Google Pixel 9 Pro

Not a flagship performer for raw speed, but this compact phone delivers clever AI features with more to come

- PHILIP MICHAELS

The Pixel 9 Pro represents a departure for Google’s premium smartphone, taking on a new size and several AI capabilities. The price hasn’t changed – it’s still £999 inc VAT, the same as last year’s Pixel 8 Pro (see issue 351, p70)– but since the new version has a smaller 6.3in display, you get less for your money this time around. If you want to stick with the old 6.7in format you’ll have to pay an extra £100 for the “XL” version. You can also opt to upgrade the storage from 128GB to 256GB for an extra £100, and choose from Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel or Obsidian finishes – the latter two of which are also offered in a 512GB variant for £1,219.

Sharp and flashy

While the colour options are slightly different, the overall designs of the Pixel 9 (see p60) and Pixel 9 Pro are very similar, with both models sporting a new rounded-off camera bar on the back – although the Pro has more lenses and sensors.

The other big difference is that the Pixel 9 Pro has a sharper screen, with a density of 495 pixels per inch (compared to 422) and a more flexible refresh rate, capable of scaling all the way from 1Hz to 120Hz.

It’s also terrifically bright. In my testing it didn’t achieve Google’s claimed peak brightness of 3,000cd/m2, but the 1,938cd/m2 I measured is still much brighter than what we’ve seen from the 1,297cd/m2 Samsung Galaxy S24+ (see issue 355, p72) and the 1,027cd/m2 of the iPhone 15 Pro (see issue 351, p62). You’re going to enjoy looking at the Pixel 9 Pro display, and you’re not going to have to squint to make out the finer details.

Pro-level cameras