The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has big shoe to fill . It ’s the first “ XL ” Pixel we ’ve catch in five days , one of Google ’s most expensive Pixels ever , and it has to come after up on the fantabulous Pixel 8 Pro it ’s replacing . That ’s a right magniloquent order .
Here ’s the good newsworthiness , though . The Pixel 9 Pro XL does it . Google go all - out for its 9th - coevals flagship Pixel phone in mode I was n’t expecting . Not everything is perfect , but the solvent is a phenomenal smartphone that ’s well - made , powerful , and a joy to habituate .
If you ’re in the market for a flagship Android headphone in almost every sentience of the Bible , here ’s why the Pixel 9 Pro XL is one of your salutary choices .
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: specs
48MP ultrawide , f/1.7 , 123 - degree FOV
48MP telephoto , f/2.8 , 22 - degree FOV , 5x ocular zoom
23W wireless charging with Pixel Stand
12W tuner charging with Qi - compatible chargers
Reverse radio charging
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: design
Google on a regular basis ups its intent game every year with Pixel phones , and the Pixel 9 Pro XL is no exception . However , it does n’t feel like a year - to - year improvement over thePixel 8 professional . or else , it experience like a two- or three - year leap .
Google made significant designing modification this twelvemonth , with one being the flat frame . Unlike other phone that went plane this year ( I ’m looking at you , Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 ) , Google did a heavy job keeping the edge between the frame and the front and back of the phone smooth . It ’s a top - mountain pass construction job that makes the telephone set comfortable to adjudge while still giving it that flat , industrial looking at . I did n’t recollect Google could pull it off , but it did .
Also new is the redesigned camera bar . alternatively of stretch the entire duration of the phone ’s back , it ’s now an ellipse figure that sits like an island . And I like it ! The Pixel 9 Pro XL still looks like a Pixel telephone set , just one with a fresh pelage of rouge . Combined with the flat physique , the whole package look and feels like a grown - up version of previous models .
That theme also continues throughout the rest of the sound ’s form . The clitoris are first - class , the speakers sound rich and full , the new supersonic fingermark sensor is fantastic , and the vibration motor is one of the expert I ’ve used on an Android telephone set in late memory . Throw in an IP68 ratingfor protection against dust and weewee , and I ’m struggle to think of things to complain about with this hardware .
I imagine some people learn this will blast Google for copying the iPhone ’s innovation this year , and that ’s a fair criticism . When placed side - by - side with the iPhone 15 Pro Max , the Pixel 9 Pro XL does look spookily exchangeable . But I ’d also argue that it ’s not a bad thing . Given the choice between the two earphone , I prefer how the Pixel 9 looks . It ’s a gorgeous and staggeringly well - craft musical composition of ironware , and it may be one of my favorite smartphone designs of the integral year .
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: screen and performance
As the XL name intimate , the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a big phone , so you get a big screen . Taking up the front of the phone is a 6.8 - inch Super Actua Display . It ’s an OLED control board with a 1344 x 2992 resolution , a variable refresh charge per unit from 1Hz to 120Hz , and eyeshade brightness up to 3000 nit . It ’s all packaged with symmetric bezels around the intact display — just as it should be .
This is an salient display . Google impressed me when it first enter its Super Actua Display technology on the Pixel 8 serial publication last class , and it ’s even better on the Pixel 9 Pro XL . The covert is hopeful and vivacious without being too punchy . Edward Douglas White Jr. are stark , blackness are recondite and inky-black , and everything is as penetrating as can be .
This is an striking showing .
I ’ve been running the phone at the “ in high spirits resolution ” option at a slightly lower 1008 x 2244 declaration ( which looks great to my eye ) , but you could easily vary it to the full 1344 x 2992 resolution if you ’d like . The 120Hz refresh rate has been buttery smooth throughout my examination , and the always - on presentation looks fantabulous , too . I honestly do n’t have anything to complain about — this is a wondrous covert .
