Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL review
Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 6.3-inch Super Actua, up to 120Hz | Cameras: Rear array (50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, 48MP 5x telephoto lens), 42MP dual PD selfie front camera with autofocus | Battery: 4,700mAh
Finally, a smaller Pixel Pro. Google's Pixel series has long been one of the best Android phones around, with the Pro model being the superior version. But it was always a little too big and too cumbersome for those of us who have smaller hands or want our phones to fit in our pockets. Cue the Pixel 9 Pro, which is the littler version of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Instead of a relatively large 6.8-inch screen like that on its bigger sibling, the standard Pro has a 6.3-inch display that is easy to maneuver. No more worrying about dropping your Pixel Pro just because you fumbled while trying to reach the top of the screen!
Better yet, with the Pixel 9 Pro, Google hasn't sacrificed any key feature to get to the smaller size, meaning you'll find the same camera setup and performance in both handsets. The only real differences are the screen size, battery and charging speeds, as the non-XL model recharges at a slightly slower rate. But the Pixel 9 Pro is also much longer-lasting than the XL, notching almost 25 hours on our battery test.
Those distinctions aside, the Pixel 9 Pro lineup is our favorite Android phone because of its top-notch camera performance, intriguing AI features and a general grown-up vibe. While previous Pixel flagships had a colorful, blocky design that felt fresh, this year's devices feel solid and refined. And, dare we say it, almost like iPhones. Without the camera bars, they would be pretty hard to tell apart from Apple's phones.
Possibly because it's grown up so much over the years, but the Pixel phones now cost the same as iPhones. The Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro both start at $999, and though some of us have come to think of Google's handsets as the more competitively priced option, this year's model might be good enough to justify a premium price. If you still want something from the Pixel 9 family but don't want to pay $1,000, the base Pixel 9 is still a solid handset for most people. But as it stands, the Pixel 9 Pro is the best Android handset money can buy. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor