Sporting a redesigned appearance and powered by the fourth-generation Google Tensor system-on-chip, the phones are heavily integrated with Gemini-branded artificial intelligence features.

[6][20] An "after party" livestream hosted by actress Keke Palmer and featuring celebrity guest appearances followed the Made by Google event.

[36] Days after the phones' launch, Google generated controversy after several social media influencers part of the seven-year-old #TeamPixel marketing program posted screenshots of a new clause stipulating that participants must not show preference for competitors when creating content with the Pixel 9.

[37][38][39] In February 2025, Google released a commercial titled "Dream Job" which advertised Gemini on the Pixel 9, ahead of its airing during Super Bowl LIX.

One of Google's two Super Bowl spots that year, the 60-second commercial featured a father using Gemini on his Pixel 9 to prepare for a job interview.

Google also ran a third commercial entitled "Party Blitz" online, in which a man "attempts to impress his girlfriend's family by using Gemini [on his Pixel 9] to become a football expert".

[40][41][42] In his initial reaction to the Pixel 9 series, Android Police's Rajesh Pandey praised the overall design but disliked the iPhone-esque flat edges and polished metal frame.

[45] Allison Johnson of The Verge was impressed by the camera features, writing in a headline, "The Pixel 9 Pro XL showed me the future of AI photography".

[52][53][54] Soniya Jobanputra, a lead member of the Pixel's product management team, told The Financial Express that the G4 was not designed to "beat some specific benchmark that’s out there.