Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: A Comprehensive Review of the Latest Flagship

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Review - Pros and cons, Verdict | 91Mobiles

Google is taking a leaf out of Apple's playback for the new Pixel smartphones. For the first time, the Pixel Pro series are available in two sizes in the form of the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Apart from the evident differences in size and battery, the specifications of the two smartphones remain identical. That also means the new AI features on the Pixel 9 Pro XL are available to use on the Pixel 9 Pro. However, if you choose the "extra large" variant, the price goes up by Rs 15,000, making it the most expensive Google smartphone in the non-foldable category. Is the Pixel 9 Pro XL, at Rs 1,29,999, worth those extra bucks, especially when competing against Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra (review) in the same segment? Let's find out. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is sure to impress if looks and performance matter to you. The new processor and AI features also ensure an improved user experience, and the camera performance combined with fun editing tools, continues to get better. However, some old Pixel issues, like slow charging, linger. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also takes a small lead by offering inbuilt S-Pen and extra AI tools for an additional Rs 5,000. Perhaps more aggressive pricing might help Google gain an edge. The most evident change in this year's Pixel 9 Pro lineup is the redesigned camera module. While the triple rear cameras retain their original positioning, they are now housed in an oval module instead of the previous rectangular one. The Pro models, including the Pixel 9 Pro XL, retain the temperature sensor below the LED flash. Views about the new camera module might be polarising, but I appreciate the design. Complemented by the Pixel 9 Pro XL's flat-edge design, the overall appearance looks bold and premium. The in-hand feeling is equally impressive. Google has incorporated a matte-glass back for the rear panel to hide scratches and fingerprint smudges. I reviewed the Porcelain white colour variant, which is easily my favourite. Many of my colleagues equally preferred the Rose Quartz, an unusual choice for flagship products. The remaining Obsidian (black) and Hazel (grey) are the usual choices for smartphone OEMs and many customers. There's little to complain about regarding the build quality, as you'd expect from a smartphone priced at Rs 1.25 lakh. The sides feature a metal finish, and the front and back are protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The flat metal edges have a soft, curved finish, providing an extremely comfortable grip. Like last year's Pixel 8 series, the new Pixel 9 Pro XL carries an IP68 certification for dust and water resistance. It might be time for smartphone brands to push the envelope further by offering an IP69 rating, as seen recently on the OPPO F27 Pro+ (review). Despite all these certifications and protection, I recommend a screen protector or at least, a protective case. Neither of the two is available in the box, and this year, Google has taken a step further by skipping the Type-A to Type-C dongle in the package. Interestingly, there's no word from the company about proprietary cases. I am sure there are going to be plenty of options online though. While the design remains impressive, Google could've been more thoughtful of the weight. At 221 grams, it's at par with the iPhone 15 Pro Max (review), which features a titanium build. Even the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with the inbuilt S-Pen, is only 11 grams heavier. It seems to be the price we have to pay for a super-tall 6.8-inch display. Its viewing experience is equally good, if not the best. The spacious display offers almost 2K resolution (1,344 x 2,992 pixels) and up to 3000 nits (peak brightness). Typical brightness is sufficient, though the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra with the matte coating offer a brighter viewing experience under harsh sunlight. Google has incorporated an OLED panel (called Actua display), which does a stellar job of reproducing real-life colours. The LTPO technology ensures variable refresh rates (1-120Hz), also providing a silky smooth viewing experience. The overall movie viewing experience could've been better with an immersive audio system. While Pixel 9 Pro XL offers stereo speakers, I feel the iPhones do a better job with punchy bass and overall audio quality. Another addition this year is the Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner instead of an optical scanner. The advantage of the former is that it relies on 3D mapping of the registered finger instead of 2D scanning. In simple terms, you will experience a quicker and more reliable biometric unlock, although wet fingers still have limitations. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's rear camera setup remains unchanged from last year, featuring a 50MP primary camera, a 48MP telephoto camera, and a 48MP ultra-wide camera. While the telephoto camera offers 5x optical zoom, the smartphone also leverages the primary camera. Anything beyond that, the periscope-style lens of the telephoto camera solely takes over. However, the front camera has been upgraded to a 42MP selfie shooter, still supporting 4K video recording at 60fps. Similar to older Pixel smartphones, images captured by the new Pixel 9 Pro XL typically include high contrast and punchy colours. Google successfully reduces noise in the image and improves the dynamic range through software tweaks. As a result, its images can look naturally more appealing and social media-ready, though details aren't always the best. Google's Real Tone technology also gets utilised in photos with human subjects. It allows the smartphone to capture accurate skin tones in most cases, whether in bright or dim conditions. Speaking of dim conditions, the primary camera is capable of taking great photos even in dim conditions. In my experience, the phone automatically tweaked the brightness and reduced noise, though at the cost of sharper details. Notably, the telephoto camera struggles with stability in low-light conditions, which needs improvements. I compared the Pixel 9 Pro XL's images against the iPhone 15 Pro Max (review) and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to test the camera capabilities. In most cases, the Pixel 9 Pro XL and Galaxy S24 Ultra images looked similar, but the latter captured sharper details. