The Google Pixel was all the time destined to be the iPhone for Android customers. This yr, that perception feels stronger than ever, with the brand new Pixel 9 collection coming in commonplace, Professional, and Professional XL flavors and costs beginning at $799, $999, and $1,099, respectively.
Additionally: Every part introduced at Made by Google 2024
If the pricing mannequin and configurations do not trace at an Apple-esque playbook, wait till you see and really feel the telephones in particular person. I spent an intimate morning with the most recent gadgets forward of right this moment’s Made by Google occasion, and the brand new design language — which favors flattened edges, pastel colours, and ultra-thin bezels — typically jogged my memory of the iPhone 15 Professional that was tucked in my pocket.
To be clear, that is a very good factor, and I am not alone in considering that Google ought to construct a cellphone that is extra comfy to carry, exudes premium, and appears much less like Cyclops from X-Males. After testing the three Pixel 9 fashions, this is my fast tackle every as you take into account whether or not they’re well worth the improve.
Google Pixel 9 will likely be a sleeper hit
The vanilla Pixel 9 shouldn’t be as flashy as its Professional siblings, however at $799 ($100 greater than final yr’s Pixel 8), Google did give it important upgrades throughout the board. Taking place the checklist, the modifications embrace a bigger, brighter show that ramps as much as 2,700 nits, a bigger 4,700mAh battery, 12GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, an improved 48MP ultrawide sensor, and Google’s new Tensor G4 chip.
Additionally: The $799 Pixel 9 could also be Google’s sleeper hit this yr. This is why
These are all flagship-grade options, ones you’d sometimes discover on a cellphone that prices lots of of {dollars} extra, however I might wager that many purchasers will take into account the Pixel 9 for one different cause: colour choices. I commend Google for being a little bit extra formidable with its industrial design this yr, coating the flattened type issue with pastel hues that may be finest described as refreshing. This can be the primary time I ever thought of choosing up a pink-colored cellphone to make use of every day — that is how good “Peony” seems to be in particular person.
The Pixel 9 can also be the identical measurement because the Pixel 9 Professional, with a 6.3-inch show that makes it comfy to carry and navigate one-handedly. It would not have the identical LTPO panel because the Professional, which means the refresh charge will not drop under 60Hz to scale back animation load and, due to this fact, cut back battery consumption, however the 4,700mAh capability ought to preserve the Pixel 9 operating for a full day.
Additionally: I am a diehard Pixel person, however I am contemplating a change for 2 causes (and I am not alone)
Lastly, the 48MP ultrawide digicam with autofocus looks like an improve that customers will not admire till they use it. A sharper and bigger sensor means that you could now pull in additional colour and element when capturing scenic views, and there is additionally the advantage of higher macro photographs.
Google Pixel 9 Professional will get an XL measurement (and extra complicated)
Because the very first Pixel, Google has all the time launched its smartphones in pairs: one in a daily, market-appropriate measurement and one other that is a couple of point-inches bigger. In reality, the unique Pixel had an “XL” mannequin, which the corporate later changed with the “Professional” branding. That additionally meant that the smaller, non-Professional cellphone typically missed out on flagship digicam options, show upgrades, and different software program advantages.
Additionally: I went hands-on with Google’s $1,799 Pixel 9 Professional Fold, and I am prepared to modify from Samsung
This yr, Google is combining the very best of each worlds, providing a Pixel 9 Professional XL mannequin that meets the wants of big-screen buffs whereas additionally retaining a smaller Professional variant that fields the identical digicam configuration and have set. The latter is a significant win for customers who need flagship options with out the usually uncomfortable measurement. This additionally means there at the moment are 5 Pixel cellphone fashions to select from, together with the budget-oriented Pixel 8a and bleeding-edge Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
In addition to measurement choices, paying up for the Pixel 9 Professional additionally will get you 16GB of RAM (as an alternative of 12GB on the Pixel 9), as much as 1TB of storage, a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a extra sensible 42MP front-facing digicam. From my demo, what impressed me essentially the most with the front-facing digicam wasn’t the decision and element however how a lot of my environment it might body. With a 103-degree field-of-view, the Pixel 9 Professional could be the simplest cellphone to take group selfies and scenic portraits with.
Additionally: Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold: 4 finest options that make it the foldable cellphone to beat
Different digicam upgrades embrace the flexibility to course of Tremendous Res Zoom in video, which suggests higher element when capturing distant topics, and Video Enhance, which upscales content material to 8K — nice for videographers or professionals who need to clip out high-res pictures.
Google is bundling a yr’s value of Google One AI Premium Plan with the Pixel 9 Professional fashions, which incorporates entry to the most recent Google AI options like Gemini Reside and 2TB of cloud storage. After all, how useful that is relies on how a lot you depend on Gemini to summarize, create, and interpret data. After demoing most, if not all, of the brand new software program options coming to the Pixel, which embrace Add Me, Pixel Screenshots, Name Abstract, and Gemini Reside, there are definitely sufficient instruments that make the Pixel 9 Professional worthy of your consideration for the AI alone.
