Pixel 9 Pro Review

A Camera Powerhouse in a Compact Package

After two years, I finally got my hands on the new Pixel 9 Pro. This time, Google delivered a compact 6.3-inch device packed with its signature ultra-high-quality triple camera system.

I switched from my Galaxy S24 to the Pixel 9 Pro, and here’s my in-depth review of its performance.

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Pixel 9 Pro review : Highlights

Here’s what stands out about the Pixel 9 Pro:

• 6.3-inch display
• Triple camera system (ultra-wide, standard, 5x telephoto)
• Mobile payment support, waterproof, wireless charging
• 4700mAh battery
• 7.02 oz (199g)
• $999

The biggest highlight is its unique position as the only Android smartphone with a top-tier triple camera system in a 6.3-inch body. No other phone matches this combo. That’s its core value. However, at $999, it’s pricier than previous Pixels.

In short, the camera defines its worth. If photography isn’t your priority, there’s no need to choose the Pixel 9 Pro.

Pixel 9 Pro Detailed Specs

Here are the detailed specs, compared with the iPhone 16 Pro:

The price, size, and features are nearly identical to the iPhone. Google is clearly aiming to compete head-on with Apple, which explains the $999 price tag. But for a Pixel, that’s a bit too ambitious. Google’s getting cocky, and they might regret it soon.

Pixel 9 Pro Scores 1.2M on AnTuTu

The Pixel 9 Pro scored 1.2 million points on AnTuTu v10. Compared to past GadgetMag tests:

• Galaxy S24: 1,724,895 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3)
• iPhone 15 Pro: 1,599,710 (A17 Pro)
• iPhone 14 Pro: 1,434,765 (A16)
• Galaxy S23: 1,422,544 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
• Pixel 9 Pro: 1,224,046 (Tensor G4)
• Pixel 7 Pro: 880,323 (Tensor G2)
• Xiaomi 13T: 876,047 (Dimensity 8200-Ultra)

Even after two tests, the score didn’t budge much. For $999, losing to last year’s Galaxy S23 is disappointing. Its gaming performance remains weak, so gamers should steer clear.

Google claims the Tensor G4 prioritizes AI, which lowers performance, but the AI features aren’t even that useful. It’s just underpowered. That said, 1.2 million points is plenty for non-gamers, so it’s not a dealbreaker. Still, it stings.

Pixel 9 Pro Battery Life: 22 Hours 4 Minutes

Using PC Mark for Android, the Pixel 9 Pro lasted 17 hours and 39 minutes from 100% to 20% (tested at 110 lux brightness, 50% volume, 60Hz). That translates to 22 hours and 4 minutes to 0%.

Compared to past GadgetMag results:

• Pixel 9 Pro: 17h 39m (60Hz)
• Galaxy S24: 17h 4m (60Hz)
• Zenfone 9: 15h 48m (60Hz)
• Nothing Phone: 15h 27m
• Xiaomi 13T: 15h 7m
• Pixel 7 Pro: 15h (60Hz)
• Pixel 6a: 14h 57m
• Pixel 9 Pro: 14h 55m
• Pixel 7a: 14h 48m
• Galaxy S23: 14h 35m (60Hz)
• Zenfone 7 Pro: 14h 31m (90Hz)
• Galaxy S24: 14h 10m (120Hz)
• AQUOS sense8: 14h 10m
• Xiaomi Pad 5: 14h 6m (120Hz)
• Xiaomi 13T: 12h 31m (144Hz)
• iPhone 13 Pro: 12h 1m (120Hz)
• Nothing Phone: 11h 59m (120Hz)
• iPhone 14 Pro: 11h 30m (120Hz)
• Mate 20 Pro: 11h 21m
• Mi 11 Lite 5G: 11h 19m (90Hz) ← One-day usage benchmark
• Galaxy S20: 10h 44m
• Find X3 Pro: 10h 31m (120Hz)
• Galaxy Note20 Ultra: 9h 35m
• iPhone 12: 8h 13m

It outlasted the previous champion, Galaxy S24, by 35 minutes. This battery life is insane—three days is doable. The lower performance seems to help here. I use it at 60Hz, and the battery barely drains. Impressive.

That said, the Galaxy S24, with a 4000mAh battery (700mAh less), comes close, which is equally remarkable.

Pixel 9 Pro: 4700mAh / 7.02 oz

With a 6.3-inch display and 4700mAh battery, the Pixel 9 Pro weighs 7.02 oz (199g). Adding a TPU screen protector and a glass camera protector brings it to 7.13 oz (202g). With a SPIGEN MIL-spec case, it hits 8.25 oz (234g).

