My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: The Google Pixel 9

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The Pixel 9 is the latest series of the Google Pixel phone lineup. They were released late last summer along with the 9 Pro and Pro XL, while the budget Pixel 9a came out earlier this year. If you're looking for the latest middle-of-the-pack Pixel, the 128 GB unlocked Pixel 9 is just $639.99 (originally $799) after a $160 discount, the second-lowest price it has been since its release, according to price-tracking tools.

The Pixel 9 comes with 12GB of RAM, starts with 128GB of memory storage, a maximum 120 HZ refresh rate, and the Android 14 operating system. Lifehacker's associate tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt deemed the Pixel 9 so good that you likely won't miss the Pro. It's important to note that the AI features still had hiccups, but AI features will keep improving over time; the most important thing to get right is the hardware, and Michelle says this is the best smartphone Google has made so far.

The battery life can last almost 12 hours, according to PCMag's "excellent" review. The main camera has a 50MP shooter, a 48MP ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree field of view, same as the Pro models, but it has a single-zone laser detect autofocus (LDAF) sensor (the pro has multi-zone LDAF).

If you have the Pixel 8, you might not notice a huge upgrade in this model. However, if you're upgrading from an older version or doing a switch from a non-Pixel phone, the 9 has a lot to offer. One of my favorite things about Pixel phones is the ongoing support for many years. My Pixel 6A still gets all of the updates and tons of AI features that make the phone feel fresh many years later, with the latest ones dropping last month (if you have a GoPro, you can control it with your Pixel). With the Pixel 9, you'll be getting a quality phone with software updates for quite a while—as long as seven years.