Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Should you improve?

Over the years, Google has saved us craving for a real iPhone contender. And it lastly comes true with the Google Pixel 9 Pro, which brings a number of compelling modifications during the last 12 months’s Pixel 8 Pro. The hole additional widens after we examine it to the Pixel 7 Pro.

The Pixel 9 Pro seems higher than the Pixel 7 Pro in virtually each regard. Does that imply it’s best to improve to the brand new telephones — plural because it now is available in two sizes? That’s precisely what we are going to reply on this article.

Before we try this, right here’s a fast gist of what the brand new Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL carry to the desk when in comparison with the Pixel 7 Pro.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: specs

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Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: design

The whole Pixel 9 collection brings main design modifications over the earlier generations. Foremost, it’s necessary to level out that the Pixel 9 collection is barely extra numerous than earlier fashions; the Pixel 9 Pro comes with in two sizes — one with a 6.3-inch show and an XL with a 6.8-inch show. For sake of simplicity, we are going to confer with each because the Pixel 9 Pro except there are particular variations to focus on.

As acknowledged in our Pixel 9 Pro XL review, the brand new telephones carry a whole design overhaul, and really feel like a large improve. The newer design includes rounder components, a flat mid-frame, and uniform colours on the sections of steel and glass.

The Pixel 7 Pro felt equally engaging on the time of its launch. The interaction of twin tones, particularly with the golden accents on the Hazel inexperienced again, appear charming. However, as with all the pieces, fading novelty can create a spot for extra trendy designs, and the Pixel 9 Pro suits proper in.

While Google goes for rounder corners than the Pixel 7 Pro, the curved edges on the again and the display screen have been changed, following different premium telephones such because the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. How that impacts usability could also be subjective, however the Pixel 9 Pro appears to be like more energizing in consequence.

The end of the design is as top-notch because it was again then, so we wouldn’t actually stress a lot about it. A bonus level goes to the Pixel 9 Pro for utilizing the newer Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2. There aren’t any cutbacks in sturdiness, and all the brand new Pixel telephones retain IP68 certification for cover in opposition to mud and water.

The newer Pixel 9 Pro will get a lighter, extra ergonomic footprint if you would like the identical options in a smaller dimension. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro XL provides some advantages, together with a bigger show as huge because the Pixel 7 Pro’s. If an even bigger show is your precedence, the following part particulars all of the methods it has modified because the Pixel 7 Pro.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: show

The Pixel 9 Pro collection will get two choices for show sizes — a smaller 6.3-inch show on the Pro and a bigger 6.8-inch show on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The former is much like the usual Pixel 9, whereas the latter is an identical to the Pro variants in earlier generations of Pixel telephones.

That means when you’ve got the Pixel 7 Pro and want to improve to a equally large-sized cellphone, the Pixel 9 Pro XL makes extra sense. The smaller Pixel 9 Pro is right if you would like the identical options however in a lighter and extra compact kind. However, outdoors of the show sizes, the Pixel 9 Pro and the XL have the identical options , so your determination could be primarily based fully on dimension.

As for different variations with the Pixel 7 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro has a considerably brighter show that now goes as much as 3,000 nits in peak brightness mode — in comparison with the two,000 nits on the Pixel 7 Pro. The Pixel 7 Pro’s show already had a good variety of particulars and vivid colours, and the Pixel 9 Pro’s Super Actua show doesn’t allow us to down in that regard. It’s nonetheless as excellent because it was earlier than.

While each sizes assist completely different resolutions on the show, you may cut back it to 1080p, saving battery. You get LTPO tech beneath that permits for variable refresh charges, ranging between 1Hz and 120Hz. This, once more, is applied to make sure that sooner refreshing doesn’t suck out the battery when it’s not wanted to.

Physically, Google has ditched the curved edges alongside the show because it has on the again of the Pixel 9 Pro. It has additionally changed the iffy optical fingerprint scanner with an ultrasonic one, which is quicker and rather more correct. You might want to select the display screen protectors in your Pixel 9 Pro extra rigorously to make sure the fingerprint scanner works correctly.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: efficiency

Google has armed the Pixel 9 Pro with a brand new Tensor G4 chip — a particular improve over the Pixel 7 Pro’s Tensor G2. Structural enhancements over the G2 make the Tensor G4 thermally extra environment friendly and, due to this fact, much less susceptible to throttling points. While there isn’t a large efficiency increase over final 12 months’s Tensor G3, the bounce from G2 to G4 might be felt instantly. The GPU onboard can be extra environment friendly.

One factor that continues to be fixed is the truth that Google remains to be utilizing Samsung’s flagship Exynos chips as reference as an alternative of designing its personal chips. Google’s personal addition comes within the type of the neural processing unit, which ought to elevate the expertise whereas operating AI-related duties. Once once more, the Pixel 9 Pro might be not probably the most supreme gaming cellphone, and it’s best to look elsewhere when you get pleasure from hardcore cellular gaming. However, it ought to greater than suffice for much less resource-intensive video games.

Google has additionally upgraded the RAM on the Pixel 9 Pro, upping it from 12GB beforehand to 16GB. The presence of additional RAM means that you can preserve extra apps open within the background. Notably, Google reserves roughly three gigs of the 16 for superfast AI processing. So, in essence, you’re solely getting an extra gigabyte of RAM. Irrespective, the change is welcome and may assist the cellphone keep afloat over the following a number of years that Google guarantees to maintain it updated.

On the Pixel 9 Pro, Google provides a 1TB storage possibility along with the present 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB alternate options, all of which have the identical RAM.