This is shockingly heavy—like wielding a blunt weapon. I miss the Galaxy S24’s lightness.

Design: Classic Pixel Look

The design screams Pixel. The iconic camera bar, with its triple lenses on a black backdrop, is said to mimic Google’s search bar.

It’s arguably the best-looking Pixel yet.

Camera Module: Thickest Ever and Obtrusive

The camera module is notably thick—much bulkier than the Galaxy S24 or iPhone 15 Pro.

It’s noticeably annoying when holding the phone. The Pixel 9 series also has squared-off edges, which look premium but feel slightly uncomfortable in hand. I wish this angular design trend would end.

Interface: Business as Usual

The interface is standard Pixel—no major changes. I’m a bit jealous of the iPhone 16 Pro’s Camera Control button.

The back supports wireless charging, as expected.

Wired Charging: Up to 27W

Wired charging maxes out at 27W, which is underwhelming. I thought it was 45W, but Google’s fine print says “up to 27W with a 45W charger,” which is misleading.

You could claim 60W or 100W with that logic. Shady move for a company like Google.

Pixel 9 Pro’s Tall 6.3-Inch Display

The front features a 6.3-inch OLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. I stick to 60Hz to save battery, as the drain at 120Hz isn’t worth it.

Compared to the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro and 6.2-inch Galaxy S24, it’s taller but has a similar width, making it easy to hold.

Color tones get progressively yellower from Galaxy S24 to iPhone 15 Pro to Pixel 9 Pro.

Fingerprint Sensor: Picky About Screen Protectors

The in-display fingerprint sensor uses ultrasonic tech, which handles wet fingers well and is fairly accurate. However, it’s finicky with screen protectors.

TPU films work fine, but some glass protectors render it unusable, so choose carefully.

Sound Quality: Better Than Galaxy S24, Below iPhone 15 Pro

The audio quality is surprisingly good for a Pixel.

It ranks: Galaxy S25 < Pixel 9 Pro < iPhone 16 Pro. The differences are minor, so it’s not a dealbreaker.

DisplayPort Support: Big-Screen Viewing

The Pixel 9 Pro now supports DisplayPort, letting you connect to a larger screen. I’m not sure where this would be useful, but maybe it’ll come in handy someday.

Pixel 9 Pro’s Unrivaled Camera

I bought the pricey Pixel 9 Pro for one reason: the camera. It’s the only Android phone with a no-compromise camera system in a 6.3-inch body.

Here, I compare it to the iPhone 15 Pro, which Pixel seems to view as a rival (though Apple doesn’t seem to care). I’ll pit it against the iPhone 16 Pro in a future review.

All photos were taken in auto mode, straight out of the camera, to compare quality without tweaking settings.

Standard Camera: Sunny Day Comparison

• Harsh Backlight: The Pixel 9 Pro handled extreme backlight like a champ. The iPhone 15 Pro struggled.
• High-Contrast Scene: The Pixel brightened shadows for a clearer image. The iPhone 15 Pro’s high contrast made the right side harder to see. Also, downtown on a holiday afternoon is swarming with crowds—wild.
• Green-Heavy Scene: Both phones have similar color vibes, but the iPhone’s greens pop more vibrantly.
• Macro Shot: The iPhone leaned too green. The Pixel delivered natural colors.

Standard Camera: Night Shots

• Night Sky: The iPhone underexposed, and a sign in the bottom right blew out. The Pixel kept things bright without blowing out the sign. Impressive.
• Busy Street: Brightness was similar, but the Pixel had slightly more noticeable sign blowout.
• Ultra-Low Light: The iPhone was brighter. The Pixel tends to keep dark areas dark, which isn’t always ideal.
• Night Mode: The Pixel still leans darker.

Pixel 9 Pro Excels at 2x Telephoto in Low Light

Using the standard camera’s 2x telephoto (compared to the Galaxy S24 here), the Pixel’s noise handling was far superior. Its 2x telephoto matches the main camera’s quality.

Ultra-Wide Camera: Sunny Day Comparison

• Blue Sky: The Pixel handled harsh backlight again. Solid performance.
• High-Contrast Scene: The iPhone’s ultra-wide quality dropped sharply, with crushed blacks. The Pixel maintained near-standard-camera quality.
• Green-Heavy Scene: Differences came down to color tuning. The iPhone’s leaves were brighter but had an autumnal vibe.

Ultra-Wide Camera: Night Shots Comparison

• Night Sky: Both performed well, but colors diverged (red for iPhone, blue for Pixel). The Pixel was brighter and controlled light better.
• iPhone Issues: More noise in dark areas, more blowout, and ghosting. The Pixel’s ultra-wide nearly matched its main camera.
• Ultra-Low Light (Non-Night Mode): The Pixel captured more light.

