Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Is it time to improve?

Google has lastly let the world in on its not-so-well-kept secret: the Google Pixel 9 sequence is right here, and all 4 new telephones have one thing to supply. The Google Pixel 9 is the entry level to Google’s newest gadgets, whereas the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is Google’s second-generation foldable.

And when you purchased the Google Pixel 8 Pro final yr, it’s possible you’ll marvel if the Google Pixel 9 Pro is well worth the improve. Should you get the smaller Pixel 9 Pro or the bigger Pixel 9 Pro XL? And is there any distinction between all these gadgets in addition to the scale and a brand new processor? If you’re coming from an older cellphone or shopping for into the Pixel ecosystem for the primary time, is it value shopping for the Pixel 9 Pro, or is final yr’s Pixel 8 Pro adequate?

Here’s how the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL evaluate to the Pixel 8 Pro.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: specs

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Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: design and show

The Pixel 9 Pro XL can greatest be thought of the alternative for the Pixel 8 Pro, however for the primary time this yr, it has a smaller brother designed for many who need a Pro expertise in a smaller kind issue. Designed to supply selection without having to sacrifice the core specs, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL each have the identical specs other than show measurement and battery capacities.

The former has a 6.3-inch Super Actua show, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch Super Actua show. If you’re contemplating upgrading from the Pixel 8 Pro, you’ll in all probability discover the XL most snug, however when you’ve held off on shopping for the 8 Pro as a result of the 6.7-inch show was too giant, you’ll need to contemplate the Pixel 9 Pro.

The new Super Actua shows are the brightest on a Pixel but, with as much as 2000 nits HDR and 3000 nits peak brightness. This makes them 25% brighter than the Pixel 8 Pro and a few of the brightest shows on any cellphone so far.

One of our favourite issues about Pixel telephones is the array of coloration choices. Google is aware of how one can make telephones in enticing colours, particularly in a manner that isn’t garish or cheesy. The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL each are available in 4 fashionable colours: Obsidian (aka White), Porcelain (aka Black), Hazel, and Rose Quartz. There’s no follow-up to the unimaginable blue Pixel 8 Pro, however the Rose Quartz coloration is a good selection this yr.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: efficiency and battery

A brand new cellphone means a brand new processor, however there’s no huge change in structure or provider. The Pixel 8 Pro was powered by the Tensor G3, and the Tensor G4 powers the Pixel 9 Pro sequence. Recognizing the necessity for extra reminiscence, particularly with the AI-first expertise, the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL each additionally include 16GB of RAM (versus 12GB within the Pixel 8 Pro).

The Tensor G4 is designed to carry enhancements in day-to-day duties whereas additionally making certain that every one Pixel 9 gadgets can run Google’s most superior AI modals effectively. Google says the Tensor G4 is the primary processor to run Gemini Nano with multimodality. This means you’ll get the most effective AI efficiency — 45 tokens per second, to be exact — with any of the brand new Pixel 9 sequence, and all of them can acknowledge textual content, picture, audio, and speech inputs.

Google isn’t the primary to launch AI options, and it received’t be the final, however when you purchase the Pixel 9 Pro, you’ll get a yr of Gemini Advanced totally free (it usually prices $20 per 30 days). Gemini can also be the default assistant on all Pixel 9 telephones, though you possibly can change it to Google Assistant.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL technically has a bigger battery (5,060 mAh) than the Pixel 8 Pro (5,050 mAh), however at simply 10mAh larger, it’d as properly be an identical. The battery life on the Pixel 8 Pro left many individuals with considerations, so it’s unclear simply how significantly better the battery might be. If the Pixel 9 Pro XL battery does show to be higher, this will probably be all the way down to the effectivity of the Tensor G4 processor. The Pixel 9 Pro has a smaller 4,700mAh battery which is more likely to have inferior battery life in comparison with the Pixel 8 Pro.

This yr, Google is giving the Pixel a much-needed charging increase. The Pixel 8 Pro affords 30-watt charging that takes a cellphone to 50% in half-hour, whereas the entire Pixel 9 Pro sequence now helps 45W charging. For the Pixel 9 Pro, this implies as much as 55% cost in about half-hour, whereas for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google says it’ll go as much as 70% in about half-hour. There’s additionally Qi wi-fi charging, however no help for MagSafe-like Qi2 magnetic wi-fi charging.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: cameras

The cameras on the Pixel 9 Pro are largely the identical as these on the Pixel 8 Pro, albeit with a number of small tweaks. That means you get the identical triple digicam system, together with the 50MP broad digicam, 48MP ultrawide digicam with Macro Focus, and the 48MP telephoto lens that gives 5x optical zoom.

Google is thought for making magic by pairing AI with glorious digicam {hardware}, and the Pixel 9 Pro affords nice photographs at varied zoom lengths — together with 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, and 10x — all with out additional {hardware}. Super Res Zoom — which helps you to zoom as much as 30x — is now additionally out there in video for the primary time.

