At its Pixel 9 launch event, Google is releasing its newest flagship phones, and aside from adding a smaller-size Pro model, the search giant has a few changes in its lineup. Here's how the Pixel 9 specs compare to its premium Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL siblings.
On paper, the Pixel 9 series are the most powerful phones Google has released yet. Alongside the new Google-designed Tensor G4 chipset, the handsets have more memory and battery capacity with larger displays. But they're also more expensive, with each model getting a $100 price bump, with the Pixel 9 starting at $799, the Pixel 9 Pro starting at $999 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL starting at $1,099.
That's a continued price creep for the Pixel phones: only two years ago, the Pixel 7 launched at $599. Google's handsets have gotten more powerful and added AI features, and the Pixel 9 series comes with the same seven-year pledge for Android software and security updates as its predecessor (the Pixel 7 will age out of both in 2025).
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As mentioned above, there are three phones in the Pixel 9 family: the basic Pixel 9, the new Pixel 9 Pro, and the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL. The two smaller phones have the same size, virtually the same weight and the same battery capacity, but they differ in cameras, display sharpness and RAM.
The Gemini AI features are a big differentiator in the Pixel 9 series over its predecessors, and all three phones will get the same ones. As Google detailed at its I/O developer conference, many of these AI tools aim to help improve your day-to-day by, for example, taking a photo of your refrigerator's contents and asking the company's Gemini chat assistant what meals to make. While Magic Eraser has been a camera software staple for years, the new Add Me mode uses AR to combine multiple images so everyone can get into one photo.
Thus, the big differences between the Pixel 9 phones are in hardware. While all three phones pack the same Google Tensor G4 chipset, the basic Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL have 16GB of RAM and come in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB configurations.
The basic and premium models also differ in display sharpness. The Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch OLED display with 2,424x1,080-pixel resolution for a 422-pixels-per-inch density (and 60-120Hz variable refresh rate); on the other hand, the Pixel 9 Pro's same size 6.3-inch LTPO OLED screen has 2,856x1,280-pixel resolution for 495 ppi density, while the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL's 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display has 2,992x1,344-pixel resolution for 486 ppi density, presumably leading to sharper visuals. Both of the latter premium phones have a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, allowing them to slow down the screen refreshing to save battery.
A Pixel 9 showing the new Pixel Screenshots app, which helps you find useful information captured in screenshots.
Battery size is where the size difference comes into play. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro have 4,700-mAh batteries, while the larger Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5,060-mAh battery.
Cameras are delineated on basic vs. premium lines, however. The Pixel 9 has a 50-megapixel main rear camera and 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, along with a 10.5-megapixel front-facing camera. The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL have the 50-megapixel main and 48-megapixel ultrawide cameras as well as a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, as well as a 42-megapixel front-facing camera. All three phones can shoot video in 4K.
Here is the Pixel 9 Pro (left) and the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
All three phones launch with Android 14 and, as previously mentioned, will get seven years of operating system and security updates. That means, yes, the phones aren't launching alongside the upcoming Android 15, likely owing to Google's decision to move up their release to August ahead of the usual October launch window for new Pixel phones -- but the company has assured that the Pixel 9 series will get Android 15. They also come with Satellite SOS, Google's new emergency satellite contact service rivaling Apple's iPhone-only Emergency SOS.
For specifics on how the Pixel 9 phones precisely compare to each other, pore over CNET's detailed specs sheet below:
Pixel 9 specs vs. Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL
| Google Pixel 9 | Google Pixel 9 Pro | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate | 6.3-inch OLED; 2,424x1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate | 6.3-inch LTPO OLED; 2,856x1,280 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.8-inch LTPO OLED; 2,992x1,344 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 422 ppi | 495 ppi | 486 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6x2.8x0.3 inches | 6x2.8x0.3 inches | 6.4x3x0.3 inches |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 152.8x72x8.5 mm | 152.8x72x8.5 mm | 162.8x76.6x8.5 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 198g (7 oz.) | 199g (7 oz.) | 221g (7.8 oz) |
| Mobile software | Android 14 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Camera | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto) |
| Front-facing camera | 10.5-megapixel | 42-megapixel | 42-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM/storage | 12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB | 16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | None | None | None |
| Battery | 4,700 mAh | 4,700 mAh | 5,060 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under display | Under display | Under display |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None |
| Special features | Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; IP68 dust and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor | Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; IP68 dust and water resistance; Video Boost with 8K Upscaling; Macro Focus on ultrawide; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; 3,000-nit peak brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor | Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; IP68 dust and water resistance; Video Boost with 8K Upscaling; Macro Focus on ultrawide; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; 3,000-nit peak brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor |
| US price starts at | $799 (128GB) | $999 (128GB) | $1,099 (128GB) |
| UK price starts at | Converts to £640 (128GB) | Converts to £780 (128GB) | Converts to £860 (128GB) |
| Australia price starts at | Converts to AU$1,210 (128GB) | Converts to AU$1,510 (128GB) | Converts to AU$1,670 (128GB) |