If you’re looking for a pure Android experience, the Google Pixel series of phones is your best bet. These are made and designed by Google and include all of the latest Google has to offer in terms of software. That said, their latest is the Google Pixel 9 series, though the variation I’m checking out today is the Google Pixel 9 Pro. This isn’t the largest of their devices, but is a much more manageable size for one-handed use. We’ll have full reviews of the whole Google Pixel 9 lineup, but for now, here are my first impressions of the Google Pixel 9 Pro.
DESIGN
Upon first glance, the Google Pixel 9 Pro doesn’t look much different from any other smartphone. From the front, it looks a bit like an Apple iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy S series device. The color we received from T-Mobile is the Obsidian which features a frosted black rear glass and shiny dark chrome borders.
The Google 9 Pro is a decent size, featuring a 6.3-inch Super Actua display (LTPO) utilizing a 20:9 display ratio. The display is flanked by rounded corners and rounded edges on the borders. This makes for a really comfortable hold when in your hands with no sharp edges digging into your palms.
Speaking of the borders, the right side has a power button and volume buttons. However, if you have a Samsung for instance, you’ll notice that these buttons are in reverse with the power button being on top and the volume ones at the bottom. It is a little jarring for those coming from a Samsung and I found myself constantly hitting the volume buttons when trying to turn the phone on and put it to sleep.
The bottom of the phone is where the sim card tray is as well as the USB-C port.
Moving on to the back, this is where the Google Pixel 9 Pro differentiates itself from others. You get a nice smooth matte glass back with a single G logo in the middle. The camera island is mounted up high and in the middle and features a triple camera layout. This is an evolution of the PIxel design for the cameras, and it doesn’t look that bad. It does, however, stick out quite a bit and doesn’t look as clean as a Galaxy S24. It’s interesting, though, and at least it is symmetrically placed on the back.
Overall, a great design that fits in your hand and should appeal to those who don’t like huge phones.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Based on my first impressions, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is pretty similar to something like a Galaxy S24. The main differences are that the Pixel 9 Pro is a bit more rounded and curved. The phone is a tiny bit larger than a regular S24 but smaller than the S24 Plus. It seems like the perfect size for those who want something that can be easily used one-handed
The display also looks pretty good, but it does seem to have a tiny bit more bezel than a S24 would have. Anyway, I’ll have more on that later. I’ve been curious to see what precisely a pure Google experience is like compared to something like OneUI on Samsung Galaxy phones. Until then, I’m pretty excited to spend some time with the Google Pixel 9 Pro and check out everything it has to offer.
That’s it for now. Stay tuned for a full review in the near future.
