Google Pixel 9 Pro review: The best small camera phone in 2024
Google has switched up its Pixel smartphones this year by adding a whole new handset into the mix – and it's exactly what I've been waiting for.
Its line-up is now made up of the Google Pixel 9, Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Sitting in the middle of the set, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is the same size as the pocket-friendly Google Pixel 9, but has the same advanced hardware and features as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Finally, a cutting-edge flagship smartphone that isn't the size of a mini tablet! Because of that, it's one of the best Android phones you can buy right now, and it's the best iPhone alternative for most people as well.
Launched at a Made By Google event during the summer and released on September 4, 2024, the Google Pixel 9 Pro has a starting price of £999 for the 128GB model. That price increases the more storage you need, but we have already seen some good discounts.
If you're tempted, be sure to check out the cheapest Pixel 9 deals to find out which retailers are currently offering the lowest prices.
I've been testing the Google Pixel 9 Pro for the last two weeks, and I'm a huge fan. Here's everything you need to know before you buy one.
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: What's new
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is an entirely different smartphone from the Google Pixel 8 Pro, partly because it's a different size and partly because Google has revamped the design, replacing the old camera bar with a new camera island.
The latest Pro model has a 6.3-inch display, as opposed to 6.7 inches before, and it doesn't sacrifice any camera hardware to allow for that. If you're after a big screen, the new Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with a huge 6.8-inch screen.
As well as a new screen, there's an upgraded 42MP selfie camera (up from 10.5MP before), the latest Google Tensor G4 processor, 16GB of RAM (up from 12GB) and a bigger 4,700mAh battery (up from 4,558mAh).
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: Design
Possibly one of the best-looking phones on the market right now, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is small and pocket-friendly, yet it still has a super polished design. I think it looks seriously sleek and modern.
Google has redesigned its iconic camera bar so it no longer stretches across the back of the phone but now sits in the middle as an island. And this phone ditches curves, replacing them with a flat front and back panel and a polished matt metal finish surrounded by a matching glossy aluminium frame.
You can buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro in a selection of colours, including obsidian black, porcelain white, hazel green and rose quartz pink.
Measuring 15.28 x 7.2 x 0.85cm and weighing 199g, the Pixel 9 Pro is Google's first-ever smaller Pro smartphone. For people like me, whose hands are too small for the ginormous handsets at the top of most brands' line-ups, it's a very welcome addition to the series. Also handy is the fact that it's exactly the same size as the Google Pixel 9 so it fits the same protective cases, making finding one you like much easier.
Sturdier than ever, the Google Pixel 9 Pro uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to protect it from knocks and scratches, as well as IP68 water and dust resistance to shield it from the elements.
Around the frame, there's a USB-C port for charging, a SIM card slot, the Google Gemini button (that also locks the screen) and a volume rocker.
To unlock the device, you get the usual choice of pattern, password or PIN, as well as the option to use your fingerprint or facial recognition. I had both fingerprint and face unlock set up – both work quickly, and there was never any delay in getting into the phone.
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: Display
The Google Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display, with a resolution of 1280 x 2856 pixels at 495 PPI. It has a peak brightness of 3,000nits and a variable refresh rate which can drop to as little as 1Hz and reach as high as 120Hz.
But what does that mean day-to-day? During the couple of weeks I've been using the phone so far, I've been struck by its quality. It's crystal clear with bold, vibrant colours and smooth navigation. Composing shots on the camera is a breeze, and even when I've used it outside in bright sunlight, I can see the screen perfectly well. There's no glare making it difficult to use.
The contrast of the display is excellent. I easily watched all sorts of shows and movies from the top streaming services because the on-screen action is always visible.
Reality TV series look true to life like Love Is Blind UK on Netflix. I could still see all the details when the content was darkly lit, like in The Tattooist of Auschwitz on Sky. And brightly-coloured films like Inside Out on Disney+ looked just as fun and vibrant as they do on my TV set.
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: Camera
I'll cut straight to the point of this section – the Google Pixel 9 Pro packs the best camera system you'll currently find in a small smartphone.
Giving it an edge over the Pixel 9, this is the first time Google has packed a telephoto lens into a 6.3-inch handset, giving you 5x optical zoom as well as 30x digital Super Res Zoom. Alongside that, there's a 50MP wide camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera with Macro Focus and a 42MP front selfie camera.
Not only is it made up of solid camera hardware but there are plenty of AI-powered features that help boost the look of photos both pre and post-capture. That includes enhanced HDR+ image processing to deliver better portrayals of skin tone, shadows and textures. Zoom Enhance adds missing details in zoomed-in shots. Reimagine on the Magic Editor lets you add objects to your photos as well as move and erase them.
Add Me gets everyone in the shot, including the photographer. They just need to take the picture and then switch with someone who takes it again – the tool combines the two images so everyone is in the final photo. It can look a little layered, but it'll still come in handy.
The Pro smartphones also get a few extra features that the Pixel 9 devices won't get, like Video Boost, Super Res Zoom Video and 8K video recording.
