**Pros:**- Excellent build and finish with IP68 ingress protection- Great cameras all round- Sharp and vibrant 120 Hz LTPO OLED display- Smooth and clean Android experience- 7 years of software updates promised- A bunch of AI feature with more expected over time- Improved battery backup- Good overall performance
**Cons:**- Slow charging; no charger in the box- Still no UFS 4.0 storage- Very expensive
Price: Rs 1,24,999 onwardsRating: 4/5
A couple of months ago, we took a close look at the entry level model in the Google Pixel 9 series, well, the Pixel 9 itself. Now we shift to the other end of the spectrum and dissect Google’s current flagship, the Pixel 9 Pro XL. We got a chance to experience it long enough with a handful of software updates making their way during the course of the review. Time to look at how it stacks up against its predecessor and the competition, if there are any significant upgrades, and if it’s worth its hefty asking price. Let’s get cracking.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Design: Excellent build and finish, but quite a handful
There has been a noticeable change in design in the Pixel 9 series. The curvy frame on the Pixel 8 Pro has been replaced with a flat one, and the edge-to-edge camera band at the back is now a pill-shaped island. The phone does look better, and the build quality and finish are excellent without any rough edges. But it is a sizable device and the XL in the model name denotes pretty much that. In case you weren’t aware, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is actually like the Pro variant from the last two generations of phones from the company with larger displays.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
The Pixel 9 Pro is now a compact flagship that incorporates most of the XL’s features in a smaller shell the size of a Pixel 9. The nomenclature is pretty much on the lines of Apple iPhones with the use of XL suffix instead of Max to denote a larger and top variant. Coming back to the XL, it has an aluminium frame and a glass back and weighs in excess of 220 grams. The phone does feel heavy but the weight distribution is quite good. The IP68 rating for dust and fluid resistance has been retained.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
The screen is perfectly flat and merges seamlessly into the frame; no curved edges this time but they are rounded just enough to give you a smoother feel. The display and the back are protected against scratches by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The frame is glossy while the back has a matte finish. The edges do attract the odd smudge mark that can be easily wiped away, but the back stays smudge-free, especially on the Porcelain variant that we got for review.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
The volume rocker as well as the power button are placed along the right edge. Their placement and that of the in-display fingerprint scanner are spot on, and one can access them without stretching the fingers much. You now get an ultrasonic scanner instead of optical and is easily the most responsive among the past three generations of Pixel phones. The SIM tray is located at the bottom along with a USB-C port and a speaker. One can use an eSIM too. A memory card slot and a 3.5 mm headphone jack remain absent.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Display: The best and brightest display on Pixel phones ever
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has a large 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 2992 x 1344 pixels, which is in fact the same as that of its predecessor’s despite it having a marginally smaller screen. The screen here is even brighter with a peak brightness of 3000 nits and has the narrowest of bezels. The HDR10+ compliant screen looks quite sharp with excellent colour reproduction and contrast. It has a 120 Hz variable refresh rate that can keep things smooth and flicker free and also dial down to 1 Hz to save battery.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
For some strange reason, the refresh rate is set to 60 Hz by default and one needs to enable Smooth Display from the bottom of display settings to get the 120 Hz variable rate going; something I would certainly advise you to do. You do not get elaborate colour adjustments here but the display is tuned perfectly fine out of the box. In fact, this is easily the best display I have come across on Pixel phones to date. You do get two display modes to choose from – Adaptive and Natural. The former makes the colours slightly more vivid while the latter makes them more soothing. Both modes are perfectly usable and you can choose one depending on your taste.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Hardware and performance: Not the best but largely good enough
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is powered by Google’s fourth generation Tensor G4 SoC that powers the entire Pixel 9 series. The company has dropped the extra core used in the Tensor G3 and gone back to an 8-core architecture. Despite that, there has been a jump in overall performance, even if it isn’t a big one. In terms of raw processing power, it is still no match for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, let alone the Elite. It is closer to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC in synthetic benchmarks, which isn’t bad.
By now we know that synthetic benchmarks are just indicative rather than absolute. Also, it is hard to gauge the AI crunching capabilities of the Tenson G4 using our current set of benchmarks, and those abilities are expected to get even better with time. That said, the Tensor G4 breezes through day-to-day tasks like accessing various social media or chat apps at a go, watching videos, browsing the internet, opening multiple tabs on a browser and switching between them without a murmur.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes equipped with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage, however, the company is still stuck with UFS 3.1 storage instead of moving on to UFS 4.0. By the last quarter of 2024, one could find the faster UFS 4.0 storage even in phones priced under Rs 30,000. Time for an upgrade, Google. Moving on, the phone largely stays cool but gets a little warm after 30 minutes of gaming or if you click dozens of photos at a go; nothing alarming though.
