The launch of the Pixel 9 sequence is indubitably the most important for Google in a few years. As an alternative of giving us two telephones – one Professional, one non-Professional – they gave us 4 telephones to attempt to resolve between, all of which have been massively redesigned. There’s the common Pixel 9 (our evaluate) to begin, with a formidable set of specs for the value. However then we’ve got three completely different “Professional” stage telephones, one which’s a foldable and one other two that we’re about to speak about right here. There’s actual selection for the primary time from Google and I occur to search out that very thrilling.
I’ve been in a position to take a look at out each the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL for the previous few weeks. These are the telephones that I’d guess most will lean in direction of, as a result of they provide you all the greatest specs Google gives in two completely different sizes. You get the very best shows and greatest cameras in common cellphone shapes, loads of shade selections, and numerous worth factors relying on how a lot storage you need. You can also lastly go small and never lose out on something, which is big for Google and for these of us who like smaller telephones.
We’ve got rather a lot to speak about – that is our Pixel 9 Professional evaluate.
What do I like in regards to the Pixel 9 Professional?
Selection. For the reason that launch of the Pixel 6 sequence, I’ve discovered it robust to stay with Google’s “Professional” telephones for various months at a time. Whereas I knew they’d the very best set of specs and will see extra options than the non-Professional variations, they had been just too large. I’m a small cellphone fan and the Pixel 6 Professional, Pixel 7 Professional, and Pixel 8 Professional had been merely outsized and never my model.
For the Pixel 9 sequence, Google is giving us a smaller Pixel 9 Professional subsequent to a Pixel 9 Professional XL. I couldn’t be extra enthusiastic about this. We’ve got selections and people selections don’t imply we’ll have to present something up. The Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL have the very same specs, exterior of size-related issues like battery capability and show measurement. You get the identical storage, identical show sort, identical {hardware}, identical sturdiness, and the identical digital camera setup with equivalent digital camera sensors.
If you happen to love XL-sized telephones, Google has that for you. If you happen to like smaller units that hold all the items, then Google has that for you too. Google gave us one thing we’ve been begging for since they ditched the two-sized strategy after the Pixel 4.
Show. For shows, Google is utilizing LTPO OLED panels in each telephones that they’ve branded as “Tremendous Actua.” The 9 Professional’s measures in at 6.3″ and the 9 Professional XL’s sits at 6.8″. Each refresh from 1-120Hz, have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 defending them, and might attain peak brightness of 3000 nits. Apart from measurement and a slight distinction in decision, these needs to be the very same show.
As I’ve stared at each on and off over the previous couple of weeks, I can let you know that these are distinctive panels. They’ve vast ranges in brightness, providing you with that additional dim stage at night time, with an enormous increase to brightness when open air. Google wasn’t joking after they stated these items go as much as 3000 nits. In addition they look vivid and colourful in any respect angles, so that you gained’t discover odd shifting or distortions once you aren’t trying instantly on, which we’ve seen from previous Google shows.
These shows are as responsive because it will get relating to monitoring your contact and finger actions, you may have one of many higher darkish themes in Android, and you may swap between Vibrant or Pure shade profiles. I’ll say that Google is missing a bit within the customization facet of issues for its shows. It’s actually solely these two profiles to select from, with out all the additional settings that somebody like OnePlus would supply. No less than give us a cool or heat slider, Google.
However relating to providing punchy colours and deep blacks and vivid sufficient whites, these panels ship. They give the impression of being clean always, Google hasn’t overdone it with animations, and there are simply sufficient settings to fulfill somebody like me who doesn’t geek out too laborious on show tech.
If I had a criticism it might most likely be in adaptive brightness adjustment. Each 9 Professional telephones usually begin too dim for my liking, forcing me to manually modify the slider up. This might enhance over time as I exploit every extra, however I’ve observed how usually I’m manually setting brightness stage. I can’t say I did this practically as usually on different current telephones, like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6.
So to recap all of this – Google gave us ultra-high finish LTPO shows with excessive refresh charges that look nice indoors and open air and that transfer with precision and smoothness throughout any activity. Stellar stuff.
Design. The Pixel 9 Professional will most likely obtain its justifiable share of mockery from iPhone followers who assume its total design is simply too near their treasured Apple-made product. And that’s advantageous. On some stage, the Pixel 9 does certainly look a bit like an iPhone, with its flat edges, rounded corners, and matte glass. Nonetheless, as I argued earlier, Apple doesn’t get to personal these three design concepts. As a result of if you happen to have a look at an iPhone 15 Professional subsequent to a Pixel 9 Professional, I can’t think about anybody would actually say, “Oh yeah, that’s simply an iPhone clone.”
