Google Pixel 9 Pro review

20 September 2024


Sort by:

  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • Ci%
  • 20 Sep 2024

Nick Tegrataker, 20 Sep 2024"Qualcomm shareholders" Even if I were a Googl... moreGoogle is selling near 10 million phones per year.
More than expected.
They see zero reason to try to make any better.

This in USA is gonna sell more than non-huawei flagships in China.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • mmV
    • 20 Sep 2024

    Simon, 20 Sep 2024I'd give 3 at most. I can't say much about the ... morei don’t know how to tell you this but not everyone care about how powerful a hardware is on a phone, there just want good photos for social media

      It's worth mentioning that Google has clearly lost its touch when it comes to image processing after Marc Levoy left their imaging department.

      On Pixel 5 Google changed the way images are stacked (instead of combining multiple underexposed images, it started to use exposure bracketing) which created far more obvious misaligned pixels as shown by awful random colour blotches in the stacked RAW files.

      Pixel 6 and 7 series went way too aggressive with noise reduction in the post-processing, which caused photos to look excessively waxy.

      Even the latest generation of Pixel still overprocesses details in low light, the stacked RAW still looks extremely inconsistent when it comes to noise pattern, and the main camera now suffers from what seems to be a hardware QC issue - the lens doesn't seem to have a good enough sharpness to fully resolve 50MP, as evidenced by the samples provided by GSMArena, as the centre of the frame looks noticeably blurry when viewed at 100% magnification.

      It's funny how RAW files coming out of a GCAM port on my Galaxy S23 Ultra and Redmi Note 13 Pro look less noisy and are easier to edit in post. Google just can't seem to get it right for some reason.

        [deleted post]Yeah, except it doesn't.

        Geekerwan's power curve chart really shows how far behind Tensor G3 (and presumably G4) is in terms of both CPU and GPU performance/efficiency. D9300+ CPU is more efficient than that of 8g3 under high load.

        https://www.socpk.com/cpucurve/gb6/
        https://www.socpk.com/gpucurve/gfx/

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • LfV
          • 20 Sep 2024

          Anonymous, 20 Sep 2024It falls behind d8300 in terms of gpu despite d8300 having ... moreD8300: 11,2k peak and 8,8k sustained performance in wild life

            Simon, 20 Sep 2024I'd give 3 at most. I can't say much about the ... moreHaven't had any of the issues you are talking about. What app are you uninstalling 4 times? That doesn't even make sense. Honestly sounds like you don't know how to use your phone. You can't copy text in an image? Long press the bottom bar on your screen and you can select or circle literally anything on any screen including your gallery and copy text very easily.

              • T
              • T
              • g4p
              • 20 Sep 2024

              Please show or explain how a flat camera bar makes the phone wobbly? That is the first time I have read that about this phone. I would consider my iPhone to be wobbly due to is massive camera on one side of the phone.

                Anonymous, 20 Sep 2024Qualcomm shareholds complaning againg about a phone that th... more"Qualcomm shareholders"

                Even if I were a Google shareholder, I would still dare to criticise how overpriced this midrange phone is, just saying.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • LfV
                  • 20 Sep 2024

                  Nick Tegrataker, 20 Sep 2024Tensor G4 performing comparably to Kirin 9010 in terms of C... moreIt falls behind d8300 in terms of gpu despite d8300 having gpu less cores, both in peak and sustained performance

                    It's still very good phone, but I hope they will finally abandon this horrible Samsung chipset for TSMC one next year. Even if it's completely fine for normal usage, it's performance is embarrassing for the price, for example editing photos, videos, gaming.
                    The other thing they have to improve is portrait mode, but it can be also improved by software updates, so it's more strange they can't do it since Pixel 6 series.
                    More things which I hope we will see in Pixel 10 is 4K cinematic mode, at least 2.5K active mode, 4K 120 FPS, 5x zoom portrait and macro mode and improved transition between lens.

