Google delivered its greatest circle of relatives of Pixel telephones but this previous month, with the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold all launching on the identical time. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional XL are generational upgrades from remaining 12 months’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional XL, respectively, with slighter larger presentations. The Pixel 9 Professional is new, giving consumers all of the {hardware} options because the Pixel 9 Professional XL, however with the similar smaller 6-inch exhibit because the non-Professional Pixel 9. And the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is a generational improve for the Pixel Fold, with larger presentations and other side ratios in and out, and an excellent slimmer physique.
I’m reviewing the Pixel 9 Professional XL, which replaces the Pixel 8 Professional, a telephone I described again in January as the easiest Pixel. However Google has by hook or by crook raised the bar even additional: The Pixel 9 Professional XL delivers a extra sublime and top class design, stepped forward efficiency and higher battery lifestyles, terrific speedy charging, and, in the end, a awesome in-display fingerprint reader. Whilst you upload all that to Pixel’s ancient strengths in computational images and in reality useful Pixel-specific options all all through the machine, the belief is plain. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is even higher than its predecessor. It’s a in reality spectacular year-over-year improve.Home windows Intelligence In Your InboxSign up for our new unfastened e-newsletter to get 3 time-saving pointers each and every Friday — and get unfastened copies of Paul Thurrott’s Home windows 11 and Home windows 10 Box Guides (most often $9.99) as a distinct welcome reward!
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Take that, iPhone.
Design
I assumed the Pixel 8 Professional regarded terrific, and I’ve all the time preferred the glance and application of the body-wide digital camera bar that Google has used with fresh technology Pixels. However the glance of the Pixel 9 Professional XL is subsequent stage. It arrives with iPhone-inspired flat, polished steel aspects, a matte again, and a phenomenal redesign of the digital camera bar that’s now a floating tablet form as an alternative of achieving totally to each and every aspect. There’s Gorilla Glass Victus coverage, back and front.
As a design commentary piece, it’s anything else however delicate. Nevertheless it’s additionally obviously an evolution of one thing that used to be already lovely particular. I like it.
Along with its curves, the brand new digital camera bar may be taller than prior to, as though Google have been leaning in and embracing this distinctive calling card reasonably than seeking to cover or reduce it. The Pixel stays as secure as ever on a desk or different floor, with not one of the wobble you get with an iPhone or Samsung flagship.
Nevertheless it’s nonetheless hanging how a lot the Pixel 9 Professional XL resembles the iPhone 15 Professional Max: If it weren’t for that iconic digital camera bar, it might idiot virtually any one. I assume its Dynamic Island-less selfie digital camera cutout within the exhibit may be a delicate giveaway. However the designs are very, very shut.
It feels useful, and whilst one may view that during a unfavorable manner, I assume it speaks to a undeniable self belief on Google’s section. After such a lot of years and such a lot of missteps, we’ve reached height Pixel, a minimum of from a design viewpoint.
Given my fresh reviews the usage of a minimalist Suti PhoneBack with my iPhone, I would possibly ultimately attempt to in finding one thing an identical for the Pixel so I will higher revel in its appear and feel. And that matte again is particularly slippery, which turns out like a solvable drawback. For now, I’m the usage of the usual Google case, which is far nicer than anything else it’s prior to now made. It has a pleasing, grippy really feel and is a great colour fit for the Hazel matte again it’s overlaying up. I additionally like its use of steel buttons, which emulate the two-tone glance of preceding technology Pixels. It’s a pleasing contact if you are feeling obligated to hide up this murals.
A lot is made of ways large the Pixel 9 Professional XL is, however it’s more or less the similar dimension because it predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely, and the iPhone 15 and 16 Professional Max, and I’m fairly proud of the scale. It measures 6.4 x 3 x 0.3 inches, in comparison to 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches for the iPhone 16 Professional Max; they’re like twins. And even though the respective weights are very shut–7.8 oz. for Pixel, 7.99 oz. for iPhone–the Pixel is noticeably lighter within the hand.
Show
The Pixel 9 Professional XL’s exhibit is any other instance of Google mimicking Apple, on this case the usage of foolish logo names to explain the exhibit. On this case, we get a so-called Tremendous Actua exhibit panel, which is Google-speak for OLED LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide), or an OLED exhibit that helps dynamic, excessive refresh charges.
