Google Pixel 9 Pro Challengers: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, iPhone 15 Plus, More
Google Pixel 9 Pro Alternatives: Vivo X100 Pro, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and more smartphones to choose from.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Challengers: The Pixel Pros were the stars of Google's recent Made By Google event, which revealed the search giant's latest array of products. And while the Pixel 9 Pro XL was the heavyweight of the Pro Pixels in terms of size, it was the Pixel 9 Pro that reminded many of the classic Pixel values of packing in a lot inside a surprisingly compact, well-designed frame.
At first glance, the Pixel 9 seems an almost exact copy of the Pixel 9, with the same slightly redesigned camera unit on the back, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back, compact dimensions (just 152.8 mm tall and 8.5 mm slim) and almost the same weight (199 grams as compared to 198 grams of the Pixel 9).
Like the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro is also powered by Google's own Tensor G4 processor, has a 6.3 inch OLED display and a 4700 mAh battery. But there the similarity ends, and the Pro pulls away from its Pro-less bro: the display is a higher quality LTPO OLED one with a higher 2856 x 1280 resolution and the RAM is 16 GB rather than 12 GB (as on the Pixel 9).
Most significantly, the Pixel 9 Pro has superior cameras - a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS, a 48-megapixel ultrawide and a 48-megapixel telephoto with 5x optical zoom (something the Pixel 9 totally lacks), and its 42-megapixel selfie camera totally dwarfs the 10.5-megapixel one on the Pixel 9. All this is allied with clean Android 15 out of the box, with seven years of assured updates.
But this comes at a price - the Pixel 9 Pro starts at a rather premium Rs 1,09,999. While it is firmly the Pro in its own house, it faces stiff competition from other devices in the market. Here are five devices that can give the Pixel 9 Pro a run for its money:
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Ultra-Competitive Veteran
Price: Rs 89,999 onwards
Topping the list of Pixel challengers is an oldie that remains a solid smartphone goldie. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra might come from the class of 2023, but it remains a terrific device. It comes with a massive 6.8 AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 3088 x 1440 pixels.
Even though it is on the older side, it too boasts Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back and comes with an Armour Aluminium frame. On the camera front, it comes with a massive 200-megapixel main sensor with OIS, twin 10-megapixel telephoto cameras that give it a massive 10x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, with selfies being handled by a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.
Powering all this is a still-pretty-powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip with up to 12 GB RAM, with a huge 5000 mAh battery with support for 45W wired and 15W wireless charging keeping the phone running (no charger in the box though).
Round that off with timely Android updates (Galaxy AI has come to the device) and the iconic S Pen, and this veteran gives the newbie Pixel enough reason to sweat.
iPhone 15 Plus: Plus Takes On Pro
Price: Rs 89,999 onwards
Those who think the Pro variant of the Pixel series is expensive should take a look at the price tag of its iPhone rival, which is close to Rs 20,000 more. However, that does not mean that the Pixel 9 Pro is spared iPhone competition. Standing in its way is the 'big iPhone,' the iPhone 15 Plus.
The iPhone 15 Plus comes with a brilliant 6.7 inch Super Retina OLED display of 2796 x 1290 pixels, although with a rather normal 60 Hz refresh rate. It also gets the Dynamic Island that was previously seen only on the iPhone Pro range, and also now has support for Type-C charging.
Its 48-megapixel main camera and 12-megapixel ultrawide are capable of stunning photography, and unmatched videos, and even the 12-megapixel selfie camera takes great snaps. The A16 Bionic chip powering it is on the slightly older side but can run everything you throw at it, and the real 'Plus' of this phone is its staggering battery life, which is the best in iPhoneland.
Yes, there is no charger in the box, but you get support for wireless charging, IP68 dust and water resistance, and the legendarily smooth iOS with its app ecosystem that keeps rockin' for years. This Plus is a minus in the prospects of the Pixel 9 Pro.
Vivo X100 Pro: Photography Rival
Price: Rs 89,999 onwards
A few years ago, the thought of another Android phone taking on the Pixel in photography would have been considered pure fantasy. That has changed with several brands upping their camera game, and one of the best in that department is Vivo, which in collaboration with Zeiss has delivered phenomenal photography on its X series.
The Vivo X100 Pro is perhaps one of the best camera phones you can get out there, thanks to its Zeiss-flavoured triple 50-megapixel camera setup on the back with one main, one telephoto (4.3x zoom) and one ultrawide, with a 32-megapixel front-facing camera entrusted with selfies.
There are several shooting options, especially in portrait mode, which make this phone an absolute camera beast which can rival the Pixel 9 Pro. It is a flagship in other regards too - it packs in a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 2800 x 1260 resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, runs on the flagship level MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chip with up to 16 GB RAM, and comes with a massive 5400 mAh battery with support for 100W charging and 50W wireless charging, and a charger in the box.
Yes, it is a little bulky and FunTouchOS might seem a little cluttered compared to clean Android on the Pixel 9 Pro, but this is still one terrific performer, especially in the camera department.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Bringing Leica Magic To The Table
Price: Rs 99,999 onwards
Xiaomi's collaboration with Leica has given consumers some brilliant camera phones and the best of them at the time of writing is the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
The phone ticks all flagship boxes with a high-quality 6.73-inch AMOLED display of 3200 x 1440 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with up to 16 GB RAM, a 5000 mAh battery with 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging support, all of which runs on Xiaomi’s smooth HyperOS on top of Android 14.
What makes it special however is the camera arrangement which boasts of four 50-megapixel cameras on the back (one main, two telephoto, and one ultrawide) with Leica lenses and many shooting modes and adjustments that take photography to another level, especially when it comes to black and white portraits.
The 32-megapixel selfie sensor is a good performer too, but take it from us - it is that rear camera setup that will worry the Pixel 9 Pro.
OnePlus 12: Challenger To Every Android Flagship
Price: Rs 69,999
On paper, this looks ridiculous - how can a Rs 69,999 phone be competition with a phone that starts at Rs 1,09,999? But that just underscores how good the OnePlus 12 is. The latest Never Settling flagship delivers it all - good design, display, cameras, software and battery life - at a price that makes it a choke point in the throats of all flagships.
It brings a massive 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 3168 x 1440 resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 16 GB RAM to the table.
Allied with these are three excellent cameras made in collaboration with the legendary Hasselblad - a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 64-megapixel telephoto and a 48-megapixel ultrawide. A very competent 32-megapixel camera handles selfies and video calls. The phone runs on a large 5400 mAh battery with support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, with a charger in the box.
You also get Android 14 with OnePlus' famous OxygenOS on top, all at a crazy flagship-killing price.
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