Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone that delivers a compelling blend of performance, design, and photography

The Google Pixel 9 Pro, awarded TechRadar’s Phone of the Year, stands out for its refined design and focus on essentials like calls and messaging. Its sleek, Apple-inspired aesthetic, including flat aluminum edges and a frosted glass back, has captured attention even from loyal Apple enthusiasts. With improved durability and water resistance, it’s a strategic move by Google to attract both Pixel fans and Android users seeking a fresh option.

CONTENTS:

• Compact, premium, camera-focused flagship experience.
• Contextual AI replies for Pixel calls.
• Tensor G6: Efficient, cool, cost-effective performance.
• Pixel 9 Pro: sleek, essential, Apple-inspired.

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone that delivers a compelling blend of performance, design, and photography

Compact, premium, camera-focused flagship experience

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone – Pixel 9 Pro Review: A Premium Google Phone That’s Worth Considering in 2024

The Pixel 9 Pro is one of the few compact flagship smartphones available in 2024. Despite its hefty price tag, it offers an impressive experience for those looking for a smaller, high-end device.

Overview

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone In August, Google introduced the Pixel 9 lineup, which includes the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Pixel 9 Pro, though initially unavailable in India, was quietly released in mid-October. Positioned between the Pixel 9 and the 9 Pro XL in terms of both pricing and features, it’s priced at ₹1,09,999—a considerable amount, but it may provide strong value for the investment.

Design & Display

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone The Pixel 9 Pro has a premium look and feel, thanks to its glass back with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and a glossy finish. Although this glossy surface can sometimes be slippery, the phone’s overall design remains appealing. With a pill-shaped camera module similar to the rest of the Pixel 9 series, the phone doesn’t lie flat on surfaces. My review model in Porcelain color resisted fingerprints well, though a case would further address this.

The Pixel 9 Pro is compact and easy to hold due to its squarish build and rounded edges. Weighing 199g, it feels slightly heavier than comparable devices, such as the iPhone 16 Plus, despite having similar weights.

The 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display is one of the phone’s highlights. Supporting HDR 10+ with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits and up to 120Hz refresh rate, the display is sharp and vibrant. The colors lean towards cooler tones but remain punchy, with a slightly boosted saturation that still looks natural.

Performance & AI

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone Like its siblings, the Pixel 9 Pro is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor G4 chip, which underperforms compared to other devices in its price range. In Antutu benchmark tests, the Pixel 9 Pro scored around 1.2 million—less than some lower-priced phones, like the Poco X6 Pro and iQOO Neo 9 Pro. On Geekbench, it scored 1919 in single-core and 4689 in multi-core tests. During intensive tasks, the device heats up and throttles, especially in CPU-heavy applications.

That said, for typical daily tasks like texting, browsing, and social media, the Pixel 9 Pro performs well, though it heats up during prolonged use. Gaming is feasible, though performance may occasionally lag.

Running Android 14 out of the box, with a manual upgrade option to Android 15, the Pixel 9 Pro offers a clean and intuitive software experience, enhanced by AI-powered features such as Screenshots app, Pixel Studio, and Gemini Live. Although these features are initially appealing, they may lose their novelty over time.

Camera

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone The Pixel 9 Pro’s standout feature is its camera, with a triple-lens setup featuring a 50MP main camera, 48MP periscope telephoto lens, and 48MP ultra-wide sensor, along with a 42MP front-facing camera. The camera system captures impressive photos, making it one of the best smartphone cameras of the year. Photos are sharp, with natural colors and good detail retention across wide, 2x, and 5x zoom shots. In low light, the results are still strong, and portraits show good subject separation with accurate edge detection.

The front camera takes high-quality selfies, though it smoothens skin tones slightly. The camera app, while effective, takes a few moments to process images, resulting in enhanced shots compared to the raw captures.

Battery

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone The Pixel 9 Pro’s 4,700mAh battery lasts all day with regular use, offering solid standby time. However, it doesn’t come with a charger in the box, requiring an additional purchase. Charging speed is on the slower side, taking over 1.5 hours to charge from 10% to 95%.

Verdict

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone The Pixel 9 Pro provides a flagship experience with its excellent camera, vibrant display, powerful AI features, and reliable battery life. While its performance doesn’t reach top-tier levels, it is well-suited for users who prioritize a compact flagship form factor and don’t need high-end gaming capabilities. Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro is likely the most balanced phone in Google’s 2024 lineup, offering a premium Android experience. A price reduction would make it an even more attractive choice.