Right here, have a look.
That G brand and digital camera bar scream “Google cellphone!” as an alternative of “iPhone!” each single time I have a look at them subsequent to one another. Once more, rounded corners and flat edges aren’t an concept that solely Apple will get to make the most of. Google has taken that form, made it its personal with that huge digital camera bar, after which improved on the entire bundle. I get higher grip from the perimeters of the Pixel 9 Professional, the buttons are all on a single facet in positions my thumb prefers, and the Pixel 9 Professional doesn’t wobble on a desk once you work together with it. Google additionally offers us extra show with that smaller selfie digital camera cutout and a fingerprint reader within the show.
Total, Google’s new Pixel 9 Professional telephones simply really feel just like the high-end units they’ve all the time aimed to be. That is indubitably Google’s nicest {hardware} ever and I’m unsure it’s shut. This metallic, even with its shine, provides such a wealthy weight. The bezels are uniform across the show. The mixing of glass and body is seamless. And the stability when within the hand is neither prime or backside heavy – it’s good.
These are telephones you should get in hand to really admire. It is a entire new stage of design and high quality from Google.
Battery life. In my first report about Pixel 9 Professional battery life, I known as it “actually, actually good” and choose web customers weren’t so certain about my claims. As a result of I don’t stare at my cellphone for 12 hours in a day and declare to see legendary battery numbers, people questioned the numbers I offered. All I can let you know is that I’m sticking by it – the battery life on these two telephones is great. After studying early opinions from a few of our precise readers and others in numerous web platforms, it certain seems to be like nearly all of house owners are additionally discovering battery life to be a optimistic.
In my testing of the smaller Pixel 9 Professional with its 4700mAh battery, I used to be averaging proper round 4 hours of display screen on time with 30-40% battery remaining after I went to mattress. Hitting 4 hours and above is a number of use for me in a day, however why that is so good is due to the quantity of battery remaining. I don’t usually use a cellphone this closely and nonetheless discover this a lot battery left.
For the Pixel 9 Professional XL and its 5060mAh battery, I used to be taking a look at 4 hours of display screen on time and 50% battery remaining. In at some point, I used to be at 3 hours and had 63% battery nonetheless left to make use of. That’s insane.
For testing, I run Chrome, Instagram, Threads, Google Information, Telegram, and so on. all day lengthy. However throughout my testing of those two telephones, I additionally took them on prolonged Pokemon Go excursions, with no WiFi, a number of solar, and a sport that isn’t identified for being that battery-friendly. On as of late, I noticed no further battery drain and the telephones each lasted longer than I used to be predicting. Usually, when my son and I’m going on our “Poke Walks” I must discover a charger once we are accomplished for no matter cellphone I’ve in the intervening time. That wasn’t the case for the Pixel 9 Professional or Pixel 9 Professional XL.
If you happen to want a criticism, it’s most likely in charging. Google has upped Pixel 9 Professional XL charging to 37W with their new 45W charger, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional tops out at 27W. Each additionally wirelessly cost and might share their batteries with units like a smartwatch or earbuds. This stage of wired charging from Google is nothing particular and I’d love to look them push on this space to come back nearer to these 100W speeds we see from different gamers. Sooner charging is superior.
Efficiency. Google is utilizing Tensor G4 within the Pixel 9 sequence, a chip it calls its “most effective” but, with 20% quicker net searching, 17% quicker app launches, and total extra power-efficiency in issues like taking photographs and movies, and streaming video. In no way is Google claiming an enormous efficiency bounce like we regularly see when Qualcomm declares its latest flagship processors, however there are nonetheless enhancements. And ultimately, Google actually desires you to know that Tensor G4 is customized constructed for AI and is the “first processor to run Gemini Nano with Multimodality.” It probably gained’t win benchmarks in opposition to some others, however Google isn’t making an attempt to both.
What I can let you know about utilizing these telephones with Tensor G4 behind the screens, doing work, is that they run very easily. This chip, together with the 16GB RAM and 120Hz shows, make for a premium software program expertise the place performing day by day duties occurs with out fail or stutter. Whereas I don’t sport a lot, my child does and the cellphone isn’t melting when he performs one thing after which offers it again to me. It handles my Pokemon Go periods within the solar with out overheating or burning by battery. It additionally pushes by my day by day periods on Threads and Instagram and Chrome and Telegram, has one of many clickiest and speediest keyboards on any cellphone I’ve ever used, lets me change apps with ease, and powers a digital camera that’s fast to launch, focus, and snap.
