Cash-strapped Google fans rage ‘this is unacceptable’ over costly new Pixel price – and say ‘Apple is better right now’

IRATE Google fans have lashed out over the value for money they're getting from one of the company's latest phones.

Earlier this week, Google showed off its powerful AI-toting series of Pixel 9 smartphones.

The feature-packed devices made headlines around the world, and look to compete directly with Apple's iPhone.

But Google Pixel fans have taken offense to the cost of one model in particular: the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

In a Reddit thread with over 1,400 "upvotes", a user blasted raged "this is unacceptable" over the phone's specs.

Specifically, they complained that the phone didn't have enough storage to justify is $1,100 price tag.

To upgrade the storage, you'd need to pay an extra $100 for 256GB, an additional $220 for 512GB, or another $350 for the 1TB unit.

That brings the price of the top-storage version to $1,549.

It's a similar story for the Google Pixel 9 Pro (with a 6.3-inch screen versus the XL's 6.8-inch display).

That costs $999 for the 128GB model, rising to $1,099, $1,219, and $1,449 for the 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB versions respectively.

One user whose comment earned hundreds of upvotes wrote: "Vote with your wallet."

Another said: "Just don't buy it. That's what I do when I find something is unacceptable."

Fans were even praising Apple as the better alternative.

One fan wrote: "It's funny people make fun of Apple on this sub all the time. Apple might be the better proposition now."

Another said: "Need to upgrade from Pixel 6 and after seeing the 9 Pro XL's price, I'm seriously considering iPhone 16 Pro Max now."

One added: "It seems Google is doing everything to push people to buy Apple phones."

And another user noted: "My husband was an Android fanboy for life until he had to switch to iPhone for work and I keep having issues with my Pixel 7.

"He keeps telling me iPhone just works. He can't believe he's a convert either but here he is now with an iPhone, MacBook, AirPod Pros, iPad, and Apple Watch. Am I next?"

By contrast, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models all come with 256GB of storage as standard.

That means the $999 iPhone 15 Pro costs as much as the Pixel 9 Pro – but has twice the storage.

Google Pixel phones – a timeline

Here are the key dates...

• Google Pixel / XL – October 20, 2016
• Google Pixel 2 / XL – October 17, 2017
• Google Pixel 3 / XL – October 18, 2018
• Google Pixel 3a / XL – May 15, 2019
• Google Pixel 4 / XL – October 23, 2019
• Google Pixel 4a – August 20, 2020
• Google Pixel 4a (5G) – November 5, 2020
• Google Pixel 5 – October 15, 2020
• Google Pixel 5a – August 26, 2021
• Google Pixel 6 / Pro – October 28, 2021
• Google Pixel 6a – July 21, 2022
• Google Pixel 7 / Pro – October 13, 2022
• Google Pixel 7a – May 10, 2023
• Google Pixel Fold – June 20, 2023
• Google Pixel 8 / Pro – October 12, 2023

However, the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max costs $1,199 – that's the same as the Pixel 9 Pro XL's 256GB variant.

Some users didn't think the new pricing was too bad.

One said: "You have to consider the majority that use more than 128GB is probably 5% or less.

"I'm the type of person who upgrades just about yearly, loves tech, and has 54GB free on my 128GB Pixel 8 Pro. If someone like me has that much free space, I'd imagine that the average user most likely used far less."

Another added: "Agreed. I'd consider myself a 'power user' and I'm sitting at 100/128GB on my Pixel 7 Pro.

"I have thought about going with more storage, but I've never needed to be concerned with storage space, so that would just feel like a waste of money I think."

And one added: "Honest question, what do people keep on their phones that take so much space? I've never gotten close to filling 128GB lol."

All of the new Pixel 9 devices are available to pre-order right now.

Here's how pricing breaks down:

• Pixel 9 – $799 / £799
• Pixel 9 Pro – $999 / £999
• Pixel 9 Pro XL – $1,099 / £1,099
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold – $1,799 / £1,749

And the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL are out on August 22, with the other two landing in September.

All three of the Pro models also come with a year of Google's AI Gemini Advanced membership, plus 2TB of cloud storage.