Google handed us the Pixel 9 collection shortly after their August reveal and we took to testing and reviewing all the line-up. We’ve since bought nearly each system within the collection (solely lacking the common Pixel 9) and have spent the higher a part of the previous 3 months with not less than considered one of them in pocket or on-desk always. It has been a protracted sufficient testing interval that it felt like the best time to return again round and share an replace on our Pixel 9 Professional ideas.

For individuals who missed all of our Pixel 9 critiques, you’ll discover them right here (Pixel 9), right here (Pixel 9 Professional), and right here (Pixel 9 Professional Fold).

To recap them within the briefest of how, I believe all you should know is that we actually favored each single one of many Pixel 9 items that Google launched. The virtually-budget-friendly Pixel 9 is an unbelievable worth at $799, the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL are correct “Professional” stage telephones with a selection of measurement, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is a really wonderful foldable that has even tempted me, the foldable hater. Google took the Pixel 9 collection to a complete new stage this 12 months that I didn’t know they have been able to, if I’m being sincere.

I haven’t been capable of put down the Pixel 9 Professional, so let’s speak about why.

What’s nonetheless nice concerning the Pixel 9 Professional?

This would possibly sound like a bizarre place to start this part, however I really feel like I ought to begin by speaking concerning the iPhone 15 Professional. “However Kellen, the very last thing we’d like is one other obnoxious comparability to the iPhone” – look, I get it, few items of content material are worse than these. I’m not likely about to try this. Grasp with me.

For a very giant chunk of 2024, I spent my time with an iPhone 15 Professional and an Apple Watch. After testing the Pixel 8 Professional on the finish of 2023 and never loving the scale, then switching to the Galaxy S24 and discovering it to be a snoozefest, after which not loving no matter it’s that OnePlus is doing with software program, I leaned into the regularness of Apple’s greatest cellphone and watch combo.

The iPhone labored for my life for fairly a while, partly as a result of my spouse has switched to an iPhone, but additionally as a result of Facetime is extremely useful, battery life has all the time been nice for me, and different issues just like the digital camera and ecosystem actually can hold you round. I truly kind of anticipated to be again on the iPhone after testing out all that was on Android for 2024.

After which this Pixel 9 Professional got here alongside.

This cellphone is slightly piece of tech perfection, not less than for a way I exploit a cellphone. You see, I by no means cherished utilizing the iPhone. I used it as a result of the general ecosystem is so nice. However Apple’s notification system nonetheless is perhaps the worst notification system within the historical past of any platform’s notification system, all keyboards on iOS are a nightmare to make use of, and finishing duties with Apple’s insistence on forcing you to swipe from the highest of the cellphone or left edge are baffling. Like, the iPhone consumer expertise when in comparison with one thing just like the Pixel 9, is a lot worse that I’m now questioning what within the hell I used to be doing for a lot of the 12 months.

After reviewing the Pixel 9 Professional, I truly tried to present the iPhone one other probability and I lasted all of a single day. I instantly switched again and haven’t appeared again since. The Pixel 9 Professional is the very best cellphone you should buy right now and I’m undecided there’s a cellphone in 2nd place I’d inform you to think about. Issues might change shortly there as we transfer into 2025, however for now, that is the cellphone.

The little issues retaining me round: Most telephones available on the market right now on this value vary are going to be wonderful. The Galaxy S24 Extremely is a cellphone many will love and discover no complaints with. The identical goes for the OnePlus 12 and newest iPhone 16 Professional fashions. After we criticize telephones or try to resolve which issues flip us off or on from them, we actually do search for the small stuff. You need to as a result of every part is nice.

For the Pixel 9 Professional, we talked in our assessment concerning the digital camera, measurement selection, battery life, show, design, and efficiency all being high notch. However once more, you would argue for many telephones that they’re wonderful in these classes too. So it does come right down to the little issues.