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offered a brighter output without boosting the colours. I noticed a similar treatment in images with a human subject. Google and Samsung's outputs look almost indistinguishable. The iPhone's image boasts a balanced white balance with a controlled exposure. This was also noticeable with the highest zoom enabled (image below). And even in a low-light condition (image below). You can expect a similar colour science to that of the primary camera with the ultra-wide. Google again does a good job of balancing the dynamic range through software tweaks. But its details and sharpness can often be inconsistent. Additionally, the ultra-wide camera doubles as a macro shooter, which takes mind-blowing close-ups. As I mentioned, Google's Real Tone image does a brilliant job of detecting accurate skin tones in different lighting conditions. However, its portrait mode does not match the standard set by the Pixel 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra. Close-ups taken with the primary camera generally include a pleasing shallow depth of field. However, the bokeh with the portrait mode, can look unnatural at times. Even the edge detection around the subject can be average at best. Selfies have improved significantly on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, thanks to the new 42MP camera. Its details are much sharper and the skin tone detection with Real Tone remains on-point. Without portrait mode, the results are balanced and vibrant. However, the edge detection is inconsistent with portrait mode enabled, perhaps more noticeable when compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra. While I am mostly pleased with the photos, the Pixel 9 Pro XL surely impresses with its video performance. Google has added 4K60fps recording support for both front and rear cameras. Google has also expanded AI to its videos with video boost. It essentially enhances stability and adds popping colours. The best part is that the feature works without an internet connection, unlike other AI-backed editing tools. The primary camera supports up to 8K recording. However, you will achieve the best stability in 4K resolution. The audio enhancer tool to improve the anchor's speech also works efficiently, and should be highly useful for creators who enjoy shooting outdoors. Google's efforts to improve the overall camera experience with AI features continue with the Pixel 9 Pro XL - almost successfully setting it apart from most. The biggest addition to the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the "Add Me" feature, added directly to the Camera app. It essentially lets users add themselves to a group photo if they do not want to give the smartphone to a stranger. The "Add Me" feature also lets you clone yourself, which can be a fun party trick for social media. However, my experience with it was mixed, primarily due to its inconsistent ability to produce convincing results. The feature tends to work best in bright conditions, but even then, the added element - whether it's you or someone else - doesn't always look natural. The subject can even lack shadow, giving the final image an unnatural appearance. The Magic Editor has been also updated with a new "reimagine" feature. As the name suggests, you can reimagine an area with simple text prompts and the results can look stunning. However, it can raise alarms about authenticity and may irk privacy advocates. Otherwise, the original Magic Editor to move around subjects continues to be available. Other available AI editing features include Best Take, Magic Eraser, and AI Enhance. Lastly, Google has rolled out a dedicated Pixel Studio app, similar to the OPPO's AI Studio on the Reno 12 Pro (review). The app does not let you create human avatars like the OPPO AI Studio yet, but it can generate different types of images with simple text prompts. Google notes that Pixel Studio will add support to generate human images later. It may not be your everyday app, but the exclusive addition may attract some customers. We continue to see the addition of a new ARM-based proprietary chipset with the latest Pixel devices. This year, there's Tensor G4 with a lot of focus on improved AI performance. Apart from that, the Pixel 9 Pro XL gets 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, while users can enjoy even 1-year worth of free Gemini Advanced subscription and 2TB cloud storage. There's also the dedicated Titan M2 security chip for user privacy. Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro XL performed smoothly during my review, and I did not notice any visible stutters even while gaming. The stock Android experience continues to elevate the user experience with its simple interface. Google again promises seven years of OS and security updates, which has already set a benchmark in the industry. Even Apple has yet to match this claim. I would've appreciated if the phone shipped with Android 15 out-of-the-box. It currently ships with Android 14. As mentioned, there's a strong emphasis on AI, with Google offering some interesting productivity-focused tools. For instance, Gemini Live (included with the Advanced subscription) allows for more natural interaction with AI in both Hindi and English. I found this tool particularly helpful for understanding complex finance topics without the need for extensive typing or reading. The redesigned weather app now offers an AI-generated snippet, providing a quick overview of the day's forecast. Additional