This Pixel 9 Pro Is So Clean, It Feels Like the iPhone of Androids

Key points of CNET

When Android users swear, many others consider Android phone Feeling too complicated. The user interface is not as easy to adjust as Apple’s products. Although it may sound unreasonable, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 For example, the range has a depth menu setting that allows you to adjust various aspects of your phone. It can feel overwhelming – and even somewhat offensive.

For many Android users, the deep customization of the operating system has always been a simpler selling point ios exist Apple’s iPhone. But just because you want an Android phone, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an avid tech nerd who wants to tinker with the menu all day long.

The Pixel 9 Pro is the easiest Android phone I’ve ever used and there are many key reasons.

My Experience with Pixel 9 Pro

First, this is Google’s own phone, which means there is no secondary manufacturer software skin on the top of the operating system. It’s pure, uncut Android. Google’s interface is clean, easy to read and neat. Naturally, it uses Google’s own app by default. Meanwhile, Samsung loaded the phone with its own browser, email client and photo studio, all of which are located next to Google’s Chrome, Gmail, and Photos apps, meaning you already have duplicates of each tool.

Samsung isn’t the only tone person to do so. Almost all Android phone companies will load their phones with at least their own browser and gallery apps, while some companies (such as Samsung and Honors) can make their own email customers and calendars.

I’ve reviewed it recently Honor 400 Pro, One of the big problems I found on my phone is how much unsolicited stuff is pre-installed. Tiktok, LinkedIn, WPS Office, Temu and a variety of other third-party apps are there when they first open, which makes your phone feel cluttered, bloated and complicated, and then you even have the chance to install an app of your own. Pixels have nothing.

AI tools are the same. Samsung has a Bixby Assistant, as well as a variety of AI features. The Honor 400 Pro contains a bunch of AI features for real-time translation and transcription, OnePlus 13 And various other recent Android phones. But they all come with Google’s Gemini Advanced, and search for circles. Pixels don’t need to double meaninglessly. If you want to use AI with your phone, its tools will bake in the core of the phone experience without you also being able to activate and log into third-party services.

This simple method also extends to the camera. Open the default camera app and you’ll come across a neat interface that consists primarily of shutter buttons and zoom levels, and other shooting modes are found next to it. It doesn’t try to overcomplicate content here, but instead allows you to quickly capture images without messing with settings.

Here is a way to work here, and as a result, the Pixel 9 Pro gets it from one of my favorite automatic images Phone cameradoes a great job of balancing exposure and color. I love Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camerabut to get the best of it, you need to shoot in Pro mode, with manual control of the settings, which makes it more suitable for advanced photographers who want to fine-tune their images.

The pixel does provide deeper controls, which can be conveniently hidden behind the small settings icon instead of requiring you to switch to “Pro” mode completely if you prefer. For those who want to manually control white balance to warm up the sunset, the Pixel 9 Pro offers an easy way.

Specification

• 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display, 2,856×1,280 pixel resolution, 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate
• Google Tensor G4 processor
• 16GB RAM
• 4,700-MAH battery
• 50 megapixel main camera, 48 megapixel speeding, 48 megapixel telephoto zoom

CNET’s purchasing advice

Google clearly took notes from Apple’s approach to making Pixel range. Android fans have been ridiculed by Apple phones for their lack of customization and “lockdown” nature, but the iPhone is easier to operate. They integrate hardware, software and services to make them easy to understand if you are new to your smartphone or experienced gadgets.

Apple’s “How You Do Us” approach is a big part of the success of your phone, and the Pixel 9 Pro feels like the closest you can find on Android to the Apple experience. If you’re looking for a clean experience with a smartphone that doesn’t try out the unnecessary extra features, the Pixel 9 Pro is sure to be worth a look.

Watch the following: Google Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL

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