A while back, I gave up my love for the Pixel phones. This was a challenge since I had one from the beginning. But when Google made its plans clear that the Pixel 9 line of phones would be all about AI, I decided I’d had enough.

Also: Everything that was announced at Made by Google 2024

There were two main reasons why I decided to jump ship: too much AI is a bad thing and boring designs. When I made that decision, I had my sights set on the Nothing Phone 3. Since then, however, I’ve realized that AI would always play a role, no matter what phone I bought.

Sad trumpet sound.

I get it. I really do. Every tech company believes AI is good for us (whether we agree or not). AI is here to stay, and the only way to avoid it may be to buy one of the many low-end phones lucky enough to have Gemini on board as an assistant.

Also: Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra: I tested both and here are the key differences

So why did I buy a Pixel 9 Pro? Aside from throwing my hands up in the air about AI, there were a few reasons. Let me explain.

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1. The new design

I’ve been waiting for Google to finally wake up and realize that their designs are boring. The only Pixel device with a hint of aesthetic taste was the Pixel 4, and that phone was ruined by the worst battery in the history of Pixel devices.

Also: I have tried every Google Pixel 9 model and this is the best for most people

Google wanted us to believe that the Pixel designs were elegant and sleek, but they were uninspired and didn’t stand up to the competition. Seriously, look at what Carl Pei and Nothing have done in terms of design. You can’t beat it.

But then the Pixel 9 was leaked (and eventually announced), and I have to say, Google finally nailed it. That hideous edge-to-edge camera bump? Gone. In its place is a more standard camera pill that brings the Pixel phones more in line with modern aesthetics. On top of that, we’re finally getting some fun color variants that rival what Google offered with the Pixel 4. Phones should have a bit of personality, and the Pixel 9 pulls that off.

2. The camera

The only thing that stopped me from switching phones was the damn Pixel camera. To say it was good would be a massive understatement. I’ve tried so many different phones and have yet to find one with a better camera.

Also: Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: The key differences

It’s not like I take a lot of photos with my phone, but when I do, my Pixel 8 Pro has never let me down once. The quality of the Pixel cameras is so much better than the competition that it’s almost unfair. The idea of ​​using an inferior camera made me question my decision from the start.

3. Android, plain and simple

Aside from the camera, what I’ve really liked about the Pixel phones is the version of Android that ships with the devices. There are no OEM overlays or bloatware, and the Pixel Launcher is hard to beat. Most major Android phone makers offer their own versions of Android, and I’ve yet to see that improve on the original. And with all the bloatware that ships with other devices, it can be very frustrating to remove these redundant (and low-quality) apps.

4. Onboarding

If you’ve ever bought a Pixel phone to replace a previous Pixel phone, you know how seamless and effortless the onboarding process is. Connect both phones via a USB-C cable and let Android do its thing. All the apps will be installed for you, your accounts will be transferred, and even some configurations will be migrated. It really doesn’t get any easier than that, and the thought of a subpar onboarding process makes me cringe.

5. The trade-in

Google offered me a trade-in value of $700 for my Pixel 8 Prowhich the price of Pixel 9 Pro with 256 GBincluding a case, to just under $600. Sure, I could have bought a mid-range phone for that price, but getting a flagship phone for $600 is a bargain I couldn’t pass up.

Also: I tried Google’s $1,800 Pixel 9 Pro Fold and am ready to leave Samsung

Google has always been pretty generous with trade-in values, so if you’re considering an upgrade, I recommend checking your trade-in value there first.

I’ve been hanging around with the Pixel devices for a long time and they’ve rarely let me down. Yes, there have been some issues with call quality, battery, and Bluetooth over the years, but that’s almost to be expected in this era of releases. Would I have liked to have found another phone that was equal to the Pixel in every way? Of course. Unfortunately, from my perspective, that phone doesn’t exist.

So I’ll stick with the Pixel.

Currently.