Speaking of fantastic , let ’s babble out about the Pixel 9 Pro XL ’s carrying out . Last year ’s Tensor G3 chipwas surprisingly reliable ( much more so than the Tensor G2 from the Pixel 7 series ) , and the Tensor G4 flake in the Pixel 9 phone continues that trend .
I ’ve not had any major performance emergence with the Pixel 9 Pro XL . Apps open quickly , pilotage is smooth , andgraphically acute games run without a stop . I played a few back - to - back round ofStar Wars : Hunterswith graphic ready to Very High , and the Pixel 9 Pro XL stayed ata consistent 60 frames per 2nd ( Federal Protective Service ) for all of my matches . It also does this without overheat — a uniform proceeds for Tensor - powered Pixel phones . The Pixel 9 Pro XL cause fond to the touch after about 20 minutes ofStar Wars : Hunter , but around a layer I would expect any headphone to be .
Finally , you geta lotmore RAM this year — 16 GB equate to the 12 GB on the Pixel 8 Pro — and it ’s obtrusive . I ’ve been capable to go out apps and game running in the background for over two hours and have them open straightaway without needing to recharge . Call 16 GB of RAM overkill if you require , but I bonk it .
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: camera
Cameras are always a big deal for Pixel phones , and as you might have guessed , that ’s no dissimilar for the Pixel 9 Pro XL . This year , you get a 50 - megapixel primary camera , a 48MP ultrawide camera , a 48MP telephoto camera , and a 42MP selfie photographic camera . The rear television camera glasses are virtually identical to those of the Pixel 8 Pro , though the selfie tv camera is a important rise from the old 10.5MP sensing element .
Call Google lazy for not changing much of the camera hardware this twelvemonth if you ’d wish , but you wo n’t find me complaining about this television camera setup at all . The Pixel 8 Pro was one of my favorite smartphone cameras of 2023 , and it ’s safe to say the Pixel 9 Pro XL is one of my favorites for 2024 .
Like its predecessor , what I make love most about the Pixel 9 Pro XL is how effortless its television camera is . I do n’t have to believe too hard about the barb I ’m take ; when I conjure the shutter button , I ’m all but guaranteed to take a enceinte exposure . Whether alfresco in great lighting , shooting directly into the sunset , or in a palely fire up eating place , it does n’t matter — the Pixel 9 Pro XL just continues to deliver first-class exposure .
The chief camera is the wizard of the show , but the lower-ranking tv camera are just as impressive . The ultrawide shooter gives you a lovely 123 - point line of business of view ( FoV ) while retaining dependable colors and contingent that ’s comparable to the chief camera . The ultrawide television camera can also double as a macro camera , and the result are lovely .
The telephotograph tv camera is technically a 5x visual soar sensor , though Google says it has a 10x “ optical eq . ” And , if you want to get gaga , Super Res Zoom let you go up to 30x . And you know what ? All of these zoom lengths — even up to 30x — look shockingly adept . I ’ll let the picture of the rabbit above speak for themselves .
Rounding out the camera sensor , the selfie camera is arguably the best I ’ve used this year . It capture lots of particular and great colour and has a expectant FoV of up to 103 degrees ( with the option of 1x and 0.7x shooting musical mode in the camera app ) . It even has autofocus , as do all of the Pixel 9 phones this year .
Also , in distinctive Google way , the Pixel 9 Pro XL camera experience has its fair plowshare of AI features . append Me is the one Google is market the most , and it ’s telling . Say you ’re taking a pictorial matter of your two friends , but there ’s no one to hold your phone so you may be in the word-painting . With the Pixel 9 , you may open up the tv camera , select Add Me , and take a photograph of your friends . Then , have them leave the aspect , take one of them to take a impression of you in the same spot , and the Pixel 9 creates a composite of the two images to insert you . It ’s not something I ’ll utilise very often , but I can see it add up in handy in certain situations .
