Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review

Introduction

August feels like October not because of the weather, but because Google announced the ninth Pixel generation early. It’s all about AI and cameras, of course, new hardware and plenty of software updates. We also got new sizes and new models. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We are kickstarting the Google reviews with the largest of the new phones – the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Google made a bold move this year by introducing the Pro model in a compact and XL version, something Apple has been doing with the Pro and Pro Max models for a while now. And it makes sense – not everyone is keen on getting a large phone, yet not having the best cameras and most advanced features is not an option either. Thus enter the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has only two differences from the Pixel 9 Pro and they are both size-related – screen diagonal and battery capacity.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL features a flattened design with a new prominent camera bar – oval and thick with somewhat an abrupt end. It packs an improved Super Actua display – a 6.8″ LTPO OLED with 486ppi density, 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness.

Google Tensor G4 chip is responsible for everything that is happening on the new Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the phone now comes with 16GB of RAM, which should be plenty for hassle-free utilization of Gemini AI.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review

The camera department is what many users think of first when they hear Google Pixel, and this one’s got three cameras on the back – a 50MP OIS primary (1x-2x), a 48MP ultrawide, and a 48MP 5x telephoto, with all three assisted by Multi-zone LDAF. The primary camera supports 8K video capturing, a feature that is not available on the Pixel 9.

The selfie camera has gotten an upgrade, too – it is now a 42MP shooter with autofocus capabilities.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, a welcome upgrade over the unreliable optical one of the previous generations. It also features a 5,060mAh battery that supports up to 45W fast wired charging. Fast wireless and reverse wireless charging are present, too.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL, just like the rest of the new Pixels, supports Satellite SOS, which is currently available only in the US.

Lastly, the Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with Android 14 as it came before Android 15 launch. The phone will have 7 full years of software support, as will the rest of the series.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL specs at a glance:

  • Body: 162.8×76.6×8.5mm, 221g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min).
  • Display: 6.80″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak), 1344x2992px resolution, 20.04:9 aspect ratio, 486ppi; Always-on display.
  • Chipset: Google Tensor G4 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520); Mali-G715 MC7.
  • Memory: 128GB 16GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM; UFS.
  • OS/Software: Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades.
  • Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm, 1/1.31″, 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, multi-zone Laser AF, OIS; Telephoto: 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm, 1/2.55″, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 48 MP, f/1.7, 123˚, 1/2.55″, dual pixel PDAF.
  • Front camera: 42 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), PDAF.
  • Video capture: Rear camera: 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR; Front camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps.
  • Battery: 5060mAh; 45W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 70% in 30 min (advertised), 23W wireless (w/ Pixel Stand), 12W wireless (w/ Qi compatible charger), Reverse wireless.
  • Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.3, aptX HD; NFC.
  • Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, ultrasonic); stereo speakers; Ultra Wideband (UWB) support, Satellite SOS service (US only), thermometer sensor for measuring skin temperature.

Unboxing the Pixel 9 Pro XL

The new Pixel 9 phones, including the Pro XL, ship in eco-friendly retail boxes made of recycled paper and featuring paper sleeves. The print is monochrome.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review

Inside the box, you will find the phone, a USB-C cable, and a SIM ejection PIN.

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

iPhone 17’s design to be very different from the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro

Earlier today some renders popped up purportedly showing the upcoming iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro, each featuring its very own distinctive camera island design. The Air with its single rear camera has a visor reminiscent of past Google Pixels, while the iPhone 17 Pro takes inspiration from the Poco X6 and Poco X6

Sony Xperia 10 VI receiving Android 15 update

The Xperia 10 VI is the latest Sony device to get updated to Android 15. This is the first major Android update for the device which launched with Android 14 and is promised to receive three Android version updates in its life cycle. The new update comes three weeks after the Xperia 10 V began

Why rebooting your phone daily is your best defense against zero-click attacks

ZDNET In the last decade, spyware tools have been repeatedly found on the phones of journalists, activists, and politicians, including US officials, raising concerns over the unprecedented proliferation of spyware technologies and, subsequently, the lack of protections within the tech space amid growing threats. Also: Google releases responsible AI report while removing its anti-weapons pledge Last Friday, Meta’s

Motorola Razr 60 Ultra’s name confirmed by new certification

Motorola’s next flagship foldable smartphone will finally use a flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, if rumors are to be believed. Naming-wise, however, nothing seems to be changing, despite what a past benchmark run made us hope for. It will be called Razr 60 Ultra across the world. This has now been confirmed by the

Samsung sort of confirms the Galaxy Z Flip FE

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip7 will be joined this year by a cheaper option, which we’re tentatively calling the Galaxy Z Flip FE. This has been rumored for quite a while now, and today Samsung has sort of confirmed its existence. Spotted on Samsung servers that handle over-the-air updates is a software build for a

