In August, Google launched its latest Pixel phone lineup to much fanfare and positive early reviews. With this year's models, the company made a bigger push into AI with Gemini Live. It also mixed up its phone range by launching the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and rebadging its largest phone to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. This made room for a much more pocketable Pixel 9 Pro that delivers pro features in a Pixel 9-sized frame.
As great as Google's new Pixel lineup is, it hasn't been sunshine and rainbows for everyone. Early adopters in particular have encountered a few problems, and while some have settled down after break-in periods or been fixed in later Android updates, we're still seeing reports of minor issues. While none of these appear to be deal-breakers, they're worth keeping an eye on if you're considering a new Pixel phone or struggling with the one you have. Here are a few of the most prominent issues we've come across and some suggestions on what to do if you encounter any of them.
Slow and unreliable camera performance
There have been some reports of significant lag between pressing the shutter button and capturing images on the Pixel 9 Pro XL camera. This appears to be related to shooting in the higher-resolution 50-megapixel (MP) mode, which also appears to have some bugs related to quality and lack of detail.
These both appear to be software issues related to image processing, and hopefully Google can do something to fix them in a software update. It's unclear how widespread the problem is, but there are a few things you can try if you encounter it.
Solutions
- The simplest solution appears to be switching down to the 12MP setting. That's near-instantaneous and produces great results by all reports. It's best to leave that as the default until this issue is resolved. You can still switch up to 50MP on the fly when you think a shot requires it, but the low-resolution setting will give you near-instantaneous photo capture so you won't miss any important moments.
- We've seen sporadic reports of clearing the camera cache helping a bit, although it doesn't solve the issue entirely. You can do this by going to Settings > Applications > Camera > Camera > Storage > Clear cache and data.
Lagging and stuttering when scrolling
One common complaint from early adopters was excessive stuttering and frame drops, particularly when scrolling. These were most noticeable by those who came from other platforms, with comparisons made to the buttery smooth scrolling of rivals like Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra.
This problem is far from widespread, and in some cases it appears to be related to a "break-in" period while data is being restored and under-the-hood optimizations are occurring. Many folks are reporting that their Pixel 9 phones are just as smooth as the best that Samsung offers. Nevertheless, here are some things to consider if you're impacted by it.
Solutions
- If you've just upgraded to a Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, or Pixel 9 Pro XL, it might simply be a matter of waiting it out. Several folks have reported that things improve after two or three days, suggesting that it's just a matter of waiting for all the background processing to settle down.
- Another suggested remedy is to reboot in Safe Mode. At the very least, this can help identify whether a background app is causing the problem, but in some cases, going through the process of rebooting into safe mode and then back into normal mode is enough to resolve the issue.
- Ensure you're running the latest release of Android 15. Google has added performance optimizations specifically related to reports of lagging and stuttering issues. While this hasn't resolved the issue for everyone, some people have reported noticeable improvements, and Google is likely still working on it for future releases.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL’s wireless charging isn’t working
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is reported to have wireless charging issues, with users on Google Forum and Reddit describing the charging as inconsistent. Interestingly, one of the biggest complaints is that charging with Google’s Pixel Stand is troublesome at best.
Google has not officially commented on this issue. However, at least one Reddit user stated that the company has acknowledged this as a known bug that's currently being looked at by company engineers. If this is accurate, a software update should address this sooner rather than later.
Until then, there's a few things you can do to perhaps better the situation.
Solutions:
- First, make sure you're using a supported wireless charger. This might sound obvious, but wireless chargers aren't all created equally, and some output more power than others.
- Consider purchasing a second-generation Pixel Stand. Despite some early reported issues, having the official stand will ensure that you’ll achieve the 23 watts of charging Google promises for compatible Pixel phones, including the Pixel 9 series, assuming a bug fix resolves the central issue.
