You'll see in our full Google Pixel 9 review that we're very impressed with Google's flagship phone, but we're still discovering new features the phone has to offer, including the Adaptive Touch technology on the display.
As spotted by Android Authority, if you head into the Display section of Settings, you'll find a new adaptive touch sensitivity option under the Touch Sensitivity menu. When the feature is enabled, the touchscreen sensitivity will “automatically adjust to your environment, activities, and screen saver,” according to the official announcement.
And that pretty much sums it up: Adaptive Touch makes it easier to use the screen if your fingers are wet, if there's a screen protector on it, or if you're wearing gloves, for example. The feature appears to be enabled by default on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Back in March, there was a rumor that Adaptive Touch was on the way for Pixel 9 phones, due to hidden code in an Android 14 beta. Now it appears the code is live and enabled.
More information coming soon
Google hasn't officially said anything about Adaptive Touch, but that's perhaps unsurprising: it had a ton of information to pack into its Made by Google 2024 event a couple of weeks ago, where it unveiled the Pixel 9 range.
It would seem that the feature requires some sort of hardware support, as there's no sign of Adaptive Touch on older Google Pixel 8 phones. If you think this is something you'll find useful, then you'll need to consider upgrading to the 2024 phones – the Pixel 9 starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349.
This isn't the first discovery of an unannounced feature on these devices, either. We previously noted that the Pixel 9 phones have improved the update process (something Google has now commented on), and the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold also comes with a significant upgrade in terms of hardware security.
While these improvements weren't formally announced at the Pixel 9's launch, they do add to the phones' appeal, and of course Google has spent plenty of time talking about other new features, including various AI tricks.
