Google’s new Pixel 9 Pro XL adds more RAM for more AI features. There are a few other improvements and a new design, but it also costs more.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Intro
Google has finally done it – after years of selling Pixel phones that were cheaper than your iPhones and Galaxies, it now has two all-out « Pro » phones, and both of them are more expensive now.
In this review we focus on the bigger Pixel 9 Pro XL model, the successor to last year’s Pixel 8 Pro. The Pixel 9 Pro XL shares almost the same size with a 6.8-inch screen, and it has a triple camera system on the back and a big battery inside. For the first time, though, Google also offers a smaller « Pro » phone, the Pixel 9 Pro, which has a 6.3-inch screen and a slightly smaller battery, but keeps the triple camera system (so it has the same 5X zoom camera on board). Check out our Pixel 9 Pro review, if you want to learn all about the smaller model.
With all this in mind, let us go back to Google’s 2024 big boy, the Pixel 9 Pro XL. What is new about it?
You have the usual hardware upgrade with a new and faster chipset, and you have an all-new look, but Google has really focused on AI this time around. Let’s decipher what exactly are these new AI features and what difference will they make in your life.
Table of Contents:
Specs
Design and Display
Camera
Performance
Software
Battery and Charging
Should you buy it?Google Pixel 9 Pro XL SpecsMore RAM, a faster chip and faster charging
Before we dive in the new features, take a closer look at the hardware differences between the new Pixel 9 Pro XL model and the Pixel 8 Pro from last year:
Google Pixel 9 Pro XLPixel 8 Pro
Size
162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm
221g Size
162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm
213g
Display
6.8-inch
Super Actua
1344p
1-120Hz Display
6.7-inch
Super Actua
1344p
1-120Hz
Processor
Google Tensor G4
16GB RAM Processor
Google Tensor G3
12GB RAM
Storage
128GB – $1,100
256GB –
512GB –
1TB – Storage
128GB – $1,000
256GB – $1,060
512GB – $1,180
1TB – $1,400
Android 14
7 years of OS updates Android 14
7 years of OS updates
Triple Rear Camera
50MP main, f/1.68, 1/1.31″ sensor
48MP ultra-wide, f/1.7
48MP 5X zoom, f/2.8
42MP front cam Triple Rear Camera
50MP main, f/1.7, 1/1.31″ sensor
48MP ultra-wide, f/2.0
48MP 5X zoom, f/2.8
10.5MP front cam
Battery
5060 mAh Battery
5050 mAh
Charging
37W wired charge
23W wireless charging Charging
30W wired charge
23W wireless charging
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Design and DisplayNew design with flat sides and an even brighter screen
Google stuck with a similar design for its Pixel phones in the past few years, but the new Pixel 9 Pro XL finally shakes things up with an all-new look.
Gone are the curved edges from the past and we now get flat sides, a modern look that was first pioneered by Apple, but recently adopted by most Android phone makers, including the biggest name in that arena, Samsung.
Google says this new Pixel is twice more durable compared to last year’s model, which the company seems to measure using drop tests. Since we don’t see any fancy new materials used (you have an aluminum frame and a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and front), this seems to be all thanks to the new design and the flat sides, which absorb impact better.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL also comes with a matte glass back, so you don’t need to worry about smudges, and on the sides you have polished aluminum. Standard flagship features like IP68 water and dust protection are of course present too.
Obsidian
Porcelain
Hazel
Rose Quartz
You can get the 9 Pro XL in one of these colors:
Obsidian – black/dark gray color
Porcelain – warm white
Hazel – green/brown (similar to Pixel 7 Pro)
Rose Quartz – light rose color
We will miss the cool blue « Bay » color of the previous generation, but hey, you now have a pink version instead.
In terms of buttons nothing has changed: the power and volume keys are on the right hand side.
Google is not very generous with the unboxing experience. You get a slim box where you will find the phone and a 3-feet (1 meter) USB-C cable, but no charger, no case and no screen protector on board. All of that, you will have to purchase separately, and most people probably would.
Okay, let’s get to the meat of it, the new features. Starting with the screen, you see the size is now 6.8 inches vs 6.7 inches on the previous model, but it is a very tiny difference in real life.
