Google’s Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL are here, offering a number of upgrades including a revamped design and a new Tensor G4 processor—not to mention a whole new size option. But Pixel phones have always impressed us with their camera capabilities, so what’s new about these phones for photography lovers? Let’s dive in.
On paper, it seems that there hasn’t been much attention paid to the cameras since last year’s Pixel 8 Pro. Both the old and new models have 50-megapixel main cameras, as well as 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle cameras and 48-megapixel telephoto cameras. The 5x optical zoom is the same, as is the aperture of the main camera and the physical size of the main image sensor.
So from a hardware perspective, not much has changed, which is disappointing. Companies like Xiaomi have wowed us this year with phones like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which has a much larger 1-inch image sensor, allowing it to capture some of the best images I’ve ever seen on a phone. Still, we won’t know exactly how the 9 Pro’s cameras compare to those on the 8 Pro until we can put them side by side.
The camera hardware hasn’t really changed much compared to the Pixel 8 Pro.
The bigger updates to the cameras are software-related, and it won’t surprise you (or maybe it shouldn’t) that Google is talking a lot about AI in image production. There are a number of new AI tools for photography, including the new “Add Me” feature that lets you stitch multiple images into one, allowing the photographer to appear in group shots.
Then there’s generative AI to expand the canvas of your images, giving you more scope for reframing and cropping to create more artistically pleasing images. Using generative AI, Magic Editor also lets you tap on an area of an image and type in what you want to see – say, a snowman – and that prompt will come to life in the image.
While these tools aren’t particularly interesting for professional photographers who are simply looking for the best image quality, they certainly sound like a fun way to play around with your images and I’m excited to see how they work.
The maximum video resolution is 4K at 60 frames per second, but Google’s Video Boost tool can upscale the video to 8K resolution. The company also claims it has made further improvements in low-light video recording.
The front camera of the Pixel 9 Pro has been expanded to 45 megapixels.
The front camera has been significantly improved, growing from 10.5 megapixels to a whopping 45 megapixels. Combined with the wide-angle lens, you should be able to get more of your grinning friends in each shot, safe in the knowledge that every bit of your embarrassing grimace will be captured in flawless detail.
While it’s disappointing that there are no major hardware upgrades for this year’s cameras, I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform in real-world use. Hopefully the fun new AI features, including Add Me and the Reframing tool, will help make up for the obvious lack of hardware innovation.
