The Google Pixel lineup consists of 4 fashions this yr — the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Whereas the latter two are new monikers, there’s rather a lot that’s altering between the common Pixel 9 and its Professional variant. The important thing differentiator between the 2 telephones was their dimension. However that’s completely different this yr. Each the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional provide the identical dimension physique and show. You’ll not be capable to inform which is the costlier Google cellphone simply by their dimension.
That might make selecting one or the opposite complicated, however the Google Pixel 9 Professional additionally packs loads of upgrades that might set off a purchase order resolution. Right here’s what it’s essential to know concerning the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9.
Google Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 9: specs
Google Pixel 9 Professional
Google Pixel 9
Dimensions
152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm (6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches)
1152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm (6.0 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches)
Weight
199 grams (7 ounces)
198 grams (7 ounces)
Show
6.3-inch Tremendous Actua LTPO OLED show
1280 x 2856 decision at 495 ppi
1-120Hz refresh price
2000 nits (HDR)/3000 nits (peak)
6.3-inch Actua OLED show
1080 x 2424 decision at 422 ppi
60-120Hz refresh price
1800 nits (HDR)/2700 nits (peak)
Sturdiness
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
IP68
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
IP68
Colours
Rose Quartz
Hazel
Obsidian
Porcelain
Obsidian
Porcelain
Wintergreen
Peony
Processor
Google Tensor G4
Google Tensor G4
RAM
16GB
12GB
Storage
128GB
256GB
512GB
1TB
128GB
256GB
Software program
Android 14
Android 14
Updates
Seven years of OS, Function Drops, and safety updates
Seven years of OS, Function Drops, and safety updates
Rear cameras
50-megapixel most important, f/1.68, 82-degree FOV
48MP ultrawide, f/1.7, 123-degree FOV
48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, f/2.8, 22-degree FOV
50MP most important, f/1.68, 82-degree FOV
48MP ultrawide, f/1.7, 123-degree FOV
Entrance digital camera
42MP with autofocus
f/2.2 aperture
103-degree ultrawide FOV
10.5MP with autofocus
f/2.2 aperture
95-degree ultrawide FOV
Battery
4,700mAh
4,700mAh
Charging
30W quick charging (50% in half-hour)
23W quick wi-fi charging
Reverse wi-fi
30W quick charging (50% in half-hour)
23W quick wi-fi charging
Reverse wi-fi
Value
Begins at $999
Begins at $799
Google Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 9: design and construct
The Google Pixel 9 Professional XL (from left), Google Pixel 9 Professional, and Google Pixel 9. Ajay Kumar / Digital Tendencies
The Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 duo are housed within the same-size physique, and each weigh slightly below 200 grams. They’re protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on each back and front. Nevertheless, the rear end is completely different. The Pixel 9 Professional presents a silky matte again, whereas the Pixel 9 has a satin end.
The brand new Google telephones characteristic a redesigned look the place the enduring digital camera module is now pill-shaped and doesn’t stream into the physique. The visor look is not delicate, however bolder and extra outstanding. Whereas the Pixel 9 Professional sports activities three rear cameras, the Pixel 9 is proscribed to most important and ultrawide sensors.
Each of them provide fingerprint-resistant coating and an IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance. The Pixel 9 is on the market in Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen and Peony coloration choices, whereas the Professional mannequin will get Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel and Rose Quartz finishes.
We discovered each the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional to be snug over prolonged durations of use, with the Pixel 9 being very snug to carry. Each gadgets are snug, well-built, and have a premium really feel, bringing a significant enchancment to the design plan over earlier iterations of the Pixel.
Winner: Tie
Google Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 9: show and efficiency
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
For the primary time, each the common and Professional variants are geared up with the same-size show, however the high quality varies. The Pixel 9 Professional encompasses a 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua LTPO OLED show with a refresh price of 1Hz to 120Hz. Against this, the Pixel 9 sports activities a 6.3-inch Actua OLED show with a 120Hz refresh, however the lack of a LTPO panel means it may possibly solely go right down to 60Hz.
The costlier sibling can go as much as 2,000 nits (HDR) and as much as 3,000 nits of peak brightness, whereas the Pixel 9 helps as much as 1,800 nits (HDR) and as much as 2,700 nits of peak brightness. Each of them are brighter than their predecessors and have a greater distinction ratio. The latter means you’ll get deeper shades of black on the display.
The Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 are powered by the in-house Tensor G4 chipset and M2 safety processor. You additionally get extra RAM this time. The common variant packs 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, whereas the Professional mannequin will get 16GB of RAM with storage choices beginning at 128GB and going as much as 1TB. Extra RAM is required to course of all the brand new AI options on board.
The Tensor G4 has turned out to be a stable chip. Positive, it’s not on the extent of Snapdragon processors (not but, anyway), however Google has made enhancements we’re excited to see proceed in coming generations. Because it’s optimized for AI options, the G4 places extra emphasis on effectivity over uncooked energy. Some have discovered that it nearly feels weaker in comparison with the G3 and G2 in sure use circumstances, like gaming.
