Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review: 3 ways to beat iPhone 15 Pro Max

Desk of contents

this Google Pixel 9 Pro XL It’s the newest member of the Pixel collection. Earlier than the launch of the Google Pixel 9 collection, there have been solely two telephones within the vary: a base mannequin (like final 12 months’s Google Pixel 8) and Professional variations (such because the Google Pixel 8 Professional in 2023).

Now, Google modifications the whole lot with a triple system lineup: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Proand Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Curiously, regardless of the identify, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is not a lot bigger than final 12 months’s largest mannequin, the Google Pixel 8 Professional. The brand new Pixel 9 Professional XL has a 6.8-inch show, whereas the Google Pixel 8 Professional has a 6.7-inch panel.

What actual What makes the Pixel 9 Professional XL greater than the Pixel 9 Professional is that Google really shrunk The Professional mannequin drops from 6.7 inches to six.3 inches. So sure, the Pixel 9 Professional is smaller Than Pixel 8 Professional. I do know that is bizarre as a result of telephones normally develop into greater Not smaller than their predecessors.

Now that you’ve got a good suggestion of ​​the Pixel 9 Professional XL (and its new lineup), let’s dive into my expertise with it.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL worth and specs

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL has a Google Store starts at $1,099. It has the next specs:

If wanted, you’ll be able to improve to the 256GB mannequin for extra storage, which is able to value $1,119. If you need the 512GB mannequin or the 1TB mannequin, you may need to spend $1,319 and $1,549 respectively. (I extremely suggest shopping for the 256GB mannequin. Based mostly on my private expertise, 128GB of storage lasts about slightly over a 12 months earlier than you run out of storage.)

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL design

The Pixel 9 Professional XL, not like its smaller successors just like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional, really It appears and Really feel Premium high quality—due to Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 matte again panel. The Pixel 9 Professional XL has a shiny, polished metallic body, and it actually competes with related merchandise iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon

The Pixel 9 Professional XL can also be extremely proof against fingerprints, so you should utilize it with out feeling responsible.

The particular system I am testing on this evaluate makes use of a Hazel chassis. There are three different shade choices accessible, together with Obsidian (black), Rose Quartz (pink), and Porcelain (off-white).

I’ve seen them with my very own eyes. Obsidian might be the most well-liked of the 4 colorways. You may by no means go improper with a beautiful onyx system that appears like it will be on Batman’s desk. Rose quartz offers the Pixel 9 Professional XL a pink hue. emphasize the phrase Different As a result of it is extra of a pastel shade, it is barely there, a “child bathe pink” if you’ll. If you need a extremely pink that is not afraid of pink, take a look at the “Peony” shade on the Pixel 9.

Whereas Google has made delicate, generation-to-generation modifications to the digicam bar, it is improved the visible attraction of the Pixel 9 collection. The fashionable Geordi La Forge-style visor now not extends from edge to edge. It now options an island design with a physique shade that matches the chassis.

On the precise facet of the Pixel 9 Professional XL, you may discover the quantity and energy buttons. On the backside, you may discover the USB-C port and SIM card slot (the Pixel 9 Professional XL additionally helps eSIM).

In comparison with the Pixel 8 Professional, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is only a A bit of bit Bigger (6.41 inches lengthy vs. 6.40 inches lengthy). Nevertheless, it is barely thinner (0.33 inches vs. 0.35 inches). The Pixel 9 Professional XL feels fairly good within the hand; the curved edges are forgiving as I wrap my fingers round them. As somebody who’s by no means been a fan of the Pixel collection’ design, I am lastly beginning to prefer it.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL show

Pixel 9 Professional XL includes a 6.8-inch show with a decision of 1344 x 2992 pixels. It has a screen-to-body ratio of about 88%, which is a slight soar from the Pixel 8 Professional’s 87% screen-to-body ratio. This implies Pixel 9 Professional XL delivers a extra immersive viewing expertise with thinner bezels, permitting extra of the show to be devoted to your content material.

Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

I’ve posted some movies on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, together with platforms like Youtube and Netflix. One factor I observed is that the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a extremely saturated panel, particularly Compared to my iPhone 15 Pro Max. For instance, whereas watching love is blind ukone contestant’s electrical inexperienced high appeared extra vibrant than the others, as if it was popping off the display screen. apple different facet.

Nevertheless, my every day driver, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultramuch more vivid than the Pixel 9 Professional XL – perhaps additionally vivid. Pixel 9 Professional XL is “excellent”.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL digicam

The Pixel 9 Professional XL’s megapixel rely stays unchanged from the Pixel 8 collection. It nonetheless has a 50MP wide-angle digicam, a 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 48MP telephoto sensor.

Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

This time round, although, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s ultra-wide digicam is getting a minor replace with an improved aperture, which implies it’s best to get higher ultra-wide pictures in low-light situations.

