Google Pixel 9 Professional Evaluate: Smaller Professional Dimension—Similar Professional Value – Uplaza

In a Nutshell

Launched through the 2024 Made by Google occasion in August, the Pixel 9 Professional shouldn’t be a successor to the Pixel 8 Professional however a very new mannequin within the Pixel vary. It options the identical compact measurement as the bottom Pixel 9 with all of the options of the big-screened Pixel 9 Professional XL Antoine Engels examined not too long ago.

In sensible phrases, this implies a high-resolution OLED show that refreshes as much as 120 occasions per second however can throttle again to 1 Hz (one replace per second) to avoid wasting energy. It additionally features a triple digital camera setup with a 5x zoom lens, extra RAM, and a UWB radio.

Premium construct — iPhone-inspired design

The Pixel 9 Professional options the identical total design and construct high quality as the larger XL mannequin, with flat sides and a extra premium look in comparison with the earlier generations. The 6.3-inch OLED display not solely is vibrant and quick however will also be dimmed again and gradual, relying in your wants.

Professionals:

• Premium look and construct high quality.
• Shiny show that may go darkish.
• Variable refresh fee display.

Cons:

Though nonetheless compact, the Pixel 9 Professional (and the common Pixel 9) continues to be barely larger than the Pixel 8, and the flat sides make it really feel heftier within the hand. And sure, the flat facet design makes it appear to be an iPhone, as my colleagues already identified whereas reviewing the opposite telephones.

The Pixel 9 Professional match and end appear extra premium than the earlier generations, as we didn’t discover the gaps between elements (which occurred within the Pixel 8, for instance). The shiny end on the facet seems good in footage however is fast to seize fingerprints, and a few will be involved about the way it will cope with scratches in the long term.

Talking of which, Google additionally despatched the non-compulsory protecting case for this assessment, and whereas it’s well-made and surrounds the telephone properly, it additionally will get eliminated moderately too simply, in all probability as a result of new flat design.

On the again, the brand new design of the digital camera module doesn’t have any sensible adjustments to how the telephone handles. Nonetheless, the brand new “search box” design is considerably taller, one thing to bear in mind. The module on the Pixel 9 Professional homes the three cameras, the flash, and the quirky temperature sensor.

The OLED show was one of many Pixel 9 Professional’s highlights. Not solely colours popped up in typical OLED trend however refresh charges might differ between 1 and 120 Hz due to LTPO tech, which resulted in some battery life enhancements.

One welcome improve to the display is that it reaches each excessive and low brightness ranges. It might probably go as much as 3000 nits peak brightness for utilizing the telephone outdoor underneath the solar, but in addition drop actually low to when you find yourself utilizing the Pixel 9 Professional in darkish conditions (for instance studying at evening).

The show homes the fingerprint reader however Google lastly upgraded the sensor from an optical to a supersonic module. That lastly fastened long-standing points with studying delays that date again to the Pixel 6 telephones. 

Biometric authentication will also be finished with face recognition, and Google provides the function its highest safety certification, similar to on the Pixel 8. That permits customers to approve funds by wanting on the selfie digital camera, even when the telephone doesn’t have particular depth sensors.

Android 14 with further apps

Launched with Android 14, as of publishing this assessment, the Pixel 9 Professional nonetheless didn’t obtain the Android 15 replace, regardless of the supply code for the brand new model being launched at AOSP. Regardless of the “old” model, Google packed a few new apps for the Pixel 9 telephones.

Professionals:

• Seven years of safety updates.

Cons:

• Some indicators of bloat on “stock” Android.

Google guarantees seven years of safety and options updates for the Pixel 9 household. That signifies that the Pixel 9 Professional will obtain safety patches and Pixel options drops till August 2031, which is simply matched by flagship Galaxy telephones.

A clear set up with up to date apps takes round 20 GB of storage, marking a big improve over the earlier technology (the Pixel 8 reported solely 9 GB in an analogous state final 12 months).

That may partially be attributed to a few further apps, equivalent to Gemini (simply the AICore storage jumped from 30 MB to greater than 4 GB between the PIxel 8 and 9 generations), Pixel Studio, and Screenshots. Antoine did a complete take a look at the Gemini options in his Pixel 9 Professional XL assessment, so I received’t be repeating that.

The brand new Screenshots app didn’t fairly work through the check due to area and language restrictions, however the Pixel Studio ran effective. The telephone continues to be not highly effective sufficient to generate the pictures by itself, so it wants an web connection to the Google servers.

Its utility may be very questionable, however the outcomes have been a minimum of enjoyable for the ten minutes we spent with it. You may copy, save, or share the generated photographs, and there are a few totally different kinds to pick out, together with a “Sticker” possibility that we wished may very well be built-in into chat apps.

There may be additionally the brand new Climate app, with an AI powered abstract and many knowledge inside totally different widgets. The AI climate report will be hit and miss, displaying knowledge for the remainder of the day, however that doesn’t assist a lot whether or not you like the widgets or are going out at evening and require the following day’s report.