The use of extra same old specs language, the Pixel 9 Professional XL delivers a capacious and flat 6.8-inch panel with a 1344 x 2992 decision, a pixel density of 486 PPI, and a 20:9 side ratio. It helps as much as a 120 Hz refresh price, however it may additionally dynamically regulate the refresh price in 1 Hz increments from 1 Hz all of the manner as much as 120. Suitable video games will play at 120 Hz, as an example, however the refresh price will backside out at 1 Hz while you’re viewing static content material.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL exhibit helps HDR (HDR10/10+), in fact, however now not Dolby Imaginative and prescient. It has a height brightness of 3000 nits (2000 nits for HDR content material), which is nuts, and it helps adaptive brightness that in the end works as anticipated; this used to be a topic for a few years with Pixel. (The Pixel 8 Professional’s exhibit had a height brightness of 2400 nits.) I by no means had problems seeing the exhibit outdoor in vibrant sunshine.
The bezels are small–simply don’t have a look at that new iPhone–and the display screen corners are elegantly curved. The selfie digital camera publicizes itself with a targeted hollow on the most sensible of the exhibit that turns out slightly larger than prior to. However the exhibit itself is just about easiest, and taking a look on the identical pictures side-by-side on Pixel and the brand new iPhone 16 Professional Max, I see no variations in high quality, colour, distinction, or brightness.
The iPhone exhibit is technically slightly larger at 6.9 inches, it has a reasonably decrease decision and pixel density (even though Apple doesn’t transfer to even decrease decision to avoid wasting battery), and an identical rounded corners. And sure, the iPhone additionally has noticeably smaller bezels.
iPhone 16 Professional Max (left) and Google Pixel 9 Professional XL (proper)
By way of default, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is configured to make use of a non-native “Prime” decision of 1008 x 2244 to assist with battery lifestyles, any other drawback that’s dogged Pixel for years. I experimented with the usage of complete decision, as I do with each and every new Pixel. However I finished up leaving it on Prime decision as a result of I don’t see a lot of a distinction, and extra battery lifestyles is all the time excellent. You’ll be able to additionally configure the telephone to permit Evening Mild transfer into Darkish mode between sundown and first light, and I do each.
Of extra passion, in all probability, you’ll configure the exhibit to make use of a Herbal or Adaptive colour mode, however the variations are so delicate I couldn’t see them in any respect the usage of the equipped instance photographs; I left it on Adaptive. And there’s a Colour Distinction function that is helping you configure the distinction stage of darkish parts within the UI–like buttons in Mild mode–that I’m shocked to mention I in point of fact like: I experimented with all 3 ranges and left it at the maximum contrasty model. I didn’t permit Prime distinction textual content, on the other hand, because it makes the textual content on-screen glance blurry.
{Hardware} and specifications
Except the presentations, the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL ship the similar inside parts. There’s an upgraded octa-core Google Tensor G4 processor with the similar Titan M2 safety coprocessor that Google’s been the usage of for years, 16 GB of RAM–up from 12 GB on remaining 12 months’s Pixel 8 Professional–and 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB garage choices. None of that is in reality most sensible of the road: The Tensor is continually out-performed by means of the newest Qualcomm processors–just like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that dominates within the Android flagship area–and the garage is previous-generation UFS 3.1, now not the speedier UFS 4.0 that Samsung installed its Galaxy S24 Extremely again in January.
Google claims that it designs the Tensor for day by day use, now not benchmarks, and optimizes the chip for AI duties. And that’s terrific advertising and marketing, however it’s additionally nonsense: The newest iPhone and Samsung flagships carry out noticeably sooner in day by day customary use and Samsung’s telephones, if anything else, outperform Pixel in AI. (It’s tough to check Pixel to iPhone in that regard since the function units don’t fairly line up. That are supposed to alternate.)
Principally, the efficiency is ok. As with preceding Tensor-based Pixels, the Pixel 9 Professional XL works neatly for probably the most section, however it’s now not in particular notable by any means. However you’ll see the adaptation if in case you have any other fashionable flagship telephone readily available. As an example, I take advantage of Duolingo each day, and it’s particularly slower than at the iPhones (A15/A16 Professional) iPad (M2) I’ve. (It’s additionally much less full-featured, however that’s any other tale.) And when you are taking pictures in positive prerequisites, you’ve got to take a seat and watch for the processing to happen prior to you view or edit them. Portrait mode photographs, as an example, will exhibit a “Processing” message as you wait whilst the Pixel’s customized {hardware} and instrument paintings their magic. Evening mode photographs are even slower.