productivity features include "Circle to Search," a function we've seen on the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Z Fold6. The dedicated Screenshot app leverages AI to help you find the right web link of the Pinterest screenshot you might have taken. There's also a "Call Notes" feature, though it's not yet available in India. While these tools are surely useful for daily use cases, Google could have natively added AI summaries for news articles and an AI editor to Gboard, similar to what's already offered on the Galaxy S24 series and the much more affordable OPPO Reno 12 series. Some AI tweaks to improve cellular connectivity could greatly help users in India. Based on our synthetic benchmarks, the Tensor G4-powered Pixel 9 Pro XL achieved decent scores. It's still not as power efficient as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but for regular users, the phone offers enough juice to ensure lag-free performance. However, the Pixel 9 Pro XL faces heating issues similar to the older Pixel models. It does not affect the performance but may irk new users. For hardcore gamers, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro (review) remains the top choice based on numbers and overall experience. For casual gamers, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a decent choice, considering its wide screen and flat edges. However, the overheating becomes more noticeable after prolonged gaming. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's tall size allows for a bigger 5,060mAh battery, which performed well during my review even with the highest settings enabled - providing nearly a full day's use. You can extend this further by disabling Always-On Display (AOD) and lowering the screen resolution. However, the charging speed desperately needs improvements. The phone only supports 37W charging and Google continues to skip the adapter in the box. I used a Motorola PD charger, and the phone took over 70 minutes to go from 20 to 100 percent. While the new Google Pixel 9 Pro XL truly feels like a flagship with its premium and snappy performance, the overall user experience is good, if not the best. The Galaxy S24 Ultra with the built S-Pen and additional AI features, remains our top choice for productivity-focused customers. Even the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro, with an overclocked processor and inbuilt AirTriggers, is an easy recommendation for hardcore or professional mobile gamers. Perhaps, the biggest takeaway is the pricing, which Google must consider reducing to gain an edge in the market. The Pixel 9 Pro can be considered if you don't want to spend over 1.20 lakh, though its display size is much smaller in comparison. However, if the price is not the concern and you want to experience the cleanest Android interface and be the first to try the newest Google-developed AI features on a tall screen, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is your best choice. Even for content creators, Pixel 9 Pro XL's video recording performance is among the best across segments.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review: Pros and cons, Verdict

Google is taking a leaf out of Apple's playback for the new Pixel smartphones. For the first time, the Pixel Pro series are available in two sizes in the form of the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Apart from the evident differences in size and battery, the specifications of the two smartphones remain identical. That also means the new AI features on the Pixel 9 Pro XL are available to use on the Pixel 9 Pro. However, if you choose the "extra large" variant, the price goes up by Rs 15,000, making it the most expensive Google smartphone in the non-foldable category. Is the Pixel 9 Pro XL, at Rs 1,29,999, worth those extra bucks, especially when competing against Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra (review) in the same segment? Let's find out. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is sure to impress if looks and performance matter to you. The new processor and AI features also ensure an improved user experience, and the camera performance combined with fun editing tools, continues to get better. However, some old Pixel issues, like slow charging, linger. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also takes a small lead by offering inbuilt S-Pen and extra AI tools for an additional Rs 5,000. Perhaps more aggressive pricing might help Google gain an edge. The most evident change in this year's Pixel 9 Pro lineup is the redesigned camera module. While the triple rear cameras retain their original positioning, they are now housed in an oval module instead of the previous rectangular one. The Pro models, including the Pixel 9 Pro XL, retain the temperature sensor below the LED flash. Views about the new camera module might be polarising, but I appreciate the design. Complemented by the Pixel 9 Pro XL's flat-edge design, the overall appearance looks bold and premium. The in-hand feeling is equally impressive. Google has incorporated a matte-glass back for the rear panel to hide scratches and fingerprint smudges. I reviewed the Porcelain white colour variant, which is easily my favourite. Many of my colleagues equally preferred the Rose Quartz, an unusual choice for flagship products. The remaining Obsidian (black) and Hazel (grey) are the usual choices for smartphone OEMs and many customers. There's little to complain about regarding the build quality, as you'd expect from a smartphone priced at Rs 1.25 lakh. The sides feature a metal finish, and the front and back are protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The flat metal edges have a soft, curved finish, providing an extremely comfortable grip. Like last year's Pixel 8 series, the new Pixel 9 Pro XL carries an IP68 certification for dust and water resistance. It might be time for smartphone brands to push the envelope further by offering an IP69 rating, as seen recently on the OPPO F27 Pro+ (review). Despite all these certifications