The Pixel 9 sequence represents a number of the largest design adjustments 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 an identical expertise at two distinct sizes.
Since there is not any actual distinction between these two telephones apart from their dimension, we’re combining the opinions to offer you a greater have a look at the perfect Pixel 9 expertise out there. We have been utilizing each fashions interchangeably over the previous month and have come away disenchanted about issues which have plagued Pixels for years. Fortunately, lots of Google’s newest function 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 important selection for some of us, whereas others may need to look elsewhere for his or her subsequent smartphone improve.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Worth and availability
The Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL at the moment are formally out there as of August 22, 2024. Each fashions supply a selection of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage, in addition to 16GB of RAM. You possibly can select from both dimension in a variety 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 international locations:
NAMER: US, CanadaEMEA: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Eire, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, UKAPAC: Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan
All Pixel 9 fashions embody Pixel VPN at no further value, which helps shield you whereas on the go and connecting to doubtlessly 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 accommodates no plastic and is impressively environmentally pleasant.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Design
Except a couple of tweaks right here and there, Google has largely stored the identical design that was initially launched with the Pixel 6. Nevertheless, we have slowly seen increasingly telephone makers undertake an iPhone-like design with flat edges and flat screens. Google jumped aboard this pattern with the Pixel 9, 9 Professional, and 9 Professional XL. Gone is the mixture of curved glass and aluminum, and as a substitute, we’ve 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. Positive, the buttons, colours, and digital camera housing are totally different, however I have not been in a position to 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 somewhat 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 attempt to differentiate the Professional from the non-Professional fashions, however I nonetheless choose the sensation of brushed aluminum over polished.
Whereas a sophisticated body is perhaps extra eye-catching to some, it will not take lengthy for fingerprints and smudges to smash every part. 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 may match no matter telephone 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 is not any Qi2 help on any of the Pixel 9 fashions. Fortunately, my our favourite case maker, Thinborne, is right here to save lots of the day with its wonderful Aramid Fiber Skinny Case that is additionally MagSafe-compatible.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Show
I used to be somewhat shocked that Google launched its Professional telephone in two totally different sizes. It isn’t that I do not assume that is the proper transfer, however I simply did not see Google including one other telephone to its ever-growing lineup. Nonetheless, I am of the mindset that having a small “professional” telephone is an effective way to doubtlessly appeal to extra folks to make the swap to the world of Pixel.
In addition to the bodily display screen dimension, these shows are virtually an identical. They will attain 3000 nits and supply Google’s “Clean Show” variable refresh charge. Except following the pattern of shows that may get brighter, it is all just about what you’d count on from a flagship telephone.
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 part works as marketed. That every one modified as quickly as we put in a display screen protector on the Pixel 9 Professional XL.
At present, I’ve solely used the display screen protector that comes with the Thinborne case, so I am unsure if that is responsible, however unlocking the telephone has turn into a problem. It appears to be much less of an issue throughout the day, however as quickly as I am in an space with little mild, it simply would not work.
After a few days, I remembered there’s really a toggle within the Settings app to assist fight this problem. Nevertheless, after enabling the “Display Protector Mode,” there actually hasn’t been a distinction.
Since I spend nearly all of my time at residence, this is not actually all that a lot of a problem. A current journey to New York for Google’s Chromebook Showcase rapidly 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 can not inform you 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 can not communicate to that. Nevertheless, he is included his ideas and emotions concerning the PWM and refresh charge of Google’s Tremendous Actua Show beneath:
The ultra-low 240Hz PWM charge used to “dim” the telephone’s show provides me horrible complications, particularly when I attempt to use the telephone 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 shiny, 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 units — and firms like Honor and OnePlus push that charge to 2160Hz, 4320Hz, and past.
At this brightness, Google is just not even near complying with the really helpful IEEE PAR 1789 commonplace 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 have been rapidly 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 degree as a few of its competitors. I am maintaining my fingers crossed that this may change with the Tensor G5, however I digress.
In day-to-day utilization, I got here away fairly impressed with how nicely the Pixel stored up with no matter I wanted to do. There have been occasions that I needed to achieve for both the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or Galaxy Z Fold 6, however that form of defeats the aim.
With virtually each new system that I get, whether or not it is for evaluate or for myself, I need to attempt 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 probability that you could find and use a distinct 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. Nonetheless, it nonetheless hasn’t resulted in stability and efficiency positive factors that may rival telephones utilizing a Snapdragon SoC.
The purpose that I am attempting to make is that whereas I used to be in a position to load up a couple of Swap video games, it isn’t an gratifying expertise. Framerates are unstable, continuously 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 the event you handle to discover a customized GPU driver.
With a view to put this into higher perspective, I defaulted to Geekbench 6, simply to offer one thing a bit extra substantive.
As you possibly can 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 evaluate, I’ve but to get my arms on the brand new iPhone, which is why it isn’t included within the desk above.
Whereas these numbers may appear a bit disappointing, it isn’t really something that you will discover each day. Potential points and limitations will not crop up till you attempt to push the telephone to the extremes. Which is not one thing I believe many individuals are doing frequently.Â
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 biggest of which appears to be battery life.