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Professional
Google Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 9: software program
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
The Pixel 9 collection brings an unprecedented change, because it’s the primary time {that a} new Pixel lineup is launching with the earlier yr’s Android. The Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 run Android 14 out of the field and don’t include Android 15, which remains to be in beta. Nevertheless, Google is providing a bunch of latest options with its newest telephones, due to the increase in RAM and a brand new chipset.
Each the gadgets will be capable to run Gemini Nano with multimodality, which implies they will perceive textual content, picture, audio, and speech inputs all collectively. Google Assistant can also be being changed by Gemini. It is going to be the default setting for the assistant by means of Gemini Dwell, and is alleged to really feel extra pure in dialog in comparison with Google Assistant.
The Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 characteristic a bundle of latest AI options together with Auto Body in Magic Editor to recompose a photograph for higher composition and the Add Me characteristic that may add you to a bunch image by combining photos. The gadgets are promised to obtain seven years of OS upgrades, characteristic drops, and safety patches.
Each of those telephones have the identical software program, options, and replace guarantees. It is a tie.
Winner: Tie
Google Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 9: cameras
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
The Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 characteristic the identical major and ultrawide cameras. They sport a 50-megapixel Octa PD broad digital camera with f/1.68 aperture and a 82-degree subject of view (FOV), plus a 48MP Quad PD ultrawide lens with f/1.7 aperture and a 123-degree FOV that may additionally shoot macro photos.
The Pixel 9 Professional will get a further 48MP Quad PD telephoto digital camera with f/2.8 aperture and a 22-degree FOV with 5x optical zoom. The duo additionally differs on the entrance digital camera. Whereas the Pixel 9 Professional has a 42MP Twin PD sensor with a 103-degree ultrawide FOV, the Pixel 9 will get a ten.5MP Twin PD selfie shooter with a 95-degree FOV.
The gadgets are able to capturing 4K and FHD movies at 60 frames per second (fps). The Pixel 9 Professional can even shoot 8K movies at 30 fps.
We discovered the Pixel 9 excels at taking pictures. Out of greater than 160 pictures, we weren’t sad with even a single one. The zoom performance is efficient, with out displaying indicators of any digital manipulation, however with the elevated worth for the bottom mannequin, Google ought to have included a telephoto lens.
The Pixel 9 Professional’s telephoto lens allows as much as 30x Tremendous Res Zoom. The outcomes had been spectacular, even when greater zoom ranges prompted graininess towards darkish backdrops. The Pixel 9 Professional’s entrance digital camera has a better field-of-view (FOV) than the Pixel 9, too, permitting you to get extra element right into a single shot.
So what’s the decision? Each fashions have actually glorious cameras that make it simple to take extremely high-resolution, clear pictures. It doesn’t take any sophisticated finagling to get daring, punchy colours and plenty of element with every shot. The main distinction lies within the telephoto lens on the Pixel 9 Professional. Between that and the elevated FOV on a few of its cameras, the Pixel 9 Professional edges forward for anybody who prioritizes a robust digital camera on their cellphone.
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Professional
Google Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 9: battery and charging
Google
The Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 pack in the identical 4,700mAh battery. The batteries are supposed to final all day below regular circumstances, with a stretch of as much as 100 hours with the Excessive Battery Saver mode. It’s good to know that Google is committing to a greater battery life than what is on the market on the Pixel 8 collection.
The Pixel 9 improves on earlier generations’ subpar battery life. After a complete of 4 hours of display time all through the day, we discovered the cellphone nonetheless had 30% life remaining. It’s unlikely to final two full days except you make a concerted effort to stretch the battery life. For reference, a 45-minute high-quality YouTube video solely used 5% of the battery.
The Pixel 9 Professional has the identical dimension battery, however regardless of having barely greater specs, its battery expenditure is about the identical — a testomony to the effectivity of the Tensor G4 chip. We estimated that Google’s 24-hour battery life estimate is fairly shut, though that can range relying on how you employ the cellphone and the way a lot time you spend on it.
Coming to charging, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional assist 27-watt quick charging, which claims to supply 50% of cost in half-hour. Each miss out on 37W quick charging, which is proscribed to the top-of-the-line Pixel 9 Professional XL. You additionally get assist for wi-fi charging at round 23W, in addition to Battery Share reverse wi-fi charging.
Once more, there’s not a lot to separate the 2 in the meanwhile.
Winner: Tie
Google Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 9: Which one to purchase?
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
The Google Pixel 9 Professional begins at $999, whereas the Google Pixel 9 will price you $799 for the bottom 128GB variant. The common Pixel 9 needs to be sufficient for you if you’d like a no-nonsense cellphone with flagship options. You get the identical major and ultrawide cameras, related battery life, and the identical in-hand really feel because the costlier variant.
If you happen to’re somebody who loves a flexible digital camera, the Pixel 9 Professional needs to be your selection. Additionally, you gained’t be capable to go above 256GB storage on the Pixel 9, however you possibly can stand up to 1TB of storage with the Pixel 9 Professional. It’ll additionally offer you a matte end on the again, 8K video recording, extra RAM, and a sharper show. The Pixel 9 is a stable cellphone, however for now, the Pixel 9 Professional has an edge that’s robust to beat.
