The new Google phones are here: the ninth generation of the Google Pixel has this time left us with a trio in the family. The Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL are the new high-end Android reference. They have a technical sheet loaded with the highest level, although the search engine company gave greater importance, during its presentation, to everything new on Gemini.
That’s not to say that the Pixel 9 doesn’t bring new features, both in hardware and software itself beyond artificial intelligence. Android 15 continues to take time, for the first time it hasn’t debuted with the new smartphones. However, now that we’re using them, we’ve tried the function that improves interaction with the mobile and its screen: works wonderfully.
The Pixel 9’s least talked about new feature is a feature to improve the touchscreen
In fact, while this is a new feature, it was spotted a few months ago before we knew about the new family of Google smartphones. It was first tested during the development of the March quarterly update, although it ultimately didn’t land in that version.
This is what the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s display looks like. Image by Iván Linares for Xataka
There was a compelling reason that was later discovered: it would be the Pixel 9 that would launch this feature. Now that we have tested them, we have been able to verify their operation. In short, this new screen settings option automatically improves touch response.
How do you do? Just like Adaptive Brightness enhanced the traditional auto-brightness feature with intelligent behavior, this “Adaptive Sensitivity” applies the same process to the usual “Glove Mode” that increases the sensitivity of the Pixel 9’s touchscreen.
So, Google’s new smartphones get a differential functionality and exclusive. This seems somewhat similar to what OnePlus unveiled around this time last year, although it doesn’t directly focus on interacting with the screen in the rain.
The description of this setting is clear about its purpose: “Touch sensitivity will automatically adapt to your environment, activities, and screen saver.” This indicates that this is an improved version of “Screen Saver Mode”, which, by the way, coexists with the new configuration.
Here’s how the screen works with the option enabled:
In the following GIF the differences with the disabled function are clear:
As we can see in the video we recorded, activate this switch It offers a very good tactile response, more noticeable when the fingers are wet. You can see the difference with use without: some jumps are perceived in the interface and the tactile response makes some errors, slowing down the scrolling.
The setting is enabled by default on the Pixel 9, which is surely a decision by Google itself for users who are not familiar with the aforementioned alternative. It’s not the only new screen: the Pixel 9 series adds an option called “Touch diagnosis”: allows you to verify that the panel is working correctly.
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