Key Takeaways
- Wonderful AI-powered pictures options, together with the spectacular Zoom Improve and Tremendous Res Zoom Video
- Nice-looking, Apple-like design with a great-feeling matte rear.
- Easy software program that is straightforward to navigate (however watch out for a number of the implications surrounding “Reimagine”).
Google’s Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL are pictures powerhouses with a wonderful, iPhone-like design that even essentially the most hardcore Android followers will doubtless admit seems and feels nice.
Did I anticipate to be this blown away by the pictures and video Google’s newest flagship can seize? No, undoubtedly not, particularly since there aren’t notable digicam {hardware} upgrades over final 12 months’s Pixel 8 Pro. By glorious, surprisingly true-to-life post-processing, I discover I favor the look of the Pixel 9 Professional’s pictures over even these taken with Apple’s iPhone 15 Professional, which had been my earlier favourite digicam array. Due to surprisingly useful AI photo and video features, Google’s Pixel 9 Professional options what I would confidently say is my favourite smartphone digicam ever.
Add within the clearly Apple-inspired design with its clean matte rear, minimized bezels, and tasteful shade choices, you’ve got a formidable all-around smartphone bundle. After all, you could possibly argue that nobody wants a Pixel 9 Professional sequence smartphone this 12 months as a result of the bottom Pixel 9 is an excellent gadget that gives options usually reserved for higher-end smartphones, and I would wholeheartedly agree with this angle — except you are actually into capturing pictures and movies together with your telephone. If that is you, then the Pixel 9 Pro’s further price is price its costlier price ticket. Its cameras are actually that good.
This evaluate has been up to date to cowl the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL. Past the display screen and battery dimension totally different, each smartphones carry out identically.
Editor’s Selection
Pixel 9 Professional
The Pixel 9 Professional brings a brand new squared-off design, the Tensor G4 chip, and new AI options like Pixel Screenshots to Google’s flagship smartphone line. It is accessible beginning September 4th.
- Wonderful AI-powered pictures options
- Nice-looking design
- Easy software program that is straightforward to navigate
- Costly
- Some AI options are a bit terrifying
- Sides aren’t matte
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Worth, availability, and specs
Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL and Pixel 9 Professional can be found directly from Google and different retailers for $1,100 and $1,000, respectively, in porcelain, rose quartz, hazel, and obsidian (the latter featured on this evaluate). These costs are $300 and $200 greater than the $800 base Pixel 9.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL includes a 6.8-inch 1,344 x 2,992 LTPO OLED show, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional has a 6.3-inch 1290 x 2856 LTPO OLED display screen. Each shows embrace a 1-120Hz variable refresh price and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, with brightness reaching 2,000 and three,000 nits of peak brightness, respectively. The Pixel 9 Professional XL’s battery capability is 4,700mAh, and the Pixel 9 Professional’s is 5,060mAh. Their weights are roughly 7.7oz (221g) and 7oz (199g), respectively.
Storage choices begin at 128GB and prolong as much as 1TB. This 12 months, RAM has been upgraded to 16GB from final 12 months’s 12GB. The smartphone additionally options Google’s Tensor G4 chip. Digital camera specs embrace an f/1.68 50-megapixel predominant large shooter, a touch upgraded f/1.7 48-megapixel ultra-wide digicam, and an f/2.8 48-megapixel telephoto shooter able to as much as 5x optical zoom. The entrance digicam has been upgraded to an f/2.2 42-megapixel shooter from final 12 months’s f/2.2 10.5-megapixel lens.
