Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Evaluation: The largest and strongest telephone in Google’s Pixel 9 lineup, the Pixel 9 Professional XL comes with a relatively stiff price ticket. However it’s THE telephone to get if you wish to expertise Google’s images and AI muscle in all their glory.
Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Evaluation: Fast Pointers
What we love:
- Terrific cameras
- All kinds of AI options
- Easy efficiency
- Good battery life
- Clear interface
- Assured updates
What we don’t:
- The value
- A bit cumbersome to deal with
- Not the best for gaming
- Sluggish charging pace
The Critical-Trying Pixel
For the reason that Pixel 6, Google has all the time launched two variations of its Pixel flagship telephone – a comparatively compact variant and a bigger ‘Professional’ model. This yr, the Search large launched a brand new compact variant, gave it the ‘Professional’ tag, and made the bigger Pixel a Pixel Professional XL. So whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL would possibly include an ‘XL’ in its title, it steps into the footwear of the Pixel 7 Professional, and identical to that one, it’s the greatest system within the non-folding Pixel 9 vary. At 162.8 mm, it is a tall telephone, and whereas it’s a respectable 8.8 mm skinny, it’s undoubtedly on the heavier facet at 221 grams.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL comes with Google’s new design for the Pixel vary, with straight sides and flat backs as in comparison with the marginally curved ones prior to now. The well-known Pixel digital camera bar on the again has been changed by a big horizontal capsule-like unit which protrudes very prominently from the again.
The brand new design provides the Pixel 9 Professional XL a really iPhone-like look, which some loyalists may not like, however is however very sensible. Not like the Pixel 9 which will get extra funky colors like Peony and Wintergreen, the Pixel 9 Professional XL walks a barely extra sober path with a primarily white Porcelain, a pinkish (not as brilliant as Peony on the Pixel 9) Rose Quartz, a greenish-grey Hazel and a darkish Obsidian.
We acquired the Obsidian variant and it had a severe sober look about it, and a matte steel end, which makes it simpler to carry than the marginally shiny and slippery Pixel 9. Its construct is rock strong with Gorilla Glass Victus on back and front, and an armour aluminium body. It additionally comes with IP68 mud and water resistance so can simply survive a fall within the water.
If the Pixel 9 is the brat within the Pixel pack, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is the sober severe one. It’s extra Batman than Spiderman. The digital camera unit on the again reveals its identification, however the dimension and color of the telephone stress that it’s extra for perform than enjoyable.
A Significantly-Specced Pixel
The Pixel 9 Professional XL additionally packs considerably superior {hardware} to its Professional-less sibling. Its show is an enormous 6.8-inch AMOLED one (what Google calls a Tremendous Actua Show) with a decision of 2992 x 1344 pixels and a refresh fee of 120 Hz. Not like the Pixel 9 whose show’s refresh fee solely switched between 60 Hz and 120 Hz, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show goes all the way in which from 1 Hz to 120 Hz.
And whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL has the identical Tensor G4 chip from Google that powers the Pixel 9, it’s accompanied by a hefty 16GB of RAM and storage choices of 256 GB and 512 GB. Probably the most vital distinction, nonetheless, is within the digital camera division. The Pixel 9 Professional XL packs in three cameras on the again – a 50-megapixel foremost sensor with OIS, a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto sensor with OIS and 5x optical zoom and a 48-megapixel ultrawide sensor with autofocus.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL additionally boasts essentially the most highly effective selfie digital camera seen on the Pixel vary yet- a 42-megapixel one with autofocus. Additionally on board are stereo audio system and a brand new fingerprint scanner. Lastly, it comes with a big 5060 mAh battery with assist for 37W wired and 12W wi-fi charging, which matches as much as 23W for those who use a Pixel Stand for wi-fi charging.
It additionally comes with a truckload of AI capabilities and options, in addition to clear, uncluttered Android 14, with an assurance of seven years of updates. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is just about a premium Android flagship.
The BIG Show Does Assist
Simply as within the case of the Pixel 9, essentially the most putting characteristic of the Pixel 9 Professional XL is the truckload of AI options in it. What’s extra, maybe due to the additional RAM on board, AI options appeared to work extra easily with fewer lags on the bigger Pixel as in comparison with the Pixel 9 (which comes with 12 GB RAM). Gemini Dwell is the default assistant right here, doing all the pieces from setting alarms to answering queries to writing emails and messages so that you can producing photographs primarily based in your directions.
There are occasions when it appears to pause, a few of its solutions are a bit odd and barely inaccurate, and it might sound a bit overwhelming for these of us used to the extra minimalist (compared) Google Assistant, however when you get the cling of it, it is vitally addictive. What’s extra, you additionally get the choice of utilizing one yr of Gemini Superior freed from value with each new Pixel.