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: software and AI features
In a surprisal twist , the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL does n’t embark withAndroid 15 . Instead , like the Pixel 8 fellowship , it ships withAndroid 14 . It ’s an odd move , though ultimately , it ’s not a big deal . It ’ll be first in line for Android 15 when it ’s quick , and even without the newest Android version available , there are still some young software dainty to roleplay with .
One of my favorite is the Modern Pixel Weather app . I ’m a sucker for well - designed weather apps , and I ’m glad to account that this is a peachy one . One of the highlight feature is the AI Weather Report , which gives you a one - sentence sum-up of the current conditions . It update throughout the day , and you could wiretap the dropdown arrow for a longer explanation . It sounds gimmicky , but I ’ve really found it quite utilitarian .
Speaking of useful , the new Pixel Screenshots app is fantastic . If you ’re like me , you probably take screenshots to remember thing you see on your headphone . The problem is that you take so many that when it comes time to find something important , you ca n’t . Pixel Screenshots solve that problem .
As you take screenshots on your Pixel 9 ( or import any screenshots back up to Google Photos ) , they ’re save in a new Screenshots app . Here , you may organize screenshots in collections / group and hunting for the contentedness of your screenshots — such as a recipe , an upcoming concert , contrive you made with friends in a group chat , etc . It all race entirely on - equipment ( no cyberspace connecter require ) and works fabulously well . It ’s not something you ’ll postulate to use all the time , but when you do , it should try out to be a pretty invaluable pecker .
The other new feature are Gemini Live and Pixel Studio , though I ’ve been less impressed with them . Gemini Live is a more natural , free - flowing way of talk to Googe Gemini . It feels like talking to another human rather than Alexa or Siri , though it ’s not much more than a nerveless technical school demo . Gemini Live ca n’t access any personal data like your inter-group communication , shopping leaning , or overbold dwelling devices , so I ’m not quite certain what to actually expend it for .
Pixel Studio , meanwhile , is Google ’s new image - propagation app . After introducingAI wallpaper with very rigid prompt last year with the Pixel 8 , Pixel Studio on the Pixel 9 ismuchless restrictive . open up the app , type in what you want an image of , and Pixel Studio makes it for you . The app is well - project and promiscuous to use . However , it ’s also quite elusive — engender images of animals and democratic fabricated character in inappropriate ( and sometimes illegal ) state of affairs . I wo n’t get into everything here , but to give you an idea of just how bad it is , Pixel Studio generated an image of SpongeBob dressed as a German soldier from WWII.Yeah .
Pixel Studio misses the score .
I do n’t think the mien of Pixel Studio on the Pixel 9 Pro XL ruins the telephone set , but it also feel like an unneeded app that we could all live gayly without . I do n’t desire or take an AI persona source preinstalled on my phone — especially when it generates such tasteless and worrisome images . Google is unremarkably smart about tote up new apps and Pixel software , but this one misses the mark . The secure newsworthiness is that you could completely disregard it , and that ’s what I ’d recommend you do .
Beyond those new additions , this is the same Pixel smartphone experience we ’ve come to know and love over the years . Google ’s Android interface is clean , unionized , and easy to navigate . Other feature of speech — such as Now play and Hold For Me — are still here and as helpful as ever . I ’ve long prefer Google ’s Pixel software over any other Android port , and that ’s not changing this twelvemonth .
As for update , the Pixel 9 Pro XL is promised seven years of Android upgrades , security patch , and characteristic drops . It ’s the good update policy in the smartphone diligence and remains one of the secure reasons to buy a Pixel headphone over anything else .
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: battery life
Going into my critical review of the Pixel 9 Pro XL , I was anxious about the battery life . The 5,060mAh battery is virtually identical to the Pixel 8 Pro ’s 5,050mAh battery , and the Pixel 8 Pro was a second-rate one - day smartphone . Presumably , due to best might efficiency with the Tensor G4 micro chip , the Pixel 9 Pro XL fares importantly substantially this twelvemonth .
