Does the Pixel 9 Pro Have a Curved Screen? Your Guide

With the launch of the Pixel 9 Pro in 2024 came significant design and functionality improvements for Google’s flagship range. This includes everything from a redesigned camera island and stronger Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to a more powerful Tensor G4 chipset that boosts battery life. 

Two new Pro models were also added to the range, including the Pixel 9 Pro XL with its larger display and the Pro Fold, which rivals Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 foldable phone. All of these devices deliver new AI features courtesy of Google’s Gemini assistant, such as the generative image tool Pixel Studio.

Similar improvements were also made to Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, the previous model in the generation, including a new Tensor G3 chip and the display’s 2400-nit maximum brightness for low light conditions. 

A significant change that wasn’t so heavily marketed, though, was the device’s new screen shape – from the Pixel Pro’s iconic curved screen to a fully flat display 9 years later. But does the Pixel 9 Pro keep the display of the previous model or has Google reverted to its signature curves? Let’s examine the finer details!

Pixel 9 Pro Display Properties: Curved or Flat?

Like the Pixel 8 Pro, no phone in the Google Pixel 9 Pro series has a curved screen, despite its rounded corners. 

Google stopped its contributions to the curve trend with the Pixel 8 Pro. This change brought the Pixel range in line with other premium Android phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, as well as Apple’s flagship iPhone Pro devices.

Instead, the completely flat Pixel 9 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Actua display with a sharp 1280 x 2856 resolution. The new Pixel 9 Pro XL inherits the 8 Pro’s larger screen size (which has increased from 6.7 to 6.8 inches), plus an adaptive 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate for even smoother scrolling.

What Are the Benefits of a Curved Screen?

Curved screens originally became popular back in 2013, starting with larger TV displays from Samsung and LG. They soon also became a common smartphone feature, starting with Samsung’s Galaxy Round and then the Galaxy Note Edge one year later. 

Google joined the party in 2018 through the Pixel 3 XL, featuring a 6.3-inch curved display – but why? 

Curved screens began trending around 10 years ago mainly due to their aesthetic benefits. The curves hide those thick bezels at the edge of the display that often add bulkiness to devices, instead making them appear much sleeker.

Slimmer bezels also create a larger display, leaving more room to make the most of your device’s features. Most phones with curved displays have also offered a sharper image quality, which supports high-resolution pictures and graphics for gaming.

Why Does the Google Pixel 9 Pro Feature Flat Glass?

With these benefits in mind, you may be wondering: why did Google decide to make the switch for the Pixel 8 series and beyond? One of the main reasons is practicality. 

Many smartphone apps are today designed with buttons on the side, which are hidden by curved screens. This makes it difficult to register touches, particularly if swiping from the edge of the screen is required. Flat screens also solve the opposite problem: accidental touches! 

Gripping a phone with curved edges can trigger touch input, especially in areas where flat displays would usually have bezels. These edges also affect video watching, particularly with phone screens that have outward curves, rather than inward curves like PC displays. Unlike flat screens, which have more defined borders, the edges of video content can sometimes get lost to these curves.

An outward curve also makes the display more vulnerable to cracking or completely shattering when dropped. Accidental drops are much more likely with devices that have slimmer bezels too, due to lack of grip. 

Beyond user experience, Pixel phones that lack durability also add extra costs to the production process, since additional design elements (like raised bumpers and frames) are required to safeguard the screen. Cutting manufacturing costs means a lower retail price for the user – which is particularly important for an already expensive premium device like the Google Pixel 9 Pro!

Protecting the Pixel 9 Pro Display

Another reason why many manufacturers of Android phones, like Samsung and Google, now avoid curved screens is the difficulty of applying screen protectors. 

Tempered glass screen protectors are vital for preventing scratches and cracks, while also stopping the screen of your Pixel 9 Pro from completely shattering. But they’re often made from rigid glass, which won’t properly bend or fit the curves – leaving the screen vulnerable.

At Ghostek, our shatterproof Tempered Glass Screen Protectors for the Pixel 9 Series are designed to fit the entire display of your Google Pixel 9 Pro. These devices provide complete protection for the entire Pixel series, including the base model, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Fold. 

Their 9H tempered glass design defends the phone’s internal components and stops the screen from shattering if dropped face down or onto one of the corners. This works by absorbing any impact from the ground or other hard surfaces, rather than transferring it to the display. 

Choose from a clear version or a privacy screen protector with a 28-degree angle. The latter option features micro-louvers, tiny blinds that obscure light and darken the screen from certain angles. This prevents onlookers from seeing private or sensitive information on your phone screen.

Whichever option you select, enjoy unmatched clarity with HD clear glass and an anti-smudge coating that keeps your screen free from sweat and fingerprints. You also won’t need to worry about functionality, thanks to the protector’s perfect touch sensitivity. Shop our Pixel 9 Pro screen protectors online at Ghostek today!