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I'm not what you'd call an Apple fanboy, even though I love many of the brand's products. I've been using an iPhone daily for several years, a Mac for twenty years, and an iPad for as long as I can remember. I also have an Apple TV, an Apple Watch, and AirPods.
I love all of these products individually for different reasons, but also because they are part of a whole. However, in my job, I get to test other products, sometimes less successful, sometimes more. So much so that I may ditch an Apple device for a more interesting competitor.
Unless I have a professional obligation (I used to work for manufacturers), I have never found a better smartphone than the iPhone (for my needs, mind you). But for a few years now, Google Pixels have taken on the role of professional smartphone, alongside my trusty iPhone.
This year, the Pixel 9 reached a new milestone that made me question the place that the iPhone occupied in my daily tools. For the first time, Apple's stagnation (including with its iPhone 16) made me want to try something else. What if I replaced my iPhone 15 Pro (then 16 Pro) with the Pixel 9 Pro as my main smartphone ? I tried it for 2 months. Here is my full review.
The new design
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We can't say that Google hasn't tried to be bold in terms of design. For several years, the American has been trying a lot of things , even if it means putting off some consumers. Unfortunately, this emphasis on originality has not really borne fruit.
In 2024, Google is therefore changing its approach and making a 180-degree turn. degrees. Since consumers seem to love the iPhone's design, we might as well take inspiration from it. Too bad for variety, that'll teach you (ungrateful bunch).
So, the Pixel 9 Pro takes up the lines of the latest generations of iPhone, Characterized by a flat design with slightly rounded corners with a titanium-colored coating, very thin screen contours and a matte treatment with a beautiful effect.
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The brand also keeps its touch of originality by keeping a horizontal pill-shaped photo module. The whole thing exudes ultra-premium, of course, but brings that touch of seriousness and maturity that Google smartphones have been lacking until now. Enough to finally enter the big leagues.
Enough, also, to bring a breath of fresh air while Apple has been offering an identical design for several years. In use, this Pixel 9 Pro is pure pleasure. The weight distribution is perfect, the format is large enough to enjoy a certain display comfort while handling a relatively compact device.
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And what a screen! The 6.3'' LTPO OLED panel is simply magnificent! Apart from the Galaxy S24 Ultra with its anti-reflective coating, no one can struggle with the display quality of the Pixel 9 Pro. Special mention to the haptic system, still as delicious, which suffers no comparison among competitors. A simple pleasure that we tend to forget but which greatly contributes to the comfort of the daily.
Google Intelligence
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Unlike Apple – which has decided to engage in a probably endless war against the EU – Google thought of users by collaborating with European authorities. So, the Pixel 9 Pro comes with a good bunch of AI features. Admittedly, not as many as in the US (we have to do without < em>Pixel Studio or Screenchots for example), but enough to give this long-awaited new lease of life to smartphones.< /p>
Gemini, Google’s AI, is available with a simple long press of the on/off button. It replaces Google Assistant, the company’s historic voice assistant. With Gemini Live having been deployed, the AI now takes the form of a voice assistant capable of answering all sorts of questions as soon as it comes to finding them on the web. Google is drawing on its many years of experience in the field of online search.
Gemini can also be a creative assistant. For example, I was able to ask it to create bedtime stories for my 3-year-old child when I was lacking inspiration. The results are very convincing.
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Among the known tools, I never tire of the “Circle to search” function, the magic eraser in the Photos application, the function for editing a photo using a prompt, or the listening mode that allows you to recognize a song in a few seconds.
For now, Google's AI does not allow you to interact with the entire software while taking into account our uses. A limit perhaps imposed by European directives. But rather than providing nothing, Google has decided to focus on other features. A choice that I appreciate since my experience on the Pixel 9 Pro is much richer than the iPhone 15 Pro (the 16 Pro).
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Furthermore, I find that the combination of Android 14 with the Pixel overlay offers a neatly designed interface, with pleasant animations and fluid interactions. I really enjoy using the Pixel, which is full of customization settings. While it suffers from a few flaws (for example, deleting an app requires several unnecessary steps), the interface is, for me, the most pleasant to use on a daily basis. And the only one with Samsung's OneUI that can make me abandon my iPhone.
Good battery life
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In terms of battery life, the Pixel 9 Pro is not among the market leaders, but it remains a model that is durable enough to meet the needs of demanding users. If, like me, you are used to the iPhone 15 Pro (or any other iPhone following the 13), you will even have the impression that the Pixel 9 Pro is a real camel.
Indeed, while I recharged my iPhone 15 Pro at best every evening, at worst in the late afternoon, the Google smartphone, on the other hand, accompanies me on average a day and a half before going through the recharge box.
If I have already tested more durable models, these performances seem quite honest to me for a premium smartphone. In any case, I never really felt worried about seeing my battery run out before the end of the day. A significant comfort for a user like me who uses his smartphone all day long, mainly for energy-intensive uses (photo, video, etc.).
Still excellent in photo
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The Pixels have made a solid reputation for themselves in terms of photography, even if some sometimes criticize them for a somewhat aggressive digital processing. It is true that AI can push a little on certain parameters but over the years, Google has been able to refine its recipe until reaching the top.