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Pixel 9 Professional Pixel 9 Professional XL Model Google Google SoC Tensor G4 Tensor G4 Show 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua show 6.8-inch Tremendous Actua show, 1344 x 2992 LTPO OLED, 1-120Hz refresh price, as much as 3000 nits peak brightness RAM 16GB 16GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Battery 4700mAh, 24+ hours of battery life 5,060 mAh, 24+ hours of battery life Ports USB-C USB-C Working System Android 14 Android 14 Entrance digicam 42-megapixel f/2.2, 103-degree FOV selfie digicam 42-megapixel f/2.2, 103-degree FOV selfie digicam Rear digicam 50-megapixel f/1.68 large digicam / 48-megapixel f/1.7, 123-degree FOV ultrawide digicam / 48-megapixel, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom, as much as 30x Tremendous Res Zoom telephoto digicam 50-megapixel f/1.68 large digicam / 48-megapixel f/1.7, 123-degree FOV ultrawide digicam / 48-megapixel f/2.8, 5x optical zoom, as much as 30x Tremendous Res Zoom telephoto digicam Connectivity Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Extremely-Wideband chip, GPS, 5G mmWave, Satellite tv for pc Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Extremely-Wideband chip, GPS, Satellite tv for pc, 5G mmWave Dimensions 6 x 2.8 x 0.3-inches 6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3-inches Colours Porcelain, Obsidian, Hazel, Rose Quartz Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, Rose Quartz Weight 199g / 7oz 221g / 7.8oz Cost pace As much as 55% in half-hour with 45W cost As much as 70% in half-hour with 45W cost IP Ranking IP68 IP68 Worth $999 $1,099 Safety Fingerprint Unlock, Face Unlock, Titan M2 safety coprocessor Titan M2 safety coprocessor, Fingerprint Unlock, Face Unlock Yr of launch 2024 2024
Pixel 9 Professional construct and design
An iPhone-inspired look even essentially the most hardcore Android followers will like
I lined it extensively in my Pixel 9 review, however I am a giant fan of the look of this 12 months’s Pixel 9 line. The Pixel 9 Professional adopts a glance harking back to the iPhone, with its squared-off sides and barely rounded corners that make it total simpler to carry, particularly at awkward angles. The again is matte, in contrast to the Pixel 9’s shiny rear, however sadly, its sides stay shiny, making them a smudge and dirt magnet. I might have most popular a extra premium all-matte-everything look that is according to the iPhone 15 Professional. This not solely feels higher if you run your fingers over it but in addition repels smudges and dirt higher.
Sadly, Google has ditched the visor for a sprawling digicam bump that appears prefer it was dropped on the rear of the gadget. It is not a deal-breaker, particularly in case you plan to place the gadget in a smartphone case, but it surely’s a step again from the identifiable rear digicam visor featured in final 12 months’s Pixel 8 Professional.
Total, the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL are very solid-looking smartphones that provide a degree of refinement immediately noticeable from the second you decide it up. Pixel units have at all times felt fairly good, however the Pixel 9 Professional sequence takes issues to a different degree.
It is price noting that that is the primary time Google has supplied a bigger 6.8-inch model of its higher-end smartphone. A 6.8-inch display screen is a good dimension, and in my time with the gadget, it hasn’t felt unwieldy. Folks like huge telephones, so it is smart for Google to supply an even bigger choice. However I favor the smaller 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Professional (it is simply simpler to make use of with one hand). After all, this can come all the way down to your private smartphone dimension desire.
Associated
The Pixel 9 is a nearly perfect Android phone that also terrifies me
The Pixel 9 delivers beautiful efficiency and design, however its Reimagine AI software really scares me.
Pixel 9 Professional show
A surprising, high-end show that appears nice below almost all lighting circumstances
The Pixel 9 Professional’s show is beautiful, surpassing the vibrancy of Apple’s iPhone 15 Professional display screen and, in some circumstances, even Samsung’s Galaxy S24 sequence, by a big margin. The Pixel 9’s display screen is greater than vibrant sufficient at 1,800 nits with 2,700 nits of peak brightness, however the Pixel 9 Professional’s show takes issues to a blistering 2,000 nits with as much as 3,000 nits of peak brightness.
Colours are vibrant, and pictures, movies, and video games look sharp, however not wildly higher than my expertise with Google’s base Pixel 9, regardless of its OLED building versus the Pixel 9 Professional XL and Pixel 9 Professional’s higher-end LTPO display screen expertise.
