Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluate: A images powerhouse

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL is a images powerhouse with a wonderful, iPhone-like design that even probably the most hardcore Android followers will possible admit appears to be like and feels nice.

Did I count on to be this blown away by the images and video Google’s newest flagship can seize? No, positively not, particularly since there aren’t notable digital camera {hardware} upgrades over final yr’s Pixel 8 Pro. By wonderful, surprisingly true-to-life post-processing, I discover I choose the look of the Pixel 9 Professional’s pictures over even these taken with Apple’s iPhone 15 Professional, which had been my earlier favourite digital camera array. Because of surprisingly useful AI photo and video features, Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL options what I would confidently say is my favourite smartphone digital camera ever.

Add within the clearly Apple-inspired design with its easy matte rear, minimized bezels, and tasteful coloration choices, and you’ve got a powerful all-around smartphone bundle. After all, you can argue that nobody wants a Pixel 9 Professional sequence smartphone this yr as a result of the bottom Pixel 9is an excellent system that provides options sometimes reserved for higher-end smartphones, and I would wholeheartedly agree with this angle — except you are actually into taking pictures images and movies along with your telephone. If that is you, then the Pixel 9 Pro XL‘s further value is price its dearer price ticket. Its cameras are actually that good.

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL is a images powerhouse with a wonderful, iPhone-like design that even probably the most hardcore Android followers will possible admit appears to be like and feels nice.

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Pixel 9 Professional XL

The Pixel 9 Professional XL is Google’s first cross at an iPhone 15 Professional Max-style greater smartphone. It contains the tech big’s Tensor G4 chip and presents new AI-powered options just like the Screenshots app and “Reimagine.”

Professionals

• Glorious AI-powered images options
• Nice-looking design
• Easy software program that is straightforward to navigate

Cons

• Costly
• Some AI options are a bit terrifying
• Sides aren’t matte

Value, availability, and specs

Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL and Pixel 9 Professional can be found directly from Google and different retailers for $1,100 and $1,000, respectively, in porcelain, rose quartz, hazel, and obsidian (the latter featured on this evaluate). These costs are $300 and $200 greater than the $800 base Pixel 9.

The Pixel 9 Professional XL incorporates a 6.8-inch 1344 x 12992 LTPO OLED show, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional has a 6.3-inch 1290 x 2856 LTPO OLED display screen. Each shows embody a 1-120Hz variable refresh price and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, with brightness reaching 2,000 and three,000 nits of peak brightness, respectively. The Pixel 9 Professional XL’s battery capability is 4,700mAh, and the Pixel 9 Professional’s is 5,060mAh. Their weights are roughly 7.7oz (221g) and 7oz (199g), respectively.

Storage choices begin at 128GB and prolong as much as 1TB. This yr, RAM has been upgraded to 16GB from final yr’s 12GB. The smartphone additionally options Google’s Tensor G4 chip. Digital camera specs embody an f/1.68 50-megapixel foremost large shooter, a touch upgraded f/1.7 48-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera, and an f/2.8 48-megapixel telephoto shooter able to as much as 5x optical zoom. The entrance digital camera has been upgraded to an f/2.2 42-megapixel shooter from final yr’s f/2.2 10.5-megapixel lens.

Pixel 9 Professional XL construct and design

An iPhone-inspired look even probably the most hardcore Android followers will like

I lined it extensively in my Pixel 9 review, however I am an enormous fan of the look of this yr’s Pixel 9 line. The Pixel 9 Professional XL adopts a glance paying homage to the iPhone, with its squared-off sides and barely rounded corners that make it general simpler to carry, particularly at awkward angles. The again is matte, not like the Pixel 9’s shiny rear, however sadly, its sides stay shiny, making them a smudge and dirt magnet. I might have most well-liked a extra premium all-matte-everything look that is according to the iPhone 15 Professional. This not solely feels higher whenever you run your fingers over it but in addition repels smudges and dirt higher.

Sadly, Google has ditched the visor for a sprawling digital camera bump that appears prefer it was dropped on the rear of the system. It isn’t a deal-breaker, particularly in case you plan to place the system in a smartphone case, but it surely’s a step again from the identifiable rear digital camera visor featured in final yr’s Pixel 8 Professional.

General, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a really solid-looking smartphone that provides a degree of refinement immediately noticeable from the second you decide it up. Pixel units have all the time felt fairly good, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL takes issues to a different degree.

