Pixel 9 Professional evaluate: A pictures powerhouse

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL are pictures powerhouses with a superb, iPhone-like design that even probably the most hardcore Android followers will doubtless admit appears and feels nice.

Did I anticipate to be this blown away by the photographs and video Google’s newest flagship can seize? No, undoubtedly not, particularly since there aren’t notable digital camera {hardware} upgrades over final yr’s Pixel 8 Pro. By glorious, surprisingly true-to-life post-processing, I discover I desire the look of the Pixel 9 Professional’s photographs over even these taken with Apple’s iPhone 15 Professional, which had been my earlier favourite digital camera array. Because of surprisingly useful AI photo and video features, Google’s Pixel 9 Professional options what I might confidently say is my favourite smartphone digital camera ever.

Add within the clearly Apple-inspired design with its easy matte rear, minimized bezels, and tasteful colour choices, you’ve a formidable all-around smartphone bundle. After all, you can argue that nobody wants a Pixel 9 Professional sequence smartphone this yr as a result of the bottom Pixel 9 is an excellent machine that provides options sometimes reserved for higher-end smartphones, and I might wholeheartedly agree with this attitude — until you are actually into capturing photographs and movies along with your cellphone. If that is you, then the Pixel 9 Pro’s further value is price its dearer price ticket. Its cameras are actually that good.

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 obtainable beginning September 4th.

Professionals

• Wonderful AI-powered pictures options
• Nice-looking design
• Easy software program that is simple to navigate

Cons

• Costly
• Some AI options are a bit terrifying
• Sides aren’t matte

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Value, 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 contains 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. Each shows embody a 1-120Hz variable refresh charge 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 lengthen as much as 1TB. This yr, RAM has been upgraded to 16GB from final yr’s 12GB. The smartphone additionally options Google’s Tensor G4 chip. Digital camera specs embody an f/1.68 50-megapixel essential broad shooter, a touch upgraded f/1.7 48-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera, and an f/2.8 48-megapixel telephoto shooter able to as much as 5x optical zoom. The entrance digital camera has been upgraded to an f/2.2 42-megapixel shooter from final yr’s f/2.2 10.5-megapixel lens.

• 	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 charge, 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 digital camera	42-megapixel f/2.2, 103-degree FOV selfie digital camera	42-megapixel f/2.2, 103-degree FOV selfie digital camera
  Rear digital camera	50-megapixel f/1.68 broad digital camera / 48-megapixel f/1.7, 123-degree FOV ultrawide digital camera / 48-megapixel, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom, as much as 30x Tremendous Res Zoom telephoto digital camera	50-megapixel f/1.68 broad digital camera / 48-megapixel f/1.7, 123-degree FOV ultrawide digital camera / 48-megapixel f/2.8, 5x optical zoom, as much as 30x Tremendous Res Zoom telephoto digital camera
  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 velocity	As much as 55% in half-hour with 45W cost	As much as 70% in half-hour with 45W cost
  IP Score	IP68	IP68
  Value	$999	$1,099
  Safety	Fingerprint Unlock, Face Unlock, Titan M2 safety coprocessor	Titan M2 safety coprocessor, Fingerprint Unlock, Face Unlock
  12 months of launch	2024	2024

Pixel 9 Professional construct and design

An iPhone-inspired look even probably the most hardcore Android followers will like

I lined it extensively in my Pixel 9 review, however I am an enormous fan of the look of this yr’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’d have most well-liked a extra premium all-matte-everything look that is in keeping with the iPhone 15 Professional. This not solely feels higher once you run your fingers over it but additionally repels smudges and dirt higher.

Sadly, Google has ditched the visor for a sprawling digital camera bump that appears prefer it was dropped on the rear of the machine. It is not a deal-breaker, particularly when you plan to place the machine in a smartphone case, however it’s a step again from the identifiable rear digital camera visor featured in final yr’s Pixel 8 Professional.

