Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Pixel 9 Pro is the “regular sized” pro model in the 9-series lineup this year. In the past, you had to buy the XL version to get all of the Pro features, but now thankfully, for the most part, you get all of the features of the 9 Pro-XL in the 9 Pro, with the exception of the screen on the 9 Pro being a 6.3 OLED (more one-handed friendly). All other features such as the AI, RAM, cameras… all match the larger sibling. Along with the phone you get the standard items including a USB-C charging cable (no charging brick, though), and a sim tool. You can order a 256 gig storage version of this model, but unfortunately, they stuck with 128 gigs as standard for the base price (boo). The 9 Pro feels premium. It’s solidly built and has new more flat/squared edges along with a flat screen. This causes it to resemble “other” phones from the front, but it does look and feel really nice. The back has a camera bump now shaped like an elongated pill form instead of a visor that goes across the entire screen. I like the new version better, though it does protrude a good bit, so I’d suggest having a good case and even a screen protector for the camera lens area to help protect everything. A neighbor had ordered this exact model for their Son and received it before I got mine, and asked me to set it up for them, so I have the benefit of being able to have set up two Pixel 9 Pros – and both setups went without a glitch. Out of the box, you of course want to run any and all updates to the OS and phone to make sure all important tweaks and updates are installed – manually check for all updates in settings, and make sure to update your apps as well once done, then reboot. Once done, note that the screen resolution is auto set at 960 x 2142 pixels, which saves battery, but if you want, you can crank it up to 1280 x 2856 pixels in settings to get a little more resolution and detail, at the expense of a little more battery power being used. This screen is nice and bright with deep blacks and rich, though realistic, colors. In auto brightness mode it can go up to 3000 nits of brightness so you can see it really well outdoors, but even in normal manual brightness you can adjust it to just about any setting. The 120Hz refresh rate keeps things running smooth on screen but it will adjust depending on what you’re doing, to save battery. An ultrasonic fingerprint reader unlocks the phone faster and more accurately than the older versions. The 16 gigs of RAM also helps keep things running smooth. The Tensor G4 processor is really just a minor update over last year’s G3 processor and it’s not among the most powerful, but for most people, it will do everything they need it to do, even with some gaming, and does not overheat like previous versions. A Titan M2 security co-processor helps keep things more secure. Like the larger sibling, the 9 Pro now has three cameras on the back including one that has a 5X optical zoom (yes!), with a new zoom enhance feature that will clear up heavily zoomed photos after the fact. So now, you have the 50 megapixel main camera, an updated 48 megapixel ultrawide camera, and the 5X zoom 48 megapixel tele camera. All of them take really nice shots which are what Pixels are known for. Realistic colors and good dynamic range detail in shadows and highlight areas make these probably the best cameras in many ways of any phone, currently. The newly updated front facing camera is now 42 megapixels and is sharper and has better colors than previous versions. Video can be cranked up to 4K 60 frames per second with a new AI feature allowing you to upload the video and have it sent back at 8K resolution (though this does take a while). The only hiccup is that when using the zoom during video recording, you might see just a small amount of jerkiness as the phone switches lenses for zooms. Nothing major, but of note. The amount of AI features in this year’s 9-series models is crazy-good. The main show stopper is “Gemini Live” which allows you to literally have a conversation with the computer pretty much as you would with any human (scary, but neat). Gemini live has been able to answer all kinds of questions for me from travel inquiries to trivia, help me write the text for an email or letter, and tons more. It will tap into Google’s