Please stop asking, your Pixel phone’s rattling sound couldn’t be more normal
The Pixel 9 happens to make a loud rattling sound that rivals someone shaking a small bag of gravel, and the question comes up all too often. Here’s the thing: It’s supposed to do that.
That noise is the Optical Image Stabilization module within the camera unit. Essentially, it sits suspended on several axes supported by strips of dampening material. When you’re taking a photo, that set of lenses will move to absorb the movement from your hand, offering the sensor a chance to capture the most light in the stillest state.
The biggest culprit is the telephoto unit Google uses, considering it needs to be more sensitive to any movement. We’ve noticed that Pro models tend to exhibit more noise because they house telephoto lenses. On top of that, the enclosure is so small that these lenses tend to hit the walls within, causing that clicking sound.