Google sent us the Pixel 9 Pro in December, which is some three months after its launch in August. I have really liked the previous Pixels and their signature stock Android experience. But the flagship Google devices came with their own share of issues and with the Pixel 9, Google claims to have resolved them. With a new design language, a new processor and more security features than its predecessor, The Pixel 9 seems to have the right recipe for the quintessential flagship device on paper. But how does it perform in the real world? We find out.
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The first thing you notice is the departure from curvy design. The adoption of flat edges gives the phone a more premium look and makes it a lot easier to hold on to. Now, the only differentiating factor between the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL is the screen size. The adoption of the island design for the camera looks more polished in terms of product design. However, I can’t deny the similarity it now shares with the new iPhones.
The 6.3inch 120Hz display is incredible, full of details and makes watching videos at the highest of resolutions, a treat. The ambient display works like a charm, it adjusts the brightness at the slightest change in light. The ultrasonic fingerprint scanner,also a new addition, works almost flawlessly.
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In terms of performance, the Tensor G4 performs well, probably not as well as the top tier chips in flagship Samsungs or iPhones, but it carries out the majority of tasks with ease. Gemini and AI features perform photo editing tasks and other AI duties without any hiccups and the best part is the phone doesn’t heat up like the older pixels.
Using Android 15 is almost like using Android 14 visually, but with some additional features. It now comes with Theft Detection Lock, Private Space and App Archiving among others, and I suppose the biggest advantage it has over other Android smartphones is how seamless the overall scrolling experience is.
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The 4700mAh battery is impressive. I traveled to Meghalaya recently. Starting out from Pune around 2AM with 96 percent charge, I drove down to Mumbai, caught a 3 hour flight to Guwahati, then drove 300kms to reach my destination at midnight and after this whole ordeal, the phone somehow managed to retain 25 percent charge.
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Now coming to the most important question, how is the camera? Shots taken in natural light and the daytime come out crisp, detailed and the colours seem natural. Ultrawide also produces some amazing images and using the portrait mode in both the lenses is as amazing as ever. Shots taken at 5x come out impressive, even while using the Action Pan mode. Low light mode is another plus of this phone, and I was able to get some really good shots. Amidst all this, the AI integration mostly works brilliantly. There were a few instances where images looked over-processed and wouldn’t turn out the way I intended them to. Coming to video, it is capable of shooting 8K videos at 30fps but I could only try 4K in 30 and 60fps. I must say it is a very big improvement over the previous iterations of the Pixel. But that being said, the iPhone still stays the best when it comes to videos and the Pixel has become as good as its nearest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S24.
With the Pixel 9 Pro, Google has indeed upped the ante and the Pixel in most areas stands right next to the Samsung S24, it also needs improvement in a few. At ₹1,09,999/- it still seems steep for what it offers but again, for the stock Android experience and all that it offers it is indeed a brilliant option to consider.
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