The bigger and better decision show actually makes an enormous distinction when one is utilizing AI options that revolve round photographs, whether or not it’s utilizing Pixel Studio to generate photographs, including and eradicating objects from {a photograph} and even altering the time at which it was taken in Magic Studio. Screenshot addicts will love the Screenshot app which teams screenshots and allows you to seek for data on them simply. Y
You possibly can kind in a question for a receipt quantity or a password and the app will dig it out for you. Tremendous cool. Google’s Hold app now creates lists effortlessly (simply say “create an inventory of issues I want for an in a single day journey” and see Hold do its magic), and the brand new Climate app seems to be wonderful on the bigger show.
We might be masking the AI options on the brand new Pixels intimately in a forthcoming story (they deserve the area and time), however we expect that in case your foremost purpose for getting a Pixel is to expertise Google’s AI at its greatest, then the Pixel 9 Professional XL is your best choice, due to the bigger show and smoother expertise.
Images Champ (Duh!)
The Pixel Professional sequence has all the time been identified for its images and the Pixel 9 Professional XL carries this custom forward. All three cameras take excellent photos by way of color and element, and whereas the primary sensor is the star (particularly in low mild pictures, which have some flare however are usually excellent), the opposite two are usually not too far behind.
The telephoto digital camera delivers some beautiful zoom pictures even past its 5x optical and 10x lossless zoom factors – in good mild circumstances, we have been in a position to seize a monkey on a tree throughout the street at 25x zoom, with no large lack of element.
We’d say that this is among the greatest telephoto sensors we now have seen on a telephone this yr. The ultrawide is superb too, with autofocus including to its versatility. We should confess we felt a bit underwhelmed by the 42-megapixel selfie sensor, given the hype round it. It doesn’t give the Vivo V40 Professional a run for its selfie cash however delivers excellent selfie pictures.
Portrait snaps are excellent, though the bokeh can appear a bit exaggerated at instances (you may tweak it, although).
There may be loads of AI and computational images on provide too. The Add Me characteristic helps you to add your self to a gaggle shot by taking a shot of the group after which handing the telephone over to another person to take an image of you. The method is a bit sophisticated however the telephone walks you thru it and the outcomes are usually respectable.
You additionally get Auto Body for better-framed snaps and a brand new Panorama mode, that are useful. The Professional sequence additionally will get Zoom Improve and Video Increase options which allow you to zoom further into snaps and movies, with some AI sorcery guaranteeing you don’t lose an excessive amount of element. Modifying and picture processing appear smoother and sooner than on the Pixel 9 (which dealt with them properly sufficient anyway).
We’d fee the Pixel 9 Professional XL proper alongside the Galaxy S24 Extremely, the Vivo X100 Professional and the iPhone 15 Professional Max as the very best telephones for images, though the iPhone retains its video edge by way of stability and readability.
Whereas AI and images are its forte, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a correct premium flagship in most different regards.
The magnificent massive show and stereo audio system (considerably higher than the one on the Pixel 9) make this an excellent system for viewing content material, be it reveals, reside telecasts or movies. You possibly can even do some high-end gaming on the telephone – Name of Obligation and Genshin Influence ran very properly on it, though the expertise is properly wanting what you get on a Galaxy S24 Extremely or an iPhone 15 Professional. The telephone’s clear interface works easily and is a pleasure to make use of, and it sails via on a regular basis duties with no issues in any respect, though its dimension means you’ll have to usually use it with two fingers.
Battery life is a few day with regular to heavy utilization, which is par for the course, and though there isn’t a charger within the field, a 45W charger will get 70 per cent of the telephone charged in about half an hour, which is healthier than what you get from the Galaxy S24 Extremely and the iPhone 15 Professional. Curiously, not like the Pixel 9, the 9 Professional XL reveals no indicators of getting too heat.
Google Pixel 9 Professional XL Evaluation: Remaining Verdict
The Pixel 9 Professional XL seems like a flagship and its price ticket feels the identical method too. It begins at an excellent premium value of Rs 1,24,999 for the 16GB + 256GB variant, with the 16GB + 512GB variant priced at Rs 1,39,999.
At that value, the Pixel 9 Professional XL goes up towards among the most interesting telephones out there, together with the likes of the iPhone 15 Professional and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely, and a few would possibly even take into account investing in a OnePlus Open at that value level.
Whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL doesn’t out-spec or considerably outperform its opponents, what it does convey to the desk is maybe the very best Google AI and digital camera expertise on a non-foldable telephone.
And provided that it comes from Google, each are prone to get higher within the coming days too. The Pixel 9 was a enjoyable Pixel, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is the intense one – the one that doesn’t merely showcase options however implements them brilliantly.
All of which make it the telephone to get for many who need the entire Pixel expertise, with minimal compromises. And there are takers for that.