Warmth isn’t in most cases a topic, even though I fear in regards to the impact the case may have. However whilst the usage of Google Maps to navigate on two fresh journeys–one a 1.5 hour trek to Newark Liberty airport, and the opposite a 4.5 hour sojourn to Rochester, New York–the Pixel alerted me that it used to be getting sizzling and switched the exhibit to Darkish mode to compensate. For no matter it’s value, I noticed a an identical message whilst the usage of my iPhone 15 Professional Max to navigate in an identical prerequisites previous this 12 months, even though the iPhone 16 Professional collection has it appears solved this drawback. Fortunately, we have been ready to change to my spouse’s telephone each occasions this took place, however I ponder what your next step can be if darkish mode didn’t remedy the issue.
Connectivity
The Pixel 9 Professional XL is in a position for the longer term with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 with twin antennas, NFC for cell bills, and Extremely-Wideband for “correct ranging and spatial orientation.” It helps all of the most current wi-fi networks, together with 5G mmWave + Sub 6GHz, and gives each a bodily nano SIM (at the backside) and a couple of eSIMs. I’ve by no means had any connectivity problems, and I used the Pixel in Berlin with two eSIMs, one from Google Fi (for telephone and textual content) and one from Nomad, for global information. It labored nice.
Audio-video
With its beautiful OLED exhibit and spatial audio features, you will have to be expecting a excellent multimedia revel in with Pixel 9 Professional XL. The exhibit shines with HDR content material like 6 Underground on Netflix, as anticipated, and the stereo audio system are loud and crisp, and be offering great separation. The selfie digital camera hollow isn’t too distracting. However I’m used to 11- and 13-inch iPads 14-inch laptops, and good TVs for this kind of content material, and I in finding the Pixel, like every telephone, too small for observing lengthy movies. And spatial audio best works with well suited earbuds like Pixel Buds Professional: The Pixel Fold and Pixel Pill are the one Google gadgets that give a boost to spatial audio during the integrated audio system.
I examined Pixel 9 Professional XL with Apple Song and YouTube Song, and the sound high quality there’s likewise spectacular, even though I needed to pull again from 100% quantity on account of slightly of case echo/vibration. Another way, it used to be transparent and vibrant, with out a distortion, and it sounds excellent laid flat, or propped up in both portrait or panorama orientation. I most often use Sonos or AirPlay audio system at house, however having respectable telephone audio system is helping should you’re in a resort room or in a different way clear of house.
I assume it’s slightly biased towards the bigger backside (proper) speaker, however it’s delicate. Those do the trick.
Cameras
The Pixel 9 Professional XL rear digital camera machine isn’t a lot other from remaining 12 months. However then, it doesn’t wish to be: Not like Apple and Samsung, Google now makes use of high-resolution lenses on each and every of its rear-facing cameras.
There’s a 50 MP extensive (primary) digital camera lens with an f/1.68 aperture and an 82 stage box of view, a 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide lens with an f/1.7 aperture, a 123 stage box of view and autofocus, and a 48 MP Quad PD telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture, a 22 stage box of view, and 5x optical zoom with as much as 30x “Tremendous Res Zoom” (i.e. virtual zoom), even though it’s now not value going previous 20x normally.
For many who don’t memorize digital camera machine specifications for some reason why, two of the ones–the principle and telephoto lenses–are similar to the ones at the Pixel 8 Professional. The ultrawide lens may be very an identical on paper, year-over-year, however it’s if truth be told a brand new lens with a bigger aperture that shall we in additional mild and a bigger sensor that may fortify symbol high quality. It additionally has a reasonably wider box of view, which isn’t all the time nice on account of edge warping. I needed to commerce in my Pixel 8 Professional after I bought the 9 Professional XL, however I will’t say that I’ve spotted a lot distinction.
To be transparent, that’s a excellent factor: Returning to the Pixel after a number of months of iPhone utilization had its professionals and cons, however images is firmly within the professional listing. The Pixel 9 Professional XL delivers the just about easiest symbol high quality, colour accuracy, and automated bokeh intensity results that I like, and it used to be straight away acquainted in a favorable manner. This revel in is so excellent, and so constant, that it’s onerous to bitch.