In different phrases, your ultra-wide-angle trip pictures of gorgeous landscapes ought to have higher element on the Pixel 9 Professional XL.

I examined the Pixel 9 Professional XL in opposition to my beloved iPhone 15 Professional Max, and to my shock, the previous beat it. And I’ve proof.

large angle digicam

I took some pictures of classic automobiles in a museum and was blown away by how effectively the Pixel 9 Professional XL captured them:

^This can be a photograph of Pixel 9 Professional XL.
Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

That is the scene shot by iPhone 15 Professional Max:

^This can be a photograph of iPhone 15 Professional Max
Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

The very first thing that caught my eye was that the Pixel 9 Professional XL dealt with difficult gentle higher, taking pictures with virtually no lens flare (not like the iPhone 15 Professional Max). The Apple system affords a extra real looking interpretation of the 2 classic automobiles, whereas its Google rival captures richer, extra saturated footage.

extremely large angle digicam

I additionally took some pictures of Northport Harbor on Lengthy Island, New York. That is an ultra-wide-angle photograph taken by Google Pixel 9 Professional XL, with inexperienced timber on each side:

Northport Harbor photograph taken with Google Pixel 9 Professional XL.
Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

This is identical panorama shot with iPhone 15 Professional Max

Photograph of Northport Harbor taken with iPhone 15 Professional Max.
Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

Pixel 9 Professional XL’s interpretation of scenes seems extra vivid and colourful. The grass takes on a greener hue, and most strikingly, the sky and harbor look bluer. Ripples and waves within the water additionally seem extra detailed.

Telephoto

Earlier than digital zoom (i.e. software program) is activated, the telephoto sensors of each Pixel 9 Professional XL and iPhone 15 Professional Max attain a most of 5x optical zoom. Optical zoom) skyrocketed).

Wanting on the pictures taken with the Pixel 9 Professional XL, you may see that the seize of the putting flowers is extra sturdy and detailed than on the iPhone 15 Professional Max:

^This can be a photograph of Pixel 9 Professional XL.
Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

^This can be a photograph of iPhone 15 Professional Max
Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

The Pixel 9 Professional XL might have a bonus over the iPhone 15 Professional Max relating to cameras, however you may discover that the Google telephone is weaker by way of efficiency.

If you happen to’re inquisitive about how far the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s Tremendous Res Zoom function can zoom, take a look at my For personal experience, I zoomed in to 5,280 feet And get unimaginable particulars.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL efficiency

We ran Geekbench 6 on a Pixel 9 Professional XL outfitted with the brand new Google Tensor G4 chip and achieved a multi-core rating of 4,569.

Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

This rating is kind of low in comparison with scores from different telephones we have reviewed:

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL – 4,569

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 – 6,069

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 – 6,300

Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely – 7,078

iPhone 15 Professional Max – 7,359

I do know the iPhone 15 Professional Max’s rating of seven,359 could appear astronomical—as a result of it’s. It is too highly effective for a smartphone. The Pixel 9 Professional XL does not have to hit this rating to be thought of as dangerous as the costliest iPhones, however its Geekbench 6 rating is surprisingly low. When you think about that the Pixel 8 Professional really affords larger rating (4,639, for instance), the G4 chip feels much more underpowered.

Even so, I did not expertise any slowdown after I was engaged on a number of apps on the similar time. Nevertheless, it is value mentioning that the Pixel 9 Professional XL can get slightly too sizzling at instances, particularly when utilizing the digicam on heat days. Utilizing this telephone on the seashore is usually a nightmare.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL synthetic intelligence options

Apple smartphone is in hassle! Google has included wealthy synthetic intelligence options into the Pixel 9 collection. Try our in depth sensible expertise:

I additionally suggest you take a look at the brand new Gemini scenea serious replace to Google’s ChatGPT competitor.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL battery life

So rattling plausible! In our exams, the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL drained energy at simply 5 %.

Photograph credit score: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

We ran the TikTok check on the Pixel 9 Professional XL at 50% brightness. Now, think about our shock once we noticed that it lasted an astonishing period of time 18 hours and 41 minutes One cost. This beats the iPhone 15 Professional Max, which lasted 14 hours and 53 minutes in the identical check.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Is it value it?

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Sure fully Price it primarily based on battery life alone. You may depart residence comfortably together with your Pixel 9 Professional XL with out worrying a few drained battery. You may take a break from laziness no Cost your telephone for an evening or two.

Furthermore, by way of capturing capabilities, it will possibly compete with the iPhone 15 Professional Max, the perfect smartphone out there. That mentioned, the Pixel 9 Professional XL beats the iPhone 15 Professional Max in at the very least three areas: digicam, show, and battery life.

Better of all, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s Google AI options are extremely simple to make use of (though they’ve their very own quirks), making the Pixel 9 Professional XL one of the vital widespread telephones on the market. Best phones of 2024.