assistant when needed to control phone features. The ONE thing, though? You only get Gemini “live” for one year when buying a Pro model, and after that, you have to pay monthly for the full live feature. Ok, I really think Pixel buyers should at least get two years of this! Hopefully their policy will extend this as time progresses. Anyway, aside from Gemini, you get a range of other AI features that allow you to put yourself into photos called “Add me” so you don’t have to get strangers to take a photo – just take one of your friends, have one of them step over, and take one of you superimposed into the photo so it looks like you were there in the original. AI also will be able to enhance zooms to make them clearer, clean up night shots, remove unwanted items (or people) from photos with “Magic Editor”, and add backgrounds to photos, and more. “Pixel Studio” lets you create AI images of pretty much anything you want (except people, so far). Live translation helps you communicate if you are with someone who doesn’t speak your language (works pretty well, too), can you can even have the Pixel take notes of calls you are on. If you don’t like AI all of these can be quite a bit overwhelming, but they are really nice to have if you do want them, and they do for the most part work as advertised once you get the hand of how to use them all. Another not quite AI feature is satellite SOS texting, so if you wind up in the boonies and have no cell service, you can use satellites to send an emergency text should you need help. Handy, though I’m not sure if there’s a firm amount of free use time decided yet, and it may become a pay feature after two years or? Battery life is pretty good – better than previous Pixel models. The new processor and other tweaks along with the screen help extend the battery (4700 mah), so it’s definitely a full day phone so long as you don’t use it full throttle the entire day, but if you do, having a portable charger isn’t a bad idea. The charging speed is only mediocre when plugged in, and slightly slower when using wireless charging. It would be nice to see Google up the wattage on charging so it would be faster. Oh, and yes, it’s also a PHONE! People do actually still make calls. This will be subjective to the service you use, where you use it, and many other factors. I’m in Atlanta where generally, cell service is good across the board. I’ve been trying this out inside of a brick ranch style home in the suburbs, and so far, no dropped calls. So the updated modem/antenna seem to be very good on the Pixel 9. Again, your experience may vary, but I can say that on the Pixel 8 I did drop a handful of calls, and using the same service, I haven’t dropped any on the Pixel 9 in the short time I’ve had it, but I’ve called around a bit to test it even deep inside the house. Overall I really like the new Pixel 9 Pro. The size is manageable. The body and design updates are nice, and the screen is very nice. Cameras are of course “Pixel great” as usual for a Pixel, and the AI features though almost overwhelming in choices, are really nice to have and can take your phone use to a new level. Complaints? A couple: The biggest – having only 128 gigs as base storage in 2024 is NOT what I’d like, as I really do think the Pro models should come with 256 gigs as standard. Gemini Live should be at least a two year free service, as I’m just not sure people will be paying a fair amount monthly beyond the free period. Also, the new text SOS feature should be a lifelong feature as it can save lives, and not just limited to two years (as I understand it now). I do recommend the Pixel 9 Pro. It’s a good size, and aside from the issues above, it’s still a very good phone for most. If you need a larger screen and better battery, go with the XL version, but this should suit many users. Thumbs-up.

Returning android from iphone, I like the AI features. One thing I regret is i should've bought at least 256GB.

The AI apps consume way too much storage and Google attempts to break these if you have a rooted device. I don't care for how much smaller the display is on this compared to my Pixel 7 Pro but it does stay cooler and lags less. The camera is nothing amazing to me I don't really see all the fuss about Pixel cameras my Samsung phones have always taken much better photos.

