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Review · Google
Google Pixel 9 Pro Review: The Smartest Phone You Can Buy in 2026
Won Most Improved at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. The Pixel 9 Pro is the smartest phone you can buy in 2026 — Magic Editor, Pixel Studio, Gemini Nano, and the cleanest Android experience. Tensor G4 isn't the fastest chip in the segment, but for everyday users that simply doesn't matter. The most opinionated phone on this list.
By SmartphoneAwards Editorial · Published · Updated
Pros
- Best on-device AI features in any phone — Magic Editor, Pixel Studio, Gemini Nano
- Cleanest Android experience with seven years of updates
- Fantastic computational photography out of the box
- Won MKBHD's 2024 Most Improved award
Cons
- Tensor G4 throttles on sustained workloads (gaming, 4K render)
- Battery life is merely average for the price tier
- $999 puts it within $100 of the S25 Ultra
- Telephoto zoom range is shorter than Samsung's
Why MKBHD called it Most Improved
Pixel 8 Pro (2023) was a competent but unremarkable flagship. The 9 Pro fixed nearly every complaint: brighter display, better thermals, refined design, and a Tensor G4 that finally feels appropriate to its price. The Most Improved award reflects how much the line jumped in a single generation — and the trajectory is now squarely competitive with iPhone and Galaxy.
Design & Display
Refined boxy design with rounded sides — the most premium-feeling Pixel ever. 6.3-inch Super Actua LTPO display, 1–120Hz, ~3,000 nits peak. Bezels are tighter than the 8 Pro and the camera bar (now matte) feels more deliberate. Among the best non-Apple builds in 2026.
Performance
Tensor G4 is faster than G3 but still trails Snapdragon 8 Elite and A19 Pro on benchmarks and sustained loads. For day-to-day use you won't notice; for heavy gaming or video editing you will. The bigger story is what the chip enables: Tensor G4 has more dedicated AI silicon than rivals, which is why on-device Gemini Nano features are smoother here than on competitors.
Camera
Triple 50MP system: main + ultrawide + 5x telephoto. Stills out of the box are the best on Android for everyday family photography — the Pixel pipeline has always been opinionated and consistently great. Where the 9 Pro really wins is post-capture: Magic Editor lets you reposition subjects, Best Take swaps faces from a burst, and Audio Magic Eraser cleans video audio. These features aren't gimmicks — they're genuinely useful and routinely save shots that were 'almost' good. The 9 Pro placed in MKBHD's 2024 awards but did not take Best Camera (iPhone 16 Pro did).
Battery
4,700 mAh battery, 27W wired, 21W wireless. Real-world: 5.5–6.5 hours of screen-on time. The weakest spec on this phone — fine for moderate users, tight for heavy users. We strongly recommend the Pro XL if you want all-day-plus battery.
AI & Software
Pixel UI is the cleanest Android in 2026. Seven years of OS and security updates. Gemini is integrated as the default assistant and works noticeably better than Bixby or pre-Apple-Intelligence Siri. The signature Pixel features — Call Screen, Hold for Me, Recorder transcription — remain exclusive and remain best-in-class.
Verdict · 4.5 / 5
The Pixel 9 Pro is the right phone for buyers who care about AI features and software experience above raw spec-sheet supremacy. It won MKBHD's 2024 Most Improved award for a reason — Google fixed the long-standing complaints. If you want predictable, opinionated, intelligent Android, this is the buy. If you want the highest-spec Android, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is your phone.
🛒 Buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro on AmazonAlternatives to consider
Frequently Asked Questions
Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: which to buy?
The XL has a bigger 6.8-inch display and meaningfully better battery life. If you'd rather have a smaller phone, the 9 Pro is the answer; if battery life is critical, pay $100 more for the XL.
Is the Pixel 9 Pro better than the iPhone 17?
Different strengths. The iPhone 17 won Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 awards for being a more rounded recommendation. The Pixel 9 Pro wins on AI features and software flexibility. We recommend the iPhone 17 for most general buyers and the Pixel 9 Pro for buyers who specifically want Google's AI ecosystem.
Does the Pixel 9 Pro have 7 years of updates?
Yes — Google guarantees seven years of major Android updates and security patches on the Pixel 9 Pro, putting it on parity with iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S series for longevity.
How we rate
Our editorial score is anchored to outcomes from MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025), then refined for everyday usability. Phone of the Year winners earn 5/5; category winners 4.5/5; runners-up 4/5; otherwise we score on merit. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.