Sunday, February 16, 2025

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL assessment: 3 methods it beats the iPhone 15 Professional Max

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The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is the most recent addition to the Pixel household. Earlier than the reveal of the Google Pixel 9 sequence, the lineup solely had two telephones: a base mannequin (e.g., final yr’s Google Pixel 8) and a Professional variant (e.g., 2023’s Google Pixel 8 Professional).

Now, Google has modified issues up with a triple-device lineup: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Apparently, regardless of its title, the Pixel 9 Professional XL isn’t that a lot bigger from final yr’s greatest mannequin (i.e., Google Pixel 8 Professional). The brand new Pixel 9 Professional XL has a 6.8-inch show whereas the Google Pixel 8 Professional has a 6.7-inch panel.

What actually makes the Pixel 9 Professional XL comparatively bigger to the Pixel 9 Professional is that Google really shrunk the Professional mannequin to six.3 inches, down from 6.7 inches. So sure, the Pixel 9 Professional is smaller than the Pixel 8 Professional. Bizarre, I do know, provided that telephones usually grow to be bigger than their predecessors, not smaller.

Now that you simply’ve bought a superb understanding of the Pixel 9 Professional XL (and its new household), let’s dive into my expertise with it.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL value and specs

The Google Pixel 9 Professional XL has a starting price of $1,099 via the Google Store. It comes with the next specs:

If you need, you may get extra storage by upgrading to the 256GB mannequin, which can set you again $1,119. If you need a 512GB mannequin or a 1TB variant, you’ll need to shell out $1,319 and $1,549, respectively. (I extremely counsel getting the 256GB mannequin. In my private expertise, 128GB of storage lasts about a bit over a yr earlier than your storage will get full.)

design“>Google Pixel 9 Professional XL design

The Pixel 9 Professional XL, not like its lesser successors (e.g., Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional), really appears and feels premium — because of the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 matte again. With a shiny polished steel body that wraps across the Pixel 9 Professional XL, it might actually compete with the likes of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL on a wooden surface, screen facing down so the back camera is visible.


Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon

The Pixel 9 Professional XL can also be extremely proof against fingerprints, so be at liberty to get handsy with it with none guilt.

The actual unit I examined for this assessment sports activities the Hazel chassis. There are three different colours you may select from, together with Obsidian (black), Rose Quartz (pink), and Porcelain (off-white).

I’ve seen all of them in particular person. The Obsidian could also be the most well-liked of the 4 colorways. You may by no means go incorrect with a wealthy, onyx system that appears prefer it’d be on Batman’s desk. The Rose Quartz delivers a pink-ish hue to the Pixel 9 Professional XL. Emphasis on the phrase ish as a result of it is extra of a pastel, barely there, “child bathe pink,” if you’ll. If you need a pink that is really not afraid to be pink, try the “Peony” shade on the Pixel 9.

Though Google made a delicate gen-over-gen change with the digicam bar, it elevates the visible attraction of the Pixel 9 sequence. The funky Geordi La Forge-esque visor now not goes from edge to edge. It now has an island-style design with a physique that shade matches the chassis.

On the fitting facet of the Pixel 9 Professional XL, you may discover the quantity and energy buttons. On the underside, you may uncover the USB-C port and a SIM card slot (the Pixel 9 Professional XL additionally helps eSIM).

In comparison with the Pixel 8 Professional, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is only a smidge bigger (6.41 inches lengthy versus 6.40). Nevertheless, it is barely thinner (0.33 inches vs. 0.35 inches). The Pixel 9 Professional XL feels fairly good within the palms; the curved edges are forgiving as my fingers wrap round them. As somebody who by no means appreciated the Pixel sequence’ design, I am lastly warming as much as it.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL show

The Pixel 9 Professional XL has a 6.8-inch, 1344 x 2992-pixel decision show. It has a screen-to-body ratio of about 88%, a slight leap from the Pixel 8 Professional’s 87% screen-to-body ratio. Which means that the Pixel 9 Professional XL provides a greater immersive viewing expertise with thinner bezels, permitting extra of the show to be devoted to your content material.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL being held aloft, screen facing the camera.


Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I fired up a number of movies on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, together with platforms like YouTube and Netflix. One factor I observed is that the Pixel 9 Professional XL was a extremely saturated panel, significantly compared to my iPhone 15 Pro Max. For instance, whereas watching Love is Blind UK, the electrical inexperienced prime on one contestant seemed to be extra vibrant — as if it was coming out of the display — in comparison with its Apple counterpart.

Nevertheless, my day by day driver, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, is much more vivid than the Pixel 9 Professional XL — maybe too vivid. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is “excellent.”

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL cameras

The megapixel rely of the Pixel 9 Professional XL hasn’t modified from the Pixel 8 household. It nonetheless has a 50MP extensive digicam, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto sensor.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL being held horizonally as someone appears to take a photograph.


Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Nevertheless, this time round, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s ultrawide digicam bought a slight replace, an improved aperture, that implies that you must get higher ultrawide pictures in low-light circumstances.

In different phrases, your trip pictures the place you seize ultrawide pictures of gorgeous landscapes ought to have improved element on the Pixel 9 Professional XL.