OnePlus Watch 3 debuts with polished looks and updated battery endurance

The OnePlus Watch 3 brings refinements over its predecessor in several key areas. While it may look like the Watch 2, the new wearable features a larger 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a titanium bezel and sapphire glass cover. The panel sports 2,200 nits peak brightness which should make it easily legible outdoors. The other

vivo X200 Ultra and X200s to arrive in two months

vivo is launching the X200 Ultra alongside the X200s in mid-April, according to a new rumor out of China. That would be exactly six months removed from when the X200 and X200 Pro arrived back in October. The X200s is expected to be nigh-on identical to the X200, save for the use of MediaTek’s Dimensity

Nothing Phone (3a) is coming March 4 with 50MP 3x camera, bigger 50MP main

As teased numerous on social media, Nothing confirmed today its plans to unveil the Phone (3a) series on March 4 at 10 AM GMT. Going by their past online teasers, we expect the series to include two devices – the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro Besides the launch date, today Nothing also corroborated some

Samsung Galaxy A36 new leaked renders reveal more colors

Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy A36 soon, with leaked renders surfacing. A recent leak emerged online, featuring a new Green version to complement the previously disclosed four color options. The source claimed these are all the paint jobs the Galaxy A36 will debut in, and added that they don’t reveal anything we didn’t

Realme Neo7 SE design revealed, launch date confirmed

Realme will launch the Neo7 SE on February 25, the company announced today. It will be a dual-camera phone with three color options, the hero version being a Blue Mecha variant. Realme says it’s inspired by gaming robots, and it will have a nail screw element for even further visual separation from other smartphone designs.

Realme P3 Pro and P3x arrive with 6,000 mAh batteries and IP69 ratings

The Realme P3 series is now official in India with the P3 Pro and P3x. Both phones share massive 6,000 mAh batteries with the P3x supporting 45W wired charging while the P3 Pro dials up to 80W and also features for bypass charging. Both are also IP68/69 rated against pressurized water jets and dust and

Spotify Music Pro plan coming this year, features detailed

Spotify’s more expensive tier has been rumored for years at this point, and yet it’s still not here. However, it will apparently be launching “later this year”, finally. The information comes from a new Bloomberg report, which also claims Spotify Music Pro will be $6 more expensive than the existing Spotify Premium tier. Music Pro

Check out the first Huawei Mate XT Ultimate camera samples

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate was announced for the global markets today at an event in Malaysia. The world’s first bi-folding phone comes with an eye-watering price tag, but you can read all the details in the article above. We had a rare opportunity to take the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate for a spin in

Huawei Mate XT Ultimate goes global, MatePad Pro tags along

Today is the day that the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate goes global with a launch event in Kuala Lumpur. Also in attendance are the 2025 refresh of the MatePad Pro 13.2, plus two new accessories – Huawei’s first hooked earbuds and its latest smart band. Huawei is crushing the competition in China’s foldable market and

Allow SHS students to use phones under strict regulations

Founder and CEO of Educate Africa Institute, William Boadi The Educate Africa Institute (EAI) has urged the government to reconsider the ban on mobile phones in Senior High Schools (SHS) and allow students to use them under strict regulations. According to the EAI, in today’s digital age, mobile phones have become essential tools for learning,

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S24

With Android manufacturers promising longer software support, the question of whether to get the most recent but more expensive flagship phone instead of last year’s is ever so intriguing. If you have a hard time choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the Samsung Galaxy S24, we are here to help. Despite the rather modest

Why the MZ generation in Korea are using older iPhones and digital cameras

University student Park Soo Yeon (age 22) uses two mobile phones: the latest iPhone 16 and a decade-old iPhone 5S. While she relies on the newest model for everyday communication, she prefers the older one for taking photos. She says “Pictures taken with an old iPhone feel like they were shot on a vintage film camera.

Xiaomi 16 Pro and Xiaomi 16 Ultra displays will beat Apple at this one thing

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra isn’t even official yet, and there’s already talk in China about the next generation of flagships from the brand. Specifically, the Xiaomi 16 Pro and Xiaomi 16 Ultra will allegedly be sharing a new 6.85-inch LTPO OLED display with “2K+” resolution. This will have symmetrical bezels on all four sides, and

Oppo Find X8 Mini specs leak again

Oppo is expected to launch the Find X8 Mini around March-April alongside the Find X8 Ultra, when they’ll both join the already available Find X8 and Find X8 Pro. The Mini is clearly inspired by vivo’s success in China with the X200 Pro mini, and we’ve heard that OnePlus will also have its very own

Samsung Galaxy A26 support pages go live, launch is imminent

Samsung’s Galaxy A26 was seen in a new set of renders recently, and the phone is now clearly on the verge of becoming official. That’s because support pages for it have been spotted going live on Samsung’s websites in the UK, Ireland, and Latin America. Previously, the device has also been certified by India’s BIS,

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x