I've spent the previous few weeks using Google's latest Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL Android smartphones, and overall I'm impressed. The two latest high-end models are nearly equivalent, except that XL stands for “extra-large.” It has a 6.8-inch display in comparison with the Pixel 9 Pro's 6.3-inch screen and is in fact barely heavier. The other key difference is that the XL has a bigger battery, which suggests barely longer battery life. However, each models are designed to work all day in most situations.
A small phone is just nearly as good as a bigger one
Until this yr, in case you wanted essentially the most advanced Google Pixel phone, you needed to get the larger model. Not only were the smaller models smaller, but in addition they had less RAM, less available storage, a rather less powerful camera, a smaller battery and naturally a smaller screen in comparison with their larger “Pro” model. But this yr there are three versions of the Pixel. The standard Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The 9 and 9 Pro each have a 6.3-inch screen, measure 6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches, and weigh 7 ounces. However, in case you need a larger model, the 9 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch screen, measures 6.4 x 3 x 0.3 inches, and weighs 7.8 ounces.
As I discussed earlier, the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL have almost equivalent features and specifications, aside from the larger and barely longer-lasting battery, slight differences in charging time, and really slight differences in screen resolution. Apple is pursuing an identical strategy in relation to the iPhone 16 Pro and its larger, nearly equivalent sibling, the 16 Pro Max.
I'm used to larger phones and was a bit of disenchanted when Google sent me the smaller 9 Pro to check. But after carrying the smaller model around on a 10-day trip abroad, I noticed I preferred it to the larger model, which I confirmed after I got here back and began testing the larger 9 Pro XL. Both are excellent phones, and yes, the larger screen and battery offer some benefits, particularly when watching videos or barely larger text or more text on a single screen and barely longer battery life. But after using each models, I've realized that smaller and lighter can sometimes be higher, no less than for me for the time being. So thanks Google for allowing users to choose from different sizes without sacrificing performance.
AI software
As you might have noticed, the whole tech industry is jumping on the AI bandwagon. Virtually every latest product that involves market has AI capabilities. This is actually true for the most recent phones from Apple and Google.
You can configure your Pixel phone to press and hold the facility button to invoke Google Assistant. However, now you may replace the assistant with Google's AI Gemini Assistant, which has a more intuitive interface and lets you refer to the AI. By default you should utilize your voice and it’ll speak in its own voice. Most of the time I find the spoken answers annoying because not only are they quicker to read, but they don't trouble others, like a voice coming from my phone. I'm undecided if this hardware integration is basically helpful since you may open Gemini at any time on any device by clicking on the app.
The other feature is Gemini Give, which lets you have a back-and-forth conversation with the AI Assistant.
AI photography tools
A clever feature is Add Me, which lets you add yourself to a bunch photo. You take the group phone after which swap places with someone in the image and let one other photographer take the photo. You can then use the Add Me feature to merge each images together. Kind of clever, but still a bit awkward.
Another photography tool is Auto-Frame, which lets you change the frame of a picture after it has been captured. One of the good tools is the Reimage feature, which lets you transform a part of a photograph into something else. I took a photograph of my wife sitting next to a cardboard box and made it appear to be there was a dog sitting in it. This non-existent dog was created by AI.
Other good decisions
Of course, there are many other great phones on the market, not only from Apple and Samsung, but in addition from lesser-known firms. What I like about Pixel phones and iPhones is that each the hardware and operating system come from the identical company. Both Apple and Google keep their phones up thus far with the most recent security patches and software updates. And each are careful to not bloat their phones with an excessive amount of unnecessary built-in software and a consistent user interface without unnecessary and sometimes confusing improvements.
However, I still feel that integrated AI remains to be in its infancy and desires to be matured. It doesn't trouble you and might sometimes be helpful. The excellent news is that it gets higher with time.
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