The Pixel 9 sequence represents a few of the greatest design modifications in Pixel historical past, and that begins with the Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL. Each telephones ship a singular imaginative and prescient of what Google sees in the way forward for Pixel telephones, providing an equivalent expertise at two distinct sizes.
Since there is not any actual distinction between these two telephones aside from their measurement, we’re combining the evaluations to provide you a greater have a look at one of the best Pixel 9 expertise accessible. We have been utilizing each fashions interchangeably over the previous month and have come away disillusioned about issues which have plagued Pixels for years. Fortunately, lots of Google’s newest characteristic additions assist offset these disappointing emotions.
In case you’re seeking to decide up a Google Pixel 9 Professional or Google Pixel 9 Professional XL this yr, learn on to search out out why that is an ideal alternative for some of us, whereas others may wish to look elsewhere for his or her subsequent smartphone improve.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Value and availability
The Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL at the moment are formally accessible as of August 22, 2024. Each fashions supply a alternative of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage, in addition to 16GB of RAM. You possibly can select from both measurement in a spread of colours, together with Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Hazel (gray), and Rose Quartz (pink).
The Google Pixel 9 Professional begins at $999 with 128GB of storage, whereas the bigger Pixel 9 Professional XL begins at $1099 with 128GB of storage. You should buy the Pixel 9 sequence in any of the next nations:
- NAMER: US, Canada
- EMEA: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Eire, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, UK
- APAC: Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan
All Pixel 9 fashions embody Pixel VPN at no further value, which helps defend you whereas on the go and connecting to probably unscrupulous public Wi-Fi hotspots. Google can also be together with one yr of Gemini Superior with each Google Pixel 9 Professional or 9 Professional XL, which might usually value $20 monthly with the AI-tier Google One subscription.
Every Google Pixel 9 Professional field incorporates no plastic and is impressively environmentally pleasant.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Design
Aside from a number of tweaks right here and there, Google has largely saved the identical design that was initially launched with the Pixel 6. Nevertheless, we have slowly seen an increasing number of cellphone makers undertake an iPhone-like design with flat edges and flat screens. Google jumped aboard this development with the Pixel 9, 9 Professional, and 9 Professional XL. Gone is the mixture of curved glass and aluminum, and instead, we’ve got flat edges so far as the attention can see.
As quickly as I noticed the Pixel 9 sequence in particular person, I instantly thought that this was simply an iPhone. Certain, the buttons, colours, and digicam housing are totally different, however I have never been capable of shake the concept Google made a Pixel iPhone. This is not a nasty factor by any means, however it’s simply one thing I feel is slightly fascinating.
Not like the Pixel 9 and the 9 Professional Fold, Google opted to make use of a sophisticated aluminum end with the 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL. I perceive the necessity to try to differentiate the Professional from the non-Professional fashions, however I nonetheless favor the sensation of brushed aluminum over polished.
Whereas a sophisticated body could be extra eye-catching to some, it will not take lengthy for fingerprints and smudges to spoil every thing. I additionally discovered each the 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL to be a bit slippier to make use of, leading to me slapping a case on the telephones as quickly as they arrived.
In earlier years, I’d often head over to the dbrand web site and discover a pores and skin that will match no matter cellphone I used to be switching to. Then, I’d seize a MagSafe ring adapter, sticking it to the dbrand pores and skin, so I might benefit from the plethora of MagSafe equipment at my disposal.
I hoped that Google would kill two birds with one stone for me, however alas, there’s no Qi2 help on any of the Pixel 9 fashions. Fortunately, my our favourite case maker, Thinborne, is right here to avoid wasting the day with its glorious Aramid Fiber Skinny Case that is additionally MagSafe-compatible.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Show
I used to be slightly shocked that Google launched its Professional cellphone in two totally different sizes. It is not that I do not suppose that is the correct transfer, however I simply did not see Google including one other cellphone to its ever-growing lineup. However, I am of the mindset that having a small “professional” cellphone is a good way to probably appeal to extra folks to make the swap to the world of Pixel.
Moreover the bodily display screen measurement, these shows are virtually equivalent. They’ll attain 3000 nits and supply Google’s “Easy Show” variable refresh charge. Aside from following the development of shows that may get brighter, it is all just about what you’d count on from a flagship cellphone.
The colours pop, the screens look nice, and yeah, that is just about all I can say.