While there were no heat related system crashes or restarts, the performance does throttle as the temperature rises. There has been a noticeable improvement on this front as the drop isn’t abrupt or too soon. The performance did drop to about 57 per cent towards the end of the stress test but largely stayed closer to 70 per cent or above for most parts. The performance throttling does impact the frame rates in gaming but isn’t noticeable in day to day tasks.
We ran a few synthetic benchmarks to gauge its performance and compare it with that of Pixel 9, Pixel 8 Pro and two previous generation OnePlus flagship phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Gen 3 chips. You can check the exact scores of the Pixel 9 Pro XL in the image below, while I give you a performance synopsis. In Geekbench 6, the Tensor G4 managed to outscore the G3 on the Pixel 8 Pro by over 16 per cent in single-core performance and by a measly 3 per cent margin in multi-core. The G4 has one less core than the G3, but the fewer newer cores do a better job.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
It performs slightly better than the Pixel 9 too that has the same chipset, probably because of the extra RAM. As compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on the OnePlus 11, the Pixel 9 Pro XL scores 25% and 6% better in the single-core and multi-core benchmarks respectively. In the PCMark Work 3.0 benchmark, the Pixel 9 Pro XL does a great job and outscores the Pixel 9, Pixel 8 Pro and OnePlus 11 by a good 20 per cent at least, which is great.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip on the OnePlus 12 manages to steer clear of the XL with a 12% and 40% lead in Geekbench (single and multi-core respectively) but their scores are similar in PCMark. While all phones maxed out the 3D Mark Wild Life benchmark, the XL had some technical issues running the Wild Life Extreme benchmark, so it would be hard to objectively compare their results. But the real world gaming performance of the Pixel 9 Pro XL is perfectly acceptable, and you can play most of the games out there on it. You may have to lower the graphics setting in some cases for good frame rates.
There was no room for complaint in other areas. The sound output is quite good. The two speakers on the phone produce a loud and punchy sound output with good stereo separation. The phone is Bluetooth 5.3 compliant and has tri-band WiFi with support for a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 standards. The call quality and reception on this 5G compliant phone were perfectly fine during the course of our testing.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Battery backup: Improved battery life and charging specs, but not charging speed
Though the battery capacity has barely changed in comparison to the Pixel 8 Pro, the battery backup on the 9 Pro XL sees further improvement. The 5060 mAh battery lasts a day and a half of moderate use, which is par for the course in the segment and quite good for all the AI crunching it does. Of course, it won’t last as long if you indulge in a lot of gaming. The charging times, however, still remain slow. And as you may have guessed, Google does not include a charger in the bundle.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
We tried a bunch of third party USB-PD chargers with capacities ranging from 30W to 67W including the new UltraProlink Boost Blade 67 GaN charger, to charge the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Boost Blade 67 happens to be the slimmest (less than 15 mm thick) and one of the lightest 67W fast chargers I have ever used. It actually looks like a compact power bank rather than a charger and is super-convenient to carry around due to its size. You can charge two devices simultaneously through its two USB-C ports at 45W and 20W speeds.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
Google has bumped up the fast charging specs from 30W to 37W using USB-PD 3.0 chargers for the XL, but that did not seem to have any effect on the charging speed. The fastest time we clocked for charging the Pixel 9 Pro XL from 1% to 100% was 82 minutes – exactly what the Pixel 8 Pro takes to charge fully. That’s still too slow! A faster charging solution is long overdue for the Pixels. While we do not expect it to compete with certain brands that can do it in under 30 minutes with proprietary chargers, Google should strive to bring it under an hour at least.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Camera performance: Almost the same cameras as Pixel 8 Pro
We had used the Pixel 8 Pro extensively and still rate it as one of the best camera phones around. The Pixel 9 Pro XL uses almost the same set of cameras. You get three cameras at the back that cover all the major bases. It uses the same 50MP primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and optical image stabilisation (OIS) and the same 48MP periscope telephoto camera with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS that provides 5X optical zoom.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
The ultra-wide camera here sees a marginal change. While you still have a 48MP unit with dual-pixel PDAF, the optics are a little different with a brighter f/1.7 aperture and a slightly narrower 123 degrees FOV. The ultra-wide camera also doubles up as a macro camera. With a combination of hardware and software, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL captures some impressive shots across various modes and lighting. While the performance is still largely similar to its predecessor, it is still among the best in the segment currently.