As I’ve talked about a couple of occasions, I took the Pixel 9 Professional XL with me on a visit to New York and figured it will be the perfect 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 resort, 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 beneath 20% and I simply could not imagine it.
Throughout your complete three-day journey, I by no means as soon as felt nervous or nervous about working out of juice. That features spending at some point strolling round New York Metropolis for the aim of taking digital camera samples for this evaluate. 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 take a look at leads to 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 previous video playback battery take a look at. Right here is how I had every part arrange:
Then, I simply fired up a 4K HDR video on YouTube and let it maintain taking part in at some stage in the take a look at. Beneath, you possibly can see the battery percentages, which have been recorded each hour on the identical time:
After the primary couple of hours, the pattern grew to become 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 telephone form of settled right into a groove, so to talk, and was simply coasting for so long as doable.
At that charge, the telephone would have lasted for an additional three to 4 hours, working 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.
Our guardian firm, Future PLC, runs lab checks by way of the Future Labs division and located that it took a median 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 working the identical take a look at. Clearly, Google wasn’t kidding after they stated Tensor G4’s effectivity was higher.
I have been utilizing these telephones for a couple of weeks now, and it is the primary time in a very long time that I have not felt the necessity to allow the flexibility to see the battery share 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 rapidly from 0% to about 50% in underneath half-hour, a full cost is not any quicker than the Pixel 8 sequence — and charging the telephone when it is above 50% battery degree leads to a a lot slower cost than you may count on.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Cameras
There are some things that I search for relating to testing out totally different telephone cameras — velocity, a telephoto lens, and the way a photograph seems to be with out edits. Velocity is certainly subjective, but when I attempt 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 while not having to do an excessive amount of tinkering.
I really feel like I am within the minority as somebody who would a lot choose having a telescope digital camera versus an ultrawide one. However fortunately, the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL have each, so it isn’t a priority.
Lastly is velocity. There are occasions after I’ll snap a bunch of RAW pictures to manually edit them later. As a rule, I do not need to assume twice about it, and simply need my telephone to take image.
Fortunately, the Pixel 9 Professional and XL examine all of those packing containers. The truth is, Google in all probability produces my favourite photos out of any system that I personal or have owned. This consists of the iPhone and Galaxy S24 Extremely.
Whereas my iPhone continues to be quicker at taking common JPG photos, there’s simply one thing off concerning the colour steadiness of my eyes. I am certain I might treatment this, however once more, it is one thing that I do not need to have to consider. Pull the telephone out and take an image. With an almost-eight-month-old little boy attempting to run round, velocity and high quality are the secret.
I’ve come to understand the “stream” of taking an image to drag it up in Google Images or having it mechanically added to an album. There is not any fiddling available except I select to take action. Even then, except I am utilizing Reimagine, enhancing an image takes just some faucets.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Software program & AI
In relation to the Android software program expertise, I choose Samsung’s “kitchen sink” method 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 the event you have been coming from the Pixel 8 Professional. The most important 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 cause to. There have been a couple of exceptions, akin to taking part in round with Reimagine after a visit to the Nintendo Retailer or utilizing Magic Editor to take away issues which can be within the body that I do not need to be.
I did have just a little little bit of a “mild bulb” second when utilizing Reimagine. After highlighting every part that I needed to vary, I used to be stopped useless 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 photos you see right here.Â
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 should 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 keep 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 explanation 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 units did not really ship with the newest model of Android. In years previous, a brand new model of Android could be launched, after which new telephones could be launched. This time, Google opted for one thing fully totally different, and I am not precisely certain 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 be sure that the brand new model of Android is prepared in time for the subsequent crop of Pixel telephones.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: The competitors
Google’s largest 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 finally 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 you could not plan to carry on to your telephone 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 lined many occasions, Pixels take the perfect pictures of children 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 provides you a selection of telephone dimension with out dropping options or digital camera prowess.
Google Pixel 9 Professional: Do you have to purchase it?
You can purchase it if…
You have got pets or youngsters that you simply take a lot of photos 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 lot of cellular video games.You need quicker charging or extra storage at a cheaper price.You are delicate to mild flicker or shows that use low-Hz PWM dimming.
Over time, Google has found out 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 digital camera modes like Add Me are certain 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 continues to be slower than different competing processors and heats up extra rapidly 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 telephone for subsequent to nothing as Google tries to broaden its attain globally and get extra Pixels into extra folks’s arms. It would not make up for a number of the different issues the telephone has, however it’s simple to offer Pixel a shot and see if all these superb unique options and apps are extra essential to you than uncooked efficiency or charging velocity. Plus, having the ability to select a dimension with out dropping essential options is lastly a actuality.
Lastly! Get a smaller telephone with out dropping all the good options of the largest fashions. The Pixel 9 Professional features a triple digital camera system on the again with a 5x optical zoom digital camera, Professional-grade software program options, and a daring new design you simply may love.
When solely the largest show will do, the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL is the proper telephone for you. Packing Google smarts and the newest bag of AI methods powered by Gemini, the Pixel 9 Professional XL will get it finished.