One factor that ended up inflicting fairly a little bit of frustration was the in-screen fingerprint sensor. When utilizing these telephones with no display screen protector, every thing works as marketed. That every one modified as quickly as we put in a display screen protector on the Pixel 9 Professional XL.
Presently, I’ve solely used the display screen protector that comes with the Thinborne case, so I am undecided if that is accountable, however unlocking the cellphone has turn into a problem. It appears to be much less of an issue in the course of the day, however as quickly as I am in an space with little gentle, it simply would not work.
After a few days, I remembered there’s truly a toggle within the Settings app to assist fight this concern. Nevertheless, after enabling the “Display screen Protector Mode,” there actually hasn’t been a distinction.
Since I spend the vast majority of my time at dwelling, this is not actually all that a lot of a problem. A current journey to New York for Google’s Chromebook Showcase shortly reaffirmed my stance on embedded fingerprint sensors. I actually, and I imply REALLY, want Google would simply combine the sensor into the Energy button. It already does this with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold and Pixel Pill, however I feel it is time for it to come back to the telephones.
I am unable to let you know how irritating and annoying it’s to be attempting to catch a subway, solely to get tied up on the gate as a result of your fingerprint did not authenticate tap-to-pay. It solely labored for me a couple of times, and as a rule, I ended up simply utilizing face recognition as an alternative.
Seeing as I do not expertise the identical PWM tribulations as my compadre and Android Central senior content material producer, Nick Sutrich, I am unable to converse to that. Nevertheless, he is included his ideas and emotions concerning the PWM and refresh charge of Google’s Tremendous Actua Show under:
The ultra-low 240Hz PWM charge used to “dim” the cellphone’s show offers me horrible complications, particularly when I attempt to use the cellphone within the night. This downside began about 2 years in the past for me and has solely gotten worse as shows have gotten ultra-bright.
The 3000-nit show on these telephones is insanely vivid, and flickering on and off at a low charge of 240Hz is nothing in need of abysmal. Google is the one smartphone firm that hasn’t upgraded its charge — Samsung and Apple now use 480Hz on most gadgets — and firms like Honor and OnePlus push that charge to 2160Hz, 4320Hz, and past.
At this brightness, Google isn’t even near complying with the advisable IEEE PAR 1789 customary for shows and lighting.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: {Hardware} & efficiency
Because of the onslaught of Pixel 9 leaks that we noticed main as much as the official unveiling, my expectations about efficiency had been shortly tempered. I hoped that the Tensor G4 would find yourself placing Google’s flagship telephones alongside the Galaxy S24 Extremely and iPhone, however it simply wasn’t meant to be.
That is to not say the G4 is not performant, however it’s nonetheless not fairly on the identical stage as a few of its competitors. I am conserving my fingers crossed that this can change with the Tensor G5, however I digress.
In day-to-day utilization, I got here away fairly impressed with how nicely the Pixel saved up with no matter I wanted to do. There have been occasions that I wished to succeed in for both the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or Galaxy Z Fold 6, however that sort of defeats the aim.
| Class | Google Pixel 9 Professional | Google Pixel 9 Professional XL |
|---|---|---|
| Show | 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua show, 120Hz LTPO OLED (1-120Hz), 2856 x 1280, HDR, 3000 nits, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 240Hz PWM dimming | 6.8-inch Tremendous Actua show, 120Hz LTPO OLED (1-120Hz), 2992 x 1344, HDR, 3000 nits, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 240Hz PWM dimming |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4, Titan M2 safety module | — |
| Reminiscence | 16GB RAM | — |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | — |
| Battery | 4,700mAh, 27W wired charging, 21W wi-fi charging, 5W reverse wi-fi charging | 5,060mAh, 37W wired charging, 23W wi-fi charging, 5W reverse wi-fi charging |
| Entrance Digicam | 42MP f/2.2, 103-degree FoV, Twin PD, autofocus | — |
| Rear digicam 1 | 50MP f/1.68, 1/1.31″ sensor, Octa PDAF, 82-degree FoV, OIS | — |
| Rear digicam 2 | 48MP f/1.7, 1/2.55″ sensor, 123-degree wide-angle, macro, autofocus, Quad-PD | — |
| Rear digicam 3 | 48MP f/2.8, 1/2.55″ sensor, 22-degree FoV, macro, autofocus, Quad-PD, Multi-zone LDAF, 5x optical zoom | — |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, 5G (mmWave and Sub-6), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, AptX HD, USB-C 3.2, Bodily and eSIM, Satellite tv for pc SOS | — |
| Audio | Stereo audio system, USB-C | — |
| Safety | Below show ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, face unlock | — |
| Safety | IP68 mud and water resistance | — |
| Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm; 199g | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm; 221g |
| Colours | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian | — |
| Software program and help | Android 14; 7 years of Pixel and OS updates | — |
With virtually each new machine that I get, whether or not it is for assessment or for myself, I wish to try to see how nicely it performs with emulation. That is one space the place Google’s Tensor chips simply cannot maintain a candle to Qualcomm.