                      Tensor G4 performing comparably to Kirin 9010 in terms of CPU and falling far behind Snapdragon 8gen2 in GPU is genuinely hilarious, given how expensive Pixel 9 Pro siblings are. Embarrassingly bad sustained performance (This needs to be emphasised because its peak performance isn't great to start with) is just the icing on the cake.

                      GSMArena, the 256GB model of S24 Ultra is currently sold at below 1.1K USD at the moment, are you really sure this upper-midrange phone somehow deserves 4.4 out of 5? Like, if anyone around me were trying to purchase this device without any discount, I would absolutely try my best to prevent them from doing so, because it's obvious that Google is overcharging people with this generation of Pixel.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • Brt
                        • 20 Sep 2024

                        BlahBlah, 20 Sep 2024Not a great chipset agree. But do i need more performance? ... moreCorrect, unless your a heavy gamer avoid..if not, a great phone for the majority.. if google had left their prices alone the 9 series could have been an home run but as you said, not for everyone.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 0p}
                          • 20 Sep 2024

                          Qualcomm shareholds complaning againg about a phone that they will not buy.🙃

                            Whatever spat went on between Samsung and Google, Google has had over 1 year with the benefit of AI to improve on the 9 Core Tensor G3 it did not

                            Stay with me... Qualcomm would not name the Tensor G4, G4 as this is Octo core so doesn't follow the same architecture unless it just numeric 4 which should have been avoided

                            This is where it gets bizarre, instead of developing the potential of a nine core SoC
                            wait for it.... the Tensor G4 is the upgraded Exynos 2200 with the latest cortices
                            1+3+4 see for yourself

                            https://nanoreview.net/en/soc-compare/samsung-exynos-2200-vs-google-tensor-g4

                            Either the G5 "reverts" to a nine core SoC, or Google do one of two things go fully Snapdragon FLAGSHIP! or use upgraded Octo core architecture. The Tensor G5 cannot be another under whelming SoC, chasing the performance of many mid rangers but costing more

                            All in all the Tensor G4 ranks BELOW Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3, so better than the Tensor G3. As an example you have to consider the price of the Google Pixel 9 fold SoC is not even 2022 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 $1899?

                            There are two significant dates and significant announcements expected from Qualcomm, the first is between now and 23rd September 2024

                            The second is the October announcement of the latest Snapdragon SoC. if as rumoured it is a 3nm SoC It WON'T be named Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, ONLY if it remains a 4nm SoC will it be called Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 which is just a name of convenience

                            Qualcomm has always changed the naming of it's SoC when the process changes 4nm to 3nm is that.

                            Whilst I appreciate and no doubt many of us will benefit from A.I I simply do not understand how spoof features such as Best Take and Add me in.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • nFP
                              • 20 Sep 2024

                              David, 20 Sep 2024That camera bump ruins it for me, and the G logo which is s... moreThe camera visor is the best part imo. I love the hardware, it's just the software that lets it down.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • I8p
                                • 20 Sep 2024

                                BlahBlah, 20 Sep 2024Hey, just wanted to ask what do you do on your phone like d... moreI returned mine. The 9 pro xl was like a mirror outside. S24u is the best phone with the best screen.

                                  • B
                                  • BlahBlah
                                  • Lec
                                  • 20 Sep 2024

                                  nion, 20 Sep 2024Damn, these RAM numbers are getting out of hand lol Ther... moreI think i red somewhere that out of 16GB of RAM it has only 13GB available as 3GB is reserved for AI tasks only. So, it has just 1GB of RAM more then in previous series but it sounds better on paper. Lol.