The main camera captures some excellent shots in bright as well as low light conditions. The colours are close to natural and the contrast is excellent, as has been the case with Pixel phones over the years. The details and dynamic range in captured images is topnotch. And all of the above is applicable for low light photography too. The phone automatically switches to Night Sight mode when the light is low or you can do so manually.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
It brightens up the dark areas in the image just a little without going overboard or compromising on the detail. Pixel phones have been great at portrait photography and the Pixel 9 Pro XL is no different. In portrait shots, the edge detection is on the money with a near perfect foreground and background separation. It works well with humans as well as other subjects like flowers or animals (if they stay still).
The telephoto camera here is one of the best around. You can get up to 5 times closer to the subject with the 5X optical zoom, and OIS compensates for a bit of shaky hands quite well, resulting in sharp and detailed captures. You also have the 30X digital zoom option, and through Google’s AI magic, it delivers surprisingly good results for digitally zoomed shots. Of course, they aren’t as good as the images captured using optical zoom but often usable. The AI algorithm does mess up occasionally, so it’s a good idea to click a couple of extra shots while at it.
Moving on to the 48MP ultra-wide camera, the output is impressive and the colours and dynamic range are comparable to that of the main camera. Its low light performance is commendable too. The ultra-wide camera has auto-focus, which allows it to capture some quality macro shots from up close. When you get closer to a subject, the phone automatically switches to macro mode; you get an option to disable it. I felt the quality of macro shots, though not bad at all, was a notch below that of its predecessor’s in certain cases.
At such times, you can also use the 5X optical zoom to get closer to the subject without obstructing the light to get better results, as you can see from some of our camera samples below. The front camera sees a big improvement over the Pixel 8 Pro, and the new 42MP ultra-wide unit with PDAF clicks noticeably better and sharper selfies and quality portrait shots too with natural skin tones.
The main camera can record videos at 8K resolution at 30 fps. The rear cameras can also do 4K videos at 24, 30 and 60 fps and slow-mo 1080p videos up to 240 fps. OIS and gyro-EIS lend stability to the captured footage. A 10-bit HDR option is also available. The recorded videos from the rear cameras are sharp and stabilised but not in the same league as Apple or Samsung. The front camera can also record 4K or 1080p videos at 30 and 60 fps.
Here are some camera samples shot on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL:
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviImage Credit: Firstpost | Ameya DalviGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL OS and user interface: As good as its gets on Android, now with a bigger dose of AI
This phone runs Android 15, and like all Pixel phones, you get the cleanest and the best Android experience at the moment. You get pure Android experience without any bloatware and with the Material You design language. The user interface is fluid, totally lag free and largely void of any major bugs now. Even better, Google has promised 7 major OS updates for the Pixel 9 series, which should keep the phone relevant and secure for a long time.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
The buzzword for the Pixel 9 series has been AI, or a better-than-before Gemini integration. You do get a handful of tools on this phone to play around with, along with the popular Google apps that are seamlessly integrated. But more importantly, you get a super-charged virtual assistant that is capable of doing a lot more than the usual Google assistant found in most Android phones.
Features like object recognition using Google Lens or speech recognition or translation were already available. Now you have things like ‘circle to search’ wherein you circle an object on the screen and Google gives you more information about it. In addition to the Magic Eraser and Camouflage options to play with your photos, you also get the Magic Editor to enhance your images in different ways. Google also bundles Pixel Studio to make use of generative AI and let your creativity run wild and create images ranging from normal to abstract to absurd.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
There are a lot more things to talk about and a lot more things that will get added over time. I will discuss all that in a separate article. Food now, one can check Pixel Tips on the phone from time to time to explore new or enhanced features made available. Also note that AI, though fun to use, is still in its infancy and will only get better with time. So keep your expectations in check till then. Also, not all features may be available in all geographies.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Price, alternatives and verdict
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is priced at Rs 1,24,999 for the 256 GB internal storage variant with a one year warranty. We feel the pricing is far from competitive and hasn’t seen any change yet since its launch. You may have to wait for the Pixel 10 launch or the festive sales later this year to get a good deal on it. It is an excellent all-round phone, no doubt, but I still wouldn’t want to pay a six digit sum for it given the plethora of options available under a lakh Rupees in India, and some from Google itself.
Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi
As for alternatives, there are a handful of them for you to consider, but let’s start with its siblings. If you can live with fewer AI features and a slightly slower processor, the Pixel 8 Pro with 256 GB storage often sells for a good Rs 50,000 lower, and its camera performance is at par. That makes it a far superior value proposition. If you want all the XL features in a smaller form factor, the Pixel 9 Pro is an excellent alternative and can save you at least 15K.
Beyond Google, you also have Apple’s iPhone Pro options from 15 and 16 series as well as Samsung’s S24 series phones. If great cameras and the most powerful processor around are what you seek, one can also consider the Vivo X200 Pro for 95K. However, if you spot the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL under a lakh Rupees, it would be a solid buy and remains arguably the best Android phone around.