Google constructed the Pixel 9 Professional to be clean and environment friendly, and it’s simply that.
Cameras. Once more, as I discussed earlier, the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL have the very same digital camera specs. You get a major 50MP shooter, 48MP ultra-wide lens, after which a 48MP telephoto sensor. They’re equivalent, so you’ll be able to select small or XL cellphone and get the identical expertise. That doesn’t occur usually, even with Apple’s Professional line – they usually take one thing away from their smaller Professional cellphone. Google didn’t try this right here.
Together with the high-end digital camera bar setup, Google is providing you with full entry to all of their digital camera options. Meaning their business main Evening Sight for low-light photographs, an growth of Evening Sight into Panorama photographs, their superior Portrait mode, the brand new Add Me function (extra on that in software program), and all of their post-processing stuff, like 8K upscaling and Video Enhance within the cloud. Google is providing you with this mixture of the options you want which were accomplished so effectively, together with some bonuses the place AI and software program come into play (like Magic Editor/Eraser, Unblur, and so on.) There’s a ton of software program stuff to undergo in some unspecified time in the future down the street, together with a approach to “Reimagine” your photographs. I’ve made some easy edits to a picture beneath the place I attempted to maintain them gentle but with sufficient so that you can see how they are often fairly life like and in addition clearly AI. I’m certain you’ll be able to see the place this might go, although.
AI stuff apart, the Pixel 9 Professional digital camera is strictly what you need from a high-end digital camera. It’s extremely quick, so meaning it masses shortly, focuses immediately, after which permits you to snap as many photographs as you need. It’s great in low gentle, even higher in daylight, will get shut with macro photographs, and takes the very best of my favourite sort of shot – meals pics. It’s additionally actually nice as a portrait shooter. You’ve gotten flexibility with vast, ultra-wide, and telephoto, the flexibility zoom to things out of sight, and also you’ll even discover modes for particular photographs, like lengthy exposures and for hard-to-capture motion photographs.
I feel the outcomes communicate for themselves, however Google remains to be ramping up distinction and bringing out shadows on a stage others aren’t. Google doesn’t provide the most pure of photographs and as an alternative opts for punchy, generally unrealistic photographs with colours which are boosted, but stay a pleasure to take a look at and share. The photographs are heavy in HDR, however I prefer it. Hardly ever does this digital camera mess up publicity, it locks to things effectively, and is pretty much as good because it will get as an out-of-the-box point-and-shoot. That is most likely essentially the most enjoyable you’ll have with a smartphone digital camera.
We’ve got a bunch of digital camera samples taken from each telephones beneath. For full decision photographs, right here’s a Google Photographs album.
Software program (and let’s discuss AI). I’ve stated this rather a lot and so it gained’t come as a shock, however the Pixel software program expertise stays my favourite of any smartphone. I choose it over Samsung’s One UI, Apple’s iOS, and OnePlus’ OxygenOS. It’s easy but strong, quick and clean, has a superb keyboard, notifications that work the proper manner, fast trying to find something with a single swipe-up, sufficient settings to make me really feel like I’m nonetheless customizing one thing, and software program updates that arrive faster than on another cellphone. These units run Android 14 for now as a result of Android 15 hasn’t but been launched.
Normally, the software program on the Pixel 9 Professional is great. I actually don’t have anything however good issues to say about it as a result of all of it works the way in which I prefer it to work. That is the very best of Android and has been for a while. However that’s not what the Pixel 9 sequence is all about. When Google confirmed off the Pixel 9 Professional, they talked rather a lot about AI, due to course they did. Look, I’m not an AI man. Many of the early AI concepts are foolish, gimmicks, and possibly gained’t assist most of us. These corporations are attempting to promote us the longer term earlier than it will get right here. It’s what it’s.
So is any of the AI stuff good or helpful? First off, you get a year-long subscription to Gemini Superior once you purchase a Pixel 9 Professional. That’s cool if you’re into AI and need to take a look at out all the new Gemini options first. It additionally offers you Gemini Dwell, which is Google’s conversational assistant voice that sounds extra like an actual particular person. Google suggests utilizing Gemini Dwell to apply speeches or analysis jobs you could be certified for, that type of factor. These aren’t issues I would like in life, so I’ve discovered it laborious to make use of. I hold taking a look at my cellphone and wanting to enter a Dwell dialog, however struggling.
