Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review

The smartphone wars, especially in the ultra-premium segment, is no longer just about the hardware. Yes, the design and specs sheet continue to matter, but it’s the overall user experience that is becoming the key differentiator. 

And among the Apples and Samsungs of this world, there’s one brand that continues to push the boundaries of what is possible on a smartphone – Google. Google’s Pixel series is still among the best ways to experience Android, and it has successfully leveraged AI to further enhance the user experience. 

ALSO READ: Google Pixel 9 review

With its latest Pixel 9 series, Google is offering something for everyone with a standard variant, a Pro variant, and Pro XL variant, and even a Fold. What we have with us today is the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, and having used it for the past few days, here’s our review.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL design

The design of the latest Google phone is quintessentially Pixel, but more refined and contemporary than its predecessor. The phone itself is extremely flat, which makes the rectangular camera island protrude more than it should. In fact, at first glance, the camera setup seems like it was stuck on the back after the phone was made. Then there are the lenses hidden underneath, which will remind you of Bender from Futurama. 

There is however no denying that the new Pixel phone is built really well and feels ultra-premium in your hands. The back panel gets a silky matte glass protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. And then there are the colours, which look classy, especially this Porcelain variant in our hands. 

As the ‘XL’ in the nomenclature suggests, this is a BIG phone. So big in fact, that its dimensions slightly edge past even the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. That said, at no point does this phone feel unwieldly. We will however suggest putting a case (not bundled) for extra grip and to protect the phone from any falls.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL display

The 6.8-inch edge-to-edge screen does justice to the phone’s XL tag. It’s an OLED display with QHD+ resolution with support for 120Hz variable refresh rate, and up to 3,000 nits of brightness.  

Needless to say, the display is a treat for your eyes when playing games, watching videos or reading Unboxed by Croma. The variable refresh rate also makes everything look smooth, and while the peak brightness feels a bit lower than the top-end iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone, things are still legible when outdoors.  

For those concerned about protecting the large screen, Google has opted for Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. This should keep scratches at bay, but for a screen this size, we would advise putting a screen guard.  

An interesting addition on the phone is what sits just underneath the display – an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. It is quick at unlocking the phone and is quite accurate when it comes to recognising fingerprints. We also couldn’t have asked for a better placement of the sensor, which can be easily reached when holding the phone in one hand.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL performance

Of equal importance is what’s under the hood, and it is the latest Tensor G4 chip, which Google says is up to 20 per cent faster for browsing and 17 per cent faster when launching apps. In essence, this will translate into snappy day-to-day performance, and we couldn’t agree more.  

Though it might miss out on the raw power of the latest chipsets from Qualcomm and Apple, there’s enough juice on offer for a lag-free user experience. At no point during our usage, did we come across any major lags or stutters.  

You won’t find anything to complain about when watching videos online, browsing the internet, or getting some office work done. For those wondering, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is not a gaming phone. But you can still enjoy titles like Asphalt 9: Legends at its highest graphics settings, and other titles like Call of Duty: Mobile. I should mention that the phone tends to get a tad warm when pushing the internals to their limits, but at no point did things reach uncomfortable levels.  

The Tensor G4 chip is designed with a balance between power and efficiency, and this shows in the phone’s battery life. During testing, the phone was easily able to last more than a day on a single charge. Use it more judiciously, and the battery will even last up to two days.  

But when the time comes to charge, the Pixel phone takes a small step back. For starters, there’s no charger bundled (surprised?!). And when you do use other fast charging adaptors, it still takes a considerable time (by today’s standards) to fully charge.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL cameras

On paper, the cameras on the Pixel 9 series haven’t seen an upgrade. The rear setup continues with a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultra-wide camera with macro mode, and a 48MP telephoto camera. But it’s a case of don’t fix what is not broken. 

To start with, the camera UI is as simple as it can get, and shooting (great) photos is easy. Speaking of which, the cameras continue to shoot stellar photos in daylight conditions managing to capture plenty of details. The colours almost pop out of the phone, which is great for sharing on social media without needing any additional edits. 

The ultrawide camera too does a good job in ideal lighting conditions, and the colours are impressively on par with the main camera. Even the telephoto lens managed to capture photos without losing out on many details even when zoomed in beyond 10x.   

The camera up front however sees an upgrade with a 42MP lens nestled in a display punch hole. Selfies shot on the phone look great and on par with any premium phone out there. Even photos shot in dim lighting looked good.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL AI features

With Google’s efforts, we are reaching a point where AI is no longer just a support function for a phone’s existing features. Instead, some of the Pixel’s new AI features could steadily change the way we use phones.  

Take for instance Gemini Live, which is still a virtual assistant, but so much more human in the way it interacts. Like any virtual assistant, it will perform certain functions and answer your queries, but it is now capable of having a proper conversation with you.  

Then there is the Pixel Studio app, which is basically an image generator – add a text prompt and see an image generated. Currently, it is a feature to have fun with and not for serious use. There are also restrictions in place so you cannot generate human centric or any inappropriate images. 

Thanks to recent launches, the Circle to Search feature doesn’t feel new anymore, but it continues to work as advertised. An interesting addition though is the Screenshots app. Using AI, this app allows you to search for content or images in that screenshot. It’s a handy feature that can be used for reminders or take notes.  

Pixel’s cameras have been known to leverage AI with features like Best Take and Magic Eraser. But this time around, Google has added two more features, and each are noteworthy.  

The first is Add Me, which we have extensively covered on our platform. It lets you magically add yourself into a group photo you’re shooting. The feature works so seamlessly that it is near impossible to tell the AI photo apart from the ‘real’ photo. 

There’s also Reimagine, which uses AI to change the background of your photos. Let’s just say that we had a bit too much fun with this feature going crazy with the background choices.

Unboxed Take: Who should buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL?

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is what we call a superphone. If you’re on the lookout for a phone that can do pretty much everything imaginable, and a bit more, then this is it. With prices starting from Rs 1,24,999, it is also a true rival to the ultra-premium Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.  

There’s a lot to like about the design, the humongous display, the cameras, and of course, the myriad of AI features. It’s this last bit that is also a key differentiator, and Google is in the front seat driving this change in the way we use smartphones in our daily lives.  

It is for these reasons; we rate the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 4.5/5. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more in-depth reviews.