Been comparing the Pixel 9/10/11 and the gap is smaller than the marketing makes it sound, so curious what others think.
The way I read it: same 6.3in body all three years. The 9 actually has the biggest main sensor but no zoom lens. The 10 added a 5x zoom and the magnetic Qi2 charging but shrank the main camera. The 11 keeps the zoom, brings a bigger main sensor back, and bumps wireless to 25W. None of the base three get a vapor chamber, so they all throttle in long games.
My take: on a 10 I wouldn’t bother; on a 9 the zoom + magnets + faster wireless are the things you’d feel daily.
For the Pixel 9 and 10 owners here — has the camera or charging actually pushed anyone to upgrade, or is it a “wait for the 12” year?
The Pixel 11 has introduced: nothing useful! In fact, it has actually regressed with the reduced amount of RAM. The only marketed feature is the silly Gemini light on the back of the Pro models, that can only be used for five contacts (and only calls! Not notifications!) or as an indicator when Gemini is thinking. Skip the Pixel 11, plus GrapheneOS is not supported yet. 25W wireless charging isn’t supported by most chargers and most people charge wired anyways (faster, more efficient, and not really less convenient)
Personally, I would get the Pixel 9 over both the 10 and 11, the main upside is the magnets (which can bd solved with a case) and a zoom camera (in which case the 9 Pro is pretty good and also the same size). Realistically, I would probably get a 9a over any of them, because you really don’t lose anything going with it besides camera quality (plastic will not crack easily like glass and will get covered by a case anyways)
If you already have the 9 or 10, don’t upgrade! It’s very silly and you get basically nothing extra. The only thing is maybe the zoom camera, if you have a base 9, in which case the 9 Pro (or even 10 Pro) is cheaper + supports GrapheneOS
And of course, you have non-Pixel devices as well. Fairphone has been awesome in European markers, and their recent Fairphone 6+ has also released in the U.S., which is pretty cool! They make very nice devices that are pretty competitive for what you’re paying honestly, and they support right to repair and fair working conditions! You don’t get GrapheneOS, but LineageOS, e/OS, CalyxOS, iodeOS, and even many flavours of mobile Linux support Fairphones! It’s really cool stuff, and Nura (formerly postmarkerOS) is being worked on for the latest Fairphone 6!
You’ve also got the cheaper Jolla Phone that runs SailfishOS, and that might be fun to play around with