Google Pixel 9 Pro review: The best compact smartphone in 2024?

Since the Pixel 6 series There was both a regular and a Pro model. The latter was not only better equipped, but also always a good bit bigger. With the Google Pixel 9 Pro, Google is now taking a different path, which I personally welcome extremely.

It is exactly the same size as the normal Pixel 9 and yet better equipped. To be more precise, it is a Google Pixel 9 with the features of the more expensive and larger Pixel 9 Pro XL. So the signs are very good that this is currently one of the best compact smartphones on the market. You can read whether this is really the case and what its strengths and weaknesses are in this review.

Conclusion on the Google Pixel 9 Pro

In my opinion, Google has done (almost) everything right with the Google Pixel 9 Pro. They have managed to bring an almost perfect, handy flagship smartphone to market without any compromises. The design is beautiful and high-quality, the display is extremely bright, it gets 7 years of updates, the performance is strong, the battery lasts a long time, the cameras are great, the fingerprint sensor has finally been improved and the vibration motor is second to none. For me, it is currently the best (Android) smartphone on the market. Almost everything is just right here.

What I don't like so much, however, is the angular frame, the color matching of the cameras and the extremely slow battery charging times. The latter are not worthy of a flagship - especially for the price offered. I would wait a little longer before buying it. I think 800 to 900 euros would be fair for what it offers.

We would like to thank Google Austria for providing the test device!

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Haptics & Design – my highlight with a catch

Let's start this review with my absolute highlight - the design. With dimensions of 152,8 millimeters in height and 72 millimeters in width, the Google Pixel 9 Pro fits perfectly into the list of compact smartphones. This is definitely something special, as smartphones have become increasingly larger in recent years and this trend will probably continue in the future. There are of course other compact smartphones on the market, but the Pixel 9 pro has an advantage over the competition: Due to its compact size compared to the absolute top model – the Pixel 9 pro XL - not slimmed down!

In terms of thickness and weight, the 9 Pro doesn't really stand out from the crowd. It weighs 199 grams and is 8,5 millimeters thick. Due to the angular frame, it even looks a little thicker than it actually is. Compared to the Google Pixel 8 The biggest differences are definitely in the frame. While the frame of the predecessor was nicely ergonomically rounded, the successor now has an angular frame - similar to the iPhones. I find angular frames much nicer from a purely visual perspective, but they are less practical. They are simply sharp-edged, which makes the feeling in the hand worse. The 9 Pro doesn't feel bad or even uncomfortable in the hand, but the Pixel 8 just feels so much more comfortable.

But that's all the criticism! Apart from the shape, I have nothing but praise for the frame. It seems extremely robust, looks beautiful and is made of high-quality metal with a high-gloss finish. The back is made of matte glass, which feels high-quality and beautifully "soft". In terms of colors, you can choose between "Obsidian", "Hazel", "Rose Quartz" and "Porcelain". I tested the latter. This is a rather unusual color that I can't really describe. Sometimes it looks white, sometimes a bit gold and sometimes a bit sandy. The frame is colored gold in this color. I personally think the color is quite chic. The triple camera is in the upper third and unfortunately protrudes clearly from the housing. However, when lying on the table, the smartphone does not wobble when operated. The front is almost entirely filled with the display. All that remains is a thin symmetrical edge and a recess for the front camera.

Excellent workmanship

As already mentioned, the Google Pixel 9 Pro makes a very stable and robust impression. Nothing wobbles or creaks and the transition from the frame to the front and back is cleanly finished. The buttons on the right side are easy to reach, have a good pressure point and sit rock-solid in the casing. This is exactly how a smartphone costing over 1.000 euros should feel.

Display – super quality

The front is dominated by a 6,3-inch OLED display with an elongated 20:9 aspect ratio. It has a razor-sharp resolution of 2.856 x 1.280 pixels, so that no individual pixels can be seen. In addition, the panel supports a smooth refresh rate of 120 Hertz, which makes scrolling and all animations appear as smooth as butter.

Picture: TechnikNews

Colors are reproduced as naturally as possible in "Natural" mode. I do think the screen is calibrated a little too warm, but that's a matter of taste, of course. I like the viewing angle stability even better, which I think is one of the best currently available. Even with extreme sideways tilt, colors are hardly distorted at all. The maximum brightness is simply great and is also one of the best. Even in direct sunlight, I was able to read the content on the screen without any problems.