I did ask it some questions on a kitchen refresh my spouse and I are entertaining and it gave some first rate information about timing. I then requested it about an upcoming journey we’re taking again to Montana to see household and what it thinks we should always plan or pack for. Whereas I do know the solutions, as a result of I’m from there, it simply introduced up essentially the most generic information, like “deliver a light-weight jacket in case the climate adjustments.” These are items of information that any human understands already. I’m not making an attempt to bash on Gemini Dwell, however the responses I’ve seen appear so floor stage that I’m unsure how helpful they are surely. It might be good if you’re a lonely human and wish interplay, I suppose.
After that, we’ve got Google’s new Screenshots app that’s imagined to act a bit like a scrapbook and organizer that can be utilized to recall info later. Google desires you to begin screenshotting all the pieces with a purpose to create a historical past of stuff you’re into. It supposedly makes use of AI to sift by all of that screenshot information to be used later…one way or the other and ultimately. I like the concept, as a result of I do screenshot a number of stuff, nevertheless it’s going to take months or years to see if it is a sensible play. And let’s be trustworthy, this additionally simply looks as if a function that needs to be embedded inside Google Photographs, which I’d guess it will likely be finally.
The Pixel 9 Professional has Google’s new Climate app, which supplies AI reviews. Look, these are goofy, as they attempt to summarize the day and assist you put together. I’m unsure they honestly add to the expertise, however they do occur. If something, simply know that the brand new Climate app is definitely fairly candy and I do have a look at it every single day. It’s strong with info and is a superb addition to the Pixel line.
Google additionally created one thing known as Pixel Studio. That is an AI picture generator that may take your artistic ideas and switch them into enjoyable pics to share. It really works effectively, nevertheless it’s restricted for now. The factor solely makes photos which are 2048×2048, so it will probably’t even make you new wallpapers. It’s actually constructed as this goofy social sharing AI picture generator for sending pics by messaging apps, which I suppose persons are into? I do not know. Possibly Google has plans to broaden decision and use circumstances.
There’s different AI options too, like Google Preserve with the ability to use Gemini to make lists, Name Notes from calls you make (assuming the opposite particular person is okay with the Assistant recording such issues), and including your self into photographs (it’s known as Add Me) once you additionally have to be the digital camera particular person. For Add Me, I’ve actually used it with my household and a few buddies to check out how effectively it really works. It does certainly work. That stated, I’m hoping that the photographs will likely be significant down the street in future years as a approach to go, “Look, we took enjoyable photographs collectively!” As a result of in the intervening time, since I do know they’re faux and I wasn’t in them, I can’t assist however deal with the inauthenticity of the shot and that takes from it. I do know it isn’t actual and that makes the entire thing a gimmick.
This AI stuff is there, that’s for certain. Once more, I’m unsure a lot of that is that helpful but, and a few of it’s borderline odd. Possibly at some point AI will change the world. When that occurs, hopefully it brings good and never the unhealthy.
To recap software program, I’ll simply say that Google’s baseline Android and Pixel expertise is superior. I really like utilizing software program on this cellphone. As for the brand new AI stuff, it’s a combined bag of foolish and might-be-useful at some point.
Software program assist. Like with the Pixel 8 sequence, Google says it’s going to present the Pixel 9 Professional with “7 years of OS, safety, and Pixel Drop updates.” Formally, the phrase is that they “will obtain updates for 7 years from when the machine first turned obtainable on the Google Retailer within the US.” Since we’re nonetheless on Android 14, that ought to imply updates by at the least Android 21. On prime of that, these telephones will nonetheless get month-to-month safety patches and people quarterly Pixel Function Drops to maintain issues new and recent. Google updates their telephones higher than anybody within the enterprise and are persevering with to decide to this longer timeframe with their latest telephones. Proudly owning a Pixel 9 Professional means updates for years and years to come back, probably far past how lengthy you’ll personal it.
Mobile connectivity. Since Google switched its telephones from Qualcomm chips and modems to the Tensor setups that make the most of Samsung chip tech, the Pixel line has been borderline terrible at holding mobile connections. I can’t let you know what number of occasions I’ve needed to toggle airplane mode on and off or totally reboot a Pixel 7 Professional or Pixel 8 Professional to get a mobile connection again. Every time I pushed previous a evaluate interval and really settled into Google’s Pixel Professional telephones, that activity of making an attempt to revive mobile turned part of on a regular basis life exterior of my home.
