After some time on the market, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has been promising – Google’s efforts in improving its Tensor chipsets, changes to design, as well as consistent camera performance has somewhat elevated the Pixel user experience. It’s actually gotten to the point where it’s capable of challenging the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – but is this still the case a few months after its launch? Let’s take a look.
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Design and Display
There’s a lot to love about the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s design, which manages to look familiar while adding some new design elements. The back panel has a distinct, almost slab-like look, and the mix of rounded and sharp edges is both stylish and functional. The hazel colour that we have on here is also quite appealing, with a subtle and sophisticated finish. One downside though is that the shiny edges are prone to fingerprints and scratches, as the frame is made from polished aluminium, instead of more durable materials like titanium, for example. We’d recommend using a case to protect the device.
The 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display is fantastic. It’s bright, sharp, and offers smooth scrolling thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, and is a lot brighter than previous Pixel models, which more than often received complaints about insufficient brightness for outdoor viewing. The only downside is the inconsistent auto-brightness, which often requires manual adjustment.
Software and Battery Life
As for software, Google’s own signature brand of Android is clean, intuitive, and highly customizable, albeit not to the same extent on “custom” versions of the OS like ones that you’d see on Samsung, Xiaomi, and such. Features like Circle to Search and Google Gemini do add some nice improvements, although there are times when Gemini still struggles with tasks that the older Google Assistant software could have easily handled. You also get consistent software updates for up to seven years, as well as occasional feature drops.
For battery, there’s a 5,000 mAh capacity cell that provides excellent battery life, easily lasting a full day. While the charging speed is decent, it could be faster – especially when comparing the 9 Pro XL to devices from OnePlus, Honor, and Oppo, a lot of which can fully charge batteries in under an hour.
Camera and Performance
As with past Pixel flagships, the 9 Pro XL’s camera system is impressive, especially the 48MP telephoto lens. Night Sight and video stabilization are also excellent, with Google’s tried-and-tested approach to computational photography present as ever. However, features like Video Boost and Magic Eraser can be slow and sometimes unreliable (camera samples here), and it’s clear that Google could use a bit more improvement in these areas.
The Tensor G4 chip delivers smooth performance, handling multitasking and gaming with ease. Google says that it’s improved the chip for efficiency, allowing for less overheating and better battery endurance versus older Pixel flagship devices. Of course, you get Google’s suite of AI features such as Circle to Search and Magic Editor, to name a couple.
Conclusion
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is an excellent device with a lot to offer. Its strong performance, impressive camera, and clean software experience make it a compelling choice. However, some minor issues, like the inconsistent auto-brightness and slow charging, could be improved. If you’ve been bummed out by previous releases from Google and are after an improved experience though, then the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a solid choice.