Software – 7-year update support

The software used is Material You based on Android 14. As is typical for Google, the software is very simple and clear. I'm sure that most people will like it. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan, which is mainly due to the control panel. To adjust the brightness, I have to swipe down twice until the brightness control finally appears. I also still don't understand why Wi-Fi and mobile data have to be in one field and why some fields have to be opened first so that I can activate or deactivate them - the best example is Bluetooth. To deactivate Bluetooth, I first have to click on the control panel and only then does a small slider appear that I have to click on to deactivate Bluetooth. It's just unnecessarily cumbersome.

On a positive note, I would like to mention the good always-on display and the dynamic display on the lock and home screen. The update support can also only be praised to the skies, because the Google Pixel 9 Pro will be provided with updates for an impressive 7 years. Currently, only Samsung can keep up with this. Hats off to Google!

Processor – not the strongest, but…

Under the hood is Google's own Tensor G4, which is manufactured using the energy-saving 4-nanometer process. You also get 16 GB of RAM and a choice of 128, 256 or 512 GB of flash memory, which you cannot expand. Google has made a significant increase in RAM compared to last year, which I find very commendable. The RAM management is also really good. The same goes for everyday performance! In benchmarks, the Tensor G4 does not perform as well as its competitors from Qualcomm and Apple, but that doesn't really matter as long as everyday performance is good. Apps start and close incredibly quickly and I didn't notice a single stutter. It runs nice and consistently and smoothly. Even complex apps don't cause the Pixel 9 Pro any problems and it doesn't get unusually warm either.

Battery – long running times despite compact size

Inside is a 4.700 mAh battery that keeps me progets you through a day without any problems. Even 1,5 to 2 days were often no problem during my use. At the end of the day, with a screen-on time of 2 to 4,5 hours, I usually had about 50 percent battery left, which is really great. Even heavy users should be able to get through a day without charging with the Google Pixel 9 Pro.

As good as the battery life is, the charging times are unfortunately disappointing. The smartphone can only be charged with a maximum of 27 watts using a cable. According to Google, 55 percent should be possible in 30 minutes, but since I don't have a suitable power pack, I can't confirm that. For a flagship in 2024, that's extremely weak. With my power packs, it feels like an eternity until the battery is finally full. Wireless charging is possible with up to 21 watts, which is also no longer up to date. Reverse wireless charging is possible with up to 12 watts, which is still OK.

Camera – very good with slight weaknesses

There is space for a triple camera on the back, which is set up as follows:

• 50 megapixel main camera, 1/1.31″
• 48 megapixel ultra wide angle camera, 1/2.55″
• 48 megapixel telephoto camera, 5x optical, 1/2.55″

Picture: TechnikNews

The main camera takes strong pictures as usual, which capture a lot of detail. The dynamic range is excellent and, as is typical for Google, the pictures are quite high in contrast. For my taste, the colors sometimes seem too cold and occasionally even too pale, which I don't really like. But that's a matter of taste and overall the photo quality is great in both good and bad lighting conditions.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro has finally received a noticeable upgrade to the ultra-wide-angle camera. It now finally has a resolution of 48 instead of 12 megapixels, which has a positive impact in everyday life. The images are now sharper and clearer. Colors are usually reproduced realistically, but with a high contrast, as is typical for Pixels. They are often visibly warmer than the results from the main camera. Google could improve the color matching of the two cameras with an update here. Macro shots are also possible with the ultra-wide-angle camera and also look great. In low light, the ultra-wide-angle camera takes beautiful and sufficiently sharp images.

When it comes to zoom, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is one of the best on the market. The zoom is not nearly as good as the Vivo X100 Pro, but better than my two-year-old HUAWEI Mate 50 Pro it is definitely that way. The photos are nice and sharp, the colors are accurate and the dynamic range is good. I also really like the image stabilization.

A 42 megapixel front camera is responsible for selfies, which takes sharp and color-accurate pictures. Videos with the rear cameras are good, but not quite as good as the photos.

Other – fingerprint sensor, vibration motor and much more.

To unlock the smartphone, I recommend using the fingerprint sensor. This is integrated into the display and, in my opinion, is in exactly the right place - neither too high nor too low. Unlike previous years, this fingerprint sensor is a 3D ultrasound sensor, which is safer, faster and more reliable than its predecessor.

The built-in vibration motor provides very precise and high-quality vibrations. It also sounds quite pleasant and not as annoying as, for example, Sony or Vivo. Google is undoubtedly one of the best here.

Last but not least, I would like to briefly talk about the stereo speakers. They are nice and loud and deliver a clear, clean sound.

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