The show seems nice, however at instances, I’ve really discovered it too vibrant, particularly when viewing content material below darkish circumstances, forcing me to show the brightness down. However, I recognize the added illumination when utilizing the gadget exterior below direct daylight. You too can clearly see how a lot brighter the Pixel 9 Professional show is compared straight with the Pixel 9’s display screen.
Each the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL sport larger decision shows than the Pixel 9, at 1344 x 2992 and 1280 x 2856 pixel decision, respectively. Colours are vibrant, and pictures, movies, and video games look sharp, however not wildly higher than my expertise with Google’s base Pixel 9, regardless of its OLED building versus the Pixel 9 Professional XL and Pixel 9 Professional’s higher-end LTPO display screen expertise. To me, this simply speaks to how good all of the shows in Google’s Pixel 9 lineup are.
As a destructive facet word, I managed to get a really nasty scratch towards the center of the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show, regardless of its supposedly sturdy Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 building. I am fairly cautious with my units, so I’ve no clue how this occurred, but it surely’s price mentioning. That stated, I do not assume this can be a widespread concern with the Pixel 9 Professional show and it is most likely simply dangerous luck on my half.
Associated
The Pixel 9 Pro is great, but here are 5 reasons why I’m waiting for the Pixel 10 Pro
Google’s Pixel 9 Professional is a slam-dunk success, however I am nonetheless not satisfied it is time to take the Pixel plunge.
Pixel 9 Professional digicam
This 12 months’s key promoting level is great digicam efficiency (and never solely due to AI)
The principle motive to buy the Pixel 9 Professional or Pixel 9 Professional XL over the Pixel 9 is for the additional digicam options the higher-end telephones provide. First off, the Pixel 9 Professional XL includes a f/2.2 48-megapixel telephoto lens with as much as 5x optical zoom. These are the identical specs as final 12 months, and total, photographs shot with this digicam look stellar. I nonetheless favor a telephoto lens over an ultra-wide, and it will be nice if Google ditched the latter from its base Pixel 9 in favor of an actual optical zoom.
On the AI facet of issues, “Tremendous Res Zoom Video” is again once more and a bit extra spectacular than final 12 months. The visible improve continues to be considerably minimal, however clips look noticeably clearer typically. The function is irritating to activate because it requires you to activate “Video Increase” and swap to 5x optical zoom earlier than zooming into no matter digital zoom you want, but it surely works properly and stays spectacular. As you’ll be able to see above, the fish are barely clearer and extra vibrant within the Tremendous Res Zoom enhanced clip above, even with X’s dismal video transcoding.
On that very same word, Video Increase additionally stays spectacular, notably in relation to smoothing out panning, which continues to be surprisingly uneven with the Pixel 9 Professional line, particularly when switching between lenses (the iPhone 15 Pro beats the Pixel 9 Professional relating to video). It will be nice if there was a solution to activate Video Increase completely, although I perceive why there is not provided that the function requires each file to be uploaded to Google’s servers. Like final 12 months, movies can typically get caught changing to Video Increase and take upwards of half-hour to course of, particularly in case you use the Pixel 9 Professional line’s new 8K upscaling (this can be a welcome addition, however I haven’t got a lot use for 8K footage). This implies in case you’re seeking to put up one thing rapidly, Video Increase typically is not an choice.
Sticking with getting nearer to topics, this 12 months “Zoom Improve” lets you enhance the standard of photographs shot with digital zoom. Just like Tremendous Res Zoom Video, the modifications are refined however nonetheless noticeable, giving zoomed pictures extra definition and an total barely clearer image that is typically extra vibrant. Usually, the farther you zoom in digitally, the extra spectacular the outcomes are when utilizing Zoom Improve. The enhancements are fairly minimal, however in case you’re into pictures, you may discover them.
On the optical zoom facet, photographs are clear, crisp, and spectacular, notably at 5x, which I discovered very helpful on a latest crusing journey. Nonetheless, I’ve skilled camera tilt at 5x zoom that causes photographs to be considerably off-kilter. I have been fixing this with a fast crop, however I am assured Google will resolve this concern within the coming weeks with a digicam app replace. Together with the already talked about telephoto lens, the Pixel 9 Professional sequence options an f/1.7 50-megapixel large digicam that is the identical as final 12 months’s major digicam.
