The upcoming Google Pixel 9 Pro looks set to retain the Pixel 8 Pro’s most controversial feature: the temperature sensor. The phone’s first leaked renders circulating online have reignited debates among Pixel fans, some of whom expected the feature to be axed after lukewarm reception and limited functionality.
The temperature sensor, introduced on the Pixel 8 Pro, allows users to measure the surface temperature of objects. However, its usefulness has been widely questioned, with critics calling it a “gimmick” and lamenting its lack of integration with other apps or features. On the Pixel subreddit, the leaked renders were met with mixed reactions.
One Redditor is surprised that Google is keen to keep around a new random hardware feature for a second year in a row, perhaps in reference to features like the Pixel 4’s Face ID and squeezable edges on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3. “Out of EVERYTHING they tried and abandoned, it’s the universally criticized feature that gets a 2nd chance? Surely at least it will launch with human temperature sensing,” retorted another Pixel fan hoping for an upgraded version if at all Google must keep the temperature sensor on the Pixel 9 Pro.
Some expressed disbelief at the sensor’s potential return. “Oh man is that the temperature sensor again? Why? That one I was sure was gonna be a gimmick,” commented one, summarizing the general surprise. Others even called for its replacement with a LiDAR sensor, a technology Apple has had in its iPhones since the 12 Pro and is known for its potential in augmented reality and improved camera performance.
While we won’t know if indeed the Pixel 9 Pro will keep the temperature sensor until later this year, the leaked renders suggest the company could give it another chance. Whether this move will win over fans or solidify the feature’s unpopularity remains to be seen. Regardless, the Pixel 9 Pro is already shaping up into another interesting chapter in the debate about smartphone features and what truly matters to consumers.
Featured & inline images: OnLeaks/MySmartPrice
Hillary Keverenge
2105 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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