Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 9 Professional: Smaller, smarter, comparable [Video]

There’s a divergence within the Made by Google smartphone collection. Now we have two small telephones which might be equivalent in measurement and form however provide totally different energy outputs. Right here’s how the Pixel 9 compares to the Pixel 9 Professional.

Earlier than you’ve even seen the story of the tape, the $100 bump throughout the board is hard to swallow. The Pixel 10 has additionally been swirling round with folks saying they’re hoping to see some even larger enhancements with the SoC swap from Samsung Foundry to TSMC. For those who’re a kind of folks, skip the Pixel 9 collection wholesale.

Even with that sentiment, Google’s smartphones have virtually at all times been greater than only a sum of their components; the Pixel 9 is not any totally different. You probably have even a passing curiosity, is the additional value value it? Right here’s what it is advisable to know.

{Hardware}

Whereas there are variations, the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional have the very same footprint. They’re the identical measurement, form, width, and peak and are solely 1g aside. They each pack in 6.3-inch “Tremendous Actua” OLED screens, use the identical processor, have the identical battery, and have very comparable core internals.

Delve in a little bit deeper, and you will notice why one is tagged “Professional.” The Pixel 9 Professional has a brighter, higher-resolution show, 4GB extra RAM, and two further storage variants. The LTPO show on the 9 Professional may cut back the refresh price to as little as 1Hz to assist save battery, but it surely even has smaller uniform bezels which might be noticeable when considered front-on. Google has achieved nice by making the bezels the identical width on all sides for a uniform look.

Whereas the internals are virtually equivalent, the additional RAM overhead signifies that the Pixel 9 may very well be a little bit slower at sure memory-intensive duties than the Pixel 9 Professional. We haven’t observed something the place the distinction is pronounced, however AI duties can have an edge on the 9 Professional now and into the longer term. The ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner is quicker, simpler, and extra dependable than the optical scanner on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8.

One space the place the Pixel 9 has the sting is within the colour variants accessible. There is no such thing as a parity within the brighter hues used on the cheaper handset, with the Peony providing a flashy, vibrant colorway to face out from the group. The Pixel 9 Professional lineup is extra muted and toned down, however the matte glass end may very well be extra interesting – should you can abdomen shiny facet rails.

As famous above, solely 1g gram separates the duo at 198g and 199g, respectively. IP68 water and dirt resistance rankings are current, too, so taking a dip shouldn’t pose any threat.

Software program

You might be getting virtually equivalent software program on the Google Pixel 9 and 9 Professional – avoid wasting digicam capabilities we’ll discuss shortly. The Google AI suite is totally catered for with any Pixel 9 machine this 12 months. This contains Pixel Studio for creating and enhancing your favourite pictures utilizing Imagen2. Pixel Screenshots intelligently analyzes any on-device screenshots to assist in giving context and pull key data the place required.

Some of the disappointing points of all the Pixel 9 collection is the shortage of Android 15. These telephones have shipped with Android 14 pre-installed. Google confirmed 7 years of updates are coming, but it surely’s not clear if Android 15 goes to be classed as a “free” OS improve, however the official assist pages state that August 2031 is when the lineup might be classed as “out of date.”

Even with final 12 months’s replace, the Pixel 9 collection comes with various unique options like Pixel Screenshots for organizing your on-device pictures, Pixel Studio which helps you to create pictures utilizing AI prompts, and even Reimagine. This goes past the Magic Editor operate with prompts letting you make adjustments or add content material to your on-device pictures. Sadly, the Satellite tv for pc SOS operate is restricted to the US for now. It permits you to ship SMS messages to emergency providers when off-grid.

The day-to-day expertise is equivalent on this duo and, for what it’s value, similar to the Pixel 8 collection.

Battery

As with many components of this comparability, the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional share the identical battery capacities at 4,700mAh. It is a first rate cell measurement for a 6.3-inch telephone. In our expertise, you’ll have sufficient overhead to deal with quite a bit every day.

The one distinction is the charging speeds. Google claims 45W charging, however the actuality this capped at decrease charging charges nearer to 27W when wired. You possibly can rise up to 70% in simply half-hour with the Pixel 9 Professional or 55% on the Pixel 9 when utilizing a USB-C cable. The wi-fi charging speeds with the second-generation Pixel Stand are additionally barely totally different and decrease than the required 30W.

Digicam

The massive distinction between the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional cameras is the addition of 1 all-important further lens and an enormous improve on the selfie digicam. If you need as much as 30x zoom, then there is just one machine to select.

Apart from this lens, there’s parity with the rear digicam high quality as a result of the Pixel 9 has upgraded to a 48MP ultrawide angle lens. You possibly can zoom in at 8x utilizing the primary lens, too, which produces acceptable stills and video.

caIt’s not simply the {hardware} variations. The Pixel 9 Professional has extra digicam capabilities, together with a devoted Professional mode for images, 8K 30fps video with the assistance of Video Increase, Tremendous Res Zoom Video at as much as 20x, and Zoom Improve by way of the Google Photographs software. Add Me is accessible on each telephones and, in observe, is superb.

The Pixel 9 additionally has a a lot decrease decision 10.5MP selfie digicam than the 9 Professional’s 42MP selfie shooter. You possibly can see the distinction side-by-side, however should you’re not a lot of a selfie taker, then this gained’t matter. Face Unlock works simply because it at all times has – quick and dependable.

For those who select the bottom mannequin this 12 months, you’ll miss out on Google’s cutting-edge digicam performance, so we’d say it is best to select correctly.

Pixel 9 vs. 9 Professional: Which ought to I select?

About upgrading: 9to5Google usually offers particular product suggestions. Typically, we could recommend not upgrading, resulting from numerous causes together with, however not restricted to: elevated machine value, negligible efficiency features, or environmental influence. Whether or not to improve is at all times your name, however our intention is that will help you make as knowledgeable a choice as doable.

Google’s determination to make the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional the very same measurement and form is each a blessing and a curse as a result of whereas the common Pixel 9 is a superb entry into the lineup this 12 months, you’re so near getting the total package deal with a little bit bit of additional money. It has an amazing show and a stable dual-camera system. Though it is a bit more costly than its predecessors, it has some notable upgrades.

There are tons of causes to select the Pixel 9 Professional over the Pixel 9, but it surely boils all the way down to the telephoto zoom lens and enhanced function set that this provides. If you need the most effective of the Pixel in a smaller package deal, that is the apparent selection. For an additional $200, you don’t miss out on any of the great things—the key-selling standards. It’s a no brainer as a result of, for the primary time, you possibly can have your cake and eat it.