I’ve been using the Pixel 9 Pro for a while now, and it stands out from the original model in various ways, including a 48MP periscope telephoto camera and UWB support. Its LTPO display is somewhat bigger than the Pixel 9. Aside from these differences, you receive several premium features, such as the latest Tensor G4 processor, a 42MP selfie sensor, and a bright LTPO display. However, the price is really hefty. Priced at ₹1,09,999, it directly competes with the iPhone 15 and 16 series.
Can this phone compete with the iPhones? Can it provide a really premium experience in regular use? These are natural questions. We extensively evaluated the phone’s performance and camera, and in our Pixel 9 Pro review, we will attempt to address those questions.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Price and Availability
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is available in four color options – Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Haze and Obsidian. It is available in India in a single 16GB + 256GB storage option for Rs 1,09,999.
- 16/256 GB: ₹1,09,999
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is available on Flipkart and other offline retailers.
Pros
- Premium Design
- Bright and Color Accurate AMOLED Panel
- Android 15 with 7 Years of Software Update support
- Excells in Camera department
- AI Feature Rich
- Loud Speaker Setup
- Long Battery Backup
- Ultrasonic Fingerprint scanner
Cons
- A Bit on the heavier side
- Lags behind competitors in performance
- Slow Charging Speeds
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Specifications
- Display: 6.3” LTPO OLED, 120 Hz, 3000 Nits peak, 1280 x 2856 pixels, 474 PPI, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- SoC: Google Tensor G4 (1x 3.1 GHz, 3x 2.6 GHz, 4x 1.92 GHz, Mali-G715 MC7)
- RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4X RAM
- Storage: 256 GB UFS 3.1
- Cameras:
Main: 50 MP, 1/1.131”, f/1.7,
Ultra-wide: 48 MP, 1/2.55”, f/1.7,
Telephoto: 48 MP 1/2.55”, f/2.8, 5x optical
Front: 42 MP, f/2.2 - Speakers: Stereo
- Battery and charging: 4,700 mAh, 27W wired PD, 21W wireless, reverse wired & wireless
- IP rating: IP68
- NFC: Yes
- Biometrics: Under display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, 2D face unlock
- Weight: 199g
- Build: Glass back, metal frame
Box Content
Google is committed to sustainability, thus the Pixel 9 Pro is packaged in a recycled cardboard box with a paper cover. This cover shows a picture of the phone in a matching colour. When you open the package, the phone is exposed, which looks really quality but feels a little bulky. The camera bump has changed significantly, and it no longer blends perfectly into the picture. The phone has a glass and aluminium body. The packaging includes a Type-C to Type-C connection and some paperwork, but no other equipment.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Design and Build
The Pixel series features a very premium look. The instant you handle it, you realise it’s not your average phone. The most noticeable difference is the camera. The tastefully integrated camera island has been replaced with a noticeable strip across the center of the back panel. Nonetheless, the Pixel is readily recognisable.
The phone’s colour is another appealing aspect. The matte coating on the back panel contrasts beautifully with the shiny metal frame. The back surface resists fingerprints, but the camera module attracts them like a magnet.
The phone is a little thick, which isn’t a problem in itself, but the camera module protrudes slightly. This causes the phone to wobble when put on a flat surface. However, the centrally situated module preserves a balanced appearance. Google sells cases to reduce this wobbling, but they are expensive at ₹2,940.
The rear panel features a triple camera arrangement, as well as an LED light, laser emitter, and temperature sensor. My review item arrived in a classy light pink, with a superior construction and an aluminium frame. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects both the front and back of the phone, and it has an IP68 rating for water and dust protection.
The left side of the frame is simple, with simply the antennae. The power and volume controls are located on the right. The volume rocker is unusually placed below the power button, reversing the conventional placement. This may take some getting accustomed to. The top of the frame has a noise-cancelling microphone and a plastic insert, while the bottom has the speaker, Type C port, microphone, and SIM tray slot. The phone supports both a single nano-SIM and an eSIM.
The front of the phone, while identical to other smartphones, has a luxury feel. A punch-hole camera resides in the upper centre, while an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is conveniently located in the lower half of the screen. Slim bezels maximise the display, yielding an 87.6% screen-to-body ratio.
Overall, I felt the design to be high-end and appealing. However, without a cover, the phone may be quite slippery. Its thickness (8.5mm) and weight (199 grammes) may bother some, but the weight distribution is good, making it appear lighter than it is.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Display
The Pixel 9 Pro has a little smaller display than its predecessor, at 6.3 inches rather than 6.7 inches. It has very tiny bezels and an excellent 1280 x 2856 pixel resolution. The LTPO panel has a customisable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz and a maximum brightness of 3000 nits. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 offers durable protection.