The Pixel 9 Pro will deliver stunning photos with plenty of depth at any time of day or night. When you're photographing in bright sunlight, there's very little lens flare to worry about, and panoramic photos taken at night are simply unmatched by any other phone manufacturer at the time of writing.
I took pictures of everything from sunsets and landscapes to people and animals, and the Pixel 9 Pro thrived across the board. Images are punchy and realistic, they don't oversaturate nor do they dull down the scene too heavily, and the camera makes the subject pop without disregarding the background. I took some really lovely, detailed photos using the Pixel 9 Pro.
The Google Pixel 9 has the same main and ultrawide cameras, but without the telephoto lens, its zoomed-in shots aren't as detailed. And the screen isn't as bright for composing the shots in the first place. If you regularly capture video footage, you'll be much better off buying the Pixel 9 Pro over the Pixel 9 because you get a few more features.
Video Boost is new to the Pro devices and will only be available on the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. You'll need to make sure it's switched on (because it isn't by default) and after that, all your videos will automatically be enhanced using Google's clever AI superpowers.
Google Pixel 9 Pro sample photos
Take a look at the gallery below to see some examples of unedited shots taken on the Google Pixel 9 Pro.
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: Performance and battery
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is loaded with the latest Google Tensor G4 processor, 16GB of RAM and a choice of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage.
The Tensor processor is built to cope with demanding Pixel features like Live Translate and Call Assist and this latest version is the most powerful yet.
For the most part, the phone ran super smoothly and efficiently. I could flick between a dozen open apps, load large files, play mobile games and use the camera's Magic Editor without encountering any slowing down or heating up. There was an occasional blip where the home screen would freeze for a second or two, but it was rare and didn't impact my overall experience with the phone.
Battery life is good and easily lasted me a day in the office. I did still need to charge it at least once in the evening, especially when I was abroad and using the camera and Google Maps more regularly.
To directly compare it to other smartphones I've tested, I downloaded and ran a video for two hours. In that time, the battery percentage dropped by 12%, suggesting it would have lasted a total of around 17 hours (which is certainly enough for most).
Like the Google Pixel 8 devices, the Pixel 9 Pro has 27W charging. Using my 45W charger it took just under an hour and a half to charge the phone from 0 to 100%.
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: Software
Android 14 is the brain of the Pixel operation at launch, and it's the cleanest version of the operating system there is. Like its predecessor, the Google Pixel 9 Pro will get seven years of new feature drops and system updates, so it'll still be useable and relevant until 2031.
Google is known for its clever software, and the Pixel 9 Pro has more features than ever.
If you're scrolling through Instagram and you see a pair of boots you'd love to buy, Circle to Search will help you find a pair online. If you're on the phone and you need to take note of an address, date, time or price, updates to Call Assist will transcribe the call for you. If you take a screenshot of an event, the new app will be able to add details to your calendar.
Flip to Shhh switches on Do Not Disturb when you turn the handset over. Or, if you're easily distracted by your phone at night, bedtime mode will automatically set it to Do Not Disturb at a certain time each day and make the entire system monochrome, so you know it's time to put it down.
Gemini is Google's new AI assistant, which you can access by long-pressing the power button on the edge of the device. You can use it to plan your calendar, answer questions, find out the name of a song, create to-do lists, find recipes, and so much more. It couldn't always do what I wanted, but it's still very useful and will continuously improve over time.
One new feature I've been using a lot is the new AI Weather Report inside the Google Weather app that sums up the forecast for the day in a sentence or two. It gives you a snappy summary covering the temperature, humidity and how likely it is to rain — it helped me plan my day and my outfit on a few occasions.
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: Verdict
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is one of the most impressive phones in the world right now, and its price tag reflects that. It's expensive but if you're willing to spend the money, it's unlikely to disappoint.
You'll get a bright 6.3-inch screen and a phone that fits in your pocket. The design is sleek and modern. It's fast, the battery lasts all day and it charges quicker than its predecessors. Even better than that, the camera system is the best you'll find in a phone this size and it comes with tonnes of AI-powered features that will be super helpful when you get used to them.
Downsides? Truthfully, there aren't many. Some of the AI features won't get used much, if at all (for example, I can't see myself using Reimagine that regularly). And its performance isn't as good as the most powerful devices on the market like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I'd also love to see the battery last even longer and the charging get even faster, but those are pretty minor criticisms in an otherwise fantastic bit of equipment.
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: Also consider
The obvious alternative is the Google Pixel 9, because it's the same size with an almost identical design and a more affordable price tag. It has slightly a dimmer screen, less RAM, fewer features and no telephoto lens, but it's still a fantastic smartphone.
But, with all that said, the best Samsung phones are worth checking out too.
If you want a smaller smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 will be a great choice because it looks lovely and performs well across the board – although, unlike the Pixel 9 Pro, it has a smaller 3x telephoto lens (as opposed to the Pixel 9 Pro's 5x optical zoom).
Or if you're after the best money can buy, take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra instead. It has one of the top smartphone cameras around and it's a super speedy bit of kit. You'll even get the S Pen stylus included for working and sketching on the go.
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