So, you’ve got your heart set on a Pixel 9, but the Pixel 9 Pro keeps whispering sweet nothings in your ear. It’s a tough choice, we know. Both phones are sleek, powerful, and packed with Google’s AI magic. But is that extra $200 really worth it?
Let’s break it down.
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Build and design
Starting with build and design, the Pixel 9 Pro offers a more premium experience, but the duo has exactly the same size. Its polished metal frame and soft-touch matte glass finish give it a luxurious feel compared to the Pixel 9’s satin metal finish and polished glass back. Both models come in sleek colors, but the Pro adds unique options like Hazel and Rose Quartz, while the Pixel 9 offers Peony and Wintergreen.
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Camera and photography
In the camera and photography department, the Pixel 9 Pro takes a significant leap forward. While both phones share the same 50MP wide-angle and 48MP ultra wide-angle cameras, the Pro version includes an additional 48MP 5X telephoto camera, allowing for superior zoom capabilities. The selfie game is also upgraded on the Pro with a 42MP front camera, compared to the Pixel 9’s 10.5MP from last year. The Pixel 9 Pro also introduces advanced features like Pro controls in the camera app, Night Sight Video with Video Boost, and Zoom Enhance, which are absent in the Pixel 9.
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Display quality
When it comes to display quality, the Pixel 9 Pro pulls ahead with its Super Actua display, which is not only brighter at 3000 nits peak brightness but also has a higher resolution and a dynamic refresh rate that can vary between 1Hz and 120Hz. The Pixel 9, while still impressive, features a slightly less advanced Actua display with 2700 nits peak brightness and a 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate.
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Performance and future-proofing
For those looking at performance and future-proofing, the Pixel 9 Pro offers 16GB of RAM compared to the Pixel 9’s 12GB, which could be crucial for handling future updates and more demanding applications down the line. Storage capacity also sees a boost in the Pro, offering up to 1TB of storage, whereas the Pixel 9 maxes out at 256GB.
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Additional features
In terms of additional features, the Pixel 9 Pro is equipped with an ultra-wideband (UWB) radio for precise location tracking, a feature the Pixel 9 lacks. Wireless charging is also faster on the Pro, with 21W on the Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) compared to the Pixel 9’s 15W but the pair has the same 27W fast wired charging.
The Pro model includes an infrared temperature sensor akin to the Pixel 8 Pro, allowing it to measure body or surface temperatures — something the standard Pixel 9 doesn’t do. Lastly, buying the Pixel 9 Pro includes a year of the Google One AI Premium plan, which not only gives you 2TB of cloud storage but also access to the advanced Gemini Live feature — a perk not available with the Pixel 9.
This comparison should help to encapsulate what you’re getting with the Pixel 9 Pro and guide you in deciding whether the additional $200 is worth the investment for your specific needs. The phones are available to buy in 32 countries.
Featured image: Google
Hillary Keverenge
2452 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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