General, the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL are very solid-looking smartphones that provide a stage of refinement immediately noticeable from the second you decide it up. Pixel units have all the time felt fairly good, however the Pixel 9 Professional sequence takes issues to a different stage.

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 is an honest measurement, and in my time with the machine, it hasn’t felt unwieldy. Individuals like large telephones, so it is smart for Google to supply an even bigger possibility. However I desire the smaller 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Professional (it is simply simpler to make use of with one hand). After all, it will come right down to your private smartphone measurement choice.

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Pixel 9 Professional show

A shocking, high-end show that appears nice underneath almost all lighting circumstances

The Pixel 9 Professional’s show is beautiful, surpassing the vibrancy of Apple’s iPhone 15 Professional display and, in some circumstances, even Samsung’s Galaxy S24 sequence, by a big margin. The Pixel 9’s display is greater than vivid 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.

The show appears nice, however at instances, I’ve really discovered it too vivid, particularly when viewing content material underneath darkish circumstances, forcing me to show the brightness down. Alternatively, I respect the added illumination when utilizing the machine exterior underneath direct daylight. You may also clearly see how a lot brighter the Pixel 9 Professional show is in comparison instantly with the Pixel 9’s display.

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 photographs, 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 know-how. To me, this simply speaks to how good all of the shows in Google’s Pixel 9 lineup are.

As a detrimental 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, however it’s price mentioning. That stated, I do not assume it is a widespread problem with the Pixel 9 Professional show and it is most likely simply unhealthy luck on my half.

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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 digital camera

This yr’s key promoting level is great digital camera 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 digital camera options the higher-end telephones supply. First off, the Pixel 9 Professional XL contains a f/2.2 48-megapixel telephoto lens with as much as 5x optical zoom. These are the identical specs as final yr, and total, photos shot with this digital camera look stellar. I nonetheless desire 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 yr. The visible improve remains to be considerably minimal, however clips look noticeably clearer generally. The function is irritating to activate because it requires you to activate “Video Enhance” and swap to 5x optical zoom earlier than zooming into no matter digital zoom you need, however it works properly and stays spectacular. As you possibly can 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 Enhance additionally stays spectacular, significantly in terms of smoothing out panning, which remains 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 technique to activate Video Enhance completely, although I perceive why there is not provided that the function requires each file to be uploaded to Google’s servers. Like final yr, movies can typically get caught changing to Video Enhance and take upwards of half-hour to course of, particularly when you use the Pixel 9 Professional line’s new 8K upscaling (it is a welcome addition, however I haven’t got a lot use for 8K footage). This implies when you’re trying to put up one thing shortly, Video Enhance usually is not an possibility.

Sticking with getting nearer to topics, this yr “Zoom Improve” means that you can enhance the standard of photos shot with digital zoom. Just like Tremendous Res Zoom Video, the adjustments are delicate however nonetheless noticeable, giving zoomed photographs extra definition and an total barely clearer image that is usually 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 when you’re into pictures, you will discover them.

On the optical zoom facet, photos are clear, crisp, and spectacular, significantly at 5x, which I discovered very helpful on a latest crusing journey. Nonetheless, I’ve skilled camera tilt at 5x zoom that causes photos to be considerably off-kilter. I have been fixing this with a fast crop, however I am assured Google will resolve this problem within the coming weeks with a digital camera app replace. Together with the already talked about telephoto lens, the Pixel 9 Professional sequence options an f/1.7 50-megapixel broad digital camera that is the identical as final yr’s major digital camera.

It nonetheless snaps nice photographs that strike a steadiness 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 couple of years (check out the sky in iPhone 15 Professional photographs, and you will see what I imply). Of all of the flagship smartphones presently obtainable, the Pixel 9 sequence provides probably the most true-to-life photographs, which is a bit of ironic given the tech large’s emphasis on AI this yr, bringing into query what {a photograph} even is anymore.

