Google Pixel 9 Pro Review: Unmatched Camera, Display & AI Features
Explore our in-depth Google Pixel 9 Pro review. Discover its stunning design, vibrant display, powerful Tensor G4 chip, top-tier camera, and AI-powered features.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2024, and with good reason. As part of Google’s flagship lineup, the Pixel 9 Pro continues the tradition of blending cutting-edge technology with a user-friendly experience. But how does it fare in the increasingly competitive smartphone market? In this review, we’ll take a deep dive into the Pixel 9 Pro’s specifications, design, camera capabilities, software, performance, battery life, and more to help you decide if it’s worth the investment.
Design and Build Quality
The first thing you'll notice about the Google Pixel 9 Pro is its design. Google has made subtle yet significant changes to the overall aesthetics of the device. The Pixel 9 Pro features a rounded design with flatter sides, which makes it more comfortable to hold. The device is compact, with dimensions of 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm and a weight of 199 grams, making it one of the lighter flagship phones on the market.
The front and back of the phone are made of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which promises enhanced durability and scratch resistance. The aluminum frame adds a premium feel, and the phone is IP68 rated, meaning it can withstand dust and water submersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
One of the standout features of the Pixel 9 Pro's design is the new camera module. Unlike its predecessor, which had a wide, protruding camera bar, the Pixel 9 Pro sports a more refined and integrated camera bump. This not only improves the phone's aesthetics but also makes it more practical when lying flat on a surface.
The phone is available in four elegant colors: Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, and Obsidian. Each color variant is visually appealing, with a glossy finish that enhances its overall look.
Display: Brighter and Better
The display on the Google Pixel 9 Pro is another area where the device truly shines. It features a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 1280 x 2856 pixels. The screen-to-body ratio is an impressive 87.6%, giving you an immersive viewing experience.
The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and boasts a peak brightness of 3000 nits. This makes it one of the brightest screens available, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. Whether you're watching videos, playing games, or simply scrolling through social media, the display delivers vibrant colors, sharp details, and smooth transitions.
One feature that sets the Pixel 9 Pro apart is its Always-on Display, which is market/region dependent. This feature allows you to glance at the time, notifications, and other information without fully waking up the device, saving battery life while keeping you informed.
Performance: Powered by Google Tensor G4
Under the hood, the Pixel 9 Pro is powered by Google’s latest Tensor G4 chipset. Built on a 4nm process, this octa-core processor includes one Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.1 GHz, three Cortex-A720 cores at 2.6 GHz, and four Cortex-A520 cores at 1.92 GHz. Paired with the Mali-G715 MC7 GPU, the Pixel 9 Pro delivers top-tier performance.
The phone comes with a generous 16GB of RAM, which ensures smooth multitasking and quick app launches. Storage options range from 128GB to a whopping 1TB, although there's no support for expandable storage via microSD cards.
Google has also made significant software improvements with Android 14, which the Pixel 9 Pro runs out of the box. The device is promised up to seven major Android upgrades, meaning you’ll receive the latest features and security updates for years to come.
Camera: A Photographer’s Dream
Google’s Pixel lineup has always been known for its exceptional camera performance, and the Pixel 9 Pro is no exception. The device features a triple-camera setup on the rear, comprising a 50MP wide lens, a 48MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide lens.
The 50MP main camera is equipped with dual-pixel PDAF, multi-zone Laser AF, and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), ensuring sharp and clear photos even in low light conditions. The periscope telephoto lens is a highlight, offering 5x optical zoom and excellent detail retention at longer focal lengths. The ultrawide lens, with its 123˚ field of view, is perfect for capturing expansive landscapes and group photos.
The Pixel 9 Pro also excels in video recording, supporting 8K at 30fps, 4K at various frame rates, and 1080p slow-motion video at up to 240fps. Features like gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR, and the ability to shoot in Ultra-HDR further enhance the video quality.
The 42MP front camera is no slouch either. It features an ultrawide lens with Auto-HDR and panorama capabilities, making it ideal for selfies and video calls. It can record video in 4K at up to 60fps, ensuring high-quality footage for vlogs or social media content.
Software and Features: AI-Powered Innovations
One of the standout aspects of the Google Pixel 9 Pro is its software experience. Google has always prioritized software optimization, and the Pixel 9 Pro benefits from several AI-powered features that enhance usability.
One of the new features is Pixel Screenshots, an app exclusive to Pixel devices that uses on-device AI to organize and contextualize screenshots. This feature is incredibly useful for those who frequently take screenshots for future reference.
Another innovative feature is Call Notes, which transcribes phone calls in real-time and provides summarized notes at the end of the call. This is particularly useful for professionals who need to keep track of important details during conversations.
The Pixel Studio feature allows users to generate images from scratch using generative AI, similar to other AI tools available in the market. This feature is a creative addition that can be used for various purposes, from creating custom wallpapers to generating unique social media content.
Google’s focus on AI extends to the camera as well, with features like Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, and Best Take enhancing the overall photography experience. These features make it easier for users to capture the perfect shot, even in challenging conditions.
Battery Life: Reliable but Not Groundbreaking
The Pixel 9 Pro is equipped with a 4700 mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than some of its competitors. However, thanks to the efficiency of the Tensor G4 chipset and software optimizations in Android 14, the battery life is commendable.
In real-world usage, the Pixel 9 Pro easily lasts a full day on a single charge, even with heavy use. Google claims that the device can reach 55% charge in just 30 minutes using the 27W wired charging option. It also supports 21W wireless charging with the Pixel Stand and 12W wireless charging with other Qi-compatible chargers.
Additionally, the Pixel 9 Pro offers reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge other devices, such as earbuds, by placing them on the back of the phone.
Connectivity and Extras
The Pixel 9 Pro is well-equipped in terms of connectivity options. It supports 5G, ensuring fast and reliable network speeds. Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and USB Type-C 3.2 are also included, making the device future-proof.
Positioning services include GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, and NavIC, ensuring accurate location tracking regardless of where you are. The phone lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which might disappoint some users, but the inclusion of stereo speakers makes up for it to some extent.
The Pixel 9 Pro also comes with several sensors, including an under-display fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, and even a thermometer for skin temperature.
One of the unique features of the Pixel 9 Pro is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support, which enables precise spatial awareness for use cases like digital car keys and improved device-to-device communication. Additionally, the Satellite SOS service is a life-saving feature that allows users to send emergency messages even in areas without cellular coverage.
Pricing and Availability
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is priced at $999.00 in the United States, £999.00 in the United Kingdom, and €1,099.00 in Europe. The device was announced on August 13, 2024, and is expected to be released on September 9, 2024.
Given its premium features and Google’s focus on delivering a superior user experience, the Pixel 9 Pro is competitively priced. It offers excellent value for money, especially when compared to other flagship devices in the market.
Final Verdict: Is the Google Pixel 9 Pro Worth It?
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is an impressive device that ticks almost all the boxes for a flagship smartphone in 2024. Its design is sleek and modern, the display is bright and vibrant, and the performance is top-notch thanks to the Tensor G4 chipset.
The camera system is arguably one of the best in the market, offering a versatile setup that caters to both amateur photographers and professionals. The software experience is enhanced by AI-powered features that make the Pixel 9 Pro more intuitive and user-friendly.
While the battery life could be better, the Pixel 9 Pro still manages to deliver a full day of use on a single charge. The addition of features like reverse wireless charging, UWB support, and Satellite SOS service adds to its appeal.
Overall, if you’re looking for a flagship device that offers a perfect blend of hardware and software, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is an excellent choice.
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