The display quality is superb, with colours shown vividly and accurately. The dynamic range is likewise impressive, revealing details in both shadows and highlights. There are two colour settings available: natural and adaptive; I generally utilised natural.
Google has considerably improved the brightness capabilities of the Pixel 9 Pro in this edition. The new panel can achieve a peak brightness of 3000 nits and a full-screen brightness of 2000 nits. The addition of LTPO technology in Super Actua mode allows for a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. Smooth Display setting keeps the refresh rate at 120Hz during gaming, providing smooth animations. While navigating through social media or other apps, the refresh rate maintains at 120Hz to provide a seamless experience. However, when static tasks like as viewing images or reading text, it reduces to 1Hz to save battery life.
The Pixel 9 Pro supports HDR10 and HDR10+ but lacks Dolby Vision, which is already standard on many lower-cost flagship smartphones. HDR material may be seen on YouTube and Netflix. In my experience viewing Netflix episodes, the display accurately portrayed dazzling highlights and deep shadows in HDR material.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Speakers
The Pixel 9 Pro has a dual speaker system. The main speaker is positioned on the bottom edge, with the earpiece above the screen acting as a secondary speaker. They work together to create remarkable loudness and provide great audio quality, including clear voices and instrument separation. Even at maximum level, the audio quality is distortion-free. The phone’s haptics are likewise nicely calibrated, with enough stiffness to provide a premium experience.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Software
The Pixel 9 Pro now runs Android 15, which provides a dramatically improved user experience, including various new features and AI capabilities. Pixel phones run the cleanest version of Android, and the firm guarantees an industry-leading seven software upgrades. Currently, only Google and Samsung provide such long-term support, assuring that your phone receives all software and security upgrades through 2031. It also offers a totally bloatware-free experience, with no pre-installed apps but Google’s own.
The phone initially launched with Android 14, but has now been upgraded to Android 15. This update includes a multitude of AI capabilities intended to help with everyday activities and improve the photographic experience. However, the interface and look remain unchanged, so you may not notice the upgrade.
Private Space differentiates out from the other new features in terms of security. It allows you to set up a distinct, password-protected area within your phone where you may conceal apps and documents. However, accessing this area necessitates a different sign-in and re-downloading programs previously installed on the phone. This function could be made more user-friendly.
In addition, there is a Theft Detection function that automatically locks the screen if someone attempts to steal your phone, restricting access to your sensitive information.
The camera also has AI functions such as Pixel Studio and Magic Editor. These enable you to create images from text prompts and alter photos by changing backgrounds and other settings. I had a good time experimenting with them during my evaluation, but they may not be necessary for regular use. Other AI-powered camera capabilities include AI-Powered Zoom, Face Unblur, and Real Tone.
The Live Translate function allows you to translate and read content in over 48 languages by pointing the camera at it after tapping the lens symbol in the Google search bar. Smart Suggestions can assist you when writing emails, Adaptive Battery optimises battery consumption by learning your usage patterns, and Assistant Routines can automate tasks based on your daily routine, such as displaying weather information and calendar reminders after turning off your morning alarm.
Apart from these, calling capabilities such as Call Screen and Voice Typing are presently unavailable in India.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Fingerprint sensor and Face ID
The Pixel 9 Pro has Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which is known for providing improved security and speed when compared to optical options. In reality, it functions wonderfully, demonstrating reliability and accuracy. Furthermore, the phone includes face unlock as an extra layer of protection. Throughout my tests, this function reliably and quickly opened the smartphone. However, it is worth mentioning that it does not provide the same level of security as Apple’s FaceID.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Performance
The Pixel 9 series is powered by Google’s Tensor G4 processor. This octa-core CPU includes a single high-performance Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.1 GHz, three Cortex-A720 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz, and four efficient Cortex-A520 cores clocked at 1.92 GHz. While it uses the same Mali-G715 MC7 GPU as the Tensor G3, it now runs at a faster 940Hz. The Pixel 9 Pro has 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a variety of storage configurations, including 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.
In regular use, the Tensor G4 works adequately. The phone seems smooth and responsive when browsing the internet, going through social media, taking photographs, navigating, and moving between applications. Gaming performance is also shockingly impressive. Unlike the Tensor G3, which was plagued by concerns of overheating, the G4 stayed pretty cool during my testing. Even after 30 minutes of play, it just became mildly heated, which is completely typical. While its performance isn’t nearly as good as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it can still handle demanding games.