and protection, I recommend a screen protector or at least, a protective case. Neither of the two is available in the box, and this year, Google has taken a step further by skipping the Type-A to Type-C dongle in the package. Interestingly, there's no word from the company about proprietary cases. I am sure there are going to be plenty of options online though. While the design remains impressive, Google could've been more thoughtful of the weight. At 221 grams, it's at par with the iPhone 15 Pro Max (review), which features a titanium build. Even the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with the inbuilt S-Pen, is only 11 grams heavier. It seems to be the price we have to pay for a super-tall 6.8-inch display. Its viewing experience is equally good, if not the best. The spacious display offers almost 2K resolution (1,344 x 2,992 pixels) and up to 3000 nits (peak brightness). Typical brightness is sufficient, though the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra with the matte coating offer a brighter viewing experience under harsh sunlight. Google has incorporated an OLED panel (called Actua display), which does a stellar job of reproducing real-life colours. The LTPO technology ensures variable refresh rates (1-120Hz), also providing a silky smooth viewing experience. The overall movie viewing experience could've been better with an immersive audio system. While Pixel 9 Pro XL offers stereo speakers, I feel the iPhones do a better job with punchy bass and overall audio quality. Another addition this year is the Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner instead of an optical scanner. The advantage of the former is that it relies on 3D mapping of the registered finger instead of 2D scanning. In simple terms, you will experience a quicker and more reliable biometric unlock, although wet fingers still have limitations. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's rear camera setup remains unchanged from last year, featuring a 50MP primary camera, a 48MP telephoto camera, and a 48MP ultra-wide camera. While the telephoto camera offers 5x optical zoom, the smartphone also leverages the primary camera. Anything beyond that, the periscope-style lens of the telephoto camera solely takes over. However, the front camera has been upgraded to a 42MP selfie shooter, still supporting 4K video recording at 60fps. Similar to older Pixel smartphones, images captured by the new Pixel 9 Pro XL typically include high contrast and punchy colours. Google successfully reduces noise in the image and improves the dynamic range through software tweaks. As a result, its images can look naturally more appealing and social media-ready, though details aren't always the best. Google's Real Tone technology also gets utilised in photos with human subjects. It allows the smartphone to capture accurate skin tones in most cases, whether in bright or dim conditions. Speaking of dim conditions, the primary camera is capable of taking great photos even in dim conditions. In my experience, the phone automatically tweaked the brightness and reduced noise, though at the cost of sharper details. Notably, the telephoto camera struggles with stability in low-light conditions, which needs improvements. I compared the Pixel 9 Pro XL's images against the iPhone 15 Pro Max (review) and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to test the camera capabilities. In most cases, the Pixel 9 Pro XL and Galaxy S24 Ultra images looked similar, but the latter captured sharper details. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offered a brighter output without boosting the colours. I noticed a similar treatment in images with a human subject. Google and Samsung's outputs look almost indistinguishable. The iPhone's image boasts a balanced white balance with a controlled exposure. This was also noticeable with the highest zoom enabled (image below). And even in a low-light condition (image below). You can expect a similar colour science to that of the primary camera with the ultra-wide. Google again does a good job of balancing the dynamic range through software tweaks. But its details and sharpness can often be inconsistent. Additionally, the ultra-wide camera doubles as a macro shooter, which takes mind-blowing close-ups. As I mentioned, Google's Real Tone image does a brilliant job of detecting accurate skin tones in different lighting conditions. However, its portrait mode does not match the standard set by the Pixel 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra. Close-ups taken with the primary camera generally include a pleasing shallow depth of field. However, the bokeh with the portrait mode, can look unnatural at times. Even the edge detection around the subject can be average at best. Selfies have improved significantly on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, thanks to the new 42MP camera. Its details are much sharper and the skin tone detection with Real Tone remains on-point. Without portrait mode, the results are balanced and vibrant. However, the edge detection is inconsistent with portrait mode enabled, perhaps more noticeable when compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra. While I am mostly pleased with the photos, the Pixel 9 Pro XL surely impresses with its video performance. Google has added 4K60fps recording support for both front and rear cameras. Google has also expanded AI to its videos with video boost. It essentially enhances stability and adds popping colours. The best part is that the feature works without an internet connection, unlike other AI-backed editing tools. The primary camera supports up to 8K recording. However, you will achieve the best stability in 4K resolution. The audio enhancer tool to improve the anchor's speech also works efficiently, and should be highly useful for creators who enjoy shooting outdoors. Google's efforts to improve the overall camera experience with AI features continue with the Pixel 9 Pro XL - almost successfully setting it apart from most. The biggest addition to