I’ve been using iPhones since the first model in 2008, and my daily companion for the past year has been the iPhone 15 Pro. It’s safe to say that I’m a huge Apple fan, but I still think that the Google Pixel 9 Pro is one of the best smartphones to hit the market this year.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Pixel 9 Pro is the iPhone Pro I always wanted. Yes, it is simply so goodLet me explain why.

The importance of smartphone size

As someone who has primarily used an iPhone for many years, I’m used to being able to choose between multiple phone sizes since Apple has offered this since the iPhone 6.

When I have to choose the size of the phone, I always choose the smaller one. Why? I don’t like big phones. I have quite small, petite hands, so I find it quite uncomfortable to hold and use big phones, especially with one hand, as they are impossible for me. To make matters worse, as a woman, I have to deal with small bags and limited space in my pockets.

But there is another factor that plays a role in my phone choice. I also prefer the higher-end models, the so-called “Pro” phones, mainly because of the higher quality displays and cameras. Since I don’t have a standalone camera, I rely on my smartphone for all my photos and videos, so it has to be good. That’s why I always go for the Pro model of the iPhone, as it has a triple camera system and takes more powerful shots than the base models.

Apple has kept the camera systems the same on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro, as well as their larger siblings. So if you want the smaller phone, you can get it knowing that you won’t have to miss out on anything.

However, when the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were released, Apple differentiated them in terms of camera hardware, as only the Pro Max model got the 5x optical zoom with the new periscope camera. At the same time, those who got the smaller Pro had to do without the new telephoto lens and only 3x optical zoom. I still got the iPhone 15 Pro because I can’t handle the Pro Max’s massive size, but I was pretty pissed because it lacks the nicer zoom.

Google didn’t make the same mistake as Apple with the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Pro and Pro XL have identical features, including cameras with 5x optical zoom. The only differences are the display size, battery size, and charging speeds.

This is the first time Google has used the XL name since the Pixel 4 XL in 2019, and I’m so glad about it. By introducing the larger XL size, those who prefer a smaller phone (like me) can have the same powerful phone without compromising on features.

Rumours suggest that Apple to correct this mistake with the iPhone 16 Pro next month, but who says the iPhone 16 Pro Max won’t get even more Upgrades as the smaller one?

The Google Pixel 9 series has a phone for everyone.

The hardware of the Pixel 9 Pro is exceptional

While I’ve really liked the Pixel hardware over the past few years, I have to say that this year’s Pixel 9 lineup looks and feels like a massive upgrade. It feels like iPhone hardware with Android, and I have to give Google a lot of credit for that.

It is not surprising that Google made the Pixel 9 the iPhone. We now have flat edges, similar to Samsung I did with the Galaxy S24 series, and I I like this change. The Pixel 9 Pro’s flattened sides and rounded corners make it very comfortable to hold and use, especially in one hand.

Google has also redesigned the traditional camera bar that has become the Pixel’s trademark, turning it into an elongated, pill-shaped camera island. Some may not like this new look, but I honestly love it. You can still tell it’s a Pixel, but it looks more modern and sleek. It’s a shining example for the Pixel, and I’m all for it.

I’m also a huge fan of the overall feel of the Pixel 9 Pro, and it’s not just because of its size. While I don’t like how easily the polished aluminum frame smears, the finish looks like stainless steel and the matte back glass isn’t too slippery. It’s undeniably a premium phone in every sense of the word.

Finally a beautiful pink smartphone

Pink is my favorite color. I own a lot of pink things and always choose pink when the option is available. I’m just a pink girl; I can’t help it.

When Apple introduced the rose gold color for the iPhone 6S, it immediately became one of my favorite iPhone colors. Despite the name “rose gold,” it was more of a metallic pink and I loved it. Although Apple brought back the rose gold color for the first generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 7, it never returned after that.

FortunatelyGoogle has answered the call and given us a pink Pixel 9 Pro. Although I prefer the more vibrant Peony Pixel 9, the Rose Quartz Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are also great. They are more subtle and classy and definitely remind me of to my days with the rose gold iPhone.

I would still take a pink iPhone Pro in a heartbeat, but Apple seems to think people would rather have brown. Sigh.

The Pixel 9 Pro is my favorite phone of 2024

It’s hard to believe that 2024 is already more than halfway over, leaving us with only Apple’s iPhone 16 event as the last major smartphone release of the year. I’ve used a lot of different phones this year, but the Google Pixel 9 Pro is a big highlight for me.

The updated look of the Pixel 9 range is wonderful. When the rumors first started, I was a bit indifferent, but now that I’ve been using the phones for a few weeks, I’m enamored. The flat edges and new camera module are a good combination and really help the Pixel 9 Pro stand out. And I absolutely love that Google is giving us small phone fans a Pro phone without having to worry about sacrificing features. And of course, we can’t forget the beautiful Rose Quartz colour.

I’ve picked up my Pixel 9 Pro over my iPhone 15 Pro whenever I could, primarily because of the cameras. Google gave me the Pro phone of my dreams when Apple couldn’t, and that’s no small feat.