The front-facing digicam is a fine addition from final yr. The Pixel 8 Pro sports activities a ten.5MP ultrawide selfie digicam with an f/2.2 aperture, however the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL have the most effective of any Pixel so far. The new 42MP selfie digicam affords 4x the element and presumably can use pixel binning to let in rather more gentle on the 10.5MP vary. Expect significantly better selfies on the Pixel 9 Pro versus the Pixel 8 Pro.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: software program and updates

If you’re a Google Pixel fan, you’ll have observed that this yr’s launch is early — a lot sooner than ever earlier than.

Previous launches came about in October, so the Pixel sequence was the primary to run the most recent Android OS, however this yr’s launch is simply too early for that. Android 15 remains to be in beta, and the Pixel 9 sequence received’t launch with Android 15 out of the field. Instead, there’s Android 14 out of the field, with a future replace to Android 15 sdet to reach when it’s out there.

It’s unclear whether or not this improve to Android 15 will rely as one of many seven assured model updates. Nonetheless, Google is promising 7/7/7 as its replace schedule: seven years of updates, seven years of safety updates, and 7 years of Pixel function drops. This means it needs to be supported till August 2031, whereas the Pixel 8 Pro will probably be supported till October 2030. With this yr’s launch timing, nonetheless, each telephones ought to technically finish with the identical Android model.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: AI options

As you may count on, the brand new Pixel 9 sequence debuts many AI options. Some of those could come to the Pixel 8 Pro in future Drops, but it surely’s unclear which of them and whether or not some could require the Tensor G4. Google understands how one can make magic with software program, and a few of these options might be simply as transformative as Magic Eraser was three years in the past.

Add Me will seemingly be probably the most used of those new options because it solves one of many largest issues: how one can take a photograph together with your pal that isn’t a selfie. Sure, you possibly can ask a random stranger, or you possibly can simply depend on Google. Add Me works by taking two photographs – one with you and one together with your pal – after which stitching them collectively. It’s a chic answer to a really actual downside and one which’s more likely to delight many individuals.

Magic Eraser can also be getting a small replace within the type of Auto Frame. Magic Eraser can now recompose a photograph to enhance the composition of a photograph, and it’s also possible to kind a immediate to generate new gadgets and add them to the picture. There are additionally AI-powered enhancements to Video Boost, which may apply HDR+ at any zoom stage and can even upscale to 8K, though the latter is proscribed to simply the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL.

One new addition that’s significantly helpful is the Pixel Screenshots app. We’ve all taken screenshots of essential info — similar to residence codes or Wi-Fi passwords — solely to by no means be capable to discover these screenshots later. Now, screenshots go into the devoted app, and you may simply ask Gemini that can assist you discover them by offering particulars.

For instance, ask Gemini on your residence codes, and it’ll go your request on to the Pixel Screenshots app. The app will floor the codes and present you the corresponding screenshots. It’s surprisingly neat and needs to be fairly useful for almost anybody.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: value and availability

The Pixel 8 Pro began at $999 and got here with 12GB of RAM alongside 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. The Pixel 9 Pro begins on the identical value with the identical storage choices, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro XL is $100 extra. Both of the Pixel 9 sequence telephones include 16GB of RAM.

Essentially, this implies the Pixel 9 Pro XL — which is probably the most comparable in measurement to the Pixel 8 Pro — is barely costlier this yr. Much like the worth enhance for the Galaxy Z Fold 6, it’s exhausting to actually justify this, though not less than the Pixel 9 Pro is extra of an improve than Samsung’s newest foldable.

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL can be found to preorder as of August 13. The Pixel 9 Pro XL formally goes on sale on August 22, whereas the smaller Pixel 9 Pro received’t be formally out there till September 4.

Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 8 Pro: verdict

Should you improve from the Pixel 8 Pro to the Pixel 9 Pro or the Pixel 9 Pro XL, or do you have to purchase the Pixel 8 Pro as an alternative of both of the brand new gadgets?

The reply, as all the time, is dependent upon what you might be searching for. There’s a robust probability that you would be able to snag a terrific Pixel 8 Pro deal, which might make it a superb buy. Similarly, if you need the blue model from final yr (which is admittedly beautiful), it’s essential to go for the Pixel 8 Pro.

However, when you’re new to the Pixel ecosystem, we advocate shopping for the brand new Pixel 9 Pro sequence. There’s no cause to pay the identical value for final yr’s cellphone. We do advocate the Tensor G4 over final yr’s Tensor G3 processor, so keep away from the Pixel 8 Pro when you can assist it. If you need a smaller model of the Pro cellphone with out the trade-offs that come from a non-Pro just like the common Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro is the one to purchase. If you need the following technology of the Pixel 8 Pro in the same measurement (albeit 0.1 inches bigger), the Pixel 9 Pro XL is your pal.

If you’re at present holding on to a Pixel 8 Pro, your determination is a bit totally different. If your Pixel 8 Pro remains to be operating properly and also you don’t have any points with it, the Pixel 9 Pro (or the 9 Pro XL) is unlikely to be a revolutionary improve for you. The upgraded specs are actually good, however in addition they aren’t life-changing. If you want your Pixel 8 Pro simply fantastic, go forward and maintain on to it. But when you have additional money to burn and like having the latest and shiniest cellphone, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL received’t go away you dissatisfied.

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