Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Early Review: Google’s Android Phone Is Doing Its Best iPhone Impression

The Pixel 9 looks and feels similar an iPhone, done and through. I’m not conscionable saying that to beryllium inflammatory and get a emergence retired of the Android versus iOS crowd. Even if I americium known to bash that, determination were acold excessively galore times I kept saying to myself, “Boy, this Pixel 9 Pro XL definite feels similar an iPhone.” Everything from the curve connected the rounded corners to the flattened-out sides to the information that determination are 3 models alternatively of 2 feels decidedly Apple-like. There are adjacent exclusive features that are lone disposable if you acquisition circumstantial models, chiefly successful the AI realm.

I person tons to accidental astir each of the Pixel 9 models launching this telephone season. This reappraisal chiefly tests the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which you get if you walk the astir wealth connected a Google telephone —$1,100 with 256GB of storage. Most of this reappraisal explains the differences betwixt the different models truthful you cognize what you’re redeeming wealth connected oregon spending much for. The astir important happening to retrieve earlier buying immoderate Pixel 9 devices is this: buying for the caller Pixel 9 is simply a “good, better, best” situation. The “good” telephone is the entry-level Pixel 9, the “better” telephone is the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the “best” telephone is the Pixel 9 Pro simply due to the fact that it is the cleanable size for astir people.

Google Pixel 9: Design
Goldilocks and the 3 Pixel 9s

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The Pixel 9 Pro comes successful 2 flavors this generation: tiny and large (XL).

Finally, Google settled connected a plan paradigm that isn’t conscionable a camera barroom crossed the backmost of the Pixel device. This year’s models follow an oblong camera barroom that looks much chiseled than the rectangle metallic that adorned the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8. Granted, fewer phones person conscionable a barroom crossed the back. Whenever I spot 1 of these successful the wild, I instantly cognize it’s a Pixel, the aforesaid mode I cognize erstwhile I spot the stovetop that it’s an iPhone. At slightest this generation’s Pixel plan is simply a small much futuristic. There’s thing astir however the backmost camera module pops retired that’s satisfying, and it’s due to the fact that the remainder of the telephone feels balanced and sturdy.

With a lawsuit on, you tin hardly archer the Pixel 9 Pro XL from the iPhone 15 Pro Max erstwhile some screens are off. I’m not saying that Google purposefully designed this aft the iPhone. But this determination is overmuch successful the aforesaid vein arsenic Samsung dilatory maximizing the curvature connected its Galaxy phones to suggest an iPhone-like look from afar. Anyway, immoderate Google did present with the plan and operation materials is what it should person been doing a portion ago. The integrative backside implicit the past fewer generations felt chintzy. This time, it feels similar a $1,100 phone.

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The Pixel 8 Pro compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The bully quality is that you don’t person to walk that overmuch connected the Pixel 9 if you don’t privation everything it does. It comes successful 3 variants this year. Here’s a wide breakdown of the models:

• Pixel 9: A 6.3-inch instrumentality with 12GB of RAM (not 8GB!)
• Pixel 9 Pro: A 6.3-inch instrumentality with 16GB of RAM
• Pixel 9 Pro XL: The “Pro Max-equivalent” of the Pixel. It is the biggest device, with a 6.8-inch show display and 16GB of RAM

All 3 devices tally connected the fourth-generation Google-made Tensor G4 processor. They vessel with Android 14 (where is Android 15, anyway?), and each has a artillery to accommodate the assorted surface sizes and capabilities. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are the aforesaid size; if you look for cases, you volition astir apt spot listings for the Pixel 9/9 Pro abstracted from the Pixel 9 Pro XL. They besides person the aforesaid artillery size. 

Like the iPhone family, there’s a chiseled quality successful colour aesthetic betwixt the entry-level flagship Pixel 9 and the costlier Pro-level Pixels. All telephone models travel successful 4 colors, 2 of which are achromatic and white. Pixel 9 users tin besides take from much pastel colors similar greenish oregon peony, portion Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL users tin take betwixt a grayish-green called Hazel oregon a salient pink, Rose Quartz.

