Google Pixel 9 Breaks the Battery Life Curse

Google’s Pixel phones have always been a solid choice for smartphone users, offering great camera performance, smart design, exclusive AI features, and prompt Android updates. However, the Pixel series has often struggled in one critical area: battery life. Over the years, Google’s devices have lagged behind competitors, particularly as Qualcomm and Apple began focusing on power efficiency in their chipsets. Even the best-performing Pixel phones have offered mediocre battery endurance — at best.

But with the introduction of the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google seems to have finally overcome this long-standing issue. The latest Pixel models show a significant improvement in battery performance, potentially ending the era of subpar battery life that has plagued the series.

A Detailed Look: Battery Life Across Pixel Models

Here’s how the battery life of the latest Pixel phones stacks up against previous models:

Last year’s Pixel 8, for instance, managed just 9 hours and 48 minutes in Tom’s Guide battery test, which involves continuous web browsing over 5G at 150 nits of screen brightness. While that was a disappointing result compared to other smartphones, it was considered decent for a Pixel phone. Previous models like the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 performed even worse, with battery lives of just 7:21 and 8:13, respectively. The Pro models didn’t fare much better, with the Pixel 6 Pro lasting 7:49, the Pixel 7 Pro lasting 9:21, and the Pixel 8 Pro managing 8:42. Despite the success of the Pixel series in other areas, battery life has consistently been a weak point.

A Welcome Change: Pixel 9’s Impressive Battery Life

Fortunately, it seems Google has finally found a solution to the battery woes with the Pixel 9 series. During testing, the Pixel 9 lasted 13 hours and 18 minutes — just 10 minutes short of the Samsung Galaxy S24’s performance, which launched shortly before. While the Pixel 9 series won’t be topping any “best phone battery life” lists (the lowest-ranked phone on that list, the Motorola Razr Plus (2024), lasts 14 hours and 13 minutes), Google has made significant progress.

Personal Perspective: Pixel 9’s Battery Life is a Relief

As a long-time user of the Pixel 6 Pro, I had concerns about upgrading to the Pixel 9 Pro, especially regarding battery life. After almost three years of use, the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery performance has declined significantly, rarely lasting an entire day without needing a recharge. Therefore, I was genuinely relieved to see the Pixel 9 achieve such positive results in Tom’s Guide battery test.

Bottom Line: A Step in the Right Direction

The improved battery life in the Pixel 9 series is a big step forward for Google. While Pixel phones have faced other challenges, the benefits of owning a Google device have often outweighed these drawbacks. I don’t need my phone to be a performance powerhouse, so a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 would be wasted on me. However, I understand that others may be concerned about Google’s alleged throttling of Tensor G4 performance.

Regardless of any remaining issues, it’s clear that Google is heading in the right direction. Suppose the company can maintain this momentum and avoid major drops in battery performance over the coming years. In that case, it can focus on addressing other concerns and continue to improve the Pixel series.