the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the "Add Me" feature, added directly to the Camera app. It essentially lets users add themselves to a group photo if they do not want to give the smartphone to a stranger. The "Add Me" feature also lets you clone yourself, which can be a fun party trick for social media. However, my experience with it was mixed, primarily due to its inconsistent ability to produce convincing results. The feature tends to work best in bright conditions, but even then, the added element - whether it's you or someone else - doesn't always look natural. The subject can even lack shadow, giving the final image an unnatural appearance. The Magic Editor has been also updated with a new "reimagine" feature. As the name suggests, you can reimagine an area with simple text prompts and the results can look stunning. However, it can raise alarms about authenticity and may irk privacy advocates. Otherwise, the original Magic Editor to move around subjects continues to be available. Other available AI editing features include Best Take, Magic Eraser, and AI Enhance. Lastly, Google has rolled out a dedicated Pixel Studio app, similar to the OPPO's AI Studio on the Reno 12 Pro (review). The app does not let you create human avatars like the OPPO AI Studio yet, but it can generate different types of images with simple text prompts. Google notes that Pixel Studio will add support to generate human images later. It may not be your everyday app, but the exclusive addition may attract some customers. We continue to see the addition of a new ARM-based proprietary chipset with the latest Pixel devices. This year, there's Tensor G4 with a lot of focus on improved AI performance. Apart from that, the Pixel 9 Pro XL gets 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, while users can enjoy even 1-year worth of free Gemini Advanced subscription and 2TB cloud storage. There's also the dedicated Titan M2 security chip for user privacy. Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro XL performed smoothly during my review, and I did not notice any visible stutters even while gaming. The stock Android experience continues to elevate the user experience with its simple interface. Google again promises seven years of OS and security updates, which has already set a benchmark in the industry. Even Apple has yet to match this claim. I would've appreciated if the phone shipped with Android 15 out-of-the-box. It currently ships with Android 14. As mentioned, there's a strong emphasis on AI, with Google offering some interesting productivity-focused tools. For instance, Gemini Live (included with the Advanced subscription) allows for more natural interaction with AI in both Hindi and English. I found this tool particularly helpful for understanding complex finance topics without the need for extensive typing or reading. The redesigned weather app now offers an AI-generated snippet, providing a quick overview of the day's forecast. Additional productivity features include "Circle to Search," a function we've seen on the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Z Fold6. The dedicated Screenshot app leverages AI to help you find the right web link of the Pinterest screenshot you might have taken. There's also a "Call Notes" feature, though it's not yet available in India. While these tools are surely useful for daily use cases, Google could have natively added AI summaries for news articles and an AI editor to Gboard, similar to what's already offered on the Galaxy S24 series and the much more affordable OPPO Reno 12 series. Some AI tweaks to improve cellular connectivity could greatly help users in India. Based on our synthetic benchmarks, the Tensor G4-powered Pixel 9 Pro XL achieved decent scores. It's still not as power efficient as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but for regular users, the phone offers enough juice to ensure lag-free performance. However, the Pixel 9 Pro XL faces heating issues similar to the older Pixel models. It does not affect the performance but may irk new users. For hardcore gamers, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro (review) remains the top choice based on numbers and overall experience. For casual gamers, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a decent choice, considering its wide screen and flat edges. However, the overheating becomes more noticeable after prolonged gaming. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's tall size allows for a bigger 5,060mAh battery, which performed well during my review even with the highest settings enabled - providing nearly a full day's use. You can extend this further by disabling Always-On Display (AOD) and lowering the screen resolution. However, the charging speed desperately needs improvements. The phone only supports 37W charging and Google continues to skip the adapter in the box. I used a Motorola PD charger, and the phone took over 70 minutes to go from 20 to 100 percent. While the new Google Pixel 9 Pro XL truly feels like a flagship with its premium and snappy performance, the overall user experience is good, if not the best. The Galaxy S24 Ultra with the built S-Pen and additional AI features, remains our top choice for productivity-focused customers. Even the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro, with an overclocked processor and inbuilt AirTriggers, is an easy recommendation for hardcore or professional mobile gamers. Perhaps, the biggest takeaway is the pricing, which Google must consider reducing to gain an edge in the market. The Pixel 9 Pro can be considered if you don't want to spend over 1.20 lakh, though its display size is much smaller in comparison. However, if the price is not the concern and you want to experience the cleanest Android interface and be the first to try the newest Google-developed AI features on a tall screen, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is your best choice. Even for content creators, Pixel 9 Pro XL's video recording performance is among the best across segments.