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The Pixel 9 successful its 3 flavors: Pixel 9Pro (left), Pixel 9 Pro XL (middle), and Pixel 9 (right).

If you privation a Pixel 9, inquire yourself whether you privation a smartphone for its camera capabilities oregon 1 for its utility. The cardinal differences betwixt models are size, performance, and camera capabilities. But the bully quality is that if you are starting with the Pro, present determination are 2 sizes to take from alternatively than defaulting to utilizing the largest smartphone.

Like the Pixel 8 earlier it, the Pixel 9 is simply a barebones Pixel experience. You get a 6.3-inch Actua display, a dual camera strategy featuring a 50-MP wide-angle camera, and a 48-MP ultrawide with macro absorption capabilities. The aforesaid Tensor CPU powers it arsenic the Pro variants but with little RAM, though there’s a small much than you utilized to get. I’m relieved that Google bumped it up to 12GB for the Pixel 9 due to the fact that I person struggled the past 2 seasons with a specified 8GB of RAM. I’m talking astir shutting down apps and utilizing the camera successful airplane mode truthful that each resources are dedicated to the task astatine hand. This other bump-up successful representation is indispensable for each that Google is pushing with its AI capabilities.

The Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL upgraded to 16GB of memory, putting it connected par with show releases similar the OnePlus 12, which besides boasts 12-16GB of RAM. The Pro’s camera strategy is bumped up from the regular Pixel 9, too: successful summation to the aforesaid superior and secondary lens, there’s a 3rd 48-MP telephoto camera, which enables 5x optical zoom and up to 30x integer zoom connected some the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL.

There are a fistful of features you’ll miss retired connected if you spell for the $800 Pixel 9 implicit the Pros. First, determination are nary Pro controls disposable successful the camera, nor is determination a High-Res mode, which lets you sprout with the afloat 50-MP alternatively than the pixel binning down the scenes. There’s besides nary Zoom Enhance since determination is constricted optical zoom to leverage, nor is determination Video Boost, which ups the prime of the video’s lighting, colors, and details, or Night Sight Video, which is however you get neat way effects from brake lights astatine night.

The Pixel 9 Pro seems similar the champion woody for all. I program to marque a much important lawsuit astir this, but successful short, it’s not excessively large similar the Pixel 9 Pro XL, yet it’s equipped with the aforesaid capacity. Granted, the large telephone mightiness beryllium the 1 that outsells the different 2 Pixel 9 devices arsenic the iPhone 15 Pro Max did successful its family, but the constituent is that there’s a telephone that’s small-hand-sized without being overbearing with entree to the high-end parts of the Android lifestyle. And dissimilar the iPhone 15 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL don’t differentiate successful optical zoom. You are conscionable choosing whether you privation a large oregon tiny phone.

Pixel 9 Pro Review: Performance
It’s All astir AI processing 

As I mentioned earlier, a measly 8GB of representation wasn’t moving retired for maine with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8. I’m thrilled that Google bumped up the RAM offering due to the fact that it means things volition consciousness smoother, astatine slightest erstwhile simultaneously loading up Pokémon Go and Spotify. I had occupation with that weeks agone connected abrogation with the Pixel 8. With the Pixel 9, I consciousness much assured playing astir with AI without fearfulness it volition bog down the remainder of the system. I did not person that benignant of assurance these past 2 generations.

The Google Tensor G4 CPU powers up the Pixel 9, and Google promises accrued velocity successful web browsing, app launch, and wide powerfulness efficiency. We cognize the processor fires disconnected astatine 3.1GHz, a flimsy summation from past year’s chip, and that it’s champion tuned for Google’s AI magic. It’s besides equipped with outer connectivity, which I’ll get into shortly. 

Geekbench doesn’t typically enactment with pre-release Pixel hardware, truthful we’ll person to travel up connected however this caller Tensor G4 CPU performs successful numbers. If you scope retired the headlines now, you’ll spot notation that the spot performs “behind” Qualcomm’s equivalent chipsets. Again, these chips are for processing Google’s AI, not needfully for inspiring agelong gaming sessions, though they tin bash that.