However I’m nonetheless me. Evening mode photographs are particularly gradual however most often be offering terrific high quality.
The place the Pixel does pop out forward is on the subject of in every single place else. And once we may just see the galaxy clouds in upstate New York at night time over Exertions Day weekend, 3 people–two with fresh Galaxy Ultras–straight away began taking astrophotography photographs. And the Pixel received each time. One of the most photographs are in reality spectacular, and I used to be simply leaning the telephone towards the roof rack on a automobile.
Whilst the telephoto lens hasn’t modified specs year-over-year–as famous, it’s a 48 MP unit–it it appears has reasonably higher mild sensitivity than remaining 12 months’s model. Zoom, as famous, is respectable as much as about 20x however not more. I used to be ready to take a tight hand-held image of the (not-quite-full) moon for the primary time the usage of this lens at more or less 20x hybrid zoom. This isn’t a Galaxy Extremely stage of high quality–my spouse’s moon photographs are nonetheless noticeably higher and more uncomplicated to take–however it’s a pleasing step ahead for long-distance photographs.
The selfie digital camera is a lot better than with the Pixel 8 Professional, and its 42 MP of decision places it on par with the rear digital camera lens, making the Pixel the one mainstream flagship to run the rack with not anything however excessive decision sensors back and front. It provides an f/2.2 aperture and a much broader 103 stage box of view that makes it more uncomplicated to get staff photographs with each 0.7x and 1.x presets. I don’t take numerous selfies except I’m with others, however it is a large improve.
As prior to, Google supplies more than a few picture high quality choices, together with complete decision 50 MP photographs at the primary lens (and 48 MP at the ultra-wide and telephoto, even though they’re upscaled to 50 MP for consistency), RAW structure, Professional controls, and, new to this 12 months, 8K video recording features that I perceive are in point of fact 4K movies upscaled to 8K the usage of time-consuming AI processes. I caught with the default 12 MP pixel binning for pictures, and Complete HD for video, and I haven’t any lawsuits. I additionally caught with the usual picture and video gear, versus the professional gear, for probably the most section. I most commonly take snapshots.
Talking of which, I had was hoping to take extra video if just for trying out functions, however I infrequently document movies and didn’t in point of fact push any obstacles right here, sorry. I keep on with Complete HD (1080p) decision at 30 FPS with video stabilization on Usual, and the few movies I did take–together with a number of the surprising Niagara Falls–are fairly great. No longer very useful, I do know.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL advantages from Google’s ever-expanding circle of relatives of helpful digital camera and photo-related options. (I describe different useful Pixel instrument later within the evaluate.) A few of these are to be had within the Digital camera app, whilst others can also be present in Google Footage.
The large Digital camera app addition this 12 months in Upload Me. It’s a good suggestion, a minimum of on paper: You’re with others and wish to take a gaggle shot, however the individual taking the image received’t be part of it. The use of Upload Me, you’ll body the gang shot leaving area to at least one aspect, a 2d particular person can take an image of you in that area, after which the instrument will fuse the pictures in combination, making a unmarried symbol with everybody. I by no means were given this to paintings appropriately: There have been colour shifts and different weirdnesses that straight away known those photographs as faux. And I believe some of the social issues you’ll do is be offering to take a gaggle shot of other people you don’t know while you see this state of affairs taking part in out round you out on the earth. I do that always, and I’m all the time appreciative when anyone else provides to do it for me.
Two Upload Me fails
Past this, there’s a brand new Guided Body function that makes use of audio cues, vibrations, and visuals that will help you higher body pictures. This sounds attention-grabbing, however it used to be so hectic in use that I grew to become it off briefly. I in point of fact just like the Framing hints which were in Pixel for some time now–most commonly for leveling photographs–and stayed with that, plus a Golden ratio on-screen grid for framing.
Google Footage provides an out of this world vary of picture enhancing features, and as a Pixel proprietor, you acquire get entry to to much more gear, together with acquainted favorites like Magic Eraser, Unblur, and so forth. The brand new Magic Editor instrument additionally provides object erasing features, however it creates a couple of edits so you’ll select the only you prefer easiest.
It additionally provides to “reimagine” gadgets in or spaces of pictures, so you’ll do such things as upload clouds to the sky, vegetation to the bottom, or no matter. I experimented with this so much however by no means discovered a excellent use for it. Right here, you spot some vegetation added to a mild pole in New York Town.
