At this point in time, buying a Google Pixel smartphone is like ordering a steak at a really good steakhouse – you can’t really go wrong (unless you order it well done like a heathen), and whatever choice you make is going to leave you satisfied but significantly lighter in the hip pocket. Google’s latest Pixel 9 range introduces two Pro models – the Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, giving consumers a choice of what size they want of Google’s flagship smartphone. I’ve been using the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 9 for the past week and a bit, and while they’re cracking pieces of technology, the minor improvements come at a further price increase from last year’s models.
To clear up any confusion, the Pixel 9 Pro XL replaces the Google Pixel 8 Pro in terms of sizing, with the 9 Pro XL having a 6.8-inch Super Actua display compared to the 8 Pro’s 6.7-inch screen. However, if you want the Pixel 9 Pro XL hardware but don’t want the size, then the Pixel 9 Pro’s 6.3-inch Super Actua display is the model for you. Both versions come in Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel and Rose Quartz colour options, while the Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch Actua display and is available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen and Peony (pink).
The colours of the Pixel 9 Pros above, the Pixel 9 below
Take note though, these new entries don’t come cheap, with the Pixel 9 Pro priced at $1699 (128GB), $1849 (256GB) and $2049 (512GB) and the Pixel 9 Pro XL $1849 (128GB), $1999 (256GB), $2199 (512GB) and $2549 (1TB). In comparison to the 8 Pro (which itself saw a $400 price increase), the 9 Pro XL is looking at around a $150 price jump, which puts it in the same ball as Apple and Samsung and removes any cost advantage that Google Pixels once had.
The Pixel 8 Pro had one of the best screens I’ve used, but the Pixel 9 Pros have taken it up another level with the Super Actua display producing 2000 nits in HDR and up to 3000 nits peak brightness, which allows for colours to pop even more, and the super responsive screen ensures a smooth and satisfying scrolling experience for the doomscrollers out there. The Pixel 9’s Actua display is 35% brighter than its predecessor with up to 1800 nits in HDR and up to 2700 nits in peak brightness. And to Google’s credit, both devices perform well in sunlight, so your viewing experience will be solid regardless of where you are.
The driving force of the Pixel 9 series is the Tensor G4 chip, which is designed to provide the best AI experience and increase performance across the board. Google’s AI feature Gemini is now your assistant and you can ask it almost anything in Gemini Live, such as what’s a good recipe for roast pork, tips for changing a tyre and what to do if a snake has bitten you. The answers are useful, although some questions, such as planning the perfect date can require a lot of back and forth. The Google Pixel 9 Pros come with a year’s subscription to Gemini Advanced via Google One AI Premium, after which you’ll need to subscribe for $32.99 a month if you want to continue using it.
Gemini is your new best friend
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a gorgeous piece of tech and feels sturdier and more comfortable to hold
Other new AI features include Pixel Screenshots, which will scour your saved screenshots for results based on your search words such as a picture of a blue dress you remember saving, and Pixel Studio, a new app that allows you to generate AI imagery based on text inputs.
To satiate AI’s power needs, the Pixel 9 Pros come with 16GB of RAM (up from 12GB) and the Pixel 9 now has 12GB (up from 8GB). Surprisingly, the Pixel 9 series ships with Android 14, the same as last year’s models. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but the Pixel 9 phones would have been a great stage to show off the next operating system. All models come with seven years of support, which seems to be the norm for Google now which is great to see.
Last year I was impressed by the Pixel 8 Pro’s rounded design, but this year the Pixel 9 models utilise a flat edge surface with rounded corners, a matte glass back and a polished finish metal frame which eclipses the previous look in my opinion. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a gorgeous piece of tech and feels sturdier and more comfortable to hold, even for someone with small hands like myself, and the increased weight makes it feel even more premium. The Pixel 9, on the other hand, has a polished back with a satin finish metal frame that also looks the part. It doesn’t quite have the sex appeal of the Pro but it certainly holds its own. Lastly, I’ve never been big on the protruding cameras at the back of the Pixel phones, however the new rounded design is far easier on the eye than I thought and it fits snugly into a case.
The Pixel 8 Pro design on the left, the Pixel 9 Pro XL on the right
The best thing about the Pixel’s cameras is that it is so easy to take great photos thanks to all the trickery going on in the background
Melbourne in the morning
Speaking of, Google’s biggest drawcard has always been its cameras and the technology used alongside it. As with every generation, the newest Pixel 9 smartphones have received an upgrade to its camera systems (albeit very minor), with the Pro series utilising a 50MP Octa PD wide camera, 48MP Quad PD ultrawide camera and a 48MP Quad PD telephoto camera to capture incredible amounts of detail and colour, and the Pixel 9 a 50MP Octa PD wide camera and 48MP Quad PD ultrawide camera, which yields great results. The selfie camera has received the biggest upgrade, with the Pro now having a 42MP Dual PD camera to ensure you look your best when taking selfies. The best thing about the Pixel’s cameras is that it is so easy to take great photos thanks to all the trickery going on in the background.
AI camera features like Magic Eraser (still my favourite) and Best Take are joined by Google’s latest inclusion – Add Me, which lets users superimpose people into one image providing they take a photo of each person in the same location. It’s useful for when you want to take a group photo but don’t trust passing your phone to a stranger. Furthermore, Magic Editor has been updated to allow users to adjust an image’s framing or to manipulate an image using AI via text prompts, such as turning Olympic Boulevard in Melbourne into a canal.
Like most other features of the Pixel 9 series, the battery life has seen a marginal improvement, with all models promising 24-hour+ tanks. I generally use my phone for a raft of things each day including web browsing, phone calls, YouTube and more, and although the Pixel 9 Pro XL didn’t hit battery saver most days (20%), I still needed to charge it every night. A welcome addition is that the Pixel 9 phones support 45W USB-C fast charging, which will see up to 55% juice in about 30 minutes. The 45W charger is sold separately and can be purchased for $49 when available.
Olympic Boulevard
Olympic Boulevard reimagined
Final Thoughts
Although the step up from last year’s models is minimal, Google has once again taken its Pixel smartphones to another level and they’re easily one of the best phones money can buy. Everyone knows how good the cameras are, and yet they continue to get better, either through hardware improvements or new features that let you do more and be more creative. The screen is one of the best, if not the best, on the market, the new design is gorgeous, the AI features, especially Gemini are just getting started, and the option of a smaller form-factor Pro is a great move. But as the cost of living continues to increase and Google has raised the price again, the Pixel 9 smartphones are suddenly less enticing. That isn’t to say they’re not worth it, but if you’ve got a Pixel 8 series phone it’s hard to recommend as a must-buy unless you can get a cracking trade-in or upgrade deal.
Review unit supplied by the manufacturer
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