The Google Pixel 9 Pro has arrived, bringing a sleek new design, impressive power, and vibrant colors. If you’re thinking of making it your next flagship phone, you’re in good company! We adore the Pixel 9 Pro, but it’s not the only amazing phone out there. Before committing, let’s explore five alternative smartphones that could be a perfect fit for your needs, some even at a lower price point.
1. Google Pixel 9: The Same Pixel Magic, Less Price
This year, Google introduced three Pixel 9 models, two of which share the same 6.3-inch display size: the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro. If the size is your main attraction to the Pro, then the standard Pixel 9 deserves a serious look. Despite being the base model, it packs a punch. Google gave it a stunning array of colors, including the gorgeous Peony pink, and its 6.3-inch screen is incredibly lightweight and comfortable to hold. While the screen is a 6.3-inch Actua OLED display, it still boasts a variable refresh rate between 60Hz and 120Hz, reaching a maximum brightness of 2700 nits.
The Pixel 9 boasts a dual camera setup on the back, featuring a 50MP primary camera and a 48MP ultrawide lens. This combination makes it nearly impossible to take a bad photo. This setup is ideal if you don’t require a telephoto lens. And with Google’s AI camera magic, every shot can be perfectly fine-tuned.
Just like its Pro sibling, the Pixel 9 is powered by the Tensor G4 chip, backed by 12GB of RAM. While slightly less than the Pro variants, it’s more than enough to run Android 14 and Google Gemini AI features smoothly. It also boasts the same 4,700mAh battery as the Pixel 9 Pro, easily lasting a full day without needing a charge, which is quite impressive.
Essentially, the Pixel 9 gives you most of the features of the Pixel 9 Pro, but with a wider choice of vibrant colors and a more affordable price. What’s not to love?
2. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Bigger Screen, Longer Battery Life
If the Pixel 9 Pro’s features like advanced cameras, extra RAM, and ample storage have you hooked, but you’re not afraid of a larger phone, then the Pixel 9 Pro XL might be your match. It’s identical to the Pixel 9 Pro, but with a larger 6.8-inch Super Actua display instead of the 6.3-inch screen on the Pixel 9 Pro. It also boasts a bigger 5,060mAh battery capacity and faster wired charging speeds. It can reach 70% charge in just 30 minutes (45W), while the smaller Pro only reaches 55% in the same time (30W).
Beyond the size and battery, the Pixel 9 Pro XL shares all the features of its smaller sibling: a triple-lens camera system with a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 42MP selfie camera. It’s powered by the same Tensor G4 chip, comes with 16GB of RAM, storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB, and all the Google Gemini AI features with Android 14. If you don’t mind a larger screen, longer battery life, and a slightly higher price, then the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the perfect choice.
3. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Powerful Performance with a Familiar Face
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a powerhouse. It’s slightly larger than the Pixel 9 Pro and boasts a plethora of powerful features. Though it’s approaching its one-year anniversary, it remains a fantastic phone. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, matching the size of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The display rivals the Pixel 9 Pro, although its brightness reaches 2500 nits compared to the Pixel 9 Pro’s 3000 nits. It also has a dynamic refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz.
If you demand an impressive camera system, the Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers. It comes with a phenomenal camera setup: a 200MP primary camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. These are impressive numbers, and the photos you can capture are equally impressive.
Samsung uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip, which outperforms the Tensor G4. It also packs 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The Galaxy S24 Ultra includes an integrated S Pen, adding to its productivity prowess. While approaching its first birthday, the Galaxy S24 Ultra remains an incredible phone. Despite its high starting price of $1,300, you can find good deals these days.
4. OnePlus 12: Flagship Features Without the Flagship Price
If you’re looking for a flagship smartphone without the premium price tag, the excellent OnePlus 12 is a top contender. It’s another larger Android phone, so you’ll need to adjust to the size if you were aiming for a smaller device. The OnePlus 12 boasts a unique design that sets it apart from the crowd. OnePlus often uses colors and designs not seen in other phones, and this applies to its signature Flowy Emerald color for the OnePlus 12, though you can also get it in black or white.
The OnePlus 12 features a 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display with curved edges, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an eye-popping 4500 nits of peak brightness. If you crave the brightest display you’ve ever seen, the OnePlus 12 delivers. However, be warned—the curved edges on the screen may result in unintentional touches if you’re not used to that kind of display.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powers the OnePlus 12, and depending on the storage option you choose (256GB to 512GB), you can have 12GB or 16GB of RAM. The cameras are another standout feature. It has a 50MP main camera, 64MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 48MP ultrawide camera, and 32MP selfie camera. These cameras benefit from OnePlus’ Hasselblad partnership, giving you Hasselblad color tuning and enhancements for your photos and videos.
OnePlus also impresses with its remarkable battery life and charging capabilities. Its massive 5,400mAh battery can easily last more than a day. When you do need to charge it, you can achieve 80W wired charging in the U.S. and 100W charging globally. This means you can go from 0 to 100% in just 30 minutes. It also supports up to 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging. All these features are incredibly impressive, but the price is even more incredible. The OnePlus 12 starts at just $800, and OnePlus offers excellent trade-in deals and specials that can lower that price even further. Don’t miss out on this one.
5. iPhone 16 Pro: Powerful Performance Meets Familiar iOS
If you’re open to trying iOS, the recently released iPhone 16 Pro could be a great fit. While the iPhone 16 received a nice design refresh, the iPhone 16 Pro maintains a similar aesthetic to its predecessors. However, this year, Apple added a new Camera Control button on the lower right edge of the frame, which is a convenient addition. The iPhone 16 Pro is powered by Apple’s new A18 Pro chip and comes with 8GB of RAM. Storage options range from 128GB to 1TB, and it’s available in four neutral colors.
These internals ensure the iPhone 16 Pro handles iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence flawlessly. The triple-lens camera system is also quite impressive. It features a 48MP main “Fusion” primary camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. In a recent camera comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro outperformed the Pixel 9 Pro overall. If you prioritize a fantastic camera, the iPhone 16 Pro is the better choice.
The iPhone 16 Pro starts at the same price as the Pixel 9 Pro, but the decision ultimately comes down to your preference for iOS or Android. Still, the Camera Control button is excellent, and the battery life is an improvement over last year. If you’ve been considering switching to iPhone, the iPhone 16 Pro offers plenty to love.