Auto body is improbable: This Magic Editor function makes use of generative AI so as to add content material to the edges of a picture, serving to fill out a badly cropped image. Every so often it simply vegetation a picture, creating a portrait shot, in all probability, however it’s the generative fill (content material addition) that I in finding so superb. I’ve had some excellent effects with this.
After all, a Pixel-exclusive Zoom Make stronger function use generative AI to take a look at and improve the main points of zoomed-in pictures. I wrote “check out” there as a result of even Google admits that this option can also be misguided and remains to be in its early levels, and the consequences have been so-so, with muddy, painterly spaces. However I do just like the pixelated impact it presentations whilst producing the improved symbol.
Safety
After years of stalling, Google considerably upgraded its in-display fingerprint reader for the Pixel 9 Professional XL, choosing a awesome ultrasonic unit over the low-quality optical section utilized in previous-generation Pixels. It now works in addition to the fingerprint reader within the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely–it’s most probably the similar sensor–and used to be all the time speedy and correct. Which is excellent: In spite of the enhanced Face Liberate digital camera that Google added remaining 12 months, many apps, together with my password supervisor, best paintings with the fingerprint reader or require it from time-to-time.
However I nonetheless enrolled with each choices, so I will have the quickest revel in conceivable with no matter apps I take advantage of. Face Liberate will incessantly bitch if I’m dressed in sun shades, so having each is sweet regardless.
Below the covers, little has modified: The Pixel 9 Professional XL makes use of the similar Google Titan 2 safety chip because the previous few technology Pixels, it’s a safe TPM-like resolution with a relied on execution atmosphere and personal compute core. And with Google now supporting Pixel with seven years of OS and safety updates, it’s most probably you’ll wish to surrender at the telephone prior to it offers up on you.
Battery
I’ve dinged Pixel up to now for its lackluster battery lifestyles and gradual charging. However the Pixel 9 Professional XL just about solves each issues: Battery lifestyles is particularly higher than prior to, even though it nonetheless underperforms the iPhone 15 Professional Max, iPhone 16 Professional Max, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely noticeably. Nonetheless, it’s tough to bitch: I accept as true with the Pixel 9 Professional XL out on the earth on large picture days greater than I ever have with its predecessors. That is an “all-day” battery in customary use.
As excellent, the short charging is in reality speedy for the primary time. In truth, it’s particularly terrific: It helps as much as 37-watt stressed charging, and the 47-watt Anker chargers I take advantage of can in the end are living as much as their doable. It’s in reality spectacular to price the huge 5060 mAh battery to 55 to 60 p.c in below half-hour given my revel in with preceding Pixels. That stated, charging slows as you get nearer to 100%: A complete price from a lifeless battery took over 1 hour and 20 mins.
Wi-fi charging is stepped forward as neatly, however I don’t ever use this kind of gadget. Consistent with Google, it helps 23-watt charging the usage of Pixel Stand, however because it doesn’t give a boost to Qi2 or MagSafe, semi-inexcusable in 2024, the Pixel 9 Professional XL will see pokey 12-watt charging on Qi-compatible chargers.
As prior to, Pixel 9 Professional XL additionally helps Battery Proportion, which helps you to wirelessly price different telephones–or gadgets, like some earbuds–by means of putting them on its again. I used this to assist stay a visiting good friend’s telephone from demise once we have been out at a cafe. It used to be gradual, and works higher and not using a case, however higher than not anything.
Distinctive {hardware} options
The Pixel 9 Professional XL provides IP68 mud and water resistance, identical to the iPhone 16 Professional Max, which means it may be submerged in as much as 5 ft of water for as much as half-hour and proceed running most often. I didn’t check that, in fact, however a ship commute in entrance of the dual waterfalls of Niagara Falls supplied an incredibly rainy revel in that used to be similar to the toughest rainfall I’ve ever skilled. At one level, the Pixel warned that its USB port used to be blocked, however it briefly stated the whole thing used to be OK. And except some problem the usage of the touchscreen whilst it and I have been sopping wet, there have been no problems then or past due.
Tool
First, the dangerous information: Due to its earlier-than-usual release and the later than anticipated release of Android 15, the Pixel 7 Professional XL comes with remaining 12 months’s Android 14, quite undercutting Google’s promise of 7 years of OS upgrades. I won this gadget virtually six weeks in the past, and Google nonetheless hasn’t launched the Android 15 improve, however I enrolled it within the beta and so I’m now working the general model of that instrument. It’s conceivable one of the vital options I famous listed here are Android 15-specific.