It nonetheless snaps nice pictures that strike a stability between the over-processed really feel of Samsung’s Galaxy sequence and the more and more out-of-this-world tackle pictures Apple has been pushing for the previous few years (check out the sky in iPhone 15 Professional pictures, and you will see what I imply). Of all of the flagship smartphones at present accessible, the Pixel 9 sequence presents essentially the most true-to-life pictures, which is slightly ironic given the tech big’s emphasis on AI this 12 months, bringing into query what {a photograph} even is anymore.
Pixel 9 digicam options like “Add Me,” which lets you create a composite group shot with out asking a stranger to snap the picture, are additionally a part of the Pixel 9 Professional sequence’ quiver of AI-powered performance. “Add Me” works simply as properly with the Pixel 9 Professional line and is the type of harmless AI function I really discover helpful.
One essential factor to notice is that the Pixel 9 Professional’s AI digicam options don’t work when you’ve got the principle shooter set to 48 megapixels as an alternative of 12 megapixels, which is a disappointing transfer on Google’s half. This doubtless has one thing to do with the present AI processing pipeline and the way Google makes use of the bigger sensor, however it will be nice to see compatibility with 48-megapixel pictures within the Pixel 10 Professional sequence nonetheless.
It was nonetheless doable to rapidly snap the pictures I wished with the 48-megapixel sensor, however I wanted to be very intentional with my pictures.
Talking of 48-megapixel pictures, I do not discover the necessity to snap them fairly often except I intend to crop the picture not directly. The shutter can be nonetheless a bit slower when utilizing the total sensor, making it troublesome to quickly take pictures, which was a problem whereas snapping photos on the Toronto Worldwide Airshow, forcing me to largely persist with 12-megapixel photographs. It was nonetheless doable to rapidly snap the pictures I wished with the 48-megapixel sensor, however I wanted to be very intentional with my pictures.
There’s additionally the f/1.7 48-megapixel ultra-wide shooter that gives a minor improve over final 12 months’s ultra-wide. It snaps first rate pictures, however past the occasional macro shot, I do not discover myself utilizing the ultra-wide digicam fairly often. And eventually, there’s the f/2.2 42-megapixel front-facing digicam that snaps clearer photos than final 12 months’s selfie shooter. I am not a giant selfie particular person, however the pictures I shot are clear, with even publicity all through. I typically discover that selfie cameras blow out a picture’s highlights, and that is not the case with the Pixel 9 Professional sequence’ front-facing digicam.
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The Pixel 9 Professional helps Tremendous Res Zoom in video for the primary time, and it is a good instance of AI-enabled options that make sense on Google’s telephone.
Pixel 9 Professional XL efficiency
The Tensor G4 benchmarks below the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, however who cares?
On the efficiency facet, Google’s Tensor G4 runs nice within the Pixel 9 Professional XL. Even below a heavy load, I did not expertise the identical warmth points as I sometimes encountered with the Pixel 8 Professional, doubtless due to the brand new inside cooling design and the telephone’s bigger dimension. Nonetheless, the Tensor G4 will not be that a lot of a bounce over the Pixel 8 Professional when it comes to uncooked efficiency. For many who care about benchmarks, the Pixel 9 Professional XL scores 1,901 for single-core and 4,707 for multi-core, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional hits 1,966 for single-core and 4,723 for multi-core.
These marks are properly beneath these of units powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Nonetheless, I did not encounter a single occasion of slowdown, whether or not I used to be searching the web, enjoying video games, doing minor picture edits in Adobe’s Lightroom CC, or watching the occasional video on YouTube.
I did not encounter a single occasion of slowdown, whether or not I used to be searching the web, enjoying video games, doing minor picture edits in Adobe’s Lightroom CC, or watching the occasional video on YouTube.