Disappointing efficiency

On its fourth technology, the in-house Tensor chip doesn’t deliver a big improve when it comes to efficiency to the Pixel 9 Professional, with solely small enhancements within the final 4 years. On the optimistic facet, nevertheless, there may be loads of RAM, however that was in all probability a outcome of the present AI craze.

Professionals:

• Improved thermal administration.

Cons:

• Very small efficiency enhancements.

The Tensor G4 on the Pixel 9 telephones delivers nearly half of the efficiency of present Android flagship chips just like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or the Dimensity 9300. In day by day use, most individuals received’t be capable of discover that distinction, since most duties on telephones are brief and fast.

Nonetheless, on heavier duties like modifying a video and particularly video games, customers can discover that the Tensor chips are usually not evolving sufficient to maintain up with the competitors.

On the plus facet, nevertheless, Google appears to have addressed a typical grievance with earlier Pixel telephones and improved the warmth dissipation system on the Pixel 9 Professional. The telephone nonetheless will get heat underneath heavy duties, however a minimum of appears to not lose as a lot efficiency as a result of thermal throttling as up to now.

Video games ought to run effective on the Pixel 9 Professional, however extra graphical intensive video games will decrease the standard settings to run at first rate speeds on the telephone. Hardcore players shall be higher served with different gadgets not solely due to total efficiency but in addition the truth that the Tensor G4 lacks help for contemporary options like ray tracing (the variety of video games utilizing RT is low as we speak, however the telephone shall be supported for a very long time…).

Digicam

The triple digital camera setup on the Pixel 9 Professional is similar because the one on the larger XL mannequin, together with a 50-megapixel primary digital camera, 48 MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 5x optical zoom telephoto.

Professionals:

• Versatile digital camera.
• Good daylight footage.
• Fascinating AI options.

Cons:

Google appears to be dropping its benefit in digital camera high quality up to now two years subsequent to its Chinese language companions/rivals. Not that footage taken with the Pixel 9 Professional weren’t good, however the different Android manufacturers hold pushing the envelope on the subject of digital camera {hardware} and processing.

In daylight, footage are usually good, with a pleasant stage of element and sharpness. The colours have been a bit on the “contrasty” facet, however that’s virtually a Pixel trademark attribute.

The ultra-wide lens may be very open, ultimate for giant panorama pictures, if you happen to don’t thoughts dropping some sharpness. On the opposite finish of the digital camera vary, the 5x optical zoom was surprisingly good not solely in its default mode but in addition when capturing 10x footage with a contact of digital zoom.

Evening pictures then again have been a bit disappointing, even with the evening mode participating mechanically on mainly all pictures within the gallery above. The photographs have been a bit on the noisy facet, with some high quality drops in each ultra-wide and 10x pictures.

On the software program facet, in addition to the Add me function you may examine on the hyperlink above, the Pixel 9 Professional engages a macro mode when it detects shut topics. Whereas helpful, the telephone can’t focus at very brief distances, and hand shaking poses a giant drawback for close-up pictures.

Selfies labored as anticipated on the Pixel 9 Professional, with colours a bit on the punchy facet. Nonetheless, pores and skin tone was correct, and the portrait mode had some minor points with topic separation, however was first rate total. And much like different Pixel telephones, the 0.7x ultra-wide selfie is helpful with group pictures or panorama selfies.

Battery life

Powered by a 4700 mAh battery, the Pixel 9 Professional can’t compete with larger telephones and their large capacities. However the environment friendly LTPO show and a few software program methods handle to ship nearly two days of battery life.

Professionals:

• Respectable battery life.
• Wi-fi and reverse wi-fi charging.
• Software program optimizations.

Cons:

• Gradual wired charging.
• No Qi2 help.

By default, the Pixel 9 Professional comes with a “High resolution” setting that doesn’t use the show’s full decision, however solely 2142×960 pixels as an alternative of the native 2856×1280 decision. Regardless of the large discount within the quantity and density of pixels, we couldn’t actually discover a distinction in day by day use, however ran the battery assessments with each choices, simply in case.

Below the simulated check finished by the PCMark app, the default possibility lasted for 16h34min between 80 and 20% cost whereas the “High resolution” mode misplaced one hour of battery life. The efficiency rating was inside the margin of error, so there have been no additional methods with processing speeds.

In observe, that ought to be greater than sufficient for a full day of utilization, and extra frugal customers might squeeze two days out of the telephone by pairing the “High resolution” mode with the battery-saving options on the Pixel 9 Professional.

On the subject of charging, Google continues to be taking part in it secure. The Pixel 9 Professional tops at 27 W wired charging and can be suitable with wi-fi charging, with Qi reaching 12 Watts, whereas the Pixel Stand expenses the telephone at 21 W. And the Pixel 9 Professional helps reverse wi-fi charging.

There isn’t any charger within the field, and we want it supported sooner USB-PD charging. A full cost took nearly one hour and a half, and a 30-minute cost was sufficient for 56% of battery. If you’re on the lookout for a telephone with actually quick charging, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and different Chinese language manufacturers are in all probability higher choices.

Technical specs

Closing veredict