Utilizing one thing just like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 for emulation is a dream, however that is largely due to the help for Snapdragon chips with Adreno GPUs. In case you come throughout graphical glitches and errors, there is a good likelihood that yow will discover and use a unique GPU driver, offered that your emulator is appropriate.
That is not a lot the case with MediaTek and Google’s Tensor chips, which make use of Mali GPUs. Nevertheless, I’ve seen that neighborhood help for customized Mali drivers is starting to extend. However, it nonetheless hasn’t resulted in stability and efficiency beneficial properties that may rival telephones utilizing a Snapdragon SoC.
The purpose that I am attempting to make is that whereas I used to be capable of load up a number of Swap video games, it is not an pleasurable expertise. Framerates are unstable, consistently dropping as quickly as you get to a graphically intensive space. And there are some video games that simply will not load in any respect, even in case you handle to discover a customized GPU driver.
With a purpose to put this into higher perspective, I defaulted to Geekbench 6, simply to offer one thing a bit extra substantive.
| Geekbench 6 | Google Pixel 9 Professional XL | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 | iPhone 15 Professional Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU: Single-Core | 1941 | 1927 | 2770 |
| CPU: Multi-Core | 2770 | 6345 | 6739 |
| GPU | 6411 (OpenCL) | 11671 (OpenCL) | 27983 (Metallic) |
| GPU | 6906 (Vulkan) | 14073 (Vulkan) | N/A |
As you may see, the Pixel 9 Professional XL merely cannot come near competing with both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Apple’s A17 Professional. Thoughts you that is not even Apple’s newest chip, because the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max are powered by the A18 Professional. Nevertheless, on the time of this assessment, I’ve but to get my palms on the brand new iPhone, which is why it is not included within the desk above.
Whereas these numbers might sound a bit disappointing, it is not truly something that you’ll discover every day. Potential points and limitations will not crop up till you try to push the cellphone to the extremes. Which is not one thing I believe many individuals are doing frequently.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Battery life
That is what blew me away greater than actually anything about Google’s newest telephones. Because it seems, Google’s incapacity to make the efficiency leap within the Tensor paid dividends in different methods, the most important of which appears to be battery life.
As I’ve talked about a number of occasions, I took the Pixel 9 Professional XL with me on a visit to New York and figured it will be one of the best time to see how nicely it might maintain up. Oh boy, it did so a lot better than I ever might have thought.
The primary day kicked off at 6:30 a.m. and consisted of getting from my home to the airport, flying to town, attending to the lodge, after which to an occasion, earlier than coming again to the room shortly earlier than midnight. Even with all of that, I nonetheless had but to dip under 20% and I simply could not imagine it.
I am consistently blown manner with how lengthy the Pixel 9 Professional XL lasts without having to be recharged.
Throughout your complete three-day journey, I by no means as soon as felt nervous or anxious about operating out of juice. That features spending sooner or later strolling round New York Metropolis for the aim of taking digicam samples for this assessment. A day that ended with me taking a spur-of-the-moment journey to Yankee Stadium for the primary time to see my beloved Orioles tackle the Yankees.
Very like the Geekbench check ends in the earlier part, I am attempting to offer one thing a bit extra strong than simply “battery is gud.” With that being stated, I opted for a very good previous video playback battery check. Right here is how I had every thing arrange:
| Spec | Standing |
|---|---|
| Brightness | 100% |
| Adaptive | Off |
| Wi-Fi | On |
| Bluetooth | On |
| Gentle Mode | On |
| Display screen Timeout | half-hour (Most) |
| Decision | 2992 x 1344 |
| Easy Show (120Hz) | Enabled |
| Quantity | 50% |
Then, I simply fired up a 4K HDR video on YouTube and let it maintain enjoying at some point of the check. Under, you may see the battery percentages, which had been recorded each hour on the similar time:
| Time | Battery proportion |
|---|---|
| 11:17 | 94% |
| 12:17 | 82% |
| 1:17 | 69% |
| 2:17 | 59% |
| 3:17 | 49% |
| 4:17 | 39% |
| 5:17 | 30% |
After the primary couple of hours, the development turned apparent, draining at a clip of 10% for 4 hours, and 9% within the final hour. That is after the 12% and 13% drop within the first two hours. It is nearly just like the cellphone sort of settled right into a groove, so to talk, and was simply coasting for so long as doable.
