Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Review

Design

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL arrives with dimensions of 162.8 mm in height, 76.6 mm in width, and a depth of 8.5 mm. Its weight is 221 grams. The build incorporates a premium feel, and the phone is available in Obsidian, Hazel, Porcelain, and Rose Quartz color options. It maintains a non-foldable form factor, focusing on a standard smartphone design.

Display

The device features a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 1344 x 2992 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 486 ppi. The display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate that dynamically scales from 1 to 120 Hz, enhancing fluidity and power efficiency. It supports HDR10+ with peak brightness reaching 3000 nits, and a typical HBM brightness of 2000 nits. The screen's contrast ratio is 2,000,000:1. Additional display features include a hole-punch notch, Always-On Display functionality, DCI-P3 color gamut support, scratch resistance, a 2.5D curved glass screen, and multi-touch capabilities. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Performance

The Pixel 9 Pro XL utilizes the Google Tensor G4 chipset, built on a 4nm process. The octa-core CPU consists of a single 3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 core, three 2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 cores, and four 1.92 GHz Cortex-A520 cores. Graphics are handled by the Mali-G715 MC7 GPU operating at 940 MHz. It is equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. AnTuTu Benchmark v10 scores average around 1,148,512. Storage options are available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations; however, it does not offer SD card expansion. The device includes a cooling system to manage heat during intensive tasks.

Camera

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a triple rear camera system: a 50MP primary lens (Samsung GN1 sensor, 1/1.31" size, 1.2µm pixels, f/1.69 aperture), a 48MP ultrawide lens with macro capabilities (Samsung S5KGM5 sensor, 1/2.55" size, 0.7µm pixels, f/1.7 aperture), and a 48MP telephoto lens (Samsung S5KGM5 sensor, 1/2.55" size, 0.7µm pixels, f/2.8 aperture). All three rear cameras support 2x2 pixel binning. The front-facing selfie camera is a 42MP shooter with f/2.2 aperture. Video recording capabilities include 8K at 30fps with HDR, OIS, and EIS; 4K video recording at 24, 30, and 60fps with HDR, OIS, and EIS; and 1080p up to 240fps with HDR, OIS and EIS. The camera setup includes a wide array of features such as a flicker sensor, noise reduction, pro video mode, optical zoom (5x) and hybrid zoom (30x). The phone also boasts a DxOMark score of 158 for mobile, with a photo score of 161 and a video score of 152, and a selfie score of 148, with a photo score of 146 and a video score of 150.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a 5060 mAh Li-Polymer battery. It supports 37W fast wired charging, 23W wireless charging, reverse charging and the battery is non-removable.

Software

The Pixel 9 Pro XL operates on Android 14 with a planned upgrade path up to Android 21. The device includes a suite of Google's software enhancements and features.

Pricing

The Pixel 9 Pro XL is categorized as a high-priced phone. Prices vary by storage configuration. For instance, the 16GB/256GB model ranges from $1,041.30 to $1,429.80, the 16GB/512GB model ranges from $1,165.93 to $1,546.42, and the 16GB/1TB model ranges from $1,319.00 to $1,716.02. These prices may vary by region and retailer.

Overall Verdict

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is positioned as a flagship smartphone, incorporating advanced display technology, robust performance, and versatile camera capabilities. Its premium build and feature set cater to users seeking a top-tier Android experience. The high price point reflects its high-end specifications and market positioning.