Products You May Like
Google’s new Pixel 9 smartphones are out, and they’re absolutely overflowing with generative AI features. Google has spent so much time trying to convince everyone of the value of its newly enhanced AI models that it hasn’t mentioned one genuinely useful feature of the Pixel 9 series known as Adaptive Touch. This feature makes the phone’s new screens that much better.
The Pixel 9 series consists of four phones, the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. They all have new “Actua” OLED screens at various resolutions and refresh rates, and all of them are an upgrade over previous Pixel phones. In fact, they are the next displays you’ll find on a phone by some measures, including but not limited to the incredible 3000 nits of peak brightness possible on the Pro models.
Hiding in the settings is another useful addition to the display, called Adaptive Touch. This feature hasn’t been mentioned explicitly by Google, but it was identified as a possible feature in March 2024 based on hints in the Android 14 beta, reports Android Authority. This feature has arrived without fanfare on the Pixel 9 series. It’s available under Settings > Display > Touch sensitivity and should be enabled by default on Google’s new phones.
Credit: Ryan Whitwam
According to the settings, Adaptive Touch will “Automatically adjust to your environment, activities, and screen protector.” The goal is to preserve the phone’s precise and reliable touch input no matter how you’re using the phone. The example of moisture on your hands or the display itself is probably the most relatable. We’ve all seen a phone screen get glitchy or unresponsive when wet, but the Pixel 9 phones handle that situation much better.
I’ve been using a Pixel 9 for almost two weeks, and the improvement in touch responsiveness is noticeable. Even if your hands or the phone are wet, you can navigate around the OS without screen glitches. It’s better in this way than last year’s Pixel phones or high-end smartphones from other manufacturers. This same menu is where you can find the dedicated screen protector mode, which boosts sensitivity permanently if you install a screen protector on the display.
The Pixel 9 series also debuted an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, replacing the optical sensor from previous models. Ultrasonic sensors like the one Samsung and now Google use function even if the screen is wet, which jives nicely with the new Adaptive Touch feature.