The good: Stunning Display - The Pixel 9 Pro features a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. This combination provides vibrant colors, sharp details, and smooth scrolling, making it a delight for media consumption and gaming. The brightness levels are impressive, ensuring readability even under direct sunlight. Advanced Camera System - Google’s camera prowess continues with the Pixel 9 Pro. It sports a versatile triple camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The Night Sight feature excels in low-light conditions, capturing clear and vivid images. The computational photography algorithms enhance overall image quality, providing excellent dynamic range and color accuracy. The 12MP front camera delivers sharp and well-detailed selfies. Cutting-Edge Gemini AI Assistant - One of the standout features of the Pixel 9 Pro is the built-in Gemini AI assistant. Gemini takes AI assistance to the next level with improved contextual understanding and proactive suggestions. It seamlessly integrates with various apps and services, offering real-time assistance and smart recommendations. Whether it's drafting emails, setting reminders, or providing navigation tips, Gemini is designed to enhance productivity and convenience. Smooth Performance - Powered by the Google Tensor G4 chipset and 12GB of RAM, the Pixel 9 Pro offers robust performance across various tasks. The Tensor G4 chip not only handles everyday applications with ease but also boosts AI-driven features like real-time language translation and on-device voice recognition. Gaming and multitasking are smooth, with minimal lag or stutter. Impressive Battery Life - The device is equipped with a 5000mAh battery that comfortably lasts through a full day of heavy usage. Google’s efficient power management and the Tensor G4’s optimization contribute to this longevity. Additionally, the Pixel 9 Pro supports 30W fast charging and wireless charging, allowing for quick and convenient recharges. Premium Build Quality - The Pixel 9 Pro features a sleek and premium design with a glass back and aluminum frame. The build quality is solid, and the device feels durable in hand. It is available in several stylish colors and comes with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, making it resilient against environmental factors. The bad: High Price Point - With a starting price of approximately $999, the Pixel 9 Pro is positioned in the premium segment of the market. While it offers impressive features, this high price may deter some potential buyers, especially when similar specs are available at lower prices from other manufacturers. Lack of Expandable Storage - One of the major drawbacks of the Pixel 9 Pro is the absence of expandable storage. The device comes in 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB variants, but there’s no option to increase storage via a microSD card. For users with extensive media libraries or who need more storage flexibility, this can be a limitation. Inconsistent Camera Software - Despite the impressive hardware, the camera software can be hit or miss. The automatic HDR sometimes produces overly saturated colors, and the computational processing might not always handle various lighting conditions perfectly. This inconsistency can occasionally lead to less desirable photo results. Limited Customization Options - The Pixel 9 Pro runs a clean version of Android, which is appreciated by many users but may feel restrictive for those who enjoy extensive customization. Compared to other manufacturers' UIs, Google’s Android offers fewer options for personalizing the user interface and settings. Performance Under Heavy Load - Although the battery generally lasts well, intensive activities like 4K video recording or prolonged gaming sessions can lead to faster battery drain. While the 30W fast charging mitigates this issue to some extent, users who heavily use their phones for demanding tasks might need to charge more frequently. Overall: The Google Pixel 9 Pro is a powerhouse of a smartphone, offering a fantastic display, an advanced camera system, and the innovative Gemini AI assistant. Its performance is robust, and the build quality reflects premium craftsmanship. That being said, the high price, lack of expandable storage, and some quirks in the camera software may be potential drawbacks for some users. If you’re looking for a device that excels in AI integration and provides a smooth and refined Android experience, the Pixel 9 Pro is certainly worth considering. Despite a few shortcomings, it remains a strong contender in the flagship smartphone market, blending cutting-edge technology with a top-tier user experience. It's not perfect, but it's an easy 5 stars for me.