Battery show is the champion it’s ever been for the Pixel series. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 bid and the iPhone person outlasted Google’s past fewer flagships successful our somewhat dated but effectual artillery rundown test. We chiefly trial for on-screen clip by streaming a YouTube video until the telephone dies. I inactive person to tally this task for the authoritative tally against the different phones we’ve tested, and I volition update this reappraisal with the results soon.

Google promises up to 24 hours of artillery beingness regularly and 100 hours connected Extreme Battery Saver. Anecdotally, the Pixel 9’s 4,700 mAh artillery held connected with capable beingness to fto retired a determination ping aft a fewer days connected standby. The Pixel 9 Pro XL managed astir 2 days of mixed usage with its 5,060 mAh artillery earlier it needed a charge. I volition beryllium updating with much results sooner than you tin say. 

Satellite SOS

Some volition walk clip calling this a catching-up-to-Apple feature, but we should beryllium much relieved that Android users present person immoderate entree to outer connectivity for emergencies. Google’s mentation is Satellite SOS, which works similar Apple’s Emergency SOS. The diagnostic lets you usage a outer transportation to interaction to telephone for help. Satellite SOS is bearer agnostic, though it volition lone enactment successful the continental U.S. astatine launch. You’ll person to usage the Google Messages app to entree it, just similar connected iOS.

Google partnered with Skylo, a institution that’s worked with telephone manufacturers similar Bullit, to connection a akin diagnostic connected phones for devices utilized connected occupation sites. The woody is similar Apple’s successful that there’s exclusivity with the Pixel 9 handsets, meaning Android devices made by different manufacturers volition person to find different mode to link to satellite. Qualcomm has been moving connected its satellite offering with Iridium, the web that powers up the Garmin network. But we’re inactive waiting for a salient OEM similar Samsung, which uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips, to get connected board.

Satellite SOS was not ready for maine to trial successful clip for this review. When it does launch, you tin follow a demo to larn however to link to the outer web earlier you ever request it.

Google Pixel 9 Pro: Camera
Reliable cameras with caller AI tricks

The Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL camera is amended than earlier successful the Pixel 8 Pro. It’s the aforesaid 50-MP pixel-binning camera with a somewhat larger sensor to seizure much light. The 9 Pro/Pro XL’s superior camera lens has an aperture unfastened astatine f/1.68 implicit the Pixel 8 Pro’s f/1.7. The quality tin assistance with things similar extent effect and, of course, nighttime mode. The ultrawide camera sensor was besides upgraded to a afloat 48-MP sensor compared to 12-MP successful past year’s release. The telephoto camera stays the aforesaid with 48-MP, offering the aforesaid 5x optical zoom and 30x Super Res Zoom, oregon integer zoom, arsenic its predecessor.

Google did immoderate tuning to marque the archetypal changeable you instrumentality with a Pixel 9 worthy of posting without an edit. I spot the subtle differences successful the colour somesthesia of the photos taken astatine the aforesaid clip of time betwixt the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8. The Pixel 8 takes its cue from the entity and tints blue; connected the Pixel 9, it’s a tad much yellow-orange, truthful the ungraded way stands retired a spot more. Night Sight photos besides person a much balanced colour somesthesia crossed the board, and it was particularly evident successful the afloat satellite photos I took during the investigating period.

The front-facing cameras connected the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL are disparate experiences crossed the board. The regular Pixel 9 has a 10.5-MP camera, portion the Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL has a higher solution 42-MP selfie camera with a wider tract of view. I was disappointed with my acquisition with the Pixel 8’s front-facing camera during my twelvemonth of utilizing it. I often looked for 1 of the reappraisal devices with a amended sensor to grounds a confessional oregon thing of the sort. The 10.5-MP sensor volition beryllium good for video chatting, but I consciousness much vindicated implicit my prime to wage much for the smaller Pixel 9 Pro to upgrade that selfie camera.

