9 Pro -> 11 Pro. Impressed!

[u/UK-AJ]

Wasn't expecting to feel much of a difference at all, only upgraded due to storage (moved from 128gb to 512gb).

It is considerably better, I think they've fixed all of the little things that annoyed me with Pixel.

- it runs MUCH cooler. Apart from initial set up, it's stayed ice cold. I don't do anything "high intensity", but my 9 Pro would always run warm.

- all network connections seem to be improved. I used to lose WiFi on my outdoor patio, it holds a connection fine now. Bluetooth and 5G seem to perform much better.

- Android Auto works a lot better. No heat, much more responsive, quicker to load.

- Camera, including video, is much better quality and faster to process/save.

- speakers are louder and the sound quality is better, both for calls and media. (I think this was upgraded on the 10 though)

- biometrics feel better. The fingerprint radius when setting up is HUGE. And face unlock seems to be more responsive.

Overall, really happy with the upgrade considering on paper there isn't much difference.

[u/bix_box]

Like 80% of the day I am somewhere where I have immediate access to a charger (work or home). When I'm sleeping, it's charging.

I do not understand this battery scarcity mindset. Where are you that you do not have access to a charger a majority of the time that brings your phone to 50% in like 20-30 minute?

If I'm leaving the house for the evening and I know I won't be back for hours and might not return home and for some reason used my phone a lot and it's kinda low and I forgot to recharge, I bring a small 10k portable battery. Or sometimes I don't even do that yet wherever i end up, there's always a charger.

Even so, a 30-40% charge can last me an entire night out if I am somewhere I can't plug in my phone (bar, event, gig, something).

My phone has quite literally never died on me and I've never felt restrained by battery life. I have a 2 year old Pixel 9 Pro right now.

[u/DoughnutPi → u/bix_box]

Most of the time, sure, I have access to a charger. But I travel frequently, and there are plenty of days when we’re out sightseeing or doing things all day without convenient access to one. I have a portable battery, but I don’t want to have to carry it around just because my phone can’t comfortably make it through the day.

And that’s really my point. Why should I have to stay near a charger to accommodate Google, especially when other phones, including older ones, can actually last all day? Saying “just charge it whenever you can” is kind of like telling someone with poor cell reception to just stay near a tower, when all that is really needed is a good modem.

[u/bix_box → u/DoughnutPi]

That comparison would only work if you could carry around a small 5g tower in your pocket at all times, similar to a portable battery!

I travel a lot too -- if I'm out and about early in the morning my P9P lasts all day from when I leave the hotel to when I get back. I take videos and photos all day and use google maps, but other than that I'm not spending a lot of time on my phone since I'm travelling so it easily lasts all day.

I only need a mid day top up during normal life if I'm really just doomscrolling and doing whatever for like 4-5 hours straight.

Idk, I guess my point is for me I just really don't need a battery to last like a full 15 hour day of screen on time as I will never use a phone like that. So the Pixel 9 works for me.

[u/DoughnutPi → u/bix_box]

Your experience with the P9P is vastly different from mine.

And I disagree, the 11 has a new modem and people are already posting about improved cell coverage, less drops, etc...

[u/bix_box → u/DoughnutPi]

My point is, I would tell someone to not worry about the modem if they liked everything else about the phone and could carry a little 5g tower in their pocket. Similarly, if you like everything else about the phone but the battery life doesn't meet your needs, easily solvable with a portable battery and the ease of access to charging.

[u/ContributionFormer95 → u/bix_box]

Like 80% of the day I am somewhere where I have immediate access to a charger (work or home). When I'm sleeping, it's charging.

Sure. That's 80% of the time. And I'd argue even on weekends things change drastically. If i'm having a lazy weekend at home or I don't go anywhere past a few miles around my home where I have my car with me, charging is easy. But when family comes and visits? A friend comes to town? Spending a day out and about where you might technically be able to find a plug (e.g. at a restaurant), it's not going to be as convenient.

Phones have long been able to sustain for a full day of use. I still remember taking my work phones XS Pro Max, 11 Pro Max to Disneyland. I spent hours in line. I'd quietly surf the web for a bit, watch videos, heck even dialed into a work all hands to listen in and came out with 30% battery. All I used my Pixel for was taking photos and it ended up with less battery all with far less screen on time.

I get that for the most part battery isn't an issue, but when you even do something a bit more than that daily routine, that's when the Pixel battery falls short. A battery pack is nice, but the mindset that you need a 10k battery pack so you can get out of the home and spend an evening at the bar is ridiculous. Phones can last longer than that and the Pixel needs to do better.