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro 128GB is the latest (smallish) flagship device from Google, while some very welcome improvements over previous Pixel hardware. For context, this is a “replacement upgrade” for a Google Pixel 7 256GB. Additionally, an iPhone 15 Pro 1TB is being used for comparison. Yes, two phones. That work vs. personal phone life is a real thing. Very excited for this opportunity to try out the latest hardware from Google and looking forward to putting the Google Pixel 9 Pro through it’s paces in the coming months. However, this is just going to be an initial review/impression and not a long term one. There is a conscience effort to use more renewable packaging. The tabs that you tear are paper/cardboard vs the plastic ones that have been historically found in phone unboxing experiences. The Google Pixel 9 Pro is wrapped in a waxed paper. The charging cable is typical with Pixel phones. USB-C to USB-C in white. That’s it really, unboxing experience was nicer on the iPhone 15 Pro. It just felt nicer with more polish and attention to detail with the materials used with the packaging. Not that any of this really matters, but some people enjoy the unboxing experience so take it for what it is worth. The Google Pixel 9 Pro has an incredibly familiar and modern design, it feels so much better in the hand than the Google Pixel 7, and I have mistaken it for the iPhone 15 Pro on several occasions over the past couple of days. It would probably be a good idea to get a different color case to help distinguish the two (Pixel 9 Pro/iPhone 15 Pro). With the rounded edges and a stout metal chassis, the Google Pixel 9 Pro, does feel a wee bit heavier than the iPhone 15 Pro. The phone feels incredibly solid in the hand, with a substantial build that demonstrates quality. The Google Pixel 9 Pro’s dimensions are remarkably similar to the iPhone 15 Pro (with the iPhone being lighter – probably due to the titanium frame/chassis) making it comfortable to hold and use one-handed. It is so awesome that Google has decided to offer a flagship (pro level) phone in a smaller size. Though some users, this one included, would love to see some smaller flagships. Hopefully, at some point in the not so distant future, with solid state battery technology, we can have the familiar battery life we’ve grown accustom, blazing performance, and a more compact form factor. It is also great to see a physical sim card slot on the Google Pixel 9 Pro! Not sure why Apple thinks people do not want these things. Also, the sim card slot, on the Google Pixel 9 Pro, has been moved to a way better location - the bottom of the phone (by the charging port). Great change vs. being on the side of the phone like the Google Pixel 7. The screen on the Google Pixel 9 Pro is a little bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro, and of better proportions to the Google Pixel 7. The Google Pixel 9 Pro gets incredibly bright! Feels like it is twice as bright which is great when using the phone outdoors with bright sun. This helps add a significant boost in drone operation confidence because both hands can remain on the controls and you don’t have to use one hand to shield any glare. The display is stunning, colors are vibrant and blacks are nice and dark! #darkmodefan The camera on the Google Pixel 9 Pro is great, photographs taken in low light look much better than compared to those taken on the Google Pixel 7. Not sure if that is polishing or processing being done on the software side, or if it is on the hardware side of the house. Unfortunately, the low-light photographs taken on the Google Pixel 9 Pro do not look as good as ones taken on the iPhone 15 Pro. Again not sure if Apple just has better on device image processing, for low light images, or if there is a significant difference in the hardware itself. The iPhone 15 Pro is clearly the winner on the low-light photograph front! Where light is adequate the Google Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro are pretty equal to each other. The Google Pixel 9 Pro’s upgrade to 16GB RAM, Tensor G4 Processor make it run laps around the Google Pixel 7. The Pixel 9 Pro is wicked quick and this combination provides lightning-fast performance. It was impressive to see the phone’s ability to handle multiple tasks at once, without noticeable slowdown or lag. However, why do phone manufacturers keep the default storage at 128GB, like seriously, Google, Apple, Samsung, get with it. We the consumer are tired of paying $1000+ for flagships with ONLY 128 GB of on device storage!! Or please consider giving us better bang for the buck to upgrade storage! Google, THANK YOU for including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor on the Google Pixel 9 Pro!!! It is fantastic to not be blinded by a white screen when unlocking the phone in dark environments! It is also wonderful that the finger print sensor now works with privacy screen protectors too! The battery life on the Google Pixel 9 Pro is wonderful. All day battery life the 4700mAh is great to have! Looking forward to seeing how phone manufacturers will design their phones to meet the European Union’s user replaceable battery regulation coming in 2027. It is quite unfortunate that the Google Pixel 9 Pro did not release with Android 15, but suppose it is better to not release something unless it is ready for the big show. Hopefully that Google will really put some work into the desktop mode within AOSP to really compete hard with other flagship Android phones. A Google Pixel with a desktop experience, when plugged into a monitor, with true convergence, would be nothing short of incredible! Samsung has it with DEX, but you can do things with Google hardware (re-locking of the bootloader within developer options) that you just cannot do with any other hardware. An overal B+ for the Google Pixel 9 Pro.