I recently tested the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, and I loved its premium look, incredible cameras, handy AI features, and stunning design. But then along came the Google Pixel 9 Pro, and let’s just say I swapped sides without a second thought. The smaller variant is stylish, with an adorable pink colour that stole my heart. It’s super handy, keeps the same impressive cameras as its XL sibling, and runs on the same powerful engine.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Rs 1,09,999
What Is Good?
- Quite compact, well distributed weight
- Great camera quality
- Reliable battery life
- Audio output is good
- Practical AI features, fun to use
- Long software support
What Is Bad?
- Expensive
- Warms up during heavy tasks
- Slow charging
But this little gem won me over for a few specific reasons, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to let it go. Is it that good? Well, you’ll have to read my review to find out.
Pricing and Availability in India
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is available in a single variant on Flipkart, Croma and Reliance Digital.
| Variant | Pricing |
| 16GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs 1,09,999 |
Design and Display
The Rose Quartz colour option of the Google Pixel 9 Pro is adorable. I love how pink it is—not too much, not too little like the iPhones; just enough to make a statement. The phone is compact, feels nice, and is solid in the hand. I’m not a fan of the button placements on the 9 series. I’ve hit the volume buttons when I meant to press the power button more times than I’d like to admit.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 199 grams |
| Thickness | 8.5mm |
| Colours | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel and Obsidian |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: SIM tray, Primary microphone, USB port, Speaker grille
Top: Secondary microphone Right Side: Power button and volume buttons |
The camera module is pretty much the same as the rest of the 9 series, though it looks a little oversized on this model because of the phone’s form factor.
| Display | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.3-inch |
| Type | LTPO OLED display |
| Resolution | 1280 x 2856 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 3000 nits Tested: 1897 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 13 nits |
The bezels on the display are absolutely razor-thin and perfectly balanced. I’m usually not sold on flat displays, but this one is a whole different display. The 120Hz refresh rate is as smooth as butter, and, I didn’t spot a single awkward lag.
I’m pleasantly surprised to say that this phone’s display is crazy bright, no matter the lighting. Sure, at full brightness, it was a little too bright for my liking—still, that’s a win for visibility, just not for my eyes.
When it comes to quality, high-res YouTube videos look downright gorgeous—sharp, clear, and full of depth. It’s exactly what you’d want for a top-tier multimedia experience.
On Netflix, the Pixel 9 Pro flexes Widevine L1 certification with HDR 10 support. That means you’re getting top-notch quality with rich colours and deep, inky blacks.
As for the audio, it’s ridiculously loud without any distortion. My colleague thought I was playing songs from a laptop—it was that intense.
Hardware and Software
Just like the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL, the Pixel 9 Pro is powered by the Google Tensor G4 chipset. Compared to the Tensor G3 in last year’s models, this one has been refined; however, unfortunately, heating issues still persist.
In synthetic benchmarks, the Pro version, as expected, outperformed the vanilla Pixel 9. But here’s the kicker—it actually outperformed the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Take a look at our Antutu score graph below for the details.
While it does beat the rest of its family, it still doesn’t stand a chance against the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, iQOO 12, and OnePlus 12 that launched this year.
For everyday tasks, this phone performs effortlessly. Then again, it’s to be expected, as most phones manage these tasks pretty well. Now, when it comes to gaming, I installed Call of Duty: Mobile, and to my surprise—it started heating up even during the download (not ideal). During gameplay on Medium and Ultra settings, it hit 120fps, dipping only to 114fps. Not bad, but the warmth took away from the experience, so it wasn’t quite top-notch.
On the flip side, things changed up at Very High and Max settings. Here, I got a steady 62fps at best, with 60fps as the lowest—smooth as silk with zero frame drops and no heating issues in sight. During this session, the Pixel 9 Pro made quite a comeback.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM | Up to 16GB |
| Storage | Up to 256GB |
| Storage Test | 1270971 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 53 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | Android 14 |
| Connectivity Details | Tri-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 |
The Pixel 9 Pro arrives with Android 14 out of the box. But since Pixels are always first in line for updates, I’ve already upgraded to Android 15 as of this review. So, while I can’t spill all the tea yet, keep an eye on MySmartPrice for my deep dive into its features soon.
Google’s focus has shifted to Gemini. Gone are the days when OK Google was the highlight—now, Gemini is taking center stage. And it delivers, whether it’s summarising emails or curating playlists based on my music preferences. In fact, it tried to make my job easier by being the smart one.
One feature I’m obsessed with is Pixel Screenshots. I just typed in a keyword, and the screenshot I needed popped up.
Also, editing pictures with Reimagine was so simple. I just picked an object, typed in what I wanted, and the edit was done. The AI features are pretty solid and come in handy when needed. When it comes to software support, Google offers seven years of updates—perfect if you’re after a phone that’ll stand the test of time.
Cameras
On paper, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL boast the same camera specs.
In daylight, the camera is a vibrant champ—excellent dynamic range, with shadows captured in beautiful detail. The camera even manages to pick up smog sometimes, adding real depth to the shots.
The ultra-wide photos are a little sharper on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, where edge grain is almost non-existent. Meanwhile, on the Pixel 9 Pro, I noticed a bit of grain and stretching at the edges, though nothing wild.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel wide with OIS f/1.7 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with OIS, 5x optical zoom, f/2.8 aperture |
| Tertiary Camera | 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, f/1.7 aperture |
| Selfie Camera | 42-megapixel selfie camera, f/2.2 aperture |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 4K at 60fps |
As for the 5x optical zoom, I’m a fan. I can capture distant shots without moving a muscle. The details and colour accuracy are on point, and I found myself reaching for this lens a lot.
In low light, lens flare can still be an issue, though sometimes it adds a magical, artsy vibe. Overall, the quality holds up, with only occasional grain in tricky lighting.
Portrait shots are solid in daylight, with natural skin tones and sharp edge detection. Low light, however, can be hit or miss; sometimes, the camera forgets the finer details like ears or hair strands.
No complaints about selfies. Great skin tones, accurate colours, and every facial detail is crisp and visible even after processing.
Battery and Charging
The Pixel 9 Pro comes with a 360mAh smaller battery compared to its elder sibling, the Pixel 9 Pro XL. And yes, its charging capacity is also a bit less. But here’s the twist: after reviewing both, I found the battery life on this one actually outshines its elder sibling.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery | 4700mAh |
| Charging Adapter | 27W, no charger in the box |
| Charging Time | 1 hour 9 minutes |
| PCMark Battery Test | 14 hours 19 minutes |
During the PCMark Battery Test, this phone lasted a solid one hour and 10 minutes longer than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. In the real world, it comfortably lasted more than a day with light to moderate usage before I even thought about charging it.
Verdict
The Pixel 9 Pro is compact, cute, and comes with cameras that really impress—especially the 5x optical zoom and the selfie camera. It breezes through everyday tasks with ease and keeps the battery running long enough that I didn’t even think about charging it until the next day.
The software is as clean as it gets, and the AI features are a total game-changer. Pixel Screenshots and automatic photo edits in Google Photos are just plain smart.
When it comes to performance, it’s behind the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and the OnePlus 12, but here’s the kicker: it actually outperforms its bigger sibling, the Pixel 9 Pro XL — which is way costlier. Though it can heat up during heavy gaming or intense camera use, it cools down swiftly.
Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro offers a straightforward, dependable experience with a user-friendly interface. The long software support is definitely a bonus. However, you’ll have to shell out a premium price for all these perks.
