Pixel 9 Pro XL Hands-on Review: Has Google Finally Found the Winning Formula?

Google recently dropped the new Pixel 9 series in India and globally. With the latest Pixel line-up, Google made a slight detour, taking a page out of Apple's playbook by announcing two versions of the Pixel 9 Pro, a standard variant with a compact design, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL does retain all the same specifications as the Pixel 9 Pro, albeit in a bigger chassis with a taller screen and larger battery. I've only had the Pixel 9 Pro XL for a couple of days, but here are my initial thoughts.

First off, let's dive into pricing. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the most premium smartphone in Google's arsenal, save for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes in two configurations with 16GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. Now, let's find out what Google is offering for a steep price of Rs 1,24,999?

Design, Build Quality, Display

While the term 'XL' does suggest an extra-large smartphone, this isn't the case with the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The phone is identical in size to most other flagships like the Vivo X100 Pro, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. In actuality, the Pixel 9 Pro XL simply takes the place of the Pixel 8 Pro, while the Pixel 9 Pro aims to offer the same experience in a more compact form factor.

Now that we've got the formalities out of the way, let's talk about design. The most noticeable design change on the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the camera bump on the back, which now sits independently in the center, ditching the visor-style bar on its predecessors. Additionally, the Pixel 9 Pro XL also ditches the moves from rounded sides to flat ones.

While I do like this design change, it does make the phone feel a little thicker in the hand, despite nearly similar dimensions as the Pixel 8 Pro. In India, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is offered in Hazel, Obsidian, Porcelain, and Rose Quartz shades. We received the Obsidian model, which features a matte black finish that is resistant to fingerprints and smudges, although the same couldn't be said about the glossy metal frame.

Google doesn't compromise on build quality with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, opting for Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the front and back. Moreover, the phone also features an IP68 rating for resistance to dust and water. I've only used the Pixel 9 Pro XL for a brief period, but in that limited time my experience with phone has been nothing short of comfortable.

For the display, the Pixel 9 Pro XL opts for a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 1344 x 2992 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The display is crystal clear whether you opt to use it at its full resolution or choose to drop down the resolution to 'High' in the Settings. The screen also has an always-on display feature.

The panel can achieve a maximum HBM of 2,000 nits and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, making it easily visible under direct sunlight. The display also features an adaptive refresh rate, capable of transitioning between 1Hz - 120Hz. The display supports HDR10+ and reproduces vibrant colours with good viewing angles.

Performance, Battery Life

Flagship Pixel smartphones of the past have had no issues running AAA titles, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL is no exception. The Tensor G4 runs just about anything you can throw at it, although the chip is still plagued by heating issues. Here's a brief look at the Pixel 9 Pro XL's performance on Geekbench.

Unlike last year, the base model of the Pixel 9 Pro XL now comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which should give you a little more power for gaming or editing. However, the true potential of the Tensor chip lies in its AI capabilities, which we will go through in our full Pixel 9 Pro XL review.

The phone also has an upgraded ultrasonic fingerprint reader that is fast and responsive. The Pixel 9 Pro XL also features Ultra-Wideband support and Satellite SOS service. Google's lates flagship is also equipped with stereo speakers and a dedicated Titan M2 security chip.

I am yet to push the Pixel 9 Pro XL to its limits, although battery life was never an issue in my initial testing. The 5,060 mAh battery on the Pixel 9 Pro XL was more than adequate to last a full day. However, battery drained quicker while gaming when compared to the Vivo X100 Pro.

But the main concern here is charging as the Pixel 9 Pro XL's 37W wired and 23W wireless fast charging support are nothing to write home about. Moreover, there's no charger in the box and third-party adapters tend to work sluggishly. Finally, the Pixel 9 Pro XL also supports reserve wireless charging.

Cameras, Software

Not much has changed in terms of optics, with the Pixel 9 Pro XL using the same 1/1.31" sensor size and 50MP resolution as the Pixel 8 Pro. The main camera features a bright f/1.7 aperture, dual-pixel PDAF, and OIS support. The Pixel 9 Pro XL also has a new 48MP ultrawide lens with a brighter f/1.7 aperture.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL retains the same 48MP periscope lens as its predecessor with an f/2.8 aperture, OIS, dual-pixel PDAF, and 5x optical zoom. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has two more evident updates in the form of a new 42MP selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture. And lastly, the Pixel 9 Pro XL's rear camera setup now supports 8K video recording at 30fps.

The main camera on the Pixel 9 Pro XL captured detailed shots in daylight, reproducing accurate colours with great dynamic range. The ultrawide lens did an excellent job of maintain colour consistency with the primary shooter, while shots appeared detailed with no edge distortion.

The telephoto lens on the Pixel 9 Pro XL maxes out at 30x magnification and can only achieve 5x optical zoom. The zoom lens is not quite as effective as the one on the Vivo X100 Pro (Review). However, shots taken at 5x magnification are detailed with little noise in daylight. The new 42MP camera on the Pixel 9 Pro XL produces detailed images with vivid colours and true-to-life skin tones.

There's rarely a compromise on software when it comes to Pixel smartphones. And while the Pixel 9 Pro XL does continue to run stock Android 14, there's no shortage of features. Gemini AI integration and a clean interface make the overall software experience seamless.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL brings a ton of features, including Circle to Search, Magic Editor, Pixel Studio, and more. Google continue to offer the highest software support standards with seven years of Android OS, security updates, and feature drops. Stay tuned for our full Pixel 9 Pro XL review for a complete breakdown of the phone's software.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Early Impressions

With this year's release of the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL, Google appears to have taken a page out of Apple's playbook. However, only time will tell whether this decision is a hit or a miss. In my opinion, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is an excellent addition to the line of ultra-premium smartphones.

While both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max do offer superior hardware in certain areas, the Pixel line-up has always aimed to deliver the perfect blend of hardware and software to offer a seamless user experience. And nothing that we've seen from the Pixel 9 Pro XL has shown us otherwise.

With top-of-the-line cameras, a sharp and vibrant display, a boatload of AI features, best-in-class software support, and a massive battery, it is hard to build a case against the Pixel 9 Pro XL. But we'll withhold final judgment until we've thoroughly tested out the cameras, AI features, battery life, and performance. For now, it is safe to say that the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is a beautifully designed ultra-premium flagship with the hardware and software to back that title.