The best Google Pixel phones to buy in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

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Google Pixel phones are known for their cleanable software, artificial quality features, and availability successful each terms segment. The flagship lineup includes 4 Pixel phones -- the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Pixel 9a precocious joined the ranks arsenic the astir affordable Google telephone connected the market. It costs astir fractional what you'd wage for the Pixel 9 oregon Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

You should opt for a Google Pixel telephone for its exclusive bundle features, cameras, Pixel idiosyncratic interface (UI), and semipermanent bundle support. The latest devices besides see caller AI features and camera smarts with the assistance of Google Gemini. It tin beryllium confusing to take which Google telephone is champion for you, fixed the lineup. We person tested each the Google Pixel phones to assistance you determine which is the cleanable prime for you.

What is the champion Google Pixel telephone close now?

At ZDNET, we've reviewed each of the Google Pixel phones disposable to assistance you find the champion Pixel telephone for you. Our existent prime for the champion Google Pixel telephone is the Pixel 9 Pro XL. It faces pugnacious contention from the caller Galaxy S25 Ultra but you get fantabulous cameras, a clump of caller AI features, an updated design, and enactment for up to 7 years of software, security, and Pixel Drop updates. However, it's not the lone bully Pixel telephone that you tin bargain close now.

The champion Google Pixel phones of 2025

Google has 3 phones named Pixel 9 Pro this year, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the existent successor to the Pixel 8 Pro. It features an upgraded display, which is sharper and brighter, a caller chipset, and a batch more. The plan is present iPhone-like with level sides. These marque it consciousness much premium to clasp without being uncomfortable, acknowledgment to the curved edges. You get an all-new camera module, too. I emotion however it looks.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro is powered by the Tensor G4 chipset. It's liable for caller AI features similar Pixel Studio, amended camera processing, and more. It inactive gets lukewarm during demanding tasks, but I haven't faced stutters oregon lags connected the caller flagship. It is paired with 16GB of RAM -- the astir connected a Pixel telephone to day with up to 1TB oregon storage.

As for the cameras, determination are caller AI features similar Video Boost -- which helps amended grounds videos successful debased light, and Add Me, which lets you adhd yourself successful radical photos. The beforehand camera is amended than ever arsenic well. The phone's triple camera array, paired with the company's computational prowess, makes the Pixel 9 Pro XL the champion instrumentality wide from Google. The institution besides says it's doubly arsenic durable than the Pixel 8 Pro.

Review: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL specs: Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 6.8 inches | Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto, 42MP front | Battery capacity: 5,060 mAh | Price: Starts $1,099

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The Google Pixel 9 Pro is simply a one-of-a-kind telephone for those who privation the champion optics but successful a smaller size. While the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max person camera differences successful presumption of telephoto lens, the Pixel 9 Pro's cameras are the aforesaid arsenic the $100 much costly Pixel 9 Pro.

Compared to the regular Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro features a sharper and brighter display, a telephoto sensor, a amended and improved 42MP selfie shooter, 16GB of RAM, and much camera features similar 8K video recording, Zoom Enhance, and more. There are plentifulness of reasons to warrant the other $200 terms tag implicit the Pixel 9.

You should bargain the Google Pixel 9 Pro if you privation each the champion Google features and show but successful a 6.3-inch surface size and signifier factor. It volition person the aforesaid 7 years worthy of software, information and Pixel Drop upgrades.

Review: Google Pixel 9 Pro

Google Pixel 9 Pro specs: Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 6.3 inches | Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto, 42MP front | Battery capacity: 4,700 mAh | Price: Starting astatine $999

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The Pixel 9 Pro mightiness beryllium the telephone to look retired for, but since the Pixel 9 exemplary is the aforesaid size, it means that you're getting a akin acquisition connected a much affordable phone. With the basal Pixel 9, you get the aforesaid surface size, battery, processor, and superior and ultrawide cameras arsenic its Pro sibling.

The Pixel 9 is the champion Google telephone for astir radical due to the fact that you get to acquisition astir of the upgrades for little than $1,000. The optics are arsenic reliable arsenic before, and you get adjacent amended camera tuning. The Pixel 9 besides packs 12GB of RAM, which is the astir for immoderate basal variant of a Google telephone to date.

Several caller AI features similar Pixel Studio, Pixel Screenshots, and Add Me are portion of the Pixel 9 arsenic well. In immoderate ways, the smaller Pixel is an adjacent amended telephone than the larger Pro XL, specified arsenic ergonomics and consciousness successful the hand. The quality to scope from 1 country of the surface to the different without having to fidget astir creates a amended in-hand idiosyncratic experience.

Despite the $100 terms hike, the Pixel 9 costs $200 little than the Pixel 9 Pro and $300 little than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. This makes it 1 of the champion phones successful its terms category.