Thanks to a trio of lenses (wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, telephoto), the Pixel 9 Pro rises to a stratospheric level. For technical details, I invite you to consult Marc's excellent test of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. I will focus here on what impressed me the most.
First, the wide-angle is flawless. Some may not appreciate the slightly higher contrasts, but that's exactly what I like about the Pixel signature. Especially since Google has worked on the colorimetry for a more realistic final rendering, closer to what an iPhone can produce.
Ultra wide-angle
Wide-angle
The Pixel 9 Pro stands out on two points: its telephoto lens first , associated with digital processing, which allows output excellent quality photos up to 10x zoomand even to stand out in low light. Its ultra wide-angle, then, which does not suffer from any of the defects usually found in competitors (distortion, preservation of details, etc.).
© Ultra wide-angle
© Wide-angle
© Zoom 2x
Beyond pure quality, the Pixel 9 Pro is packed with fun features sprinkled with AI. With Add me, for example, you can add yourself in a photo so as to no longer be the one who is never in group photos. The magic eraser, magic retouch and so many other features are also part of the game to push the limits of photo editing on smartphones. In this game, the iPhone is light years ahead of what Google offers.
Portrait
Low light
Some might say that these features are gimmicks. That’s what I thought before I got to the end of these 2 months of testing. But after taking the iPhone 16 Pro for a test drive for two weeks, I ended up really missing them. So much so that the Pixel 9 Pro has become my main camera.
Less good at video than the iPhone
If Google has managed to make its Pixel 9 Pro a benchmark in photography, it still has a little work to do to reach Apple's level in the video exercise.
It has tried some improvements this year, such as the improved zoom which brings more fluidity in the transitions between the different camera modules. The Video Boost, which improves the videos uploaded to Google's servers, is also an interesting feature. The possibility of filming in 8K with improved stabilization is also a welcome new feature.
Despite everything, I prefer filming with an iPhone 15 Pro, and by far. During my experience, I received the iPhone 16 Pro for testing. It raises the bar again in this exercise with the integration of 4K at 120 fps as well as Audio mix, a feature allowing to improve the sound of videos according to different scenarios.
For personal use (holiday videos, family videos, sports videos, etc.) the Pixel 9 Pro is therefore largely up to par. But for professional video use, the iPhone remains the market benchmark.
Recharges as slow
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iPhone users have never tasted the joys of ultra-fast charging. Bad news, switching to the Pixel 9 Pro won't allow them not either. With a maximum charging power of 27 W, Google's latest is even one of the bad students, along with the iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S. Like its competitors, it takes more than an hour for the Pixel 9 Pro to fully charge.
Fortunately, its comfortable battery life didn't force me to desperately search for a charger in the middle of the day. I usually charge the Pixel 9 Pro at night or at the office using a wireless charger. So I don't feel any particular inconvenience on a daily basis. However, I regularly test models compatible with ultra-fast charging, so I would have liked this additional security which is very practical in certain cases (for example at trade fairs or conferences where smartphones are put to the test).
Raw performances that raise questions
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Like the rest of the range, the Pixel 9 Pro runs on the Tensor G4, Google's latest in-house chip. Like the previous generation, this platform gives pride of place to artificial intelligence. The engineers therefore worked particularly on the NPU part of the chip.
Obviously, sacrifices had to be made on other elements. The CPU (computing power) and the GPU (graphics part) are therefore less well off than competitors. The result is a Pixel 9 Pro that is a bit below par for certain uses. This is the case in gaming by example where the framerate tends to drop on poorly optimized 3D games.Photo editing and small video montages sometimes suffer from some slowdowns.
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In 2 months, I have had little taste of these episodes of weakness but they do exist. In 99% of cases, the Pixel 9 Pro responds perfectly to my requirements. I don't even see any difference with the iPhone 16 Pro that I've been testing for almost a month. The animations, multitasking, productivity and creation apps, everything works perfectly.
But until when ? Google promises 7 years of major updates for this Pixel 9 Pro. By then, I will have changed models, like most consumers (who renew on average every three years now). But for the second-hand market, will the Pixel 9 Pro be as attractive ? Will the Tensor G4 chip be able to adapt to the evolutions of applications in the next 7 years ? Nothing is less certain.
Those who know me know that I have appreciated the Pixel for several years. This does not prevent me from being critical in my tests published on Presse-citron. However, this year, I'm having a hard time parting with my Pixel 9 Pro.
Google seems to have finally found its perfect recipe for the premium smartphone. Well, almost. A fast charging system, a little effort on video and a slightly more powerful chip for gaming wouldn't hurt. Especially since the brand offers a seven-year update tracker!
The Pixel 9 Pro won me over like no other smartphone before. I found that little feeling of excitement before receiving it, a feeling that hasn't left me since I started using it on a daily basis. Every time I pick it up, I find its exquisite design, its sublime screen and I delight in navigating its interface. It has also become my main camera, for reasons discussed in this review.
“ Okay, great, but journalists and influencers all say that and then they go back to their iPhone ”some will say. I have already been told this several times. And you know what ? The Pixel 9 Pro has become my main smartphone instead of my iPhone. And I'm not sure that's changing anytime soon.
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