Design and Build Quality
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are both really impressive phones with a simple but classy design. When you open the box, you can immediately tell that they’re great quality and very well made. They feel solid and high-end, and their design is very similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which might interest people thinking about switching from an iPhone.
These phones feel really premium and strong, with nicely designed sides that make them easy to hold. The display has thin borders, which gives the phones a sleek and graceful look. They’re also really durable, as shown by various tests that prove Google is serious about making the Pixel line stand out in the competitive smartphone market. Even the case that comes with the Pixel 9 is impressive. It’s soft, doesn’t get smudged or scratched easily, and fits the phone perfectly. The little details, like the metal logo and buttons that blend in seamlessly with the phone, add a touch of luxury to the whole experience.
Display
The Pixel 9 Pro has a 6.3-inch OLED display, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a slightly larger 6.8-inch screen, both with vibrant colors and deep blacks. The screens are super sharp, with a high pixel density with a refresh rate of 120Hz. They also have a special feature that adjusts how fast the screen refreshes, which makes scrolling smooth and helps save battery. The screens are easy to see even in bright sunlight and support advanced picture technologies for watching movies and videos. Plus, the new fingerprint sensor is faster and more reliable than before.
Performance
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are equipped with Google’s latest Tensor G4 chipset, which is designed to provide good performance and efficient power usage. However, it’s not as speedy as the top chips from Samsung, Apple, or OnePlus. These other brands offer faster responsiveness, especially when it comes to handling high-quality images and switching between apps. The Pixel 9’s storage speeds are slower compared to its competitors, which contributes to its slightly laggy performance. Despite this, the Pixel 9 generally works well, thanks to the improvements Google has made in other areas.
Previous Pixel phones had a problem with overheating, which affected performance and made them uncomfortable to use for long periods. The Pixel 9 addresses this issue with a special cooling system that prevents the phone from getting too hot. This means the screen won’t dim when you’re using the phone a lot, the camera can record without any problems, and games run smoothly for longer. In tests, the Pixel 9 Pro showed that it can maintain good performance even under heavy use, better than Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Camera System
The camera on the Pixel 9 is one of its best features. It has three different lenses on the back: one for regular pictures, one for wide-angle shots, and one for zooming in. This means the camera can take all kinds of pictures, from big, beautiful landscapes to tiny, detailed ones. The new Pixel 9 phone takes really great photos in low light, making them look more natural and bright. You can also zoom in really close without the picture getting all fuzzy.
The Pixel 9 smartphone can record really high-quality videos. It can record super sharp 8K videos at 30fps and very smooth 4K videos at 60fps. The front camera also got better at taking pictures in dark places and can fit more people in the photo. This makes it great for group selfies and video calls.
Battery Life and Charging
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL have good battery life, lasting around 6.5 hours for the Pro and 7 hours for the XL. Google’s decision to include a vapor chamber has helped reduce overheating issues from previous models, leading to better performance and battery life. The charging speeds have also improved, with the Pixel 9 supporting fast wired and wireless charging. With the right charger, you can get the battery to 50% in just 30 minutes. It also supports reverse wireless charging, so you can charge accessories like earbuds on the go.
Software and Features
The Pixel 9 comes with the latest Android 14 and some cool features that make the phone experience even better. But there’s a new assistant called Gemini that uses advanced AI and can do more things, although it’s not perfect yet. Google also improved its Magic Editor, which can now make photos look bigger without losing quality. However, it can’t do this with photos of people. Google also made it easier to find and organize screenshots with a new app.
Connectivity
The Pixel 9 has top-of-the-line connectivity options, including 5G for super-fast internet and Wi-Fi 7 for better and more reliable connections, especially in busy places. The Bluetooth 5.3 gives better range and speed for transferring data, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tech is included for more accurate location tracking and better connections between devices. There’s even a mention of possible satellite connectivity in the future, so the Pixel 9 should stay relevant as new tech comes out.
Audio and Haptics
The Pixel 9 has better sound quality with dual stereo speakers that make the audio sound really good. It also supports high-quality audio and adjusts the sound based on where you are to make sure it always sounds great. The phone also has improved vibrations that make it feel nice when you touch the screen or get messages. These little details make using the phone more enjoyable.
Have you learnt about the world’s most powerful tablet and laptop. Read our complete article about the Apple iPad Pro with M4 chip in 2024.
