Im a die-hard Apple fan, but even Ill admit that the Google Pixel 9 Pro is
the best-looking phone of the year

Date:
Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:00:44 +0000

Description:
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is TechRadar's Phone of the Year, and I think it's the best-looking phone of the year, too.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Back in 2021, I penned an op-ed on why Im comfortable being trapped in Apples ecosystem , and although Ive tested (and loved using) many of the best
Android phones since then, the comparatively boring iPhone still calls to me each year like a titanium safety blanket in a world of complex software and obnoxiously large camera bumps.

Sure, a big reason for that sustained interest is convenience as someone who uses a MacBook, an Apple TV, and AirPods away from the office, Ill always choose inter-device efficiency over innovation but Apple has damn near perfected its product design, too.

I dont need to tell you that iPhones and MacBooks are fashion statements as much as they are productivity tools head to your nearest coffee shop for the proof. And no other Android phone has come close to replicating the iPhones unique synergy of simplicity and style. That is, until the Google Pixel 9 Pro .

The Google Pixel 9 Pro was recently crowned TechRadars Phone of the Year ,
and for good reason. Its the only new flagship in 2024 that feels truly new versus its predecessor, and despite not being the most powerful device on the block, the Pixel 9 Pro nails the things we take for granted: making phone calls, dealing with notifications, sending messages, and so on. The Google Pixel 9 Pro comes in Hazel, Obsidian, Porcelain, Rose Quartz. (Image credit: Google / Future)

Most of all, though, the Pixel 9 Pro is a truly good-looking phone. As weve established, Im a huge iPhone fan, and even I found myself looking twice at the Pixels flat aluminum sides, frosted glass rear panel, and perfectly sized pill-shaped module. The phone is impressively durable, too, with Gorilla
Glass Victus 2 on the front and an IP68 dust and water resistance rating to boot. Put simply, the Pixel 9 Pro is a world away from the Google Pixel 8 Pro . Just look at it. Image 1 of 2 The Google Pixel 9 Pro in Obsidian (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Image 2 of 2 The Google Pixel 8 Pro in Bay (Image credit: Future)

There is, of course, a large elephant in the room here: the Pixel 9 Pro is more iPhone-like than any Pixel phone (heck, any Android phone) thats come before it. Im effectively praising Google for leaning on Apples design philosophy, when others might criticize the company for not bringing
something truly new to the table.

But honestly, why not play to a winning strategy? Just as Samsung is right to take inspiration from Apples iPhone design , Google, too, should continue to riff on this cleaner, more industrial aesthetic, one that clearly resonates with consumers of a certain purchasing power. The iPhone 15 Pro in Natural Titanium (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

In any case, what does Google have to lose by designing an iPhone-style
Pixel? We know that more Android users are switching to iPhone than vice
versa , and although the Pixel 9 Pro isnt going to convince iPhone users to switch to Pixel en masse, it might help retain existing Pixel users. Or
better yet, convince other Android users to embrace the best Pixel phones instead of, say, the best Samsung phones .

Yes, maybe the Google Pixel 9 Pro represents a loss of personality for the Pixel family but Apple has proven that personality isnt what people buy phones for. You might also like TechRadar Choice Awards 2024 winners : the best tech of the last year Google Pixel 9 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro : same name, different game Google Pixel 9 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : two AI champions compared



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/google-pixel-phones/im-a-die-hard-apple-fan-b ut-even-ill-admit-that-the-google-pixel-9-pro-is-the-best-looking-phone-of-the -year


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