Google Pixel 9 vs Pixel 9 Pro: Which is Best?

Other than unique screen sizes and a dedicated Telephoto camera lens, each model in the same Google Pixel generation (like the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro devices) hasn’t yet shown a huge number of key differences. 

This year, things have changed for Google’s latest flagship phones: the Pixel 9 series. Two versions of the Pro model exist for the first time ever – like Apple’s iPhone 16, there’s the regular Pixel 9 Pro and the XL version. The XL has a bigger battery and screen size, while the standard Pro shares the same properties as the base device. 

However, there is a significant difference in price, with the Pro range costing an extra $200. But, if you’re looking to upgrade to a new phone, do the additional features and design changes of the Pixel 9 Pro make it worth the investment? Or should you stick with the standard vanilla Pixel 9?

We’ll take a closer look at just the Google Pixel 9 vs Pixel 9 Pro devices in this guide, including the design, displays, camera quality, battery life, and more, to help you make the right choice.

Pixel 9 vs Pixel 9 Pro Specs

Announced at the Made by Google Showcase in 2024, the Pixel 9 and Pro devices share many of the same physical properties, like display and size. Let’s explore the technical specifications of each model before taking a deeper dive into these properties:

Display

Unlike previous models, both the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro share the same 6.3-inch display size. The larger screen this year is instead reserved for the XL, at 6.8 inches. But the similarities end here in this category!

While the Pixel 9 has an Acuta display, the 9 Pro uses Super Actua, which is brighter and faster in terms of refresh rate (a lower 60Hz to 120Hz rate compared with the Pro’s 1Hz and 120Hz!)

The 2,700-nit maximum brightness of the standard Pixel is impressive enough in its own right, especially when compared to the iPhone 16’s 2,000 nits. However, the Pro outshines both devices at 3,000 nits, which makes it much easier to see your screen in bright sunlight. The 1280 x 2856 resolution (versus 1080 x 2424) also offers a considerably sharper picture!

Design

Design is the area where the premium finish of the Pro device reigns supreme. Invest in the Google Pixel 9 and you’ll enjoy polished glass with a satin metal finish. However, the Pixel 9 Pro is made from a sleeker polished metal with matte glass. 

Obsidian and porcelain are staple colorways for both devices, but Wintergreen or Peony and Hazel or Rose Quartz are exclusive to the Pixel 9 and Pro models respectively.

While the Google Pixel 8 utilised Corning’s strong Gorilla Glass Victus, the 9 sees an upgrade to Victus 2. This offers more durability than the previous version, being built to survive drops up to 1 meter on surfaces replicating concrete. 

Along with the same display size, both Pixel 9 models measure 6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches and weigh 7 ounces. They also share similar rounded corners at the top and bottom as the 8 series. This sleek design property includes the modified camera bar, which no longer stretches across the length of the display.

Cameras

One of the key winning points for the Pixel 8 Pro over the standard Pixel was the extra Telephoto lens. This remains true for the 9 series, which features the same 48 MP Telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom – the highest quality zoom on a Pixel phone yet. The Super Res Zoom feature extends this to 30x, compared with 8x on the standard model, for even greater photography and video recording versatility.

A new addition to the entire series is autofocus for the front camera. However, this selfie lens has a sharper resolution on the Pixel 9 Pro, at 42 MP compared to the Pixel 9’s 10.5 MP.

The other rear cameras all remain the same for both models, including a 50 MP Main camera with 2x zoom for high-quality close-ups and low-light photos, plus a 48 MP Ultrawide with enhanced Macro Focus.

Performance and Battery Life

Pro models in the latest flagship phone ranges often have more powerful processors to deliver a faster, smoother raw performance (think the iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro!).

However, both the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro contain the Tensor G4 same Chipset (the Tensor G4) to facilitate Google’s Gemini AI features. This includes everything from Pixel screenshots that help you locate lost information on your photo gallery to Pixel Studio, allowing you to generate images from scratch.

The Pro model does offer 4 GB of additional RAM, though, to run these features more quickly and switch between apps with less lag. It also has more storage options for you to choose from – up to 1 TB for the Obsidian version, whereas 256 GB is the largest capacity offered by the Pixel 9.

Another key area where the two devices perform similarly is battery life, thanks to the same 4,700 mAh capacity. If you’re looking for an even better battery life, go for the Pixel 9 Pro XL and its 5,060 mAH cell size instead.

Both also provide identical wired 45 W charging speeds, but the Pro reaches faster wireless charging speeds of 21 W when used with an official Pixel stand.

Google Pixel 9 vs Pixel 9 Pro: Which Should You Choose?

The regular Pixel 9 has seen a price increase compared to previous models in the series, starting from $799 for the 128 GB model versus $699.  This reduces the gap between the two, with the 9 Pro sharing the same $999 price point as the 8 Pro.

The final decision when it comes to buying the Google Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro comes down to your personal preference on whether the Pro’s additional features justify this $200 price difference. But, while on paper, the Pixel 9 Pro has better capabilities, from the brighter display to the 48 MP Telephoto camera, there’s no doubt that the standard Pixel is an excellent phone  – one of the best on the market right now!