Review: Google Pixel 9

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The Google Pixel 9a is the caller affordable Google phone. Unlike Apple's iPhone 16e, the Pixel 9a inactive starts astatine the aforesaid $499, contempt the upgrades connected the processor, display, and battery. The caller Google fund telephone features an updated plan and borrows the Tensor G4 chipset from the Pixel 9 Pro. While it scores little numbers successful benchmark tests than the flagship phone, it remains an highly susceptible device.

You get a slew of astute AI features passim the idiosyncratic interface and camera. The Pixel 9a features a bigger 6.3-inch OLED surface -- versus the Pixel 8a's 6.1-inch screen. It supports a 120Hz refresh complaint show and brings improved brightness. This makes the surface look much legible than before, particularly outdoors. The caller Google telephone besides has the biggest artillery for an A-series Pixel telephone -- 5,100mAh, which volition apt past you an full day.

The Pixel 9a telephone is creaseless and responsive successful day-to-day usage. It carries implicit the Titan M2 spot arsenic good arsenic a built-in VPN for added security. As for the cameras, you get an improved 48MP main sensor and the aforesaid 12MP ultrawide space camera. The 13MP selfie shooter remains unchanged arsenic well. These connection large camera processing, tegument tones, and beauteous lowlight results. It's large for hobbyist shutterbugs and nonrecreational photographers alike.

Review: Google Pixel 9A

Google Pixel 9a specs: Processor: Google Tensor G4 with Titan M2 | Display: 6.3 inches | Storage options: 128GB/256GB | Rear cameras: 64MP Quad PD Bayer, 13MP ultrawide, 13MP beforehand | Battery capacity: Typical 4492mAh | Price: Starting astatine $499

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The astir important plan alteration for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is that it's present akin to the OnePlus Open and not the erstwhile Pixel Fold. As a result, you get a 20:9 facet ratio screen screen, which is the aforesaid arsenic the Pixel 9 Pro, truthful you should beryllium capable to tally apps without facing immoderate scaling issues -- dissimilar the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a plan wide connected the wrong too. You get amended cameras but a smaller artillery than before. However, it is present powered by a much businesslike Tensor G4 processor, which should support the artillery beingness successful check. You get to acquisition the aforesaid caller AI features arsenic the Pixel 9 series, including Add Me, Pixel Studio, and more.

There is simply a caller diagnostic called Made You Look that displays graphics connected the screen surface wherever shooting with the telephone unfolded. This is to marque toddlers look towards the cameras. Like the different caller Pixel phones, it'll get 7 years of software, security, and Pixel Drop updates.

Review: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Google Pixel Fold specs: Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 6.3 inches (outer) and 8.0 inches (inner) | Storage: 256GB, 512GB | Rear cameras: 48MP main, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP telephoto, and 10MP selfie shooter connected some screen surface and interior show | Battery capacity: 4,650mAh | Price: $1,799

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What are the tariffs successful the U.S.?

The caller U.S. tariffs connected imports from countries similar China, Vietnam, and India purpose to boost home manufacturing but are apt to thrust up prices connected user electronics. Products similar smartphones, laptops, and TVs whitethorn go much costly arsenic companies rethink planetary proviso chains and measurement the outgo of shifting production.

Also: Tariff warfare has tech buyers wondering what's next. Here's what we know

Smartphones are among the astir affected by the caller U.S. tariffs, with devices imported from China and Vietnam facing steep duties that could rise retail prices by 20% oregon more. Brands similar Apple and Google, which trust heavy connected Asian manufacturing, whitethorn either walk these costs connected to consumers oregon sorb them astatine the disbursal of nett margins.

The tariffs could besides pb to delays successful merchandise launches oregon shifts successful wherever and however phones are made, forcing companies to diversify accumulation to countries with much favorable commercialized conditions.

Right now, it looks similar immoderate tech whitethorn beryllium exempt from the issued tariffs, but since it's ever changing and developing, we are keeping an oculus connected it and volition update you connected the latest.

Also: Tariff exemptions for electronics connection a interruption for tech - but not for long

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is our prime for champion Google telephone overall. Along with the ample photograph and video editing features the telephone contains, it's besides sleek, premium-feeling, and has capable artillery beingness for a agelong time of use. All told, it's 1 of the astir dynamic phones connected the market, with respective AI features to backmost it up. See however the champion Google Pixel phones comparison based connected price, processing speed, and show size below.

