Pixel 9 Pro: A Compact Flagship Offering Strong Value Across the Board
The Pixel 9 Pro caught our eyes with its compact nature, flagship cameras and a premium design. Does it make for the ideal phone?
The concept of compact flagship phones are sort of making a comeback. Apple has its standard iPhone 16 Pro which figures in that territory, while the likes of Vivo are tipped to have a Mini version for the X200 series. But you also have Google now with a device to reckon with in the form of the new Pixel 9 Pro. No, it is not the XL, which means a compact footprint, similar to the regular Pixel 9 makes for a decent shout with its XL-like camera setup.
Most people would prefer to have a handy phone with versatile cameras, and the Pixel 9 Pro checks both the boxes. However, the price of Rs 1,09,999 for the Pixel 9 Pro takes it into a very tough segment, where you have the iPhones circling around in focus. Can this new compact Pixel flagship deliver value and performance that people crave for big money? We have been looking for those answers over the last few weeks.
The Handy Pro Flagship
Like we said, the Pixel 9 Pro borrows its dimensions and size from the Pixel 9 but all the other aspects are similar to the 9 Pro XL. Compact phones are underrated and you realise its value when you actually get to use one. This is Google’s first Pro model in this size and we like this addition for multiple reasons. The grip is more comfortable, the typing access is easier and yes, they fit nicely in your pockets.
The design is definitely Pro with its shinier frame, the frosty glass finish on the back panel and yes, the additional camera sensor in the bar that adds more elements to the device. Going straight up against the iPhone 16 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro is a proper compact Android flagship.
Shiny Display
The compact screen gets the higher resolution and display quality from the 9 Pro XL which gives you the best of both worlds. The LTPO panel means the 120Hz refresh rate isn’t constant and based on what you are doing on the screen, the quality takes a dip to preserve the battery which isn’t a bad thing at all.
Overall, the display quality is pretty good, the colours are sharp, the viewing angles will keep you happy while watching content on the small-ish screen and the brightness is well suited for outdoor conditions. It is also important to point out the screen durability which deserves a special mention for its ability to handle the keys and coins and still come unscathed.
The Tensor Hurdle
Another Pixel 9 review means we have to talk about the Tensor G4 chipset powering the devices. This hardware is more tuned to run the AI tools from Google than compete with the flagship majors in its range. The benchmark scores have made it quite evident that Google is not going for the specs-hungry performance but its levels are way below what a Rs 1 lakh+ phone should offer.
Having said that, the real-time performance will hardly give you anything to complain about, and the slick Android UI with its haptic does the job nicely. Our concerns about the Tensor G4 are mostly related to its ageing in the long term which is a critical point since the Pixel 9 series phones will get 7 years of OS updates.
The Pro Camera Action
After already testing the Pixel 9 Pro XL thoroughly, we can point you to the detailed analysis of its camera which is the same on the Pixel 9 Pro as well. You get the 50MP (OIS), 48MP telephoto (OIS) and the 48MP ultrawide lenses on the device that does well with the conditions in its favour and even when the light dies out.
However, the telephoto imaging quality left us wanting more, especially with the amount of details missing in a close up angle. Google could definitely up the quality with a few software tweaks but it feels mostly limited by the hardware on board which can only be fixed with the next Pixel model. The selfie camera has improved, which we also noticed with the 9 Pro XL earlier this year.
The AI Impetus
Google’s Gemini AI is available on the Pixel 9 Pro as well. Gemini Nano allows you to handle many AI tasks on-device and tools like Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio have shown their promise with the other Pixel 9 models. Google needs to constantly update its offerings and make them relevant and useful for daily tasks which only increases the chances of people using them more often for their own needs.