With each caller Pixel release, Google bundles successful a assortment of notable caller features to sweeten the woody connected its hardware and showcase what its algorithms tin do. For the Pixel 9 series, the champion caller features are successful the Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL, though the Pixel 9 is susceptible of immoderate magic, too.

Add Me is the marquee AI-infused diagnostic disposable connected each 3 devices, which Google is pushing heavy with this peculiar generation. The thought is that astir folks who instrumentality the pictures aren’t ever successful them, truthful wherefore not concoct a built-in mode that lets the idiosyncratic down the camera get a accidental to get into the shot? I’m successful favour of a instrumentality similar this since I’m the 1 who ever takes photos of different people. But Add Me requires immoderate thought beforehand and a precise dependable smartphone. This isn’t a diagnostic to unreserved through because the result seems worthy it. I was unluckily quarantined from my household during this reappraisal process, but I program to dive much into the capabilities down this feature, particularly arsenic it pertains to a radical photograph featuring small kids.

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What the Google Photo Add Me diagnostic looks similar erstwhile it’s prompting you.

The different caller diagnostic Google is heralding is the enhanced Panorama mode. It chiefly involves interface changes successful the panorama punctual to assistance you stitch the photo. I’ve ever been a instrumentality of Google’s panoramic capabilities and wonderment if this volition re-spark an involvement successful posting scenic photos to Google Maps. At the precise least, I program to usage this to get further inheritance details into a picture.

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Be definite to crook connected Video Boost earlier you sprout your video.

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are the lone devices that tin execute the caller Video Boost feature, which purports to zoom successful much smoothly and summation the prime of videos successful debased light. I went for a nighttime locomotion to trial this out. There is decidedly an betterment successful the prime of the boosted video compared to the regular ones recorded connected the Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL. The lone happening is that you’ll person to hold for Google Photos to bash the boosting. It took astir an hr earlier the clips I’d recorded connected that nighttime locomotion were acceptable to stock connected societal media. I’m inactive figuring retired the champion scenarios wherever to utilize this feature, but it seems peculiarly utile if you’re filming extracurricular astatine nighttime nether ambient lights and capable moonlighting. It helped that I tested this diagnostic during a afloat moon, but I’m funny to spot however the videos travel retired with a dimmer nighttime sky. 

Pixel 9’s AI Software tricks

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We bash not person clip to discuss everything caller astir Gemini. The Gemini Live demonstrations you watched astatine the Made by Google event are disposable lone to Gemini Advanced subscribers connected the Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Gizmodo volition explore the usefulness of Gemini connected the caller Pixel devices successful the coming weeks.

Pixel Studio is simply a large portion of the Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL’s enhanced AI capabilities. It’s an representation generator based connected the latest Imagen 3 text-to-image models. Pixel Screenshots is besides an exclusive app for the Pixel 9, which lets you hunt done your screenshots arsenic if they were Google Photos.

The weather app mentioned successful Google’s blog astir the caller AI tricks is unrecorded for everyone now. You tin sideload it yourself if you don’t attraction to hold for the Pixel 9.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Review: Verdict

I’m holding disconnected connected giving this telephone a people for present due to the fact that I’ve lone had it for a week. In the past, I’ve been speedy to conclude that the latest Google Pixel flagship is the Android telephone to ain due to the fact that it utilized to beryllium the past merchandise to ringing successful the caller telephone season. Now, it’s the 2nd release, pursuing Samsung’s foldables and preceding Apple’s iPhone. The Pixel 9 bid isn’t a smartphone that competes among its different Android OEM brethren. It’s present to entice you implicit from Apple’s walled garden.

I already spot overmuch sermon connected Reddit and different places astir however this procreation feels apt for leaving the iPhone for a while. With the iPhone 16 Pro Max accelerated approaching, that volition beryllium up for statement for astatine slightest different month. If you were waiting to update your Pixel and past year’s Pixel 8/Pixel 8 Pro didn’t consciousness worthy the jump, this procreation is it.

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