Google ’s Pixel chain of mountains has always had a place in my affectionateness . There ’s something about Google ’s coming to UI design , AI features and camera technology that continues to fend out in a private-enterprise market – but Google ’s hold on the flagship market is slipping .
With increased competition in thebest phonespace from the likes of Oppo , OnePlus , Honor and Xiaomi and continued pressure from Samsung and Apple , the Pixel 9 struggled to make waves in the same room that former releases did .
With the Pixel 10 launch put for the next few month , here are five upgrades that the smartphone desperately needs to appease relevant in 2025 .
A dedicated zoom lens
The Pixel 9 , like others in the Pixel 9 collection as well as olderPixel smartphones , boasts telling camera tech that help it quell competitive in the high-pitched - destruction marketplace . The phones be given to offer vibrant , elaborate images with some of the most accurate colouring material around , peculiarly when it comes to the all - important skin tones .
Google has also done a dandy job at implementing really handy AI features within the shot experience , from Best Take and impart Me to Super Res Zoom that replaces the pauperism for a dedicated telephoto lens system – in theory , anyway .
While I am a big fan of Google ’s Super Res Zoom technical school , it ca n’t contend with a consecrated telephotograph or periscope lense .
That was all right once upon a time , but with consecrated soar lenses now appearing in budget earphone like theNothing Phone 3aand competing flagships likeSamsung ’s Galaxy S25 , it ’s becoming a sticking point for the regular Pixel – especially as the Pro form offer the technical school .
To well compete , Google needs to bring the rapid climb technical school down from the Pro models to the regular theoretical account – maybe in the form of the specify - duration telephoto rather than the more sophisticated periscope tech to help secern the two line .
gratefully , the Pixel 10 is rumour to indeed include a dedicated zoom lens for the first time , so I might not have longsighted to wait on that front .
A better selfie camera
Much of the Pixel ’s camera prowess focalize on the rearward Lens – and that make sense . In 90 % of scenarios , you ’ll want to take a photo of something you see , but what if you desire to take a selfie ?
It ’s in this regard that I recall the Pixel 9 – and the rest of the Pixel collecting , if I ’m being honest – fall matte , especially compare to the competition .
The 10.5MP selfie photographic camera has remained practically unaltered since the Pixel 7 when it was first introduce , and it miss the same premium aura as the rearward lenses . Elements like autofocus are n’t present here , despite being uncommitted on crummy phone like the Oppo Reno 13 – not idealistic for a tv camera - rivet flagship like the Pixel .
Do n’t get me ill-timed , I do n’t need an all - singing , all - trip the light fantastic 50MP sensing element like theOppo Reno 13 Pro , but a boost in resolving power and the intromission of autofocus technical school could really better the timbre of selfies captured on the Pixel 10 .
A bigger battery and faster charging
When it comes to barrage longevity , Google ’s Pixel range has never been at the front of the clique . In fact , some Pixels – like the Pixel 4 – have had infamously spoilt assault and battery life .
Now , it ’s not anywhere nearly as bad with the Pixel 9 range , but it ’s still far from the best around . Google should really be applauded for include a 4700mAh battery into a more compact chassis , especially compare to the 4000mAh prison cell from the similarly - sized Galaxy S25 – but it still falls poor compare to the likes of the late - announced OnePlus 13R and its 6000mAh mobile phone .
In world , the progeny is n’t the sizing of the battery ; it ’s how power - hungry the hardware is . compare to other phones with similar - sized bombardment , the Pixels tend to fall down short . That ’s likely mainly down to the Tensor chipset , but more on that in a spot .
I ’d also love to see Google amply hug degenerate charging with the Pixel 10 , as the 27W charging we ’ve ascertain from the Pixel 9 is just too wearisome in 2025 when phones like theOnePlus 13can provide a full commission in just 36 minute of arc with 100W riotous charge technical school .
Improved screen tech
Do n’t get me wrong ; I like that the regular Pixel 9 has a more pocket-size form cistron than most flagships around in 2025 , lark about a 6.3 - inch cover compared to the 6.9 inches from the likes of theiPhone 16 Pro MaxandSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra .
The problem , instead , come with the underlying technology . sure as shooting , it ’s suitably gamey - res for a 6.3 - inch board , but it falls behind in other area . Without the LPTO technical school witness on other flagships , the 120Hz refresh charge per unit is n’t quite as adaptive , dropping down to a lower limit of 60Hz or else of the power - saving 1Hz of LPTO panels .
It ’s also pretty underwhelming in the PWM dimming department . For those unaware , PWM dimming refers to technical school that allows the screen to control display light by quickly turning pixel on and off .
This consequence in screen flickering , with low PWM frequencies run to vexation and eye stress in some users . To battle this , a PWM dimming rate of at least 1000Hz is advocate by technical school manufacturers .
While Chinese manufacturers like Honor , Oppo and Xiaomi have made great strides in boosting the PWM blind rate to make the screenland easier on our eyes , with phones like theHonor Magic 7 Prooffering 4,320Hz , Google is far behind in this respect .
The Pixel 9 has a 240Hz PWM dimming rate , worlds aside from what you ’ll get from similarly priced flagship , and it ’s something that desperately require addressing .
Boosted Tensor performance
Last , but by no means least , Google really needs to handle the elephant in the elbow room ; the Tensor chipset ’s carrying into action .
The latest iteration , the Tensor G4 , is a solid chipset that has no fuss cede a largely stutter - gratis routine experience , but equate to the flagship competition , it ’s precipitate behind .
This is more apparent in more demanding mobile tasks like edit video clips for sharing on TikTok or playing high - end mobile game like Genshin Impact with the graphics quality crank all the way up . While the competing Snapdragon 8 Elite can plow these task with relief , the Pixel 9 collection ’s Tensor G4 got quite red-hot while not quite deliver the same level of performance .
Google really needs to up its secret plan where the Tensor chipset is refer ; a focus on AI is smashing for the Pixel experience in general , but it needs to boost the sheer graphical grunt if it want the Pixel 10 to remain militant in the high - end market .