On particularly heavy days , the Pixel 9 Pro XL is still a one - day smartphone . One day , for case , began at 7:20 a.m. and ended at 11:55 p.m. with 16 % shelling remaining . That included 4 60 minutes and 49 minute of screen door clip , over 20 minute of gaming , and lots of time on a 5 guanine connection away from Wi - Fi . On a more cursory sidereal day with just 2 hours and 47 minutes of screen time , I started the day at 7:20 a.m. with 100 % battery and still had 44 % persist at 10:45 p.m. Depending on how you expend the Pixel 9 Pro XL , this can easily be a day - and - a - one-half smartphone .
Google is make great progress here .
Is this on the same survival point we ’ve seen from phones like theGalaxy S24 PlusandOnePlus 12 ? Not quite , but it is a celebrated improvement from the Pixel 8 Pro — and that intend my Pixel battery anxiety is n’t a thing this year . There ’s still room to meliorate , but Google is make great progress here .
Unfortunately , that same progress does n’t read to charging . The Pixel 9 Pro XL recharges at up to 37 watts , which is technically an betterment over the 30W charging on the Pixel 8 Pro last year , but still not as fast as I would have liked . Usingmy trustworthy Belkin BoostCharge charger , the Pixel 9 Pro XL went from 3 % to 42 % after 30 minutes and took about an hour - and - a - half to reach 100 % . That ’s notterrible , but it ’s also a far cry from phones like theOnePlus 12Rthat go from 0 to 100 % in 30 minutes .
Wireless charging is available , going up to 12W with regular Qi charger and up to 23W if you have the Pixel Stand . Reverse wireless load also tax return . Unfortunately , there ’s no Qi2 support . That ’s been the event for almost every Android phone this year , and it ’s get teasing . digit crossed for next year .
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: price and availability
Are you concerned in the Pixel 9 Pro XL ? If so , prepare to spend at least $ 1,099 . That ’s for the base model with 128 GB of store . large storage options are uncommitted for $ 1,199 ( 256 GB ) , $ 1,319 ( 512 GB ) , and $ 1,549 ( 1 TB ) . give the $ 100 price increase from the Pixel 8 Pro , I would have liked to see 256 GB become the newfangled foundation storage amount , but alas , that did n’t happen .
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is available at the Google Store , Amazon , Best Buy , and most major carriers in the U.S.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: verdict
On the one hand , I suppose it is n’t surprising that the replacement to one of 2023 ’s unspoiled smartphones is also excellent . But it ’s the level of improvement in certain area where Google surprised me this year .
I ’ve discuss it enough , but the Pixel 9 Pro XL ’s ironware is unfathomably respectable . Google ’s Pixel computer hardware has always feel justa bitbehind the contender , but it ’s now on par with — if not better than — the latest flagships from Samsung and Apple . It ’s also impressive that overheating and battery life are nonissues this class , as these are two thing that have notoriously been a thorn in the side of Pixel phone . Throw that together with the expect excellence in camera quality , ( mostly ) undecomposed AI features , and clean-living , up - to - date software , and you ’re looking at a darn full packet .
If you require a adult flagship Android phone , it ’s tough to do better than the Pixel 9 Pro XL .
So , if the Pixel 9 Pro XL is so good , why not give it a perfect 10/10 ? Despite all the upgrade , the new $ 1,099 Mary Leontyne Price is a sticking spot . That ’s not because of the rivalry but because the non - XLPixel 9 Proincludes all the same features and specs , with a more stocky video display and a smaller barrage fire for $ 100 less . It ’s the one I ’ll probably stick with , but that ’s because I prefer smaller speech sound . If you like bigger phone , the XL is the way to go — and the fact that we have a alternative this class is marvellous . I just wish going for the XL also come with more depot and faster shoot down .
Regardless , the Pixel 9 Pro XL is one of the expert phones you could purchase in 2024 . It ’s the phone I ’d personally take over theGalaxy S24 Ultra , and it ’s even giving myiPhone 15 Pro Maxa run for its money . If you require a big flagship Android speech sound , it ’s tough to do better than this . The Pixel 9 Pro XL isthatgood .
