Do you want the additional megapixels?

It’s time for one more iteration of the traditional debate — whether or not or no more megapixels are literally higher on a smartphone digicam. Often, we’re anxious about how manufacturers can match 200MP right into a major digicam or why they caught with a lowly 2MP macro digicam for an additional yr, however not this time. This time, it’s all about snapping selfies on the Google Pixel 9 collection.

Sure, for the primary time in a couple of years, Google has made a major change to its selfie digicam setup — not less than on the Pixel 9 Professional collection. It determined it was time to attempt a high-resolution sensor, and we’re right here to see whether or not or not that call pays off. Let’s examine the brand new Pixel 9 Professional XL sensor to the tried and true shooter on the Pixel 9.

Earlier than we get into the digicam samples, we should always most likely take a minute to speak concerning the {hardware} in a number of the finest digicam telephones round. In any case, the Pixel 9 Professional’s selfie digicam is a reasonably large departure from what we’re used to. Whereas most earlier Pixels sat someplace between 10.5MP and 12MP selfie cameras, the Pixel 9 Professional collection (properly, the non-folding fashions) now packs a whopping 42MP sensor (however outputs 10MP snaps). The up to date punch gap comes full with an ultrawide focal size of 17mm and an ƒ/2.2 aperture. Google’s just a little tighter-lipped concerning the scale of the sensor itself, however it’s a protected guess that it packs smaller particular person pixels than the 1.22µm of its predecessor.

Talking of its predecessor, the bottom Pixel 9 has the identical 10.5MP sensor that beforehand appeared on the Pixel 8 collection. It has the identical ƒ/2.2 aperture because the Pixel 9 Professional fashions, however it’s paired with a barely tighter 20mm focal size, that means you’ll match just a little bit much less into your selfies. On the intense aspect (actually), the Pixel 9 nonetheless has the bigger 1.22µm pixels, however we’ll need to see in the event that they’re higher at capturing gentle than pixel binning these smaller 42 megapixels collectively.

Exterior of the change in decision and area of view, although, the 2 Pixels are fairly equally outfitted in the case of selfie capabilities. You possibly can document video in 4K at as much as 60fps on both machine, and each have fast toggles for both 0.7x or 1x zoom if you open the Pixel Digital camera app. The complete Pixel 9 collection additionally helps AI-powered software program options like Magic Editor and Add Me, so let’s get on to what issues — the selfies themselves.

Like every good digicam take a look at, selection is the spice of life. I’ve had the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional XL for a couple of week, and I’ve accomplished my finest to seize a couple of selfies from the 2 very good Android telephones in several lighting situations. Mom Nature had her personal concepts about my digicam testing, dumping a number of days of rain on us right here within the Mid-Atlantic. Fortunately, although, I’ve discovered sufficient breaks within the clouds to attempt the Pixel 9 collection indoors and out, early within the morning and late at evening, and right here’s what I’ve seen:

Even in evenly lit selfies, there are variations between the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Professional XL. Google normally provides a constant shade profile throughout all its gadgets, however the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional XL appear to have barely missed the memo. The extra reasonably priced Pixel 9 processed its selfies with a considerably tinted shade profile, with the blue of my coat providing probably the most noticeable distinction, together with the tan shade of the fence. That mentioned, each shade profiles are nonetheless fairly near actuality — actually not as punchy as Samsung and OnePlus are inclined to want.

Zooming in on my face, it additionally seems that the Pixel 9 Professional XL managed to protect higher particulars than the bottom Pixel 9. At first, you may suppose that sure, after all, the 42MP sensor provides sharper particulars than the ten.5MP choice, however Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL quad-bins its photographs right down to 10MP to make them extra manageable. I’m undecided if the Tensor G4 processor is doing a little additional magic to protect these particulars, however I can simply select extra of my beard hairs and particulars in my hat on the Pixel 9 Professional XL. The shadows look a bit noisier, nevertheless.

Subsequent, we’re shutting off portrait mode to look at the slight variations in zoom on the Pixel 9 collection. As talked about above, the Pixel 9 has a barely tighter equal focal size of 20mm in comparison with the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s 17mm, and the distinction is surprisingly apparent. I didn’t count on a mere 3mm to make such an enormous distinction, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL suits considerably extra of my jacket into the image at 1x zoom and captures buildings on each side of the inlet at 0.7x zoom.

Personally, I want the additional house, even when each telephones inform me they’re zoomed to the identical distance — it’s simply going to be simpler to suit extra stuff into the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s wider shot. Don’t get me fallacious, the Pixel 9 continues to be a lot vast to suit a couple of pals at its ultrawide setting, however it is perhaps only a bit too tight at 1x zoom, particularly if you wish to preserve your background.

After we change to Night time Sight, we see a mix of the variations I discussed above. The Pixel 9 Professional XL has, once more, a clearly a lot wider area of view than the Pixel 9 and barely richer colours this time too. Due to the larger distinction, it’s a lot simpler to pick the main points in my neck, and you may see a part of the shadow on my face from the streetlight above me.

The factitious bokeh in each selfies is fairly comparable, which makes the strings of lights and reflections on automobiles behind me look completely dreamy. Sadly, it additionally implies that the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional XL have comparable points when figuring out the sides of me, the topic. Each are a bit too sharp alongside the highest fringe of my cap whereas additionally lacking totally different curls of my hair. Neither one completely missed my hair, although, and each saved the strap of my bag in focus, which is not less than type of spectacular towards the darkish automobile behind me.

Final up on our brief enterprise by way of the selfie cameras on the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional XL is what I’ll name a selfie with an uncommon define. As a substitute of a straight-on shot of myself like the previous couple of have been, I needed to see how Google’s software program would deal with an object held in entrance of my face — this time, a cup of iced espresso.

There’s… nothing new to report, unsurprisingly. The identical hallmarks of the earlier photographs are right here, too, with a bit extra distinction on the Pixel 9 Professional XL and a barely tighter area of view from the Pixel 9. I’ll level out that the Pixel 9 dealt with the brand on my hat marginally higher, although, with the Pixel 9 Professional XL slicing off about half of it as a part of the portrait impact.

You may as well try full-resolution variations of those selfies (and some extra) at this Google Drive hyperlink.

Alright, I’ll admit it — I didn’t count on to love the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s selfie digicam as a lot as I do. I didn’t suppose it could be the higher shooter. As a substitute, I anticipated the smaller megapixels to undergo in low gentle like we noticed when Samsung put a 40MP selfie digicam on its Galaxy S22 Extremely. However I’m glad to be confirmed fallacious.

This time, the high-resolution sensor works in Google’s favor throughout all of my digicam samples, capturing higher distinction and extra correct colours and preserving particulars that I anticipated to get misplaced within the pixel-binning course of. Combine in the truth that it has a wider area of view so you’ll be able to match extra into your 1x zoom selfies, and it’s even simpler to suggest the Pixel 9 Professional collection over its vanilla Pixel 9 counterpart — not less than in the event you’re keen to spend $1,000 in your subsequent Pixel machine.

In case you are, otherwise you simply need to study just a little extra concerning the new lineup and take a look at the perfect costs, you are able to do so down under.