With the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL, there’s a brand new Samsung modem with the Tensor G4 chip and it certain appears to have fastened a number of previous points. I’ve taken these telephones from house to my neighborhood pub, to trails inside Portland, and all up and down the Oregon coast, by the mountains to get there and again. Positive, I misplaced sign when in lifeless spots over the Cascades, however in any other case, I haven’t needed to toggle airplane mode or reboot a single time to revive connection. Even in Seaside, OR, this previous weekend throughout Hood to Coast, when my spouse’s iPhone 15 Professional Max (Verizon) was struggling to ship me messages on Telegram, I had a full sign on my Pixel 9 Professional (T-Cell) and by no means misplaced it. I haven’t even run into overheating points from the modem in any respect, which is one thing all of us complained about with older Pixel telephones.
I totally went into testing these units with fear that we is perhaps operating it again once more with the poor modem state of affairs and was ready to name out Google from the get-go like we did in our Pixel 8 Professional evaluate. As an alternative, I’ve been stunned and happy with the primary few weeks of testing. Right here’s to hoping it stays this manner for the lifetime of the cellphone.
Fingerprint reader. We don’t usually contact on fingerprint readers when reviewing telephones except they’re of decrease high quality. Nonetheless, since we’ve continued to level out Google’s inferior fingerprint sensors in earlier telephones, we felt it essential to share that the brand new ultrasonic fingerprint reader within the Pixel 9 Professional sequence is kind of the advance. Qualcomm has confirmed that Google is utilizing their 3D Sonic Gen 2 ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which is similar one which Samsung makes use of in its high-end telephones, and it’s sooooo a lot better than these outdated optical readers Google was utilizing. This factor truly works nearly all of the time, is quick sufficient that it’d scan earlier than the cellphone can scan your face, and it hardly ever misses.
What’s bugging me?
128GB base storage. Google beginning with 128GB storage on the base stage is absurd. These are “Professional” stage and costly telephones, which probably means individuals plan to maintain them for lengthy durations of time and make the most of their “Professional” issues, like cameras, to replenish cupboard space. 128GB of storage in 2024, if we’re taking 4K movies and high-resolution photographs (with edits), is indicate not sufficient. Samsung is beginning its greatest telephones at 256GB as of late and Google must comply with their lead.
As instance of why this isn’t sufficient, I’ll merely level you to the 128GB evaluate models Google despatched me. After a few weeks of testing, I’m at the moment utilizing 54% of the storage on this Pixel 9 Professional. And that’s with out even transferring over all of my outdated photographs or movies from earlier units, as a result of these are already in Google Photographs. Ought to I’ve moved these too, I is perhaps right down to my closing 40GB or so inside the first month of possession. If I had been to purchase a 128GB model of those telephones, I is perhaps out of storage in lower than 2 years.
Significantly? Nothing else. I want I had another stuff to knock Google on, however this cellphone is borderline excellent in my eyes. Whereas the Pixel 9 Professional (not the XL) is the cellphone I’d select, the truth that we’ve got selection makes this even higher. I’ve so few complaints…but.
That is most likely an space on this evaluate that would see an replace as we proceed our testing. As a result of Google telephones usually take time to indicate their flaws and points, we may come again right here in a few months. However for now, I’m fairly impressed by the 2 Professional telephones that Google has allow us to evaluate.
Do you have to purchase the Pixel 9 Professional or 9 Professional XL?
That query is framed that manner as a result of briefly – sure, I feel it’s best to strongly think about shopping for considered one of Google’s Pixel 9 Professional telephones if you’re available in the market for one thing new and on the high-end. Your actual determination is over which one, the small or XL variant. Hardly ever do I body up a evaluate recap on this manner, however I actually consider the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL are the very best telephones you should purchase right now. And I’m speaking between Android and iPhone: Google made the very best telephones of 2024.
Google is main in software program on Android with out overdoing it, their cameras stay on the prime, and their software program assist is business main. The place the Pixel 9 Professional sequence additional excels is within the areas that Google seems to have fastened from earlier fashions. They took their {hardware} up one other stage to deliver it on par with Apple’s greatest. They improved battery life dramatically, lastly used a correct fingerprint reader, and thus far have proven to have included an actual 5G modem that gained’t trigger you connectivity points all through your day. And look, if you’d like AI, this cellphone is filled with the concept of AI and the longer term it may deliver.
I’ll depart it at that.
Pixel 9 Professional Deal Hyperlinks: Amazon | Greatest Purchase | Google Retailer
