The Pixel 9 Pro XL is Google’s brand-new top flagship. Can it crush the reigning Android champ, the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Intro
The new Pixel 9 Pro XL is finally here. After the usual barrage of leaks and rumors, Google’s recent flagship lineup is finally here, delivering sensible upgrades and positioning the Pixel as a proper alternative to the iPhones and Galaxies of the world.
One of those rivals is none other than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is Samsung’s best conventional smartphone released in 2024 so far. The S Pen-clad flagship is one of the most versatile phones of the year, and could definitely give the Pixel 9 Pro XL a run for the money.
Which one should you consider?
Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Galaxy S24 Ultra differences:
Pixel 9 Pro XLGalaxy S24 Ultra
Aluminum frame Titanium frame
6.8-inch OLED HDR screen with 2,700 nits of peak brightness 6.8-inch OLED screen with 2,500 nits of peak brightness
Triple camera setup (50MP main + 48MP ultra-wide + 48MP 5X telephoto) Quad camera setup (200MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 10MP 3X tele + 50MP 5X tele)
Google Tensor G4 chip (focus on AI and ML) Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip on board (focus on raw performance)
Slightly larger 5,060mAh battery Marginally smaller 5,000mAh battery
Slower wired (37W) but faster wireless (23W) charging Faster wired (45W) but slower wireless charging (15W)
No stylus S Pen stylus
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
Display Differences
Performance
Camera
Battery and Charging
Specs
Summary
Read more:
Pixel 9 Pro XL release date expectations, price estimates, and upgrades
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: zoom in, enhance!
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Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Pixel 8 Pro: Google’s Irish twins
Design and SizePremium as premium can get
From a design perspective, we get an aluminum and mostly flat design with the Pixel 9 Pro XL (as trendy these days). From a visual standpoint, it closely follows the distinct Pixel design style: a redesigned camera strip is present at the back, somewhat moving away from the distinct 3D Visor look of previous Pixels.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL, on the other hand, is a more conventional candy bar phone, sporting a matte rear back panel and a glossy, flat side frame, retaining the general style of the older Pixel flagships. A slightly different camera island at the rear replaces the 3D Visor of older Pixels.
Both phones match each other’s endurance against the elements with an IP68 water and dust resistance. This means you can dunk each phone for up to half an hour in up to 1.5m of water, and they’ll live to tell the tale.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Ultra employs a mostly flat titanium frame, which still features an ever-so-slight curvature for enhanced ergonomics. It’s Samsung’s largest traditional phone released thus far in 2024, with a completely flat 6.8-inch screen up front. Of course, just like previous Galaxy devices, this one comes along with the S Pen tucked into its silo right out of the box.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is lighter than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it’s slightly wider and taller. This essentially means that while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is technically the heavier phone, it’s slightly more single-hand friendly, as it is narrower.
Colors-wise, the Pixel 9 Pro XL arrives in Obsidian, Porcelain, Rose Quartz, and Hazel colors (black, white, pink, and green). At the same time, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, and Titanium Orange.
Also read: Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro colors: all the hues
Display Differences
A few key differences
Although the displays of the two phones will differ slightly in terms of overall size, they aren’t that much different.
