I replaced my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with the Pixel 9 Pro XL for a month – and can’t go back

This evaluate was initially revealed on August 21, 2024, and was up to date on September 12, 2024.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has a beginning worth of $1,099, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro goes begins at $999.
• For the value, you are getting a bigger, brighter-than-ever 6.8-inch show, unique Google AI options, and probably the most forgiving digicam system in the marketplace.
• I simply want the bottom storage (128GB) was at the least double and the AI options had been extra dependable.

Holding the Google Pixel 9 Pro series for the primary time jogged my memory of after I held the iPhone 12 Professional for the primary time. The shift from the earlier yr’s curved design to flatter edges made all of the distinction in its really feel and notion of worth. The Pixel 9 Professional and Professional XL exude premium, and Google is aware of it.

Additionally: This Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro camera shootout has a clear winner – and one big surprise

That is why the corporate is charging you extra for its new Pixel telephones this yr, with the usual mannequin starting at $799, the Pro at $999, and the Pro XL at $1,099. On this economic system, it is a daring transfer. However within the huge image, Google has solely matched what opponents like Samsung and Apple have been pricing their flagship handsets.

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Luckily, you’ve got lots to achieve by paying Google extra. From my month of testing the Professional XL mannequin — with quick stints utilizing the smaller Professional — I’ve significantly benefitted from upgrades such because the brighter (as much as 3,000 nits) show, AI options like Call Notes and Pixel Screenshots, the quicker 45W charging, and Tensor G4 chip that has saved the telephone working easily. The brand new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor can also be loopy quick.

With the Pixel 9 Professional collection, the design — as sudden as it’s — is the standout function for me. The flat edges relaxation easily towards my hand, giving me a assured grip when swiping and typing, a remedy of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 makes the mannequin twice as sturdy as final yr’s, and whether or not you like a smaller or bigger type issue, you’ve got bought choices. By comparability, the Pixel 8 Pro looks like a toy.

Additionally: 5 reasons why Pixel 9 stopped me from ditching Google phones for Nothing

My two gripes with the Pixel 9 Professional design are the digicam bump and frosted again glass. The previous is a longstanding subject with the Google Pixel’s protruding digicam bar design, which collects mud and particles across the edges and fingerprint smudges on the visor. With the again glass, I’ve seen a number of micro-scratches already that chipped away the Obsidian-colored coating. My recommendation: Get any shade however Obsidian and you ought to be advantageous.

A brand new Tensor G4 chip paired with 16GB of RAM means the Pixel 9 Professional is quicker and extra highly effective than final yr’s mannequin in terms of multi-tab looking, loading movies on a social feed, enhancing photographs, and taking part in video games. It additionally advantages on-device AI duties, which I will get to later.

Additionally: These three AI features sold me on the Google Pixel 9 Pro – and they’re very clever

On my Uber experience to the airport lately, I used to be capable of swiftly add clips from a product launch occasion whereas downloading motion pictures to observe on the flight. Oh, and site monitoring was working within the background, too. The consequence was delicate overheating and a couple of 3% dip in battery life all through the 20-minute experience, which is admirable.

That is to say, the 5,060mAh battery on the Pixel 9 Professional XL has been serving me nicely, ending most of my days with round 25-30%. It is a two-day telephone when used evenly, however you will not be mad if that you must cost it sooner as a result of the Pixel now helps 45W charging. The quicker velocity will not revolutionize your morning routine, nevertheless it’s a notable bump-up from the sluggish 30W ranking on earlier fashions.

The important thing enhancements to the Pixel 9 Professional’s digicam system primarily revolve round AI and the way its imaging engine interprets and enhances output. For instance, the picture above, whereas sharp intimately and delightful in distinction, was initially captured with a slight tilt, making the runway seem slanted. So, I used the brand new Auto body software in Magic Editor to straighten it whereas increasing the edges with AI. For enjoyable, I added a rainbow and a airplane that clearly did not hear the Air Site visitors Management tower’s order to stay grounded like the remainder of us.

Such AI instruments are inventive and eccentric, however they’re additionally inconsistent, unreliable (see the left-side airplane), and require plenty of endurance — each with ready for the picture generations and probably extra ready after that if the outcomes do not meet your inventive imaginative and prescient.

Additionally: Qualcomm’s secret project with Samsung and Google is mixed reality smart glasses, and I’m glad

I am an even bigger fan of the brand new Add Me and Video Increase options. The previous items collectively two photographs, one that you have captured of different individuals within the body and one other that features you in the identical body, so nobody will get neglected. It is a intelligent AI/AR software that solves a real-world downside, however there’s one slight subject: Do not count on a seamless edit for those who’re posing in between topics. Oftentimes, components of your physique will not be correctly cropped out. So, for one of the best outcomes, leave space!

With Video Increase, I am joyful to report that the improved HDR+ and rendering fixes one of many largest issues with the Pixel digicam: the jarring cuts when switching to the 5x optical zoom digicam throughout recording.

Whereas I am nonetheless testing each new Pixel 9 AI feature, of which there are lots, listed here are my scores for the my most frequented ones:

• Pixel Screenshots (4/5): It is one of the best AI function I did not know I wanted. In contrast to Microsoft Recall, the on-device database is curated by pictures you manually seize, so it is simply as straightforward to parse by way of however rather more safe. 
• Gemini Live (4/5): Like ChatGPT’s voice function, you possibly can chat and ask inquiries to Gemini Stay whereas it is working within the background. Since its first launch, Gemini Stay has labored rather more naturally, with fewer hiccups and dropped voice inputs. It helps to have haptic suggestions that guides the movement of the dialog. Multimodality and synchronization with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 ought to enhance the expertise much more.
• Call Notes (2/5): The reliability of the summarization function is significantly affected by name high quality, talking tempo, and whether or not there are any distinctive phrases within the dialog, corresponding to overseas names and objects. Usually, Gemini transcribed dates, locations, and bits of necessary data inaccurately.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is a contender for best Android phone this yr, even for those who do not plan to make use of its on-device AI options. Whereas the brand new mannequin is Google’s costliest telephone (barring foldables) but, the value bump is justified by enhancements in points that historically held the Pixel line again, corresponding to charging velocity, efficiency, and construct high quality.

With the reintroduction of an XL mannequin this yr, the smaller Pixel 9 Pro ought to enchantment to customers who need a extra snug gadget with out compromising on specs and digicam {hardware}. And if each telephones are out of your finances, however you need the core options, think about the cheaper Pixel 9.