The Pixel 9 Pro’s extra environment friendly chip, extra RAM, and {hardware} allotted for AI will certainly supply a greater efficiency than the Pixel 7 Pro.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: battery and charging

The Pixel 7 Pro provided a good one-day battery backup again when it launched, and never a lot has modified over time. If something, we anticipate the Pixel 9 Pro telephones to last more due to the extra environment friendly Tensor G4 chip inside. There are, nonetheless, a couple of caveats to notice.

The two Pixel 9 Pro variants differ is when it comes to their battery capacities and charging speeds. The smaller Pixel 9 Pro comes with a 4,700mAh battery whereas the larger one comes with a 5,060mAh cell. The latter is an identical to the battery capability on the Pixel 7 Pro.

Simultaneously, each Pixel 9 Pro telephones include sooner charging than on the 7 Pro. The smaller one will get 27W wired and 21W wi-fi charging. On the opposite hand, the bigger one expenses a lot sooner at 37W by means of a wired connection and 27W wirelessly.

Notably, you would wish a 40W charger for the Pixel 9 Pro. The similar gained’t make the lower for the XL, and also you would wish to purchase a brick with at the least 45W output. The quick wi-fi charging speeds can solely be achieved utilizing second-gen Pixel Stand.

Although Google guarantees 24-hour battery lives with each new telephones, we managed to get longer backup throughout our respective critiques. So, that’s one other manner the Pixel 9 Pro outweighs the 7 Pro.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: cameras

Pixel telephones derive their names from the digital camera, and have constantly impressed on this regard regardless of different deficits. The Pixel 7 Pro was capable of seize unbelievable pictures with all three cameras, and the Pixel 9 Pro solely improves upon them.

The Pixel 9 Pro will get an upgraded digital camera system, each on {hardware} and software program ranges. Though the first 50-megapixel digital camera continues to make use of the identical sensor inside, the lens has been upgraded with a sooner aperture. The similar goes for the 5x periscope telephoto, which additionally will get a wider aperture lens. Meanwhile, the ultrawide has been upgraded from 12MP to 48MP. So has the selfie digital camera, which now includes a 42MP sensor instead of the ten.8MP earlier. All of those cameras, together with the one on the entrance, include autofocus capabilities.

The cameras on the Pixel 9 Pro indisputably have an edge when it comes to specs. But in actual life, the margin will not be far lengthy. Reasons to purchase the Pixel 9 Pro are as an alternative backed by AI options that improve pictures you are taking with it. For occasion, the Auto Frame characteristic will routinely place topics within the heart of body utilizing AI to generate some elements of the picture. The fanciest of all of them is Add Me, which seamlessly provides folks lacking from pictures, leading to unbelievably real-looking outcomes.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: software program and updates

Pixels are thought of the prime torchbearers of the Android expertise, bringing the newest options earlier than some other producer (with exceptions for Samsung, in some instances). At the time of its launch, the Pixel 7 Pro was the primary cellphone to run Android 13, however the expertise was marred by a barrage of bizarre, unexplainable bugs, a lot in order that Digital Trends Mobile Editor Joe Maring known as it one of many “buggiest and glitchiest smartphone” ever. Surprisingly, a few of our group members confronted these points whereas others didn’t.

Several months later, Digital Trends’ Mark Jansen nonetheless couldn’t do away with the bugs fully, which made him wish he never bought the Pixel 7 Pro. The bugs continued to plague some units even after the Android 14 replace final 12 months.

In comparability, the Pixel 9 Pro comes with a comparatively secure consumer expertise, and we haven’t encountered any bugs thus far. Interestingly, Google packaged it with final 12 months’s Android 14 as an alternative of Android 15, which gained’t be accessible till October.

Despite that, the Pixel 9 Pro comes with a number of AI options backed by Google’s Gemini. This consists of Pixel Screenshots, which shops context about screenshots and helps discover them extra shortly, a brand new Pixel Weather app, and different helpful options resembling Hold for Me for ready on calls. Google additionally bundles a Pixel Studio app that makes use of AI to generate photos, however the leads to our case have been unfiltered and quite concerning. Other than this, the Pixel 9 Pro performs flawlessly.

More importantly, the Pixel 9 Pro will get seven years of promised Android updates whereas the Pixel 7 Pro solely will get three — Android 16 being its final. So, in case you are trying to retain the cellphone for longer, the Pixel 9 Pro makes rather more sense.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: worth and availability

The Pixel 7 Pro started at $899 on the time of its launch. While it has been formally delisted from Google’s on-line retailer, you should still be capable of purchase some leftovers on Amazon or Walmart. Though we wouldn’t advocate doing that — the Pixel 8 Pro is a significantly better possibility if you wish to purchase an older Pixel for cheaper.

Meanwhile, all the additional goodness on the Pixel 9 Pro comes at an extra value. The smaller one begins at $999 whereas the Pixel 9 Pro XL is out there at a beginning worth of $1,099. The telephones are already accessible on the market, and you may get good-looking trade-in advantages by exchanging your older Pixel. For occasion, the Pixel 7 Pro with a 128GB storage brings in as much as $540 of advantages presently.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: verdict

The Pixel 9 Pro brings a plethora of latest upgrades, particularly compared to the Pixel 7 Pro. This features a higher show, sooner charging, extra secure efficiency, and barely higher cameras. That doesn’t essentially imply it’s best to chuck your previous cellphone away, particularly if it’s working effective. This can be true when you purchased the Pixel 7 Pro solely for its cameras, that are nonetheless getting older properly.

However, when you’ve got been craving for an extended software program replace, a extra placing design, and barely higher battery, upgrading to the Pixel 9 Pro is a no brainer. Moreover, when you’ve got been grappling with software program points or the slower fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 7 Pro, the improve makes much more sense. Trade-in advantages upward of $500 ought to simply tempt you into making the plunge.

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