Should you wait for the Pixel 9 Pro or buy the Pixel 8 Pro?
Google has announced that the new Pixel 9 Pro will arrive on August 13, 2024. The company has also published a teaser that gives us a glimpse of the Pixel 9 Pro's new design, which looks a bit like the iPhone but still retains the iconic horizontal camera bar. There will also be many other changes, including new AI capabilities.
However, the price of the Pixel 8 Pro also dipped significantly, which makes it a lucrative choice for users. Will the new Pixel phone bring enough features and improvements to justify paying a premium over its predecessor?
That's exactly what we plan to find out. In this article, we are doing a detailed analysis of the new Pixel 9 Pro based on the leaks and information available to see if it will be worth waiting for over the existing Pixel 8 Pro.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions. Some of the information presented here is based on the leaks, which may change in the future.
How do the leaked specs of the Pixel 9 Pro compare to the Pixel 8 Pro
Almost every angle of the Pixel 9 Pro has been leaked on the X platform.
@Anvin on X posted about the specs of the Pixel 9 Pro, which shed some light on the internal hardware of the new phone. Various other reputable sources also reported the same specs.
Leaked specs
Here are the leaked specs of the Pixel 9 Pro:
The leaks allow us to analyze how much of an improvement the new Pixel phone might be compared to its predecessor, the Pixel 8 Pro. Let's compare the new Pixel 9 Pro and its predecessor, starting with their design and display.
Design and display comparison
According to the leaks, the new Pixel 9 Pro features a design that seems to be inspired by the iPhone. It still has the horizontal camera bar, but the edges are sharper, and the corners are rounded. The same goes for the rest of the phone. Also, the metallic side frame is shinier and complements the phone.
The rear panel seems to be made of glass and features a matte finish. All in all, it's a nice design that looks quite attractive. However, the design depends on the user's taste. Some may prefer the new structure, while others may not.
The body will also reportedly be more compact and lightweight than its predecessor. That's because the new Pixel 9 Pro will have a smaller display, which may be a downgrade compared to the large screen of its predecessor.
Chipset and performance comparison
According to leaks, the Pixel 9 Pro should have the new Tensor G4 chipset. The Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 Pro is a decent chip but is not competitive with other flagship chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or the Apple A17 Pro in terms of raw performance. However, the difference in performance is usually not noticeable in day-to-day tasks.
Besides, the Tensor G3 heats up quite a bit and has poor thermal performance. The new Tensor G4 is expected to change that. Google may also use a vapor chamber cooling system to keep the heating in check.
The new chipset must have a better thermal performance if Google wants the new Pixel 9 Pro to be competitive in the flagship smartphone market, but just how capable it is remains to be seen.
The leaks also suggest that the new Pixel will come with 16GB of RAM as opposed to 12GB in its predecessor. A larger RAM capacity is needed to host powerful on-device AI capabilities. All in all, the Pixel 9 Pro's general performance and thermals should be better than the Pixel 8 Pro.
Camera comparison
The new Pixel 9 Pro is also rumored to feature a new periscopic telephoto camera, which was missing from the Pixel 8 Pro. Software optimizations alone can't make a standard telephoto sensor perform as well as a periscopic telephoto camera. It will allow the new Pixel phone to compete with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in a way the Pixel 8 Pro couldn't.
Possible new AI features
Google has been working on AI for a long time, and the Gemini AI is the company's best model. The company has also showcased a part of its AI capabilities in its teaser, so expect the Pixel 9 Pro to sport several AI features.
Battery comparison
Leaks also suggest that the new Pixel 9 Pro will have a bigger battery capacity, which combined with a more efficient chipset, should provide a better battery life than the Pixel 8 Pro.
Final verdict
The Pixel 9 Pro is rumored to come with many improvements, including a new design, a periscopic camera, higher battery capacity, better performance, and a lot more. However, the screen size is a definite downgrade over its predecessor, and those who prefer a bigger screen will be disappointed.
The bigger screen is reserved for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which would cost more than the standard Pixel 9 Pro. Therefore, if you want a big-screen experience with decent performance all around, get the Pixel 8 Pro instead.
On the other hand, if you seek the new periscopic camera and other improvements to the Pixel 9 Pro, you should wait for it.