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro delivers clever AI features, a super bright display, and the longest battery life yet from a Pixel phone. It’s a device that has been highly anticipated and it seems to have lived up to the hype. The Pixel 9 Pro’s design is a departure from Google’s previous models, with a more compact size. It has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The display is super bright and the overall build quality and design is excellent. Performance The Pixel 9 Pro is powered by the Tensor G4 chipset, with 16GB of RAM. It’s worth noting that the performance of the Tensor G4 chip could be better compared to other flagship phones. Perhaps due to the more compact design, it also runs noticeably warmer than my old phone at times. The camera performance is excellent, partiuclarly when using zoom. It has a 50MP wide lens, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP 5x telephoto lens, lending the camera capabilities that are impressive and flexible. The Pixel 9 Pro comes with an AI-powered photo editing tool called Magic Editor, a tool you can use to enhance the pictures you take on Pixel’s excellent camera, letting you move, remove, and resize people or objects in an image and even change the background. One of the new features in Magic Editor is called Reimagine. This feature allows you to make selections in existing photos to tweak them. For example, you can change not only change the background in your photos, add items to portraits, or even generate a “sombrero with a cat on it”. It’s worth noting that while some edits are handled well, others may not be as successful. For instance, changing the color of clothing or removing sunglasses was not possible in one test. Truth be told I'm not a huge AI guy. I find it's a lot of hype and marketing jargon that really doesn't do what it implies, but overall the Magic Editor and its Reimagine interesting and fun to play with in the little time I've spent with it. It's also worth mentioning that some of the AI features are still a work in progress. The Pixel 9 Pro has a 4,700 mAh battery. The battery life is above average, but it charges slower than my old Ultra. The base storage starts at 128GB. Other options include 256GB, 512GB, and a high-end model with 1TB of storage. The Pixel 9 Pro does not have a card slot for expandable storage, so you’ll want to choose a model that will accomodate your storage requirements. Music Playback supports high-resolution audio, and features an audio boost option called Adaptive Sound, which enhances the audio clarity. Google has made improvements to the call quality on the Pixel 9 Pro series using AI enhancements. This includes support for calls made over narrow-band LTE4. Overall I found the call quality to be reliable. The Pixel 9 Pro’s speaker quality is quite competitive when compared to other flagship phones. While the Pixel 9 Pro does gets many things right, I've also never been so infuriated by a new phone. SmartSwitch simply will not work in moving my data from my S24 Ultra to the Pixel 9 Pro. I've restarted both phones, cleared caches, specified USB transfers, made sure both phones had the latest updates, and so on. No joy -- I will have to move everything manually. This seems rather weird since the Androis OS is developed by Google. Huge fail there. In the end, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is a solid choice for those looking for a compact, high-end phone with excellent cameras, upgraded build quality, and a software commitment that stretches into the 2030s. However, it’s not without its drawbacks, such as the performance of the Tensor G4 chip and the slower charging speed compared to my Ultra. Overall, it’s a device that balances a superlative camera phone and a host of AI-powered capabilities, which you may or may not find useful.

The Pixel isn't perfect at all and actually has some pretty terrible flaws and shortcomings, but is (in my opinion) the best Android phone you can buy IF your looking for pure stock Android with no bloat and crapware included. The Google "Hold for Me" and "Call Screening" work fairly well, are hard to beat, and no other Android (or device) has these features as far as I'm aware. These features are actually hard to live without. That being said here are some purchasing tips... 1. Buy from the Google Store and NOT Best Buy. Best Buy treats their customers horribly and deserve to go out of business. Only use them to look at a product physically, then purchase it online elsewhere! 2. Buy the 128gb version of the Pixel and ONLY purchase when the devices are on sale for $200 or $300 off. These phones are way ridiculously overpriced for what they are; all phones are. On sale though, the 128gb Pixel (Reg or Pro) can be a great deal! 3. Buy the 128gb model!! It's not worth the extra smackers they charge for the models toting higher storage capacities. It's exactly the same phone with a more inflated price tag! Hope this helps someone!!