The Google Pixel 9 range is Google’s latest and greatest roster of smartphones. Here are 10 accessories to take those great smartphones even higher.
Google’s Pixel 9 series has been bestowed with a few hotly-anticipated upgrades this year. An improved camera, faster charging speeds, better silicon, and a smattering of new camera tricks are among the key refinements this year to tackle the iPhone challenge. Whether you’re looking at the regular Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, or Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google has a new phone for you.
Overall, it seems like Google really wanted to justify that $200 price hike in just a couple of years for its entry-point mainline Pixel phone. But if you seek to soup up your Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro with the best hardware ecosystem woven around it, the following is a list of accessories that will certainly lift your experience.
Google 45W charging brickThe best in-house charger for the Pixel 9
For a while now, the Pixel smartphones have played in the same league of charging laggards as Apple and Samsung. Unfortunately, the situation hasn’t changed, even though there is a slight bump in the battery capacity. The Pixel 9 is still limited to 27W wired output, the same as its predecessor.
Google says that in an interval of 30 minutes, the Pixel 9 can go from empty to 55% charge, while the Pixel 8 could only reach the 50% level. And here’s the bad part: Those numbers were achieved using the new 45W charging brick, and not the 30W bring that Google hawked alongside the Pixel 8 series phones.
But that’s not the end of it. If you want the best charging performance from your phone, use the brand’s own charger, irrespective of whether it comes in the retail box or sold separately. In the Pixel 9’s case, your best bet is the company’s 45W charging brick that is now on sale.
Anker Nano 3 GaN ChargerThe best charger for the Pixel 9
If you are looking for something small and light, the Anker Nano 3 GaN charger should be your radar. This one delivers a peak output of 30W and offers a foldable plug design that makes it even easier to slot it in any side pocket with ease. You can also color match it with your phone as it comes in a variety of colors that include light green, lavender, and sky blue.
Cable Matters USB-C cableThe best charging cable for the Pixel 9
As far as a cable goes, well, the Pixel 9 comes with a 1-meter USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, so you don’t have to fork extra cash for it. But do keep in mind that it’s a USB 2.0 standard cable, which doesn’t offer the fastest file transfer output. For reference, the phone’s USB-C port is certified for the Gen v3.2 output. If data transfer is your priority, Cable Matters’ USB 3.1 Type-C cable will cover both of your needs.
Torras Magnetic Case for Pixel 9The best case for the Pixel 9
One of the biggest omissions of the Pixel 9 series was the lack of native Qi2 charging support. In a nutshell, Qi2 is not only faster than its predecessor but also adds support for a magnetic power specification that essentially gives it the same superpowers as MagSafe on iPhones. However, there’s a way to achieve MagSafe-like capabilities on the Pixel 9.
All you need is a charging case with a magnetic ring inside. A healthy few brands out there now offer cases with some kind of magnetic assembly. The idea here is that even when the case is applied, the phone can attach magnetically to power banks and charging surfaces more securely.
This is how wireless charging accessories that are Qi2 certified, or even those that only support the Qi standard but add magnetic rings close to the charging surface, bring the MagSafe convenience to Android devices like the Pixel 9.