Until you are the definition of a smartphone energy consumer, you may discover only a few points with the Pixel 9 Professional’s efficiency even in case you’re a giant multi-tasker, due to its ample 16GB of RAM. Smartphone chips have been overkill for years, and the Pixel 9 Professional XL is not any exception. Battery life lasts properly into the late night with reasonable use, much like my expertise with the Pixel 9. Provided that the Pixel 9 Professional XL includes a bigger 5,060 mAh cell versus the Pixel 9 Professional’s 4,700 mAh, the latter gadget presents barely higher battery life.
Associated
How I use my Pixel 9’s Screenshots app to remember everything
The Pixel 9 makes use of its on-device Gemini Nano mannequin to investigate and catalog each screenshot you’re taking. Right here’s the way to use it greatest.
Pixel 9 Professional softwareAI coupled with a throwback to a less complicated period of iOS
On the software program facet, Google’s Pixel 9 Professional sequence helps all the identical considerably terrifying AI options because the Pixel 9, together with “Reimagine,” which lets you add almost something to a picture with prompts, and Pixel Studio, Google’s AI app that generates photographs. There’s additionally Screenshots, a wonderful app that makes use of AI to floor related screenshots, and extra.
Reimagine’s guardrails are fairly free. With creative prompts, you’ll be able to simply trick it into creating off-putting photographs, and in some circumstances, these AI-edited pictures look very convincing. Do not get me unsuitable, they’re typically ridiculous-looking and clearly faux, however that is not at all times the case (try that image beneath of a submarine in Lake Ontario). However, Pixel Studio is a foolish AI picture generator according to Meta AI or OpenAI’s DALL·E 3 that works fairly properly.
My key concern is that these photographs could be posted as actuality with none apparent indication that they’re AI-generated. It is a slippery slope we have been sliding down for months, and it is solely a matter of time earlier than these options attain different Android units, making AI-altered and generated photographs much more widespread on social media.
For extra on the Pixel 9 sequence’ potential AI pitfalls and the intense implications Reimagine may have, check out my Pixel 9 review. It is price mentioning that even in its early state, Gemini and its extra conversational counterpart, Gemini Dwell (which is free for a 12 months with the acquisition of a Pixel 9 gadget and $20/month after), work shockingly properly. Despite the fact that I’ve encountered the occasional glitch, I’ve by no means really been in a position to have a dialog with an AI earlier than Gemini/Gemini Dwell. Does speaking to an AI assistant match into my workflow, although? Probably not, and I am unsure it ever will.
Lastly, I am a giant fan of the Pixel’s Android pores and skin. It is easy, simple, and clear. In actual fact, I discover it simpler to navigate than iOS 18. Apple’s cell working system has grow to be more and more difficult over the previous few years, and Android 14 working on the Pixel 9 sequence has made that much more obvious (the replace to Android 15 is coming quickly). It is also nice that Google has promised to supply seven years of software program updates to the Pixel 9 line.
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Must you purchase the Google Pixel 9 Professional?
It is considered one of Google’s most full smartphone packages in years
Most individuals ought to go for the usual Pixel 9, however in case you’re into pictures, the Pixel 9 Professional sequence has quite a bit to supply. It captures my favourite smartphone pictures but, providing a extra true-to-life stability that sits firmly between Samsung’s intense saturation and Apple’s more and more inconsistent, out-there tackle photographs and movies. That is in stark distinction to the varied picture and video AI options supplied by the Pixel 9 Professional sequence, together with Zoom Improve and Tremendous Res Zoom Video, which I discovered notably helpful.
Total, the Pixel 9 Professional line presents considered one of Google’s most full smartphone packages in years, however in case you’re not an avid photographer, it can save you just a few hundred {dollars} and follow the usual Pixel 9.
That stated, I am nonetheless involved about Reimagine’s broader implications, given how straightforward it’s to make use of and the way convincing the outcomes could be typically. Moreover, I have never discovered a solution to combine Gemini into my life, regardless of its spectacular capabilities. Total, the Pixel 9 Professional line presents considered one of Google’s most full smartphone packages in years, however in case you’re not an avid photographer, it can save you just a few hundred {dollars} and follow the usual Pixel 9.
Editor’s Selection
Pixel 9 Professional
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