The Google Pixel 9 is experiencing poor battery life
Last year, many Pixel 8 users complained about poor battery life on their new handsets. However, improvements have been made in the Pixel 9 series this year. If you’re still experiencing issues, there are a few things you can try to improve the situation. The solutions involve changing a few settings on your phone.
Solutions:
- Wait it out. If you've just purchased a new Pixel phone, this may simply be a matter of breaking it in. Even if you're starting from scratch, the system takes some time to adjust to your usage patterns, and if you've brought your data over from another phone, there are also background processes that will run for a few days to optimize everything. It's not uncommon for battery life to take a few days to stabilize and improve.
- Lower the brightness. The Pixel 9 can reach high brightness levels, so if your phone’s brightness is consistently set to maximum, it will negatively impact your battery life. Adjust it to a lower setting when possible.
- Activate power-saving mode. This is an excellent option if your phone has trouble staying on during the day, although it will throttle performance and limit brightness.
- Lower the resolution. Higher resolutions require more pixels, which in turn require more power. Lowering the resolution can help conserve battery life.
- Avoid playing too many games. Yes, mobile games often hurt battery life. The more games you play in one sitting, the quicker the battery is likely to drain.
- Contact Google. If your phone performs poorly due to hardware issues, it’s best to consider sending the handset back to the company as a last resort. Unfortunately, hardware issues do happen, and if this is the case, it’s essential to take the necessary steps to get a replacement.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has a camera tilt issue
At least one Reddit user has pointed out another issue with the Pixel 9 Pro XL: a potential problem with the telephoto lens, specifically when using the 5x zoom.
Other users have reported experiencing tilt issues with the phone’s ultrawide lens, while some say it’s sporadic.
Once again, there has been no confirmation from Google that this is a problem with the new phones.
Solutions:
- The first step to resolving this issue is to reboot your phone, as this is a common fix for many problems. Try this first.
- Alternatively, you can wait for a bug fix to be sent out to resolve the issue. This assumes that the issue is software-related and not hardware-related.
- Finally, if you can’t resolve the issue on your own, or if it becomes more troublesome, contact Google support. In this case, it could be a hardware issue.
The Google Pixel 9 is hot
Thankfully, it seems that the Pixel 9 series, like the Pixel 8 before it, does not suffer from overheating issues like earlier Pixel versions. If this changes suddenly, Google will release a bug fix to resolve what would almost certainly be a software, not a hardware, issue. If you think your phone is too hot, there are a few things to try.
Solutions
- Before doing anything else, reboot your phone or close apps that are running in the background.
- If the previous method doesn't solve the issue, think about whether you have recently added or updated an app and try removing it. It's possible that the app is causing the problem and might need a software update.
- Another thing you can do is check for an Android update and install it.
A touchscreen that isn't acting right
If your Pixel 9 touchscreen suddenly stops working or is having sporadic problems, the device could be suffering from a serious issue.
Solutions
- If this issue is happening randomly, a software update might fix it. However, we can’t predict when Google will release the update. If many users are experiencing this problem, we can expect a patch to be released promptly.
- Unfortunately, if your phone’s touchscreen no longer works, you’ll need to return the phone to the place of purchase. This isn’t a normal or acceptable issue for smartphones in 2024.
Problems with your phone’s Wi-Fi connection
At least one Pixel 8 user has complained on Reddit that a recent software update has caused Wi-Fi issues with their phone. However, we haven't received any similar reports from Pixel 9 users, but it's possible this issue could crop up for it.
Regardless of the type of phone you have, if you believe it isn't connecting properly to the internet via Wi-Fi, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try.
Solutions
- First, reboot your phone and your home’s router. The latter is almost certainly connecting to a lot of devices daily, and a reboot might be necessary to get things back in order.
- Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on. This might seem obvious, but you might have turned it off accidentally.
- If the first two steps haven’t provided any satisfaction, forget and reconnect to your home network. You can do this by accessing your phone’s Wi-Fi settings, selecting the problematic connection, then selecting “Forget,” and then reconnecting.
