Google Pixel 9 Pro in for review

We’ve already looked at the Google Pixel 9 and the 9 Pro XL which stand at the two ends of the spectrum in the new Pixel 9 lineup. Now it’s time to also take a deep dive into the Pixel 9 Pro. As the name suggests, it delivers all of the “Pro” features without the “XL” size.

Left: Pixel 9 Pro • Right: Pixel 9 Pro XL

Honestly, we are kind of amazed that Google managed to fit so much more hardware inside what is basically the same footprint as the regular Pixel 9. The Pixel 9 Pro has the exact same dimensions as its non-Pro sibling at 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm. That is quite compact by today’s standards. The Pro model is also just a single gram heavier, tipping the scale at 199 grams. That’s not particularly light, and the Pixel 9 Pro still feels hefty to hold, but it packs quite a bit of hardware.

Left: Pixel 9 Pro • Right: Pixel 9

So, what does the Pro actually deliver on top of the already quite compelling Pixel 9? The most obvious addition is probably the 48MP, 5x optical zoom periscope telephoto camera. It joins the 50MP main cam and the 48MP ultrawide.

The Pro also upgrades the selfie camera to a rather exotic, resolution-wise, 42MP snapper. Another upgrade is the better 6.3-inch OLED display. It is still 120Hz and HDR10+ certified, but it has a higher resolution (1280 x 2856 pixels) than the non-Pro, is also brighter and has LTPO tech for more dynamic refresh rate adjustment.

The Pixel 9 Pro also gets 21W wireless charging support with the Pixel Stand, compared to 15W on the vanilla. Shockingly, the battery remains the same across both devices at a respectable 4,700 mAh. That’s a bit less than last year’s big Pixel 8 Pro model, but we can’t hold that against the compact Pixel 9 Pro. The Pixel 9 Pro also gets Ultra Wideband (UWB) support. Last but probably not least, given the big push Google is making towards AI, the Pixel 9 Pro has 16GB of RAM across all of its variants to handle complex models and traditional multitasking.

This year’s Pixels ship in a recycled paper box with a sleeve. There’s a USB-C cable in the box and that’s that.

We also have the €40 official Pixel 9 case, which is available in six colors. It fits perfectly snugly on the phone, especially around the camera bar. Upfront, it isn’t too intrusive. It’s a soft silicone, but it doesn’t turn out your pocket when you take the phone off like some cheap ones do.

Google chose flat to be the theme with the Pixel 9 phones – flat glass front, back, and flat sides. The frame is a polished metal that picks up fingerprints in no time but looks posh and premium.

Our Pixel 9 Pro unit is the dignified and understated black color, officially known as Obsidian.

Compared to last year’s Pixel models, the 9 Pro has a faster Tensor G4 chipset and now ships with a whopping 16GB of RAM. It has an ever-so-slightly bigger display (0.1″) too. The camera system is very similar to last year’s Pixel 8 Pro – but the ultrawide angle camera has a significantly brighter lens, and the selfie shooter sounds like a big upgrade at 42MP.

Stay tuned for our full review.