Early Pixel 9 sales suggest that customers might prefer smaller screens

It’s not uncommon to find phones these days that pack massive displays. Take for example the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra which packs a 6.8-inch display. Then there is the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max which is rumored to go even bigger with a 6.9-inch display. But it seems that customers might have a preference for smaller displays, according to initial sales of the Pixel 9 series.

According to a report from 9to5Google, they have noticed that the shipping dates for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro have slipped into September. Both phones were initially set to ship on the 22nd of August, but if you were slow to pull the trigger, you might have to wait until the 10th of September, or possibly even later.

For context, the base Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro have 6.3-inch displays. This is versus the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the newest addition to the Pixel lineup, which packs a 6.8-inch display. All of this seems to suggest that customers are actually okay, or might even prefer, a phone with a smaller display.

There is a lot to like about a phone with a huge screen. It’s nicer to game on, websites are easier to read, and media in general looks better. However, the trade-off is that it’s hard to use as the larger display might be cumbersome for those with smaller hands. Now, it is possible that customers don’t want to pay for the more expensive Pixel 9 Pro XL. That could explain why they are flocking to the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. But what do you think? Are phone screens getting out of hand, and would you like to see something smaller?