At that charge, the cellphone would have lasted for an additional three to 4 hours, operating out of steam between 8:15 and eight:45. After all, I might have gotten the 9 Professional XL to final for much longer as soon as Excessive Battery Saver mode kicked in.
It was bizarre seeing the speed of battery drain settle right into a sample.
Our guardian firm, Future PLC, runs lab exams by way of the Future Labs division and located that it took a mean of 13 hours to run down the battery on the Pixel 9 Professional and the Pixel 9 Professional XL. Comparatively, the Pixel 8 Professional died after simply 9 hours of operating the identical check. Clearly, Google wasn’t kidding once they stated Tensor G4’s effectivity was higher.
I have been utilizing these telephones for a number of weeks now, and it is the primary time in a very long time that I have never felt the necessity to allow the flexibility to see the battery proportion within the standing bar.
In my Pixel 9 hands-on, we talked concerning the new charging speeds for the telephones and even was ready to make use of Google’s new 45W charger. Whereas that charger is nice for topping up the battery shortly from 0% to about 50% in below half-hour, a full cost is not any quicker than the Pixel 8 sequence — and charging the cellphone when it is above 50% battery stage ends in a a lot slower cost than you may count on.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Cameras
There are some things that I search for in terms of testing out totally different cellphone cameras — velocity, a telephoto lens, and the way a photograph appears with out edits. Velocity is unquestionably subjective, but when I try to take an image of my canine earlier than she will get distracted by one thing, that performs a job. So does having the ability to swap between the totally different modes without having to do an excessive amount of tinkering.
I really feel like I am within the minority as somebody who would a lot favor having a telescope digicam versus an ultrawide one. However fortunately, the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL have each, so it is not a priority.
Lastly is velocity. There are occasions once I’ll snap a bunch of RAW photographs to manually edit them later. Most of the time, I do not wish to suppose twice about it, and simply need my cellphone to take a very good image.
Fortunately, the Pixel 9 Professional and XL examine all of those packing containers. Actually, Google in all probability produces my favourite footage out of any machine that I personal or have owned. This contains the iPhone and Galaxy S24 Extremely.
Picture 1 of 10
Whereas my iPhone remains to be quicker at taking common JPG footage, there’s simply one thing off concerning the colour stability of my eyes. I am positive I might treatment this, however once more, it is one thing that I do not wish to have to consider. Pull the cellphone out and take an image. With an almost-eight-month-old little boy attempting to run round, velocity and high quality are the secret.
Picture 1 of 3
I’ve come to understand the “circulate” of taking an image to drag it up in Google Pictures or having it routinely added to an album. There is no fiddling available except I select to take action. Even then, except I am utilizing Reimagine, modifying an image takes just some faucets.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Software program & AI
On the subject of the Android software program expertise, I favor Samsung’s “kitchen sink” strategy to options. Nevertheless, nothing beats Google’s aesthetics, and it continues to shine with the Pixel 9 sequence.
For essentially the most half, it is the identical expertise you’ll have in case you had been coming from the Pixel 8 Professional. The largest distinction now comes within the type of the varied AI options Google has launched.
However here is the factor — I barely use them and have discovered little purpose to. There have been a number of exceptions, akin to enjoying round with Reimagine after a visit to the Nintendo Retailer or utilizing Magic Editor to take away issues which might be within the body that I do not wish to be.
I did have slightly little bit of a “gentle bulb” second when utilizing Reimagine. After highlighting every thing that I wished to alter, I used to be stopped lifeless in my tracks. See, I lack the creativity wanted to provide you with a immediate to make use of with Reimagine.
What I do have is Gemini, so I simply requested it to provide you with prompts for me. More often than not, I’d simply copy and paste the immediate, ensuing within the footage you see right here.
Picture 1 of 6
However there have been occasions when Gemini would attempt to use Imagen to generate an image itself, defeating the aim of utilizing Reimagine. I did discover that both opening a brand new Gemini chat or reusing the preliminary immediate would give me what I used to be in search of.