Pixel 9 Review: Yup, It's That Good

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. To say that I have been waiting for a phone like the Pixel 9 from Google for many years feels like an understatement, but I didn't know I needed this particular phone until I saw the first leaks of its design back in January of this year. At that time, we had no idea that we'd get treated to four different Pixel 9 models, but as an Android fan, we're so here for it. I have been running the base Pixel 9 for over a week now, pairing it with my Pixel Watch 2. I have come to form an opinion on the device that I am now ready to share with you. Hardware and Design - I'll get this part out of the way. I think it's a fair comparison that the Pixel 9 feels like an iPhone in hand, but thankfully, that rear camera bar helps the device differentiate itself from Apple's offerings to the eye. There, that's all the iPhone talk you'll get out of me for the duration. We at Droid Life do relatively subjective reviews, so speaking my humble opinion, I believe the Pixel 9 lineup is the best hardware Google has ever produced. It looks amazing and feels fantastic in hand. For a smartphone, I can't ask for much else from hardware. Google has provided Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, plus the upgraded ultrasonic fingerprint reader has yet to annoy me like the optical sensors did. Pretty much across the board the phone feels like an upgrade. I also feel obligated to discuss the camera bar bump on back. I know it has turned off a few people, but allow me to tell you why it's awesome. For one-handed use, that camera bar allows you to brace the phone well with your index finger, giving you a more secure hold on the device. When sliding your thumb up to bring down the notification shade, it also acts a nice little push off/anchor spot. I get that to the eye it sticks out a little bit, but at least it doesn't wobble on a flat surface like 95% of all other phone designs. And let's be real, those complaining are the same ones that put their phones in an armor case. Lol, as if they can discuss design with us naked and afraid phone users. Software and Performance - Interestingly, Google opted to ship the Pixel 9 with Android 14, presumably because Android 15 wasn't quite ready. A recent report essentially confirms that Google wants Android 15 to be perfectly stable and fully baked before shipping it out, hopefully by mid October at the latest. From a reviewer's standpoint, it's pretty lame, since there isn't very much new stuff to play with outside of Gemini-powered stuff, but at the same time, Android 14 is a very robust build and it runs perfectly fine on this hardware. If anything, it gives folks very little complain about because I haven't come across any sort of bugs or jank to speak of. Google outfitted the Pixel 9 with Pixel Studio, the new generative AI feature that allows you to use keywords and themes to create shareable images. Sadly, we think Google could go the extra step and make the feature even better. For example, the images you can create are hardly large enough to use as wallpapers on the phone (2048 x 2048). That seems like a missed opportunity. And while I do appreciate a free (for now) generative AI feature to use, there is definitely limitations to what you can create. Anyone trying to generate images of large-chested individuals will find that creating those sort of pictures isn't possible. You can however create images of dogs riding dinosaurs and sweet softball stickers. Gemini itself is also becoming more robust, with Google eyeing it as a replacement for Assistant in the future. We still aren't 100% there, but it's coming along. I didn't find myself needing to use Gemini too often, but when I did, it seemed to answer my simple questions and perform basic system tasks with no issue. Pixel Screenshots is another feature that sounds very impressive, but I didn't ever need it. I don't take a million screenshots, but maybe someone out there does and needs a way to quickly search through those images using AI. It sounds very helpful, but alas, I didn't use it. Discussing performance also seems important. Powered by a Tensor G4 along with 12GB RAM, it's been smooth sailing for the Pixel 9. A Googler recently provided an interview in which they said the company set out to create a phone for consumer use cases, not benchmarks. I'm a fan of that. I don't care how high a phone scores, so long as it performs the tasks that I want, such as opening and snapping a photo with the camera quickly or scrolling through apps smoothly. The Pixel 9 does all of that flawlessly. With each passing year, Pixel phones seem to perform better and better. I don't think any phone can run 100% perfect all of the time, but Google has really gotten into a groove it seems. It will be interesting how the update to Android 15 may affect my experience, but my fingers are crossed for a smooth update process with little to no major bugs. Display - Pixel 9 features a 6.3-inch Actua OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2424 and refresh rate of up to 120Hz. In terms of upgrades to the naked eye, the display gets much brighter when in direct sunlight with a peak