Pixel 9 digital camera 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 vital factor to notice is that the Pixel 9 Professional’s AI digital camera options don’t work when you’ve the primary shooter set to 48 megapixels as a substitute 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 photographs within the Pixel 10 Professional sequence nonetheless.

Talking of 48-megapixel photographs, I do not discover the necessity to snap them fairly often until I intend to crop the picture not directly. The shutter can also be nonetheless a bit slower when utilizing the complete sensor, making it tough to quickly take photographs, which was a problem whereas snapping footage on the Toronto Worldwide Airshow, forcing me to largely stick with 12-megapixel photos. It was nonetheless doable to shortly snap the photographs I needed with the 48-megapixel sensor, however I wanted to be very intentional with my photographs.

There’s additionally the f/1.7 48-megapixel ultra-wide shooter that provides a minor improve over final yr’s ultra-wide. It snaps respectable photographs, however past the occasional macro shot, I do not discover myself utilizing the ultra-wide digital camera fairly often. And at last, there’s the f/2.2 42-megapixel front-facing digital camera that snaps clearer footage than final yr’s selfie shooter. I am not an enormous selfie individual, however the photographs I shot are clear, with even publicity all through. I usually discover that selfie cameras blow out a picture’s highlights, and that is not the case with the Pixel 9 Professional sequence’ front-facing digital camera.

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Pixel 9 Professional XL efficiency

The Tensor G4 benchmarks underneath 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 underneath 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 cellphone’s bigger measurement. Nonetheless, the Tensor G4 just isn’t that a lot of a bounce over the Pixel 8 Professional when it comes to uncooked efficiency. For individuals 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 under 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.

Until you are the definition of a smartphone energy person, you will discover only a few points with the Pixel 9 Professional’s efficiency even when you’re an enormous multi-tasker, due to its ample 16GB of RAM. Smartphone chips have been overkill for years, and the Pixel 9 Professional XL isn’t any exception. Battery life lasts properly into the late night with reasonable use, just like my expertise with the Pixel 9. Provided that the Pixel 9 Professional XL contains a bigger 5,060 mAh cell versus the Pixel 9 Professional’s 4,700 mAh, the latter machine provides 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 are taking. Right here’s use it finest.

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 photos. There’s additionally Screenshots, a superb app that makes use of AI to floor related screenshots, and extra.

Reimagine’s guardrails are fairly unfastened. With creative prompts, you possibly can simply trick it into creating off-putting photos, and in some circumstances, these AI-edited photographs look very convincing. Do not get me flawed, they’re usually ridiculous-looking and clearly pretend, however that is not all the time the case (take a look at that image under of a submarine in Lake Ontario). Alternatively, Pixel Studio is a foolish AI picture generator in keeping with Meta AI or OpenAI’s DALL·E 3 that works fairly properly.

My key concern is that these photos 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 photos much more frequent 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 yr with the acquisition of a Pixel 9 machine and $20/month after), work shockingly properly. Though 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 an enormous fan of the Pixel’s Android pores and skin. It is easy, easy, and clear. Actually, I discover it simpler to navigate than iOS 18. Apple’s cellular working system has develop into more and more sophisticated over the previous couple of years, and Android 14 operating 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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Do you have to 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 when you’re into pictures, the Pixel 9 Professional sequence has rather a lot to supply. It captures my favourite smartphone photographs but, providing a extra true-to-life steadiness that sits firmly between Samsung’s intense saturation and Apple’s more and more inconsistent, out-there tackle photos and movies. That is in stark distinction to the assorted picture and video AI options supplied by the Pixel 9 Professional sequence, together with Zoom Improve and Tremendous Res Zoom Video, which I discovered significantly helpful.

That stated, I am nonetheless involved about Reimagine’s broader implications, given how simple it’s to make use of and the way convincing the outcomes might be typically. Moreover, I have not discovered a technique to combine Gemini into my life, regardless of its spectacular capabilities. General, the Pixel 9 Professional line provides considered one of Google’s most full smartphone packages in years, however when 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