Google Pixel 9 Pro

So, I really like these new Pixel phones. New designs this year, obviously, but also new specs, new features, new issues, and, of course, new price tags. So, we really have to jump into the nitty-gritty of what’s actually good about them.

We’ve been hoping for a real, complete flagship-quality competitor from Google for a while now. On one hand, it feels like we finally got it. But on the other hand, did you guys watch the Google event announcing these things? I feel like you can learn a lot about how a company really feels about its products by just watching the announcement event. And this one felt like a software showcase that just happened to have some phones to go with it. I guess that’s not insane when you consider the history of Nexus and Pixel, but it didn’t exactly inspire confidence in these phones.

Now, after using these phones for two weeks straight, I feel like I can actually tell you what’s good and what’s bad about them.

Hardware & Design

When I say these phones feel like flagships in a good way, I’m mostly talking about the hardware. It would be easy to dismiss them as almost identical to last year’s models, just squared off. But there are a lot of little things, too.

• The screens are brighter at their max brightness—2,700 nits for the Pixel 9 and 3,000 nits for the Google Pixel 9 Pro.
• The even bezels all the way around required some extra consideration, wrapping the edges of the OLED panels under those corners.
• A new ultrasonic fingerprint reader—finally! It’s way faster and more reliable than the disappointing optical ones from before.
• Haptics are great again, and the buttons feel more tactile and clicky this year.

One tiny gripe: I wish I could unlock the phone at any time, even when the display is completely off. Right now, you need to have the always-on display enabled, hit the power button, or get a notification before you can unlock with a quick touch. On Samsung phones, the fingerprint spot is always active, so you can unlock it from a blank screen. I wish the Pixel did that, too.

Of course, the hardware is about more than just the outside. The Pixel 9 lineup features the new Tensor G4 chip and more RAM.

• The Tensor G4 isn’t actually much more powerful than last year’s chip. In fact, you probably won’t notice a difference for 99% of tasks.
• However, the new NPU (Neural Processing Unit) is significantly more powerful and dedicated to AI tasks.
• The extra RAM? Also mostly reserved for AI tasks.

In a world where major new smartphones offer only minor improvements here and there—mainly focusing on AI capabilities—I’m glad that the Pixel got some meaningful hardware upgrades, too.

The squared-off sides? Clearly designed to fit in with the iPhones and Samsungs of the world. I’ve said it before: I like the look and feel.

The new camera visor is now less of a visor and more of a shelf island. It looks a bit weird in renders, but trust me, in person, it looks great. Sure, it will collect dust just like last year’s, but that’s expected.

Oh, and there’s a new size option. You can get a Pro model without it being an XL. I love the choice. I’m a little worried that the mid-size model won’t sell as well as the two extremes, but hey, I’m just glad we have options—before it gets discontinued.

Battery & Charging

For a phone that costs nearly $1,000, there are a few complaints.

• Battery size is about the same as last year: 4,700mAh for the smaller models, 5,000mAh for the big one.
• Battery life? A-minus—solid five-plus hours of screen-on time, even with heavy use.
• Charging? Still slow. The Pixel 9 Pro maxes out at 37W, and the smaller models are even slower.

I’m not saying we need 320W “fire hazard” fast charging, but 65W would be nice. That’s not unreasonable in 2024.

Cameras

Cameras have always been a big part of the Pixel experience, and that remains true—but not in exactly the same way.

• Pixel 9 & 9 Pro share the same primary camera and ultra-wide.
• The Pro models get a 5x telephoto zoom.
• The primary sensor is basically the same as last year’s.
• The ultra-wide is new—48MP instead of 12MP, though it bins down to 12MP.

Shooting with these cameras is great.

• The app is quick and responsive.
• Autofocus is fast.
• The photos are consistent and process quickly.

However, Pixel photos still look very processed.

• Lots of HDR.
• High contrast.
• Aggressive sharpening.

This punchy look is great for social media but less natural than other brands.

The new selfie camera on the Pro is actually the biggest improvement—much better detail and color than the regular Pixel 9.

Software & AI Features

Google is pushing AI-powered features hard. This is where the Pixel experience really shines.

• Call Screening – still best-in-class (Samsung’s version doesn’t even come close).
• Now Playing – automatically recognizes background music.
• Call Notes – records and summarizes phone calls.
• New Weather App – honestly, surprisingly good.
• Gemini AI – deeply integrated into the Pixel experience.

The biggest question is: does Gemini replace Google Assistant?

• Right now, both coexist, which is confusing.
• Gemini is getting better quickly, but it still has gaps.
• Google Assistant still handles basics like timers and smart home controls better.
• Over time, Gemini will likely take over—but not yet.

Google is also offering 7 years of software updates, meaning this phone will be supported until 2031.

Final Thoughts

So, is the Pixel 9 Pro worth it?

Well, the best reason to buy this phone is the same as ever—it’s the smartest smartphone in the room.

• The hardware is finally premium.
• The AI features are actually useful.
• It has some of the best software support in Android.

But if you’re expecting dramatic performance gains, you won’t find them here. If you just want Gemini, you can use it on any Android phone—even the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which Google literally demoed it on at their own event.

At the end of the day, the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro are some of Google’s best work yet. Whether or not the AI focus is compelling enough to make you buy one—that’s up to you.