It is nice having this number of choices to benefit from the fruits of Gemini’s labors. I believe it would proceed to enhance, particularly contemplating that Google is releasing updates on what seems to be a month-to-month cadence.
What I’ve talked about would not even have in mind the multimodality performance of Gemini Nano. With the Pixel 9 sequence, Gemini Nano can now acknowledge textual content, voice, and picture enter. That is a part of the rationale why Google elevated the RAM from 12GB to 16GB on the Professional fashions, as about 3GB of that’s reserved for Gemini.
One factor that did come as a little bit of a shock was seeing that Google’s newest gadgets did not truly ship with the newest model of Android. In years previous, a brand new model of Android can be launched, after which new telephones can be launched. This time, Google opted for one thing fully totally different, and I am not precisely positive the way it will play out in the long term.
There’s nothing to fret about when the final replace will arrive, however it’s nonetheless left me scratching my head. Maybe that is only a “blip” on the radar, as rumors recommend Google might launch Android 16 in Q2 2025, versus Q3 or This fall. Doing so would make sure that the brand new model of Android is prepared in time for the following crop of Pixel telephones.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: The competitors
Google’s greatest competitors within the U.S. is each Samsung and Apple, and each corporations supply telephones with quicker processors and shows with higher PWM charges. The Galaxy S24 sequence is promised to ship the identical seven years of software program updates because the Pixel 9 sequence, and given the gulf in efficiency between Google and Samsung’s telephones, any Galaxy S24 mannequin will seemingly last more with out feeling sluggish just like the Pixel 9 ultimately will.
In case you’re in search of an excellent higher show and loopy quick charging speeds, the OnePlus 12 does all of it whereas costing even lower than a Pixel 9 Professional. OnePlus solely presents 4 years of software program and OS updates, however it’s possible you’ll not plan to carry on to your cellphone for greater than that, so it is in all probability an OK trade-off. There’s additionally the truth that the OnePlus 13 and Galaxy S25 are in all probability just some months away.
After all, none of those telephones include these nifty Pixel-exclusive options like name screening, VPN, Pixel Studio, and others. Plus, as I’ve coated many occasions, Pixels take one of the best photographs of youngsters and pets and now even have nice options like Add Me that provide much more fascinating images choices. And, in contrast to Samsung or OnePlus, The Pixel 9 Professional household offers you a alternative of cellphone measurement with out shedding options or digicam prowess.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Must you purchase it?
You can purchase it if…
- You’ve got pets or children that you simply take a number of footage of.
- You like Google’s intelligent AI options and Pixel exclusives like name screening.
- You wish to maintain your telephones for years earlier than updating.
You shouldn’t purchase it if…
- You play a number of cellular video games.
- You need quicker charging or extra storage at a cheaper price.
- You are delicate to gentle flicker or shows that use low-Hz PWM dimming.
Through the years, Google has discovered intelligent methods to distinguish its Pixel line from different telephones in significant methods. Pixel-exclusive options like Name Screening, superior spam detection, and Pixel VPN have been mainstays of the road for years, whereas new Pixel-exclusive options like Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, and digicam modes like Add Me are positive to make your family and friends jealous.
Nevertheless, there’s an underlying upfront worth downside that continues to develop. Pixel is as soon as once more $100 greater than the earlier yr. Tensor remains to be slower than different competing processors and heats up extra shortly than these, too. Google hasn’t improved its show dimming charge as different corporations have, and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is problematic for some folks, too.
Fortunately, Pixel 9 offers will typically get you the cellphone for subsequent to nothing as Google tries to develop its attain globally and get extra Pixels into extra folks’s palms. It would not make up for a few of the different issues the cellphone has, however it’s straightforward to provide Pixel a shot and see if all these wonderful unique options and apps are extra essential to you than uncooked efficiency or charging velocity. Plus, having the ability to select a measurement with out shedding essential options is lastly a actuality.
Lastly! Get a smaller cellphone with out shedding all the good options of the most important fashions. The Pixel 9 Professional features a triple digicam system on the again with a 5x optical zoom digicam, Professional-grade software program options, and a daring new design you simply may love.
When solely the most important show will do, the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL is the correct cellphone for you. Packing Google smarts and the newest bag of AI methods powered by Gemini, the Pixel 9 Professional XL will get it carried out.
