Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review | Infinium-tech

Introduction

August is feeling a lot like October, not because of the weather, but because Google announced the ninth generation Pixel early. It’s all about AI and cameras, of course, new hardware and a slew of software updates. We’ve also got new sizes and new models. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’re starting this Google review with the biggest of the new phones – the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Google made a bold move this year by offering the Pro model in compact and XL versions, something Apple has been doing for a while now with the Pro and Pro Max models. And it makes sense – not everyone is keen on getting a bigger phone, yet not having the best cameras and the most advanced features isn’t an option either. Thus enter the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has only two differences from the Pixel 9 Pro and they both relate to size – the screen diagonal and the battery capacity.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a flattened design with a new prominent camera bar – oval and thick, with a somewhat abrupt end. It has an improved Super Actua display – a 6.8″ LTPO OLED with 486ppi density, 120Hz refresh rate, and a maximum brightness of up to 3,000 nits.

The Google Tensor G4 chip is responsible for everything that happens on the new Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the phone now comes with 16GB of RAM, which should be plenty for hassle-free use of the Gemini AI.

The first thing that comes to mind when we hear the name Google Pixel is the camera department and this phone has three cameras on the back – a 50MP OIS primary (1x-2x), a 48MP ultrawide and a 48MP 5x telephoto, all three supported by multi-zone LDAF. The primary camera supports 8K video capturing, a feature that is not available on the Pixel 9.

The selfie camera has also been upgraded – it’s now a 42MP camera with autofocus capabilities.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which is a welcome upgrade over the previous generation’s unreliable optical scanner. It also has a 5,060mAh battery that supports fast wired charging up to 45W. Fast wireless and reverse wireless charging are also present.

Like the rest of the new Pixels, the Pixel 9 Pro XL also supports Satellite SOS, which is currently only available in the US.

Finally, the Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with Android 14 as it arrived ahead of the Android 15 launch. The phone will have 7 years of full software support, as will the rest of the series.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL specifications at a glance:

• Body: 162.8×76.6×8.5mm, 221 grams; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), Glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), Aluminium frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes).
• Display: 6.80″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak), 1344x2992px resolution, 20.04:9 aspect ratio, 486ppi; Always-on display.
• Chipset: Google Tensor G4 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520); Mali-G715 MC7.
• Memory: 128GB 16GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM; UFS.
• OS/Software: Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades.
• rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm, 1/1.31″, 1.2µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Multi-zone Laser AF, OIS; Telephoto: 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm, 1/2.55″, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom; Ultra Wide Angle: 48 MP, f/1.7, 123˚, 1/2.55″, Dual Pixel PDAF.
• Front Camera: 42 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), PDAF.
• video capture: rear camera: 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; Gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR; Front Camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps.
• Battery: 5060mAh; 45W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 70% in 30 minutes (advertised), 23W wireless (with Pixel Stand), 12W wireless (with Qi compatible charger), reverse wireless.
• Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.3, aptX HD; NFC.
• various: Fingerprint reader (under the display, ultrasonic); stereo speakers; Ultra Wideband (UWB) support, Satellite SOS service (US only), thermometer sensor for measuring skin temperature.

Unboxing the Pixel 9 Pro XL

The new Pixel 9 phones, including the Pro XL, come in eco-friendly retail boxes made from recycled paper and also have paper sleeves. The print is monochrome.

Inside the box you’ll find the phone, a USB-C cable, and a SIM eject pin.