However, benchmark testing reveal a different reality. The Pixel 9 Pro falls well behind current flagship phones in benchmarks such as AnTuTu. The graphics performance of its Mali-G715 MC7 GPU is similarly mediocre, as indicated by its lower 3DMark test scores. For example, the Pixel 9 Pro has an AnTuTu score of 908,899. In comparison, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Realme GT 7 Pro scored 2,721,980, while the more cheap Oppo Find X8 with MediaTek Dimensity 9400 earned 2,314,936.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Cameras
The Pixel 9 Pro features an excellent camera setup that produces incredibly gorgeous photographs. Let’s go into the specifics. It includes a 50MP primary camera with a Samsung GNK sensor, an f/1.68 aperture, optical image stabilisation (OIS), and laser detect autofocus (LDAF). This is supported by a Samsung GN2 sensor for improved picture processing. There’s also a second 48MP Sony IMX858 ultrawide sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and macro capabilities, as well as a third 48MP Sony IMX858 5x telephoto camera with an f/2.8 aperture, OIS, and 30x digital zoom. The camera system can also capture HDR, Cinematic Blur, and 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps).
For selfies, the Pixel 9 Pro has a 42MP Sony IMX858 sensor with autofocus, an f/2.2 aperture, and 4K video recording at 60 fps.
Excellent photography is dependent on the integration of hardware and software, and the Pixel 9 Pro succeeds in this aspect. Daytime photographs are stunning, with brilliant colours, a wide dynamic range, and well-defined shadows and highlights. Skin tones in images taken with the main camera seem very natural. (See the examples below.) When utilising the 2x zoom, the image is cropped from the primary sensor, which results in a minor loss of clarity.
Low-light performance is typically satisfactory, however details may become slightly faint. While the camera captures photographs appropriate for social media, it falls short of the remarkable low-light capabilities provided by competitors such as the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 Ultra, especially given its price.
Another standout feature is the 48MP ultrawide camera, which captures photographs in stunning detail. Even in low light, this camera captures brilliant, well-exposed images. The macro mode, which is engaged automatically when the camera is taken near to a subject, delivers good detail, however there may be some blurriness in certain regions.
The 48MP 5x telephoto camera delivers superb detail and clarity. However, it would be inaccurate to assert that it is the finest in its category. Colours and dynamic range are normally acceptable in telephoto photographs, although images might occasionally seem soft. Images recorded with 10x to 30x zoom are surprisingly nice, with low noise.
Portrait mode is another advantage, resulting in photographs with natural skin tones and a nice background blur that effectively isolates the subject.
The camera also has features like Action Pan, AI Unblur, and Add Me. Action Pan is designed to catch moving things sharply while blurring the background. In my experience, this feature had uneven outcomes. While one photo worked nicely, the rest failed to catch the subject clearly. The Add Me function combines distinct group and individual images smoothly.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review : Battery Life and Charging
The Google Pixel 9 Pro has a 4700mAh battery with 27W wired and 21W wireless charging capabilities. However, no charger is included in the box. For best charging, try purchasing a Google charger separately or using a charger from another Android smartphone.
Despite our initial concerns about the 4700mAh battery’s lifespan, it easily powered through a full day of heavy use, including photography, video streaming, and benchmark testing. Even for normal chores like phoning, social media surfing, and WhatsApp messaging, I found no reason to recharge during the day. However, the battery level had dropped to 10% by nightfall. Under typical conditions, it should last a little more than a day.
The Pixel 9 Pro offers 27W fast charging, however we choose to utilise a 68W charger. This resulted in a 30-minute charge from 0 to 31%, followed by a one-hour and 31-minute charge to 100%.
Should you buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro?
- Design and Build: 8/10.
- Display and Speakers: 9/10.
- Software: 8.5/10.
- Fingerprint sensor and Face ID : 8/10.
- Performance: 8.5/10.
- Camera: 8.5/10.
- Battery Life and Charging: 8/10.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is an improvement on the Pixel formula, including a gorgeous display, a powerful Tensor G4 CPU, and an outstanding camera system that excels in low-light shooting. The redesigned look feels expensive, and the software experience is still smooth and easy. While the battery life might be improved, the Pixel 9 Pro is an excellent choice for Android lovers looking for a premium experience.
