The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a premium smartphone, highlighting
Google’s approach around AI features, great display, and powerful camera
system. Its Tensor chipset, however, does appear to be the weakest link when
performance is measured against the competition.
Quick Verdict:
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a great option for buyers who prefer
AI-integrations and powerful specifications. It is very close to perfection
with a great display, great cameras and a reasonable battery, however, it does
fall short ever so slightly on processing and storage technology.
Pros:
- High-quality
display - Exceptional
cameras - Useful
AI features
Cons:
- Outdated
UFS 3.1 storage - Tensor
G4 performance lags behind competitors - Higher
price point than previous models
Specs Overview:
- Battery:
5,060mAh - Display:
6.8-inch LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2992 x 1344 resolution - Processor:
Tensor G4 - RAM:
16GB - Storage
Options: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB - Camera:
42MP front, 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 5x telephoto - Weight:
221g - Dimensions:
162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm - Colors:
Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian
Price and Availability:
and $1,549 / £1,549 for the 1TB version. Although $999 is a reasonable price
for high-end devices, a 256GB version would have made more sense as the
minimum. The phone order can be placed through the official Google Store page
or major carriers and shops in the UK and US. In addition, customers get a deal
with Google AI Premium One on a 2TB of storage for the entire year at no
additional cost.
Design and Display:
The design of Pixel 9 Pro XL does not rise to the occasion
as I think it lacks in appeal but personally speaking it does combine
durability. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 along with its metal frame and matte finish
makes sure that the phone less susceptible to any damage even if it is dropped.
Although the phone weighs 221g, it is highly uncomfortable to use. Pixel Looks
quite similar to iPhone 15 Pro Max, and currently looks very competitive with
its price tag. Transformative style can be seen with the 6.8 inch Super Actua
LTPO OLED, with the added bonus of 3000 nits peak brightness and 120HZ refresh
rate. The ultrasonic fingerprint along with new features makes the functions
easy.
Camera Capabilities:
One great aspect of the phone is its superior camera. I
think it has changed quite a bit from the previous generation as the AI does
assist in improving the camera. It is extremely commendable in terms of making
the photography experience more enhanced . There are quite a few new additions
for example selfie stick. Users are able to place themselves in group selfies
and when it comes to transformation tool reenacted the whole photo but needs
more development.
When you look at the 42mp camera amongst video it does
bolster the video quality. 8K Recording did some good work in comparing the
video zoomed with other videos. Overall the colors are distinct and stunningly
true to life when filming with the main camera. A dramatic separation of the
subject or background which occasionally looks a bit artificial.
Software and AI Features:
Google’s AI ambition can be seen with Gemini, an upcoming
assistant that is similar to Assistant but is a chatbot enhancing hands free
usage although is still in development. The new Pixel Screenshots applications
give users the ability to take an image of the screen while automatically
saving the image into a dedicated file which makes Google Photos less
cluttered. Pixel Studio, Google’s AI image generator still lacks features that
many other similar tools possess but has potential in development. All and all
on the Pixel 9 Pro XL some of the AI features feel more of a useful feature
than a gimmick and that is quite satisfying with what we see in today’s
smartphone industry
Performance:
The Pixel 9 Pro XL Tensor G4 chip is powerful although not
cutting edge since the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is likely to be in flagship devices
from Samsung and other brands. Its ability can enable it to run most of the
applications and games smoothly but some of the more graphically intensive
games may still overheat the device after prolonged use. While the 16GB RAM is
indeed an improvement, the UFS 3.1 storage is rather disappointing leading to
longer load times than the UFS 4.0 that the competitors are housing.
Battery Life:
With a 5060mAh battery, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has slightly
below average battery life for a flagship device, lasting approximately around
twelve hours unless you are a moderate user. The charging speed is 37 watts
which is a bit low when compared to other devices. With moderate use, users can
achieve four to five hours of screen time, which should be sufficient for most
needs.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Getting The Pixel 9 Pro XL?
There are effective camera capabilities installed in the
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, stunning display, top notch build quality and even the
software is from the brand itself which speaks volumes in the flagship markets.
However, one must note that the Tensor G4 processor and the UFS 3.1 storage are
a bit disappointing, otherwise, the phones’ strong integration of AI and
performance makes it one of the best options available for Android users who
are camera enthusiasts and those who are looking for options within Google’s
ecosystem. For some, it’s nearly perfect—just shy of flagship-level processing
and storage speed.
