The Google Pixel 9 Pro is marketed as a premium device with notable upgrades over its predecessor, the Pixel 8, justifying its higher price point. Among these upgrades is the LTPO display panel, which is intended to enhance the display’s refresh rate and energy efficiency. However, there are discrepancies in the display technology used in different regions.
In India, Malaysia, and Singapore, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL may not feature LTPO displays as expected. Instead, these models are equipped with Actua Displays rather than the Super Actua Displays found in units sold elsewhere. Although Actua and Super Actua technologies pertain to display brightness rather than refresh rate, the use of different panels in various regions highlights a significant difference. This is surprising given that the previous model, the Pixel 8 Pro, already featured an LTPO panel.
Specifications for the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL list “1280 x 2856 LTPO OLED at 495 PPI” and “1344 x 2992 LTPO OLED at 486 PPI,” respectively, and online stores even reference “Super Actua Displays.” This inconsistency suggests a need for clarification from Google to confirm whether LTPO displays are included or not in these regions.
In addition to display discrepancies, Pixel 9 models sold in India lack support for Wi-Fi 7, which is available in devices sold in other regions, including Malaysia and Singapore. This absence affects both the Pixel 9 Pro and the standard Pixel 9.
The situation with the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is also complex. It features an LTPO inner display globally, but a regular Actua cover display everywhere. There is ambiguity regarding its Wi-Fi capabilities, as the Indian model is listed with “Wi-Fi 7 (802.11ax).” However, Wi-Fi 7 is also known as 802.11be, while 802.11ax corresponds to Wi-Fi 6, suggesting a possible typographical error. Given that the Pixel 9 series lacks Wi-Fi 7 in India, it is likely that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold does not support it either.
Additionally, India’s regulatory agency has not yet approved the use of the 6GHz band, which is part of Wi-Fi 7. Nonetheless, Wi-Fi 7 includes enhancements that function across the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, so the lack of 6GHz band approval should not impact the decision to include Wi-Fi 7 support.
Another notable difference is that Google VPN, which is provided for free to Pixel 9 users, is unavailable in several countries, including Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Regional variations also extend to different 5G bands (sub-6GHz and mmWave) and specific features such as FeliCa support in Japan. While some differences are typical of regional adaptations, the inconsistencies regarding display technology and Wi-Fi support are particularly notable and warrant further clarification from Google.