I examined the Pixel 9 Professional XL in opposition to my beloved iPhone 15 Professional Max, and to my shock, the previous bested it. And I’ve proof.

Large digicam

I captured an image of some vintage automobiles inside a museum and was bowled over by the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s seize:

A photograph of two antique cars in a museum, taken on a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

^That is the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s pic.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Right here is the iPhone 15 Professional Max’s seize of the scene:

A photograph of two antique cars in a museum, taken on an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

^That is the iPhone 15 Professional Max’s pic
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The very first thing that caught my eye is that the Pixel 9 Professional XL offers higher with difficult lighting, delivering a shot with little to no lens flare (not like the iPhone 15 Professional Max). The Apple system supplied a extra true-to-life interpretation of the 2 vintage automobiles whereas its Google rival captured a richer, extra saturated shot.

Ultrawide digicam

I additionally took some footage of Northport Harbor in Lengthy Island, New York. Flanked by verdant bushes, right here is an ultrawide shot taken by the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL:

A picture of the Northport harbor with grass and trees, taken on a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL’s picture of the Northport Harbor.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Right here is identical surroundings taken with the iPhone 15 Professional Max

A picture of the Northport harbor with grass and trees, taken on an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

iPhone 15 Professional Max’s picture of the Northport Harbor.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Pixel 9 Professional XL’s interpretation of the scene seems to be extra vibrant and colourful. The grass emanates greener hues, and most conspicuously, the sky and harbor look bluer. The ripples and waves within the water seem extra detailed, too.

Telephoto

Each the Pixel 9 Professional XL and iPhone 15 Professional Max’s telephoto sensor maxes out at 5X optical zoom earlier than the digital zoom (i.e., software program) kicks in. I snapped a photograph of a neighbor’s yellow flowers, and here is the way it turned out (at 5X zoom).

Take a look at the shot taken by the Pixel 9 Professional XL, and you will discover a extra sturdy and detailed seize of the eye-catching flower in comparison with the iPhone 15 Professional Max:

Photograph of yellow flowers behind a fence, taken on a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

^That is the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s pic.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Photograph of yellow flowers behind a fence, taken on an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

^That is the iPhone 15 Professional Max’s pic
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Pixel 9 Professional XL could have an edge over the iPhone 15 Professional Max with regards to cameras, however as you may discover out, the Google telephone is weaker with regards to efficiency.

In the event you’re interested in how far the Pixel 9 Professional XL can zoom with its Tremendous Res Zoom perk, try my hands-on that featured me zooming in 5,280 feet and getting unbelievable element.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL efficiency

We ran Geekbench 6 on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, which sports activities the brand new Google Tensor G4 chip, and it delivered a multi-core rating of 4,569.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL being held amidst the leaves of a plant.


Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

That is fairly low in comparison with the scores we have recorded for different telephones we have reviewed:

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL – 4,569

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 – 6,069

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 – 6,300

Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely – 7,078

iPhone 15 Professional Max – 7,359

I do know the iPhone 15 Professional Max’s 7,359 rating could look astronomical — and that is as a result of it’s. It is manner too overpowered for a smartphone. The Pixel 9 Professional XL would not have to match this rating to be thought-about as beastly because the priciest iPhone, however its Geekbench 6 rating is surprisingly low. And when you think about that the Pixel 8 Professional really delivered a greater rating (e.g., 4,639), the G4 chip feels much more underpowered.

Even so, I did not expertise any slowdowns by any means whereas juggling a number of apps concurrently. It’s value nothing, nevertheless, that the Pixel 9 Professional XL bought a bit too scorching at instances, significantly whereas utilizing the cameras throughout a heat day. This telephone could also be a nightmare to make use of on the seashore.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL AI options

Apple Intelligence is in hassle! Google packed a cornucopia of AI options into the Pixel 9 household. Take a look at our hands-on experiences with a superb chunk of them:

I additionally advocate that you simply try the brand new Gemini Live, the massive replace to Google’s ChatGPT rival.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL battery life

In-freakin’-credible! The Google Pixel 9 Professional XL drained at a fee of simply 5 p.c hour on our take a look at.

A close up of the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL on a wooden surface, screen facing down so the back camera is visible.


Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

We ran a TikTok rundown on the Pixel 9 Professional XL at 50% brightness. Now, think about our shock after we noticed it lasted a whopping 18 hours and 41 minutes on a single cost. This beats the iPhone 15 Professional Max, which lasted 14 hours and 53 minutes on the identical take a look at.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL: Is it value it?

The Google Pixel 9 Professional XL is completely value it primarily based on the battery life alone. You may comfortably go away the home with the Pixel 9 Professional XL and never endure from battery drainage anxiousness. You may get away with being lazy for a bit and not charging the telephone for an evening or two.

Plus, with regards to its shooters, it might compete with arguably one of the best smartphone available on the market: the iPhone 15 Professional Max. That being mentioned, the Pixel 9 Professional XL beats the iPhone 15 Professional Max in at the least three classes: digicam, show, and battery life.

On prime of that, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s Google AI options are a blast to make use of (although they’ve their quirks), making the Pixel 9 Professional XL one of many best phones of 2024.





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