brightness of 2,700 nits. That's a big jump from Pixel 8's 2,000 nit peak. If you're upgrading from the Pixel 7, with a 1,400 nits peak, then you're looking at a massive difference. Compared to displays found on Samsung devices, I describe Google displays as tame, with color saturation not overdone. That's not a bad thing by any means, some people prefer that. To me, this more natural approach makes photos you take and videos you watch seem a bit more like reality, which can be important when sharing things to social media. My other love for this phone's display could also belong in the hardware section, but the fact that it's flat and not curved. It makes me laugh how much we seemed to love curved glass back in the day, but I'm happy companies are moving away from it. Phones are now more durable, plus for gesture controls, it feels so much better. Long live the flat glass on these displays. Battery Life - Before I tell you about how much I loved the Pixel 9's battery life, it must be prefaced that for me, 4-5 hours of screen on time is good. Like Kellen, I've never been someone who pulls 10 hours of SoT with 50% battery remaining. I have no idea how people are doing that, but it's not my reality and thought it was very funny that people took issue with Kellen saying he had good battery testing results on the Pixel 9 Pro. As for my Pixel 9 testing, it's been great. I am easily getting 4+ hours of screen on time every day with plenty of residual juice left, with my typical day being from about 7am to 11pm. Some days I game more than others, but during the review period, I'm always using the phone a bit more than I typically would. There's a lot of pictures getting taken, gaming, and Chrome browsing taking place. The Pixel 9 has held up exceptionally well. Pixel 9 comes packing a 4,700mAh battery, with charging specs listed as 27W max speed when using Google's 45W Type-C charger. Users should be able to get 55% battery back with 30 minutes of charging, which for most people should be plenty fine. The device also support Qi wireless charging (15W), as well as Battery Share. Camera - When reviewing a phone as good as this, you're sometimes forced to get a little nit picky with things. Overall the camera on this phone is very good, but if you were to ask me what could be better, the lack of the telephoto lens is very much noticed. I have grown so accustomed to zooming in on whatever I want that when a phone lacks that capability, I get a little bummed. The best I can do on the Pixel 9 is 8x (optical up to 2x), which is really nothing when compared to 30x or even 100x on some devices. I get that Google has to cut in certain places to meet a particular price point, so it's fine, but I'm still going to say my piece. Speaking to what this camera can do, it does its job very well. It's a Pixel after all. On board is a 50-megapixel wide angle lens and 48MP ultrawide lens with Macro Focus. If you're someone who merely opens the camera and expects great results, the Pixel 9 is perfectly suited for that. It captures great color and contrast, plus Night Sight is still the benchmark for all other OEMs. You'll also have access to the latest editing tools and features from Google, such as Add Me, where you can add yourself to shots via alignment tools. It's nifty and I'm sure someone out there will get a kick out of it. While overall barebones, the camera works very well and should be quite a little workhorse for buyers. It's pretty much the perfect point and click camera. Again, it's a Pixel, so all of this is expected. Here are some camera samples, resized for the site. You can view high-res images here. Speakers - My only real beef with the phone are the speakers. They don't get very loud. There isn't much else to say about it. Coming from some phones that get very loud, the Pixel 9 is pretty quiet. I've tried to play with the equalizer and all of that, but haven't had much success. They make 3rd-party apps that can push your volume limits, but I'd rather not mess something up. Seriously, this is my only true gripe with the device. Pixel 9 starts at $799. For a phone of this caliber, that seems fair to me. It also leaves room for a more affordable Pixel 9a, then you have the Pro models start at a whopping $999. I was initially bummed at the $799 price, but now having used the phone and seeing the quality, I'm happy with the price. Will some folks think it should come with faster charging, expandable storage, and a headphone jack? Of course, but Google is trying to add value via software (AI) features and quality hardware. You can find Pixel 9 at all major retailers and carriers. And don't forget, trade-in deals are also available for you to lower that price. Usually I would always suggest getting a Pro version, simply because you'd want all of the goodies. However, if you can live without the 16GB RAM and extra telephoto camera, I think the Pixel 9 is a perfectly great smartphone option. This is one of the first times I feel that the base option isn't a plastic, cheap counterpart to the more premium models. The Pixel 9 feels and looks like a premium smartphone, complete with a great camera, tons of software to play with, and hardware that performs well.