• Design: I’m nonetheless attempting to keep away from utilizing circumstances within the 12 months 2024 and it is a cellphone that makes me pleased to take action. The Pixel 9 Professional nonetheless feels as premium as any I’ve held and is comfy and simple to carry with its rounded flat edges. This can be a stunner of a cellphone. In case you love holding your telephones as a lot as I do, then that is simply one of many causes to maintain coming again to the Pixel 9 Professional. Past the way it feels, these new Pixel telephones are refreshing to take a look at as they’re a giant change on earlier fashions and actually do appear like one thing new. Samsung, OnePlus, and Apple’s present designs have been runback for a 12 months or two too lengthy and are so drained.
• Interactions: Utilizing a Pixel 9 Professional continually reminds you that you simply that haptics and animations and software program tuning and accessibility, all actually matter in each day use. As you progress round a Pixel 9 Professional, the subtle-yet-premium vibrations are good reminders of accomplished duties, the keyboard for common looking out is all the time only a swipe away, and leaping from one app to a different or any display occurs in ways in which look so deliberate as to make sure smoothness. That’s a tough merchandise to essentially describe, however it’s simply the way in which animations move or end or transfer to a different display that assist make a distinction in how briskly or easy or pleasant a cellphone is to make use of.
• Unlocking a cellphone needs to be simple: Google was actually enjoying catch-up when it comes to the unlocking expertise with the Pixel 9 Professional, however they’ve just about caught up. I’m speaking about their use of an actual (ultrasonic) in-display fingerprint reader that mixes with a superb face unlock. Entering into your Pixel cellphone was a irritating expertise and it not is with the Pixel 9. And once I deliver up previous Pixel telephones being irritating to unlock, I’m telling you that it was dangerous sufficient that it was a cause I didn’t return to the Pixel 8 Professional.
• New software program continues to be enjoyable: On the finish of the day, I’m the kind of one that likes to tinker with the most recent of the brand new and Google’s Pixel telephones get stuff first. Samsung has been nice lately on the subject of software program updates, however they’ve struggled this 12 months. For instance, they haven’t launched Android 15 but (or a single beta construct) and don’t plan to till subsequent 12 months. OnePlus can also be simply not dependable sufficient with common updates. However as a Pixel 9 Professional proprietor, I might keep on with month-to-month updates, change to a QPR2 construct that lets me take a look at the subsequent Characteristic Drop replace, or I might take a look at even earlier stuff, like the brand new Android 16 Developer Preview. No different Android cellphone will get me this a lot software program to play with.
• The ecosystem is coming: I talked lots above about how Apple’s ecosystem is so good, however Google’s is actually coming alongside. When sporting a Pixel Watch (particularly the Pixel Watch 3 with UWB), unlocking your Pixel 9 occurs so quick and is so cool to make use of. The Fitbit integration feels first-party too, though Google requiring a subscription for Premium is ridiculous. However you can too sync notifications between different Pixel units now, timers from Google Nest units can present, and so forth. The one factor I would like now could be a Fast Share app on MacOS.
• Dimension selection: I don’t know that that is essentially a cause I’m sticking with the Pixel 9 Professional, however the truth that there’s selection in measurement has made it simpler to not run away. Over the previous few years with Google giving us a bigger “Professional” mannequin that I simply didn’t need to undertake, it made it exhausting to stay with the Pixel line for the lengthy haul. For the Pixel 9 Professional, I get to decide on which cellphone is for me, relatively than Google deciding. And this will likely shock you, however I’m truly loving the Pixel 9 Professional XL in the mean time and haven’t any plans to ditch it for the smaller mannequin. I do know, the man who continually complains about not having smaller cellphone decisions isn’t even utilizing the one which Google launched. I’m certain I’ll return to it in some unspecified time in the future.
• Transferring SIMs: This isn’t a function that the majority will care about in any respect, however the SIM transferring course of between Pixel 9 units is stellar. As somebody who has jumped between 3 Pixel 9 telephones in latest months, it is a course of that I used to dread with eSIM, however not do when utilizing Pixel telephones. This course of is now constructed into the Pixel switching expertise and occurs with out the necessity on your service. You simply inform your new Pixel that you’re transferring from one other Pixel cellphone after which your new Pixel cellphone has your eSIM setup and able to rock inside minutes. It’s nearly like magic.

Complaints, are there any? In my assessment, I actually had nearly no complaints outdoors of mentioning that 128GB ought to not be a beginning storage choice. However after utilizing these telephones for 3+ months, there are areas which have pissed off me at instances.

• Battery life on Android 15: I don’t know what the deal is, however since updating to Android 15, battery life is now one thing I fear about excess of I did with Android 14. In our critiques, we discovered battery life to be borderline distinctive and that was with assessment items on 14. I most undoubtedly discover myself plugging in Pixel 9 units way more usually now or not less than ensuring I’m continually topped off all through a day in case I depart my troll gap and enterprise into the actual world.
• Lack of Qi2: The way forward for wi-fi charging is Qi2, which can deliver extra secure wi-fi charging to extra units and likewise introduce magnetic attachments (like Apple’s MagSafe) to extra units. Sadly, firms have been sluggish to undertake Qi2 and its new magnetic capabilities, and that features the Pixel 9 collection. We have been hoping Google could be early to the celebration, however they aren’t. This frustrates me some as a result of I’ve a complete ecosystem of neat MagSafe chargers round my home that I’d love to make use of with my Pixel 9 Professional. Whereas there are circumstances that may get me that performance, I’m a case-free man on most days.

And that’s it. I’ve had 3 months with Pixel 9 units and these are the telephones for me right now (and sure into the prolonged future). It began with the Pixel 9 Professional, a tool I’m contemplating a change again to. We then moved onto the Pixel 9 Professional Fold to get a foldable meal in for the primary time shortly. And now we’re on the Pixel 9 Professional XL and loving each minute of it.

How’s your Pixel 9 after 3 months of use?