CheckMag | Pixel 9 Pro leaks suggest it could be the only compact phone on the market that doesn’t compromise on features
Not content with taking away pretty much every “small” phone option on the market, manufacturers have also decided that everyone on the planet that wants a “pro” camera setup is happy to carry a monolith in their pocket.
If you want the 5x optical zoom on an iPhone (10x if you believe Apple’s marketing manipulation) your only option is the Pro Max, with its 6.7 inch display. If you want a smaller screen - sorry, Apple will give you a 6.1 inch iPhone but you only get a 3x zoom, despite carrying the same “Pro” moniker.
Maybe you want an Android phone, so you might look at Samsung. But again, if you want a 5x zoom your only option is the Galaxy S24 Ultra with its behemoth 6.8 inch screen. Want a smaller phone, then you also get a smaller zoom. (3x in the case of the standard S24).
You’d be hard pressed to find any phone that offers a top tier zoom in a package that comes in under 6.7 inches. Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo, even Google, until now.
If the leaks are to be believed, Google will be offering “Pro” versions with the exact same camera specification in both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL models. The 9 Pro offers a rumoured 6.34 inch display with the Pro XL offering a 6.73 inch display. Both models are (thankfully) equipped with exactly the same camera array, including the 5x optical zoom.
It might seem like semantics arguing over half an inch in screen size, but if you’ve ever held a Galaxy S24 Ultra and a standard S24 or an iPhone 15 Pro Max and an iPhone 15 Pro, the difference in hand feels significant. The reduction in both height and width adds up to a great deal, expecially if you have small hands.
Apple’s iPhone mini took “small phone” to a whole new level, but still lacked the features of its bigger brothers. Now that Apple and Asus have both killed the only viable options for small phone lovers, this entire market could be available to Google. At least until rumours around the iPhone 16 Pro (which should release in September) come to fruition, which speculate that both Pro models will get the same 5x zoom.
Until then, at least one manufacturer has acknowledged that not everyone wants to carry a slab around all day, but still likes to have the flexibility of a top tier camera setup. If Google really can follow up on their promised 8 years of updates, the Pixel 9 Pro could be the closest thing we’ll get to a small phone with no compromises.
If you can't wait for the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 7 Pro is currently 48% off at Amazon* right now.
Source(s)
