the old Pixel 6 and 7 design was the chamfered edges. Google reverted this for the Pixel 8 series, but the metal edges remain slightly curved. This change at least makes the Pixel slightly easier to hold.

But, when we compare Pixel 8 Pro Compare it to the iPhone and you’ll see a clear difference. Apple has flat, clean edges on its devices, while the Pixel’s edges are constantly changing and always look less premium. It would be fine if the Pixel 8 Pro’s price was worth its aesthetics, but it’s not. There are phones out there that look premium without the premium price tag. Of course, the performance of those devices doesn’t match the Pixel.

The Pixel 9 may also offer two new emergency features thanks to a new Samsung modem.

But no matter how much Google downplays aesthetics, they’re important. One of the reasons the iPhone is so popular is because of how it looks. To many, it’s as much an accessory as it is a device. It’s iconic. The Pixel, on the other hand, is almost brute. It’s phone utilitarian.

I expect that will change a bit with the Pixel Phone 9/9 Pro. In the leaked renders I’ve seen, the phone has much flatter edges, looking premium and almost iPhone-like. This is a good thing, as it not only improves the phone’s design, but also makes it easier to hold.

And while I like the physical keyboard on this iPhone case, it’s not its best feature.

We’re not here to say that a phone’s looks are more important than its functionality – it’s not, in fact. But a device’s design has the power to draw in new users. If a consumer looks at a phone on a display stand and sees a boring, uninspired design, the chances that they’ll be willing to pay that premium price are slim. And when their eyes move from the edge of the device to the camera bar, that disgust is even more pronounced. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Looking beyond the hardware

Another aesthetic advantage the iPhone has over the Pixel is the smoothness of the UI: Aside from the garage sale of home screen icons, iOS looks great; tasteful blurring, use of transparency, and silky smooth animations make Android look like a kid’s toy about to die of battery.

Even on the Pixel 8 Pro with Google’s Tensor G3 chip, you can see how unpolished the UI is. There’s no transparency or blurring when you pull down the notification shade. We’ve been testing Android 15 and we’re seeing very little signs of change in the UI, but we’re hopeful that Google will finally realize that a change is needed.

Plus, here are my top 5 favorite features of Android 15:

I don’t think we’ll see any big changes to the UI on the Pixel 9, but I expect animations to be much smoother than before. We’ve already seen improvements in the Android 15 beta, and even on the lower-performance chip in the Pixel 7 Pro, animations are smoother than on the Pixel 8 Pro.

Maybe Google has finally realized that how a phone’s UI moves on the screen actually matters. Is that really the case? I think so. When I pull down the notification shade on my Pixel 8 Pro (with Android 14), there’s always a slight delay before the notification moves. Once it starts to move, there’s a slight jump as it catches up. On my Pixel 7 Pro (with Android 15 beta), it’s instantaneous. No delay, no jump.

Google also released Android 15 Beta 1. Here’s what it contains and how to get it.

Ultimately, if Google wants to prevent a mass exodus from Pixel, it needs to focus less on AI and more on design. If I had to guess, I’d say consumers are more likely to be impressed by a good-looking phone than one packed with AI. Just look at Apple; they’re lagging behind in the AI ​​department, but their sales haven’t dropped at all. Apple keeps churning out the same well-designed hardware and software, and users are totally unfazed by it. I hope Google can be as consistent.