Review: Pixel 9 Pro XL
Spare a thought for the Pixel 8 Pro, an impressive flagship cut down before it had a chance to serve a full 12 months in the light. There’s an important reason why Google has launched the Pixel 9 and that’s to get in between similar announcements from Samsung and, next month, Apple.
Indeed, the format of all three company’s announcements will likely follow a similar path: smartphone, smartwatch, ear buds – the full mobile toolkit. We’ve already got Samsung’s Unpacked and Made by Google covering the same turf, so its probable Apple will continue as such.
Made by Google hit all those beats and with a full court press, announcing the Pixel as more than a testbed range or more affordable smartphone alternative, to a legitimate competitor for the West’s top two smartphone brands. Google might have liked to kept the Pixel an affordable option but the growth in AI use has forced its hand to make its Gemini conversational digital assistant both more ubiquitous and profitable. So, with the context out of the way how does the Pixel 9 Pro XL work as a successor to the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Dimensions
The Pixel 9 range differentiates itself by introducing the Pro XL as a tier above ‘Pro’, the traditional top-end handset. It’s an important differentiator as the Pixel 9 Pro (coming in September) opts for roughly the same specs only in a slightly smaller package than the 8 Pro, while the 9 Pro XL goes bigger in the display at the expense of the bezel but not much else.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL measures 6.41×3.02×0.33″ – similar to the 8 Pro – and weighs 221g. There is a bit of heft to its iPhone 4-esque design, which fit well in the hand. Like the Pixel 8 Pro, it has a 1344×2992 pixel display with a 20:9 ratio protected once again by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It feels solid and the signature camera bar to the rear is slightly higher up the body, affording a little extra stability.
What’s new is the Super Actua feature which dynamically changes the refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz range depending on the kind of content you’re consuming. Browing on static apps like X won’t take up the same resources as dynamic web content. Your battery will love it. Speaking of…
Battery
As always, your mileage will vary but out of the box Google is promising 24 hours battery life and up to 100 hours on extreme battery saver. When charging you’ll get to about 55% in 30 minutes. Our regular daily use certainly delivered on fast charging.
Chips
As expected with the latest generation Google has opted for its Tensor G4, though it is complemented by the last generation’s GPU and CPU. It’s an iterative update but more interesting is the fingerprint scanner. Gone is the optical sensor, which is replaced by Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Gen 2 ultrasonic alternative. Positioned slightly further down the body, the world’s fastest ultrasonic fingerprint sensor has impressed so far and we can see it being an industry benchmark.
Cameras
Now for that iconic rear camera module, the hallmark of the Pixel design philosophy and a visual cue as to where the line has always excelled. There’s no change here as to the rear camera over either the 8 or 9 Pro. We have three lenses, a 50MP wide lens, 48MP telephoto and a 48MP ultrawide. The video capture, however, has gone from 4K to an impressive 8K in one step. The selfie camera has also undergone a transformation, going from 10MP to 42MP in the current generation. Much of the discussion around cameras has settled on AI-driven features like the ability to add in or remove people or select the best take from a number of shots. We found all four cameras delivered sharp, crisp images but if you intend to take a lot of pictures and video, the iPhone 15 is the better, if more expensive, option.
Sustainability
Google has played up its sustainability credentials here. About 18% of the 9 Pro XL is made of recycled materials and the aluminium housing is entirely recycled. Related it Google’s commitment to seven years of software updates. Don’t get too excited, this is something they have to provide under the EU’s Right to Repair directive, as are replacement parts for third parties to conduct repairs. As a side note the box is made from recycled materials and no you will not be getting a plug with it, just a SIM tray opener and a USB-C cable.
Android and Gemini
Yes, this is predominantly a look at the Pixel 9 Pro XL as hardware but there is no getting away from the Gemini conversational AI. as we’ve seen earlier this year, is the more interested development – or rather its subscription version, Gemini Live. This comes with a one-year free trial but a monthly fee of $19.99 applies thereafter. Will people pay more for an AI helper than they do for Netflix?
Price
One of the attractions of the Pixel line was that you were getting a quality phone without needless customisation or bloatware. The Pixel 9 comes in at €1,099, almost €300 more than its predecessor. At €1,199 the Pixel 9 Pro XL is still at the more affordable end of its class.
Verdict
Is the Pixel 9 Pro XL worth your money? It’s solidly made, has the cleanliness of a Pixel and a good set of cameras. Will it redefine the market, make Gemini a household name? No, but it’s not lost among the Big Two of Apple or Samsung. The Pixel 9 Pro XL delivers top class performance at an upper-mid market price. However, if you’re an 8 Pro user there’s no need to feel cheated.
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