We’ve already seen the Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL that stand at the two ends of the spectrum in the new Pixel 9 lineup. Now it’s time to take a deeper look at the Pixel 9 Pro as well. As the name suggests, it offers all the “Pro” features without the “XL” size.
Left: Pixel 9 Pro • Right: Pixel 9 Pro XL
Honestly, we’re surprised that Google managed to fit so much hardware into what’s basically the same size as the regular Pixel 9. The Pixel 9 Pro’s dimensions are the same as its non-Pro sibling. 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mmIt’s quite compact by today’s standards. The Pro model is only one gram heavier, which adds to the weight. 199 gramsIt’s not particularly light, and the Pixel 9 Pro still feels heavy to hold, but it packs plenty of hardware.
Left: Pixel 9 Pro • Right: Pixel 9
So, what does the Pro actually offer on top of the already quite attractive Pixel 9? The most obvious addition is probably the 48MP, 5x optical zoom periscope telephoto camera. This joins the 50MP main camera and 48MP ultrawide.
The selfie camera has also been upgraded in the Pro, which is quite impressive, in terms of resolution it is 42MP. Another upgrade is better 6.3 inches OLED display. It’s still 120Hz and HDR10+ certified, but has a higher resolution (1280 x 2856 pixels) is brighter than the non-Pro, and has LTPO technology for more dynamic refresh rate adjustment.
Pixel 9 Pro is also available 21W Wireless charging support with Pixel Stand, while the vanilla one has 15W. Surprisingly, the battery stays respectably the same across both devices 4,700 mAhThat’s a little less than last year’s larger Pixel 8 Pro model, but we can’t put it up against the compact Pixel 9 Pro. The Pixel 9 Pro also has something new. Ultra Wideband (UWB) Last but perhaps most importantly, given the big step Google is making towards AI, the Pixel 9 Pro has 16GB of RAM across all its variants to handle complex models and traditional multitasking.
This year’s Pixels come in a recycled paper box with a sleeve built in. There’s a USB-C cable in the box and that’s it.
We also have the official Pixel 9 case for €40, which is available in six colors. It fits the phone perfectly, especially around the camera bar. On the front, it’s not too intrusive. It’s a soft silicone, but it doesn’t dig into your pocket when you take the phone out, as some cheaper cases do.
Google has opted for a flat theme for the Pixel 9 phones – flat glass front, back and flat sides. The frame is polished metal which gets fingerprints very quickly but it looks posh and premium.
Our Pixel 9 Pro unit comes in a dignified and restrained black color, officially known as Obsidian.
Compared to last year’s Pixel model, the 9 Pro has a faster Tensor G4 chipset and now comes with 16GB of RAM. It also has a slightly larger display (0.1″) than before. The camera system is the same as last year’s Pixel 8 Pro – but the ultrawide angle camera has a much brighter lens, and the selfie shooter looks to be a big upgrade at 42MP.
Stay tuned for our full review.