Telephoto Camera Comparison

• 5x Telephoto: The Pixel’s 5x shots are razor-sharp. I hope the iPhone 16 Pro’s 5x matches it.
• Quality Consistency: The Pixel’s 5x telephoto doesn’t lose quality, delivering clean, usable shots.
• Night Telephoto: Noise levels were starkly different. The Pixel’s shots were usable.
• 5x Appeal: The telephoto creates stunning, crisp images.

Pixel 9 Pro’s Camera is Truly Unbeatable

The camera is phenomenal—no complaints. It outshined the iPhone 15 Pro in nearly every auto-mode shot, straight out of the camera. With tweaks, it could be even better.

In daily use, auto mode is king for capturing moments quickly. The Pixel 9 Pro nails this, and at 6.3 inches, it’s unrivaled. Its ultra-wide and telephoto lenses, nearly as good as the main camera, add versatility.

It’s a compact camera killer. Instead of a 1-inch sensor compact like the RX100M7, buy a Pixel 9 Pro.

Pixel 9 Pro Shines in Indoor Photography

It’s especially strong in dim indoor settings, making it ideal for capturing high-quality photos of kids or pets. Despite my gripes, the camera is unbeatable. It’s like a toxic partner you can’t leave because of that one redeeming quality. Frustrating.

That said, compared to the Pixel 8 Pro or 7 Pro, the camera isn’t a huge leap. If you don’t need the 6.3-inch size, there’s no need to upgrade.

Stock OS Quirks: You’ll Get Used to It

Pixel’s stock OS has its quirks, but you adapt. Galaxy’s One UI is undeniably better, but settings aren’t something you tweak daily, so it’s not a big deal.

AI Evolution: Waiting for Gemini Live

Google pushes AI hard, but I don’t use Magic Eraser, post-editing, or the new “Add Me” feature. Features like transcription and translation are now matched by Galaxy, so there’s no AI advantage.

AI as a Tutor and Assistant

I’m holding out for the Japanese version of Gemini Live, already out in English. Current AI isn’t conversational—it’s too wordy and can’t handle interruptions.

I want an AI that feels like a natural tutor or assistant, reading the room and jumping in seamlessly. That future is close.

Wake me when the Japanese version drops. The Pixel 9 Pro’s AI isn’t there yet.

Drawback: Pixel 9 Pro is Heavy—Really Heavy

It’s heavy. At $999, you’ll want a case, pushing the weight to 8.25 oz (234g). It’s also thick—thicker than the iPhone 15 Pro, and the camera bump makes it worse.

The only upside is it doesn’t wobble on a table. The camera justifies it, but it’s far from compact at 6.3 inches.

Trade-In Practices Hurt Brand Value

The worst part is Google’s trade-in scheme. Pre-ordering the $999 Pixel 9 Pro gets you $240 in Google Store credit, effectively dropping the price to $859.

But the Google Store has nothing worth buying—just phones and watches. Lame. Trading in a Pixel 6 slashes the price by $410, sparking a trade-in frenzy that’s turned the Pixel 9 Pro into a resale goldmine. This tanks its new-in-box value on resale platforms.

Pixel is becoming the phone you lose money on if you buy at full price. Google’s killing its own brand value. They don’t care about buyers like me who paid full price. It’s a terrible user experience.

Compare that to the iPhone’s scarcity-driven hype. Google needs to ditch trade-ins and credits and focus on building brand value.

Still, the Camera is God-Tier: A One-of-a-Kind Compact Smartphone

The $999 price is steep, performance is low, and it’s awful for gaming. But the camera and battery life are stellar. The Pixel 9 Pro is a sharply focused device.

Perfect for Compact Camera Enthusiasts

It’s ideal for those who want a 1-inch sensor compact camera in a smartphone or even an APS-C entry-level DSLR replacement. Auto shots from an APS-C DSLR can’t match the Pixel 9 Pro. It’s that good, especially in dim interiors. This is why non-full-frame DSLRs are fading. A pocketable camera that’s always with you is a game-changer. It’s a must-have for parents or pet lovers.

No Reason to Buy Beyond the Camera

For everyone else, it’s unnecessary. Outside the camera, it’s inferior to the Galaxy S23, which you could get for $328.

That’s also Pixel’s strategic win. It’s the only 6.3-inch Android with an unmatched camera. You have to buy it, and I don’t regret it. But it’s frustrating. I’m hoping the next base Galaxy ups its camera game.