                                    • B
                                    • BlahBlah
                                    • Lec
                                    • 20 Sep 2024

                                    Simon, 20 Sep 2024I'd give 3 at most. I can't say much about the ... moreHey, just wanted to ask what do you do on your phone like daily. My experience with Pixel 7 as my first Pixel ever was pretty good considering it cost me just 650€. And i compared it with the likes of S23 Ultra which is my work phone, my personal Xperia 1 V phone and previous OnePlus 7 Pro (which would be the perfect for me if only their cameras are any better... So, if you're after for a good and consisent camera results you can't go wrong with Pixel in contrast to these mentiones is by far the best. At least for me. That was actually my reasonings to go away from OnePlus and try Pixels and my expextations are achieved. I guess i'm not a demanding user because i see a lot of people not happy even with the new Pixel 9 series and i'm having a 9 Pro which is almost on par with S23 Ultra which already (by my standards) have a great battery life with 2 days of use (weekends not included, because of trips with kids yadda yadda..)

                                    Now, considering the battery and chipset efficiency, i'm not a heavy user, so basicaly using phones only for occasional shooting pics/vids and social apps. On weekends that can be sometimes a hard core use of the camera app, but that's i guess expected when you have two kids running around.

                                    Fyi; since you had OnePlus 10 as a previous phone, what made you try the Pixels?

                                      • n
                                      • nion
                                      • pq{
                                      • 20 Sep 2024

                                      PureOS, 20 Sep 2024Terrible soc. Maybe worst thermal throttling ever classifie... moreAgreed. GSM Arena's reviews are the most biased thing on the internet.

                                      Everything that Apple and Google make is top tier but Samsung is apparently sh*t lol

                                      This phone got better rating than Galaxy S24+... which is stupid on so many levels lol

                                        • B
                                        • BlahBlah
                                        • Lec
                                        • 20 Sep 2024

                                        Anonymous, 20 Sep 2024You couldn't pay me to use your smartphone with this S... moreNot a great chipset agree. But do i need more performance? No. So, obviously for some users it's not of an issue at all.

                                        it's an issue only for those looking at the benchmark or perfomance in gaming. It depends what do you do on your phone. I'm not a power user and didn't have any issues with Pixel 7 in almost 2 years of use living in Dalmatia in Croatia, EU with moderate climate. It can be a little hot to touch if you're doing something intensive but nothing too different then other phones in house we have. Would i want to be on par with other competition efficiency wise? Sure! Do i need it right now? No.
                                        Will i have my Pixel 9 Pro for 7 years to find out? No. I will buy another in aprox. 3 years and "the old" one i will pass to another family member.

                                        This is just my angle so you tech gurus know that some users can be absolutely happy even with mid-range performing phone you payed for 1k €, because we cherish some other things or aspects on the phone. For example you and many fellow commentators can't coprehend the fact Pixel is a flagship device with out flagship performance and i get that. Many people just want the cheapest best performing phone out there and we have many options to choose from, especially Redmi and Poco. These are great performer, but what about other areas? Not so great right? But also, who cares. Buyers of Poco F5 will not cry over bad camera results. There is valid reason why Google went with Samsung 4 years ago and they will never use Snapdragon again, but that's apparently too hard to swallow for some.

                                        So in conclusion. Sure, Tensor is not the best out there, not even by a long shot. But it offers Google to be unique in its field and what it has to offer in contrast to others. Do you personally care for that uniqness? If the answer is no i understand and respect your opinion, but it's the same regarding my opinion about perfomance in Tensor. It's not the greatest, but in the other hand i don't need it. I need a good and consistent camera results. Who knows, maybe my habits will change and i will be all in for a highest possible performing phone because say... My AI fancy stuff will not work. It's hard to swallow that big of a difference for that flagship price i know, but then again, i fricking buy'd the Xperia 1 V with its Snapdragon 8 gen 2 and with my habits they perform the same to me, but i liked Pixel 7 more as it gave better overall results not just from the main camera. It really really depends everything on you as a user and what do you expect.

                                        Im really liking the Pixel 9 Pro so far and looking at my work phone the Galaxy S23 Ultra with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 i really can't see the difference in perfomance. But maybe i would if i play games which as mantioned earlier i don't. Battery life on 9 Pro is much better when Pixel 7 was brand new which was already a good enough for me through the day, so again, i don't have any issues regarding performance or efficiency, but i read a lot of people does, so i am aware Pixels are not for everyone.


                                          6 of 8