What a whirlwind 2024 has been for the cellular business. We received all the standard suspects releasing their flagship telephones for the 12 months, and it was definitely a powerful slate of choices.
As you could know, I’ve been an iPhone consumer for the reason that unique, and I’ve had each technology of iPhone, together with the iPhone 16 Professional this 12 months. However since I joined Digital Traits a few years in the past, I’ve received my fill of Android telephones, too. And this 12 months, that is the one which stood out to me probably the most: the Google Pixel 9 Professional.
The pink Professional cellphone I used to be in search of
Sometimes, most smartphone producers launch a base mannequin and a higher-end “Professional” model of their handsets every year. I all the time go for the Professional fashions as a result of I like having all of the options, particularly for the cameras. Since Apple started providing an iPhone Professional, starting with the iPhone 11 Professional, it’s been my selection every year once I improve.
Nonetheless, one difficulty I’ve been having with Apple’s iPhone Professional fashions is the colour selections. For just a few years, Apple did fairly effectively in giving us a “enjoyable” coloration. We had the Midnight Inexperienced iPhone 11 Professional, Pacific Blue iPhone 12 Professional, Sierra Blue and Alpine Inexperienced iPhone 13 Professional, Deep Purple iPhone 14 Professional, and Titanium Blue iPhone 15 Professional. Although just a few of these weren’t as saturated as I’d like (Deep Purple and Sierra Blue), they have been different to the usual black, white, and gold colours.
Nonetheless, Apple took that away with the iPhone 16 Professional line, solely providing among the most bland colours potential: black, white, pure, and gold within the type of “desert” titanium — no extra blue, inexperienced, and even purple. Should you ask me, this was the worst coloration lineup for the Professional fashions; why do solely the bottom fashions get the good colours? I’ve needed a pink iPhone Professional for years, and I don’t perceive why Apple can’t return the rose gold from the iPhone 6 days.
That’s why I instantly fell in love with the Rose Quartz Google Pixel 9 Professional as soon as I received my fingers on it. Although I initially most popular the saturated Peony coloration of the bottom mannequin Pixel 9, the Rose Quartz has grown on me. It’s elegant, stylish, and female. In fact, you could suppose liking a cellphone for coloration could also be foolish, particularly for those who put a case on it, however I’m the sort of one who additionally likes to select circumstances that complement my cellphone’s coloration.
I’m glad that at the least Google gave us a pink Professional cellphone this 12 months as a result of it appears that evidently Apple doesn’t like to present us enjoyable colours for the iPhone Professional fashions anymore.
Among the best redesigns thus far
Google has used the identical total aesthetic for the Pixel from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 8. That’s three years of the identical design, with little variations between every. And that’s why the redesigned Pixel 9 sequence has been certainly one of my favorites this 12 months — this was a lot wanted and made the Pixel look so a lot better.
I’ve been a fan of the Google Pixel sequence for the previous few years, however you need to admit that it was beginning to look a bit dated, particularly when different Android telephones have already begun to undertake the flat-frames pattern that Apple began. Now that the Pixel 9 has these flat edges, it’s a bit simpler to carry and use, because it feels extra ergonomic. It additionally makes the cellphone look rather more glossy and refined total.
I’m additionally a fan of the brand new digital camera bar module. It’s a big change from the earlier design, the place it extends into the perimeters of the body, nevertheless it retains that basic Pixel feel and look. Just like the flat edges, the brand new digital camera bar island appears extra fashionable. And because it’s nonetheless a digital camera bar, in contrast to Samsung and Apple, there’s much less wobble for those who apply it to a flat floor.
I doubt that Google will make every other huge adjustments subsequent 12 months to the Pixel sequence, so if that is what we may have for a pair extra generations, then I’m comfortable.
Forward of the pack
It’s not simply the {hardware} that made the Pixel 9 Professional my favourite this 12 months but additionally the software program options.
Because the Pixel is from Google, which additionally develops Android, the Pixel is the primary system to get main software program upgrades. This proved true with the Android 15 beta and closing launch, and Google additionally added some cool Pixel-only exclusives for some options. For instance, the Circle to Search function is even higher on a Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Professional as a result of it’s now built-in with the Screenshots app.
Mixed with the premium {hardware} this 12 months, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional gadgets have simply felt forward of the competitors. The Pixel 9 Professional has been a pleasure to make use of for this longtime iPhone consumer, and I stay up for seeing what else Google has in retailer for the 2025 Pixel lineup.