Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro: Cameras, battery and key specs compared

This year’s Pixel Pro update came with a twist: Google revealed two different versions, the $1,000 Pixel 9 Pro and the $1,100 Pixel 9 Pro XL, with the main difference being a larger display and larger battery capacity in the latter.

This move reflects Google’s clear desire to success of Apple’s iPhone Pro lineup, which offers customers the choice between a standard size and a larger Max configuration. While the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL share many key features, including camera resolution, people may be willing to pay the extra $100 for slight upgrades in battery capacity and screen size.

If you’d rather stick with the standard Pixel 9 Pro, you can see how the phone performs against last year’s 8 Pro (which had the same price tag) below.

Smaller screen on the Pixel 9 Pro

Google is saving its larger 6.8-inch display for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, giving the standard Pixel 9 Pro a 6.3-inch OLED display — smaller than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 6.7-inch display. Both the 9 and 8 Pro have a 120Hz variable refresh rate.

Unsurprisingly, the 9 Pro also has smaller overall dimensions, measuring 6 inches high, 2.8 inches wide, and 0.3 inches deep. The 8 Pro is 6.4 inches high, 3.0 inches wide, and 0.3 inches deep. The 9 Pro weighs 199 grams, while the 8 Pro weighs 213 grams.

Both phones have an under-display fingerprint scanner.

Compatible cameras — with one key difference

The Pixel 9 and 8 Pro share the same 50-megapixel wide, 48-megapixel ultrawide, and 48-megapixel 5x telephoto cameras. The main difference is that the 9 Pro has a 42-megapixel front-facing camera, while the 8 Pro has a 10.5-megapixel front-facing camera. We’ll have to see how these compare in CNET’s camera tests, since more megapixels doesn’t necessarily equate to better photos.

Both can record 4K video.

Batteries, memory and storage

The 9 Pro has a 4,700mAh battery, while the 8 Pro has a 5,050mAh battery. It’s worth noting that while a higher mAh rating may equate to a larger battery capacity, it doesn’t always translate to better performance; power efficiency is also a major factor in determining how long a phone’s battery lasts.

Both devices have a USB-C port, and neither comes with a charger. The 9 Pro supports 45W fast wired charging, while the 8 Pro supports 30W charging. You can also charge wirelessly; the Pixel 9 Pro supports 15W wireless charging with the 2nd-gen Google Pixel Stand, as well as 12W Qi wireless charging. The 8 Pro supports 13W Qi wireless charging.

In terms of memory and storage, the 9 Pro has 16GB of RAM while the 8 Pro has a lower 12GB of RAM. Both devices have 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB of internal storage options. There is no expandable storage.

Processors, software and OS updates

Taking a step up from last year’s Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 9 Pro features the latest G4 processor.

Like the 8 Pro, which released later last year, it also comes with Android 14, though 15 is looming. Both phones come with seven years of OS and security updates, which should help offset the hefty price tag.

See the table below for more specification comparisons.