Upgrade paths: Pixel 7 Pro vs. 9 Pro - big leap or small improvements? [Video]

If your cell plan has ended and you're considering an upgrade, is it worth switching from the Pixel 7 Pro to the Pixel 9 Pro? Here's everything you need to know. After a couple of years the Pixel series is almost unrecognizable. Even since the Pixel 7 Pro was released, we've seen lots of things resolved with the Pixel 8 series. An earlier-than-usual launch means you might not be due an upgrade for a little while longer, but you can at least get an idea if the jump from Pixel 7 Pro to Pixel 9 Pro is the right one for you - and your bank balance. Aside from the obvious design changes, the Pixel 7 Pro can really hold its own in 2024. It may not be the most powerful, but given the minor enhancements to Tensor since 2021, you're not gaining masses of smartphone grunt out of the gate with the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL. You might not notice immediately that the Pixel 7 Pro has a marginally higher resolution display than the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL. The pixels per inch rating is quite a bit lower, but side-by-side, it's easy to see that the 9 series has a better-quality display panel with a higher maximum brightness. The smaller, uniform bezels are another reason the Pixel 9 Pro screen stands out among the crowd. Physically, the Pixel 7 Pro also has more in common with the Pixel 9 Pro XL. It is a little thicker and taller, but the boxy Pro series includes nips and tucks to save space. You have choices this time around, too, with the smaller version. The upside is that you are not penalized for choosing the smaller Pixel 9 Pro over the XL. The Pixel 9 Pro has faster and more accurate unlocks than the Pixel 7 Pro because the optical scanner has been ditched in favor of an ultrasonic reader. In tandem with the improved Face Unlock, getting into your device has never been faster and more secure on a Tensor-powered Pixel. Because Google has opted to build upon the Tensor processor rather than aim for major upticks in performance each iteration, you might not see a huge difference when using the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro day-to-day. This is particularly important if you want to see generational leaps. Sadly, you won't get that here. Instead, it's more refinements and enhancements to improve AI-powered functions. Apps can load a little quicker, but generally, things are not a major forward step. It's more of a shuffle forward in the kind of generalist tasks. Gaming is still right in the middle of the pack, too. The core Android 14 experience is identical across the entire device lineup. If you have no intention of using AI functions such as Pixel Studio, Zoom Enhance, Pixel Screenshots, or even camera features like Add Me, then you won't miss out on anything that the Pixel 7 series can't already do. Where you might see value added is the super long support window of the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL. The Pixel 7 Pro is slated to get one more major update after Android 15. So you'll get Android 16 on or before October 2025. Then it's just security patches until October 2027. Google is still banking on providing 7 years of Android version updates on the Pixel 9 series until August 2031. That supposedly includes OS updates too, so you should factor in the value-add on the support window. The Pixel 7 Pro may now be seeing some increased battery wear and tear, which gives the Pixel 9 Pro some distinct advantages. However, the newer handset in tandem with some minor changes to the Tensor G4 efficiency levels means you are probably going to get improved lifespans. Google has finally improved the wired charging speeds on the Pixel 9 series, so when you do see lower percentage figures after a day of usage, you can top up much faster. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has 37W wired charging with supported USB PD power bricks, including the updated 45W official Google charger. For what it's worth, the standby time of the latest Pixel 9 series is way better than the best day you'd have with the Pixel 7 Pro. Although the camera hardware has been upgraded and improved since 2022, the Pixel tuning remains fairly similar across the board. That said, the Pixel 9 Pro has a better starting position for camera quality than the Pixel 7 Pro. The main sensor's faster aperture, in tandem with an improved ultrawide, is enough of a reason to consider a camera upgrade. However, these are just the tip of the iceberg. The Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL and the Pixel 7 Pro are miles apart when it comes to added functions and zoom capabilities, in particular. Even the selfie camera is a major step up with a 42MP sensor. 8K video recording, Night Sight and Panoramic photo enhancements, Audio Magic Eraser, Video Boost, Add Me, Reimagine, and all the little performance tweaks are great additions to the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL. You still get solid photographic output from the Pixel 7 Pro, it just doesn't quite hit the heights of Google's latest and greatest. About upgrading: 9to5Google often gives specific product recommendations. Sometimes, we may suggest not upgrading, due to various reasons including, but not limited to: increased device cost, negligible performance gains, or environmental impact. Whether to upgrade is always your call, but our aim is to help you make as informed a decision as possible. There are many reasons to switch from the Pixel 7 Pro to the Pixel 9 Pro, namely, if you want a smaller flagship-level Android phone. The reduced dimensions of the Pixel 9 Pro are a great selling point and help set the Made by Google lineup apart from competitors this year. Because Google has continued to refine and reposition, the Pixel 7 Pro isn't a million miles off the Pixel 9 series in terms of performance and experience. However, you'll need to work out if the lack of AI features will inhibit your day-to-day life. For most people, missing out on Pixel Studio or Pixel Screenshots isn't going to be a huge loss.