Maximum are Pixel-specific, in fact. Pixels come with many, many extra options than Google supplies within the inventory model of Android that it licenses to different firms. Those additions are a key differentiator for Pixel, a key promoting level for the ones buying groceries at the Android aspect of the cell platform divide. There’s not anything else find it irresistible within the Android ecosystem, and Google supplies quarterly Pixel Drops that upload much more distinctive options.
With the Pixel 9 collection, that hole is best rising, due to Google’s embody of on-device AI that takes good thing about the Tensor chip’s NPU and the extra RAM the brand new telephones come with. Certainly, the sheer quantity of instrument integrated with the Pixel 9 Professional XL makes reviewing this product tough. There’s simply such a lot occurring right here, maximum of it extremely helpful.
I will’t most likely speak about all of them. However Pixels send with are living, real-time language translation that works with any audio. It options dramatically excellent textual content and phone unsolicited mail detection, can navigate voice-based telephone menus for you, can wait on dangle when wanted, and displays calls it’s now not certain about. There are fantastic interface customization options, a few of which Apple mimicked in iOS 18, and a variety of little issues, like going into Do No Disturb mode while you lay it at the desk screen-down. The entire fantastic digital camera and picture enhancing features, many mentioned prior to now. A brand new Satellite tv for pc SOS function should you’re in hassle however out of cellular vary. It is going on and on.
For this spherical, Google is in fact pushing AI lovely onerous. Such a lot of of the brand new options are AI-based and fall below the Gemini umbrella.
Most glaringly, Google has stepped forward the Gemini app on Pixel with Gemini Reside conversational features, and it replaces Google Assistant for probably the most section. After I press and dangle the facility button, a Gemini panel pops up at the backside of the display screen and tries to be useful. It provides to inform me extra in regards to the display screen I’m taking a look at, or I will sort or converse a textual content recommended about anything else, or add a photograph to Gemini Complex–Pixel 9 collection consumers get a complete 12 months of this paid provider, a $240 worth–to be told extra. That is extremely helpful: I take advantage of my telephone in such a lot of scenarios to be told extra about one thing or to seek out data I’ve forgotten.
Curiously, Assistant does pop-up from time-to-time. As an example, after I ask Gemini to create an alarm, it fortunately has the same opinion, after which notes that Assistant is doing the paintings.
Gemini Reside is lovely fantastic. You’ll be able to principally simply speak with it about any subject, and it responds with audio, now not textual content, even though it generates a transcript while you’re completed. It recollects context, is oddly personable, and can put itself on dangle should you get distracted and prevent conversing. I all the time imagined older other people sitting on my own in a room have interaction with Alexa on an Amazon Echo gadget, or no matter, and the way bizarre that may be. However this revel in feels extra herbal, like a backward and forward. No longer that I engaged with it past a couple of check conversations. As an example, I requested about how neatly the Crimson Sox did this season–now not neatly–and went down a couple of attention-grabbing paths. (Gemini Reside calls for a Gemini Complex subscription.)
Pixel Screenshots is sort of a restricted model of Microsoft Recall: As a substitute of robotically maintaining a tally of the whole thing you do at the gadget so you’ll in finding anything else later, it best works with screenshots you explicitly take. That is attention-grabbing at the floor, however I’ve lengthy taken screenshots to remind myself of one thing later, and I’ve by no means wanted to make use of Pixel Screenshots to seek out that data. And even if I’ve pressured the problem with one thing easy–“in finding footage of birds”–it pauses after which reviews again with, “I will’t assist with that. Take a look at asking one thing else.” (A more practical seek–“hen”–works.)
Pixel Studio is an app-based model of Gemini’s generative AI symbol introduction and enhancing features, and it does require an Web connection. It’s lovely excellent when it really works–I incessantly get “An unknown error happened” messages as an alternative of pictures–and more or less on-par with the Copilot/DALL-E-based Microsoft Dressmaker. However the photographs are restricted to a sq. (2048 x 2048) side ratio and there’s no “photographic high quality” atmosphere, even though it kind of feels in a position to it. Plus, the standard Google-imposed limits on enhancing pictures with other people in them.