Google Pixel phone	Price	Processor	Display size
Pixel 9 Pro XL	$1,099	Google Tensor G4	6.8-inch
Pixel 9 Pro	$999	Google Tensor G4	6.3-inch
Pixel 9	$799	Google Tensor G4	6.3-inch
Pixel 9a	$499	Google Tensor G4	6.3-inch
Pixel 9 Pro Fold	$1,799	Google Tensor G4	6.3-inch and 8.0-inch

If you're funny successful a Google Pixel phone, it's bully that determination aren't excessively galore options disposable to confuse you oregon overwhelm your decision-making process. The archetypal information is price. If you person a maximum magnitude you are consenting to walk connected a phone, past the terms tin dictate which is close for you.

Thankfully, erstwhile it comes to the bundle experience, Google provides astir the aforesaid acquisition crossed each of the actively supported Pixel phones. You'll spot immoderate exclusive AI and camera features present and there, but the wide acquisition is astir the same.

Choose this Google Pixel phone	If you want...
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL	The champion of Google successful the biggest size imaginable for bully artillery beingness and ample surface with tons of AI features, and a somesthesia sensor.
Google Pixel 9 Pro	Google's champion camera strategy successful a tiny size, 1TB retention and nary compromises. A Pro telephone successful a compact signifier factor.
Google Pixel 9	A much affordable Pixel telephone with a likewise outstanding camera, colorful assemblage choices, and a useful signifier factor. It besides features immoderate of the AI features recovered connected the Pro.
Google Pixel 9a	The champion fund prime of the Google phones, with a starting terms of $499, a 120Hz display, and wireless charging support.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold	Google's foldable overhaul that lets you power betwixt a compact 6.3-inch show and a productivity-enhancing 8.0-inch display. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold remains pricey, but it undercuts the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 by $100.

With respective caller Google Pixel phones being released each year, ZDNET spends astatine slightest 2 weeks with each exemplary earlier deciding whether oregon not -- and wherever -- it ranks within this buying guide. The qualifications I look for erstwhile curating the picks see the following:

Availability: The biggest origin is availability; is what's being selected disposable to acquisition straight from Google, a section carrier, oregon an online retailer? Is it successful stock? Or tin it lone beryllium purchased successful utilized oregon renewed condition? With the picks connected this list, each 1 tin beryllium bought caller and sealed, guaranteeing that you'll person the astir reliable acquisition from the start.
Value: Just arsenic important is the worth that each Pixel telephone brings. While each options connected this database disagree successful terms tiers, they each connection capable unsocial features, camera capabilities, and designs that marque them worthy paying for. If they're not worthy it, they won't beryllium connected the list.
Performance: Naturally, I lone prime models that output bully to fantabulous performance, from the mode they grip day-to-day tasks to much intensive usage cases similar gaming and video editing.

Here's a breakdown of each origin we see earlier we marque recommendations:

Design and ergonomics: How bully a telephone looks and feels plays a large relation successful galore users' buying journeys, truthful we see these aspects heavy erstwhile testing.
Performance: Several factors impact a phone's performance, including LTE/5G signal, artillery life, and inheritance tasks. Therefore, we typically statesman our evaluations with a afloat charged handset, with each inheritance tasks closed, and with arsenic unchangeable of a mobile transportation arsenic possible.
Camera quality: ZDNET tests telephone cameras by capturing hundreds of photos and videos of assorted subjects and successful assorted lighting conditions. We besides comparison the output to that of older models.
Battery beingness and charging: It's besides important for america to measure however agelong phones past nether light, moderate, and dense usage, however agelong they instrumentality to recharge, and however they bash it -- wired, wireless, oregon both.
Special features: These features separate tested devices from a bustling smartphone marketplace and hopefully bring added worth to users, not the opposite.
Pricing and availability: Beyond fund considerations, we besides enactment if a telephone is disposable successful the U.S. oregon lone internationally.

For an extended rundown of our investigating methodology, beryllium definite to cheque retired our how we trial phones article.

People usage their smartphones everyplace contiguous and having immoderate level of particulate and h2o absorption is important. You should not aquatics oregon intentionally submerge your telephone for extended periods successful h2o without a waterproof case. Warranties mostly bash not screen h2o damage. However, if you are extracurricular successful the rain, accidentally driblet your telephone successful a puddle, oregon spill thing connected your phone, it should beryllium capable to past specified an incident.

On this list, the Pixel 9a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are the astir h2o and particulate resistant with an IP68 rating. The Pixel Fold has an IPX8 rating, which lone offers h2o absorption and nary particulate absorption owed to its foldable signifier factor.

Every Pixel exemplary connected this database supports wireless charging.

Wireless charging is simply a convenient mode to complaint your telephone without having to plug successful a USB-C cord straight into the phone. Wireless charging is besides present rated arsenic accelerated wireless charging successful galore cases, but adjacent with this "fast" rating, it is inactive faster to complaint up your telephone with a nonstop USB-C cable.

Also: Is your Pixel artillery draining faster than it should? This diagnostic tin help