Buying a new Android phone in North America has always been more difficult compared to other parts of the world. We don’t get nearly as many options, and when it comes to buying Android flagship devices, our choices often narrow down to just Samsung Galaxy or a Google Pixel phones.

That said, even those options are starting to feel a bit uninspiring. The

Galaxy S25 Ultra is utterly boring
, and Google’s Pixel phones have long been known for their persistent issues. Google tried to fix that with the

Pixel 9 series
, improving the experience across the board — but how well has it held up over time?

I’ve been using a Pixel 9 Pro for nearly a year since its launch, and here’s everything I love about it (and a few things that still bother me).

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3

The design has aged well, despite my doubts

I didn’t love the design at first, but now I do

The Pixel 9 Pro brought a major design shift compared to previous Pixel phones. Google moved to a flat-edged design, with the camera visor no longer blending into the side frame but instead sitting like a chunky slab on the back. The phone also has more rounded corners, giving it a noticeably iPhone-like look.

When I first saw the renders of the Pixel 9 series last year, I was pretty disappointed — but that quickly changed once I got the device in hand, and that feeling has stuck with me over the past few months.

The Pixel 9 Pro’s design has definitely grown on me. It’s been a pleasure to hold, and I still enjoy the feel of the phone every time I pick it up, especially after switching from heavier phones like the OnePlus 13 or Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The phone has also held up really well physically.

There are no visible scratches or dents, and despite what others have reported, I’ve never once felt like the camera visor was going to fall off, unlike some Reddit users. Keep in mind, this Pixel 9 Pro has been completely case-less since day one. At first, I thought the shiny side rails would easily scratch or lose color, but that hasn’t been the case at all.

In fact, this phone even went snorkeling with me in Bali, recorded underwater videos, and survived just fine (though I wouldn’t recommend trying that on your own device).

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2

The camera is still one of Android’s best

It’s the one thing I never have to worry about

Android OEMs are constantly experimenting with advanced camera setups and flashy hardware on their “Ultra” smartphones. And while Google’s Pixel camera processing may have faced some criticism over the years, if you want a reliable camera that just works in every scenario, the Pixel is still tough to beat — and that’s been the case with the Pixel 9 Pro as well.

I’ve taken my Pixel 9 Pro on several trips this year, and I must say, it rarely disappoints. Photos taken in daylight come out sharp, crisp, and well-balanced, while night photography continues to impress. The camera maintains a natural look in almost all lighting conditions and handles shadows exceptionally well. Even the 5x zoom lens on the Pixel 9 Pro has proven to be quite impressive.

Take a look at a few shots I’ve captured with this phone over the past few months:

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1

There are still a few things that bug me

Small issues that Google really needs to fix

All things considered, there are still a few pain points on the Pixel 9 Pro that I wish Google would finally address — and surprisingly, the first one is related to the software.

Google (and even Samsung) has made AI the headline feature of its phones lately, and while that’s great, the overall software experience still feels a bit sluggish compared to what some other Android OEMs offer. Sure, you get day-one updates, a clean UI, and helpful AI tools, but the software feels a little slower in response and animation speed when compared to the likes of OnePlus or Samsung. Their UIs feel snappier, with faster transitions and actions, while the Pixel 9 Pro tends to take its time.

But my biggest issue has to be with battery life and charging. The Pixel 9 Pro packs a 4,700 mAh battery, which is fine for daily use and generally lasts a full day. But after using phones like the OnePlus 13 or Oppo Find X8 Ultra, I’ve started to feel that the Pixel’s battery endurance is just okay, not great.

It gets worse with charging. The Pixel 9 Pro only supports 27W wired charging, which feels far behind in 2025, especially when most flagship phones now offer at least 45W or faster. I’ve often found myself needing to leave the phone on charge overnight — this isn’t a phone you can just top up for 10–15 minutes and expect to last the rest of the day. That said, despite all of this, I’ve still been genuinely impressed with my overall experience using the Pixel 9 Pro this past year. Even after testing many exciting phones since its launch in August 2024, this is still the phone my main SIM goes into once testing is done, especially when I know I’ll be taking a lot of photos.

However, I really hope Google steps it up with the Pixel 10 series, especially with battery, charging, and a performance leap via the TSMC-made Tensor G5.

Pixel 9 Pro

$849 $999 Save
$150

The Pixel 9 Pro is a compact addition to Google’s lineup, offering a smaller form factor similar to the base Pixel 9, while retaining the AI features and camera capabilities of the Pro series. It comes with a 6.3-inch Super Actua display, the Tensor G4 processor, and a triple-camera setup. It’s upgradable to Android 15 and will soon support Android 16 as well.

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