Due to the bundled Gemini Complex subscription, there are Gemini options all through most of the in-box Google apps, like Gmail, Stay, and Medical doctors, as neatly. I haven’t completed a lot with any of that but, however this may alternate and fortify so much within the coming months, along an identical advances within the Apple and Microsoft ecosystems. So I’ll be maintaining a tally of it, and suspect this will likely be routine subject over the approaching 12 months. However I will’t consider I’ll pay for Gemini Advance when that invoice comes due in past due 2025. I haven’t any purpose of paying for AI.
Pricing and availability
The Pixel 9 Professional, with its 6-inch exhibit, begins at $999, whilst the bigger Pixel 9 Professional XL I bought, with its 6.8-inch exhibit, begins at $1099. The ones costs are virtually similar to the beginning costs of the iPhone 15 Professional ($999 and up) and iPhone 15 Professional Max ($1199 and up) that Google is openly concentrated on. And whilst that can appear affordable, Pixel sells poorly and has most often undercut Apple’s (and Samsung’s) pricing by means of a large margin. That’s now not the case, and whilst I think just like the gadget and its instrument are on par with the iPhone, I additionally really feel that Pixel doesn’t have the recognition or gross sales to warrant this value building up. The Pixel 8 Professional, which aligns with this 12 months’s XL, began at $999, or even that used to be arguable.
As dangerous, the ones beginning costs give you the purchaser with simply 128 GB of garage, a paltry quantity for any person who needs to benefit from the telephone’s 50 MP local image sizes and 8K video features. And also you’ll pay any other $100 for each and every 128 GB soar in garage: A 256 GB Pixel 9 Professional XL prices $1199, whilst a 512 model is $1319. The ones are more or less on par with the costs you’ll pay for a in a similar fashion configured iPhone Professional Max. And that implies that the Pixel Execs are now not the most efficient values in flagship smartphones. That’s too dangerous.
Additionally unlucky, a few of the ones garage tiers are tied to express colour alternatives, highlighting the boutique nature of this industry. (Microsoft does this with its Floor PCs as neatly.) A number of the obstacles, Rose Quartz is best to be had in one garage dimension, 256 GB, and best Obsidian will get the 1 TB choice.
Google did be offering some compelling trade-in costs at the new Pixels at release, on the other hand, and I won an out of this world $700 for my Pixel 8 Professional, which softened the blow properly. (My ostensibly extra precious iPhone 15 Professional Max netted simply $650 after I traded it in to Apple a couple of weeks later.) However that provide has handed, and if the Pixel 9 Professional or Professional XL is just too pricey for you currently, Google provides 0 passion 36-month financing. Or, you should watch for the inevitable sale. Google lowers the fee lovely incessantly, and Black Friday is in most cases the most efficient time for many who ignored a Pixel release window.
The Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL are to be had in 4 colours: Porcelain (mild beige), Rose Quartz (crimson), Hazel, and Obsidian (black). I used to be thrilled to look Hazel, which is lovely with regards to my favourite colour, make a go back–that used to be the colour I selected for the Pixel 7 Professional a couple of years again, however it unfortunately wasn’t to be had at the 8 Professional–and it’s a delicate gray-green colour that’s in all probability extra grey than inexperienced. No matter, I find it irresistible so much.
Suggestions and conclusions
The Google Pixel 9 Professional XL is extremely beneficial. It’s the remedy for Apple envy with its iPhone-like top class design and building and lovely huge OLED exhibit. It provides the most efficient digital camera revel in of any mainstream flagship smartphone, hitting the candy spot between the iPhone’s uninteresting default and the Galaxy S24’s overly-saturated default. It’s jammed full of in reality useful Pixel-exclusive options, with many extra at the manner each and every quarter, and maintaining a tally of all of them is subsequent to not possible. The battery lifestyles and fast charging efficiency are a lot stepped forward over remaining 12 months, as is the in-display fingerprint reader, rendering preceding criticisms moot. My best grievance, in point of fact, is the fee: You’ll want to store gross sales so that you don’t finally end up paying as a lot for a Pixel 9 Professional XL as you might for a similar iPhone.
At-a-glance
Execs
Surprising top class design
Stunning exhibit
Terrific digital camera and images options
In reality useful Pixel options
Long run-proof parts
Speedy and correct facial and fingerprint popularity
Stepped forward battery lifestyles and fast charging
Cons
Pricey
Possibly slightly too just like the iPhone
There’s virtually an excessive amount of instrument to stay monitor of