Contextual AI replies for Pixel calls

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone Google to Introduce Contextual AI Replies to Call Screen on Pixel Devices

Google is set to enhance its Pixel devices with a new feature called ‘AI Replies’ in the Phone app, which will generate intelligent responses based on what the caller says. Previously available in a limited capacity, this updated Call Screen feature will allow for more conversational interactions, suggesting relevant replies according to the caller’s responses, making for a more advanced calling experience.

AI Replies on Pixel Call Screen

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone Initially launched with Android 12, Google’s Call Screen allowed users to filter incoming calls, with Google Assistant responding on their behalf to ask who was calling. In March of this year, the feature was upgraded to include basic contextual replies for the user to choose from, though it couldn’t fully comprehend more complex caller needs.

According to a teardown by Android Authority, the upcoming ‘AI Replies’ feature will take Call Screen further by offering context-aware suggestions based on the caller’s specific statements. Internally referred to as ‘dobby’ and likely powered by a model known as ‘dobby LLM,’ this feature could be based on Google’s Gemini Nano, which currently supports AI functions in the Pixel 9 lineup.

While Google has not yet announced a release date, it’s expected that AI Replies will be introduced in a future Pixel feature drop, rolling out to select Pixel models.

Tensor G6: Efficient, cool, cost-effective performance

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone Google Pixel 11 to Feature Tensor G6 Chip with Enhanced Thermal Management, Aiming to Reduce Returns

The upcoming Google Pixel 11 series, anticipated for 2026, will reportedly be powered by the new Tensor G6 chip, designed with better thermal efficiency to address heating and battery concerns that have affected earlier Pixel models. According to reports, Google is targeting a price of $65 (approximately Rs. 5,500) for the Tensor G6, significantly less than Qualcomm’s equivalent chip, which is estimated to cost $150 (around Rs. 12,700).

Prioritizing Heat and Battery Management

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone Documents from Google’s GChips division reveal that overheating has been the main reason for Pixel returns, with thermal comfort limits cited as a common user complaint. With the Tensor G6, Google aims to tackle these issues, improving customer satisfaction by reducing thermal discomfort and enhancing battery life. Pixel users reportedly expect battery life to reach 36 hours, indicating that extended power efficiency is a priority for the new chip.

New Financial Goals for Tensor Chips

Google is also reportedly setting new cost targets for its Tensor line, with the Tensor G6 priced at almost half the cost of Qualcomm’s comparable offerings. While previous Tensor chip costs haven’t been disclosed, this adjustment could result in significant savings for Google on the Pixel 11 series.

Earlier reports indicate that Google will partner with TSMC for Tensor G5 production, powering the next Pixel 10 lineup. While the G5 may not see substantial performance boosts, it is expected to improve battery efficiency, a trend that will likely continue with the Tensor G6 in the Pixel 11 series.

Pixel 9 Pro: sleek, essential, Apple-inspired

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro is a premium smartphone As a loyal Apple enthusiast, I have to admit that the Google Pixel 9 Pro might just be the most visually appealing smartphone this year.

In an opinion piece, writer Axel Metz reflects on his affinity for Apple’s ecosystem and its sleek, simplistic design – one that he feels Android phones often fail to match. Despite regularly testing top Android models, he typically finds himself drawn back to Apple’s devices for their integration with his MacBook, Apple TV, and AirPods. For Metz, Apple’s mastery of convenience and design remains unmatched.

But this year, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro has grabbed his attention. Recently awarded TechRadar’s Phone of the Year, the Pixel 9 Pro stands out not for raw power but for excelling at the essentials: calls, notifications, and messaging. It also boasts refined looks with flat aluminum edges, a frosted glass back, and a well-balanced pill-shaped camera module. Built with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 water resistance, the Pixel 9 Pro is a significant leap from the Pixel 8 Pro.

While some may argue Google has borrowed from Apple’s clean, industrial aesthetic, Metz sees this as a wise move. In a market where even Samsung draws design cues from Apple, the Pixel 9 Pro’s appeal could help Google hold onto Pixel fans and attract Android users looking for a fresh option.

Ultimately, Metz suggests that Google embracing a streamlined design approach is strategic in a world where functionality often overshadows personality.