Google Pixel 9 Pro: Compact Powerhouse

It’s rare for customers to get the smaller version of a top-tier phone without compromises and scaled-back features on the more diminutive of the two. But Google pleased customers by offering two Pro versions of the Pixel 9 without stripping away any capabilities, including the camera features, which are the typical causality. The Pixel 9 Pro is just smaller and comes with hardware that has been reduced to match but is otherwise the same phone - only much easier to hold in the hand. The price, naturally goes down as well. The Pixel 9 Pro is Rs 1,09,990 for a 256GB version compared with the Pro XL which costs Rs 1,24,999 for a 256GB variant. 

It’s a relief for some users to be able to use a phone that is compact and comfortable. While the XL version is nice for those who are constantly using the large screen to the max, the regular 9 Pro is nicer for those who make a lot of calls and hold up the device to their ear for hours. If your preferred method of watching movies and videos is on a TV screen and if you use a laptop for the larger part of the day, the smaller of the two Pro phones makes more sense. 

The design of the Pixel 9 Pro is identical to the rest of the series. Smoothly rounded off corners with an otherwise pleasing flatness. There’s the same camera housing that has become distinctively Pixel and this time it doesn’t spill off the edges. The colour variants - Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Quartz (pink) and Hazel - are the same for the two Pro phones. We check out the Quartz which is feminine and subtle and has a pleasingly smooth non-glossy back panel. Despite the smaller size of this phone, it retains a nice premium look and feel. 

The screen is 6.3 inches compared with 6.8 inches on the XL and while that may not sound like much of a difference, it is instantly noticeable when you grip, hold and carry the device for a longish time. The display on the 9 Pro is just as good, with LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits brightness and 3000 nits at peak, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The display’s resolution is 1280 x 2856 pixels. With this smaller of the Pro phones, you can probably get away with not using a case, though it isn’t advisable. 

The Pixel 9 Pro also runs on the G4 Tensor chipset, known for its ability to power AI tasks rather than just deliver raw performance for activities like gaming. 

Packed with 16GB of RAM, 256GB storage and 2TB of online space for a year, the 9 Pro’s Tensor G4 handles Gemini and AI just as well as the Pro XL. Regular performance for routine phone tasks is smooth. The battery is a 4,700mAh and it works as expected. 

While Gemini and other AI features could be considered to come into their own on a larger screen, the 6.3-inch display on the 9 Pro can also be used to make life easier for whoever a phone has to be used. Gemini can replace the Google Assistant but it’s the user’s choice for now. Since Gemini Advanced is free for a year from purchase it’s recommended to try it out before that period lapses. One can of course still revert to Google Assistant, which for now, is more integrated with a user’s personal information. Gemini is however developing fast and new features will come in to narrow the gap with the Assistant. Meanwhile, all the Gemini features, such as Gemini Live, are available on this smaller of the Pro phones as are special features and apps like Pixel Studio for generating AI images, Screenshots, Pixel Weather and more. 

The camera setup on the 9 Pro is also the same as on the 9 Pro XL, so the user doesn’t miss out on any photography features. The smaller size of the 9 Pro offers the advantage of a device that can be more handily because it can be more quickly picked up and more securely held and this could potentially mean taking faster shots. As a reminder, it features a 50MP primary lens, a 48MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultra-wide lens. The front camera is 42MP. But it’s really the software that makes photographs from these cameras distinctive.