Key Takeaways
- The Pixel 9 Professional is Google’s newest flagship handset, and it is fairly nice general.
- There are a number of lacking {hardware} options which can be retaining me from taking the Pixel 9 Professional plunge.
- If subsequent 12 months’s Pixel 10 Professional implements a few of these options, I will be first in line to choose one up.
To date, I have been pleasantly shocked by Google’s Pixel 9 series of smartphones. The Pixel 9 Pro models are notably compelling this 12 months, with a splendidly premium construct high quality, a beneficiant serving to of RAM, and tons of AI-enhanced digicam options.
I am additionally a giant fan of Google’s resolution to supply the complete Professional expertise in a extra compact bundle this time round, and I hope to see this stay the case within the years to return.
Not every part is sunshine and rainbows, nonetheless. There are a number of lacking parts which have me wanting to carry off till subsequent 12 months’s Pixel 10 Professional, in hopes that they’re going to make it into Google’s next-generation {hardware}. Listed below are 5 issues in particular which can be stopping me from taking the Pixel 9 Professional plunge.
Pixel 9 Professional
The Pixel 9 Professional brings a brand new squared-off design, the Tensor G4 chip, and new AI options like Pixel Screenshots to Google’s flagship smartphone line. It is out there beginning September 4th.
1 There is not any Qi2 wi-fi charging on deck
Why hasn’t this proven up on Android smartphones but?
Qi2 is the most recent inductive wi-fi charging normal, and it was finalized in late 2023 by the Wi-fi Energy Consortium. Sure, that very same consortium that Google occurs to be an active member of.
Inexplicably, the Pixel 9 sequence is absent the useful ring of magnets that work to align compliant telephones onto charging pads, stands, and equipment. I can solely hope that by subsequent 12 months, Google will lastly get round to implementing Qi2 into its Pixel 10 lineup. Personally, I discover it tough to revert again to non-magnetic wi-fi chargers after getting a style of Qi2 on the iPhone.
2 Gorilla Glass Armor is absent
The glass on the Pixel 9 Professional is Gorilla Glass Armorless
When Samsung launched the Galaxy S24 Ultra again in January, it introduced with it an sudden new {hardware} addition — Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Armor. This new technology of tempered glass improves resistance to scratches, however its headlining characteristic is the discount of on-screen reflections.
There is a good likelihood that Samsung scored an exclusivity cope with Corning to be used of its Gorilla Glass Armor.
The Google Pixel 9 Professional is outfitted with the more-than-capable Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cowl glass on each the entrance and the again, however after experiencing the anti-reflective properties of Corning’s next-gen product, I by no means need to return.
There is a good likelihood that Samsung scored an exclusivity cope with Corning to be used of its Gorilla Glass Armor. I simply hope the settlement is not multi-year, and that the Pixel 10 Professional is outfitted with the identical show glass that the S24 Extremely advantages from right this moment.
3 UFS 4.0 flash storage is lacking from the equation
Contemplating the value of the telephone, I might anticipate the easiest in storage know-how
Samsung
In terms of flash storage, the quicker the efficiency, the higher. Sadly, the most recent high-end normal — UFS 4.0 — is absent from the Pixel 9 Professional. UFS 4.0 “delivers double the velocity of the earlier technology and 45% higher effectivity — eradicating bottlenecks for quicker smartphones,” according to Samsung.
The Pixel 9 Professional ships with UFS 3.1 storage, which continues to be fairly snappy, all issues thought-about. That being mentioned, I really feel that the high-end price ticket of Google’s Professional handset warrants the perfect storage answer at present out there available on the market.
4 Quick charging is not all that quick
The telephone costs quickly — simply not quickly sufficient
The Pixel 9 Professional is able to 27W charging, and Google quotes that it will web you “as much as 55% in about half-hour.” In a vacuum, it is a respectable sufficient charging fee, however the fact is that rivals are far forward with regard to quick charging.
I am hoping that for subsequent 12 months’s Pixel 10 Professional, we get a bump up in functionality to someplace between 45W and 65W. For the sake of battery well being, I am not advocating for one thing like Redmi’s 300W feat of engineering. I might argue that 65W strikes stability between charging quickly and preserving the integrity of the facility pack.
5 The selfie digicam punch gap is type of unpleasant
The cutout is bigger than what you will discover on top-end Samsung telephones
The Pixel 9 Professional follows the development set by Samsung in that it opts for a front-facing gap punch for housing the selfie digicam. In contrast to prime Samsung fashions, nonetheless, the Pixel’s cutout is bodily bigger and decrease on the display screen.
I hope that with one other 12 months of analysis and improvement, Google engineers will be capable to squeeze a extra compact and symmetrical selfie shooter into the Pixel 10 Professional.
The truth is, the Pixel 9 Professional’s selfie cutout is decrease on the display screen than even final 12 months’s Pixel 8 Professional. By way of person expertise, this creates unbalanced visuals inside the interface, as there is a noticeable lack of symmetry between the digicam gap and the standing bar icons.
Admittedly, I really like the truth that the Pixel 9 Professional has an improved selfie shooter in comparison with final 12 months’s mannequin — the broader area of view and far increased decision are welcome enhancements. I hope that with one other 12 months of analysis and improvement, Google engineers will be capable to squeeze a extra compact and symmetrical selfie shooter into the Pixel 10 Professional.
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