It is price noting that that is the primary time Google has supplied a bigger 6.8-inch model of its higher-end smartphone. A 6.8-inch display screen is an honest measurement, and in my time with the system, it hasn’t felt unwieldy. Folks like large telephones, so it is sensible for Google to supply a much bigger possibility. However I choose the smaller 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Professional/Pixel 9 measurement (it is simply simpler to make use of with one hand), so I am wanting ahead to getting my palms on this yr’s smaller Pixel Professional 9 in a number of weeks.

Pixel 9 Professional XL show

A shocking, high-end show that appears nice below almost all lighting situations

The Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show is gorgeous, surpassing the vibrancy of Apple’s iPhone 15 Professional display screen and, in some instances, even Samsung’s Galaxy S24 sequence, by a big margin. The Pixel 9’s display screen is greater than brilliant sufficient at 1,800 nits with 2,700 nits of peak brightness, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show takes issues to a blistering 2,000 nits with as much as 3,000 nits of peak brightness.

The show appears to be like nice, however at instances, I’ve truly discovered it too brilliant, particularly when viewing content material below darkish situations, forcing me to show the brightness down. Alternatively, I respect the added illumination when utilizing the system exterior below direct daylight. You may also clearly see how a lot brighter the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show is when put next straight with the Pixel 9’s display screen.

Each the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL sport increased decision shows than the Pixel 9, at 1344 x 2992 and 1280 x 2856 pixel decision, respectively. Colours are vibrant, and images, movies, and video games look sharp, however not wildly higher than my expertise with Google’s base Pixel 9, regardless of its OLED building versus the Pixel 9 Professional XL and Pixel 9 Professional’s higher-end LTPO display screen know-how. To me, this simply speaks to how good all of the shows in Google’s Pixel 9 lineup are.

As a adverse facet observe, I managed to get a really nasty scratch towards the center of the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show, regardless of its supposedly sturdy Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 building. I am fairly cautious with my units, so I’ve no clue how this occurred, but it surely’s price mentioning. That mentioned, I do not assume this can be a widespread difficulty with the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show and might be simply unhealthy luck on my half.

Pixel 9 Professional XL digital camera

This yr’s key promoting level is superb digital camera efficiency (and never solely due to AI)

The principle purpose to buy the Pixel 9 Professional or Pixel 9 Professional XL over the Pixel 9 is for the additional digital camera options the higher-end telephones provide. First off, the Pixel 9 Professional XL incorporates a f/2.2 48-megapixel telephoto lens with as much as 5x optical zoom. These are the identical specs as final yr, and general, pictures shot with this digital camera look stellar. I nonetheless choose a telephoto lens over an ultra-wide, and it might be nice if Google ditched the latter from its base Pixel 9 in favor of an actual optical zoom.

On the AI facet of issues, “Tremendous Res Zoom Video” is again once more and a bit extra spectacular than final yr. The visible improve remains to be considerably minimal, however clips look noticeably clearer normally. The function is irritating to activate because it requires you to activate “Video Increase” and swap to 5x optical zoom earlier than zooming into no matter digital zoom you need, but it surely works nicely and stays spectacular. As you’ll be able to see above, the fish are barely clearer and extra vibrant within the Tremendous Res Zoom enhanced clip above, even with X’s dismal video transcoding.

On that very same observe, Video Increase additionally stays spectacular, significantly in the case of smoothing out panning, which remains to be surprisingly uneven with the Pixel 9 Professional line, particularly when switching between lenses. It will be nice if there was a option to activate Video Increase completely, although I perceive why there is not on condition that the function requires each file to be uploaded to Google’s servers. Like final yr, movies can generally get caught changing to Video Increase and take upwards of half-hour to course of, particularly in case you use the Pixel 9 Professional line’s new 8K upscaling (this can be a welcome addition, however I haven’t got a lot use for 8K footage). This implies in case you’re seeking to submit one thing rapidly, Video Increase usually is not an possibility.

Sticking with getting nearer to topics, this yr “Zoom Improve” permits you to enhance the standard of pictures shot with digital zoom. Much like Tremendous Res Zoom Video, the adjustments are refined however nonetheless noticeable, giving zoomed images extra definition and an general barely clearer image that is usually extra vibrant. Usually, the farther you zoom in digitally, the extra spectacular the outcomes are when utilizing Zoom Improve. The enhancements are fairly minimal, however in case you’re into images, you will discover them.

On the optical zoom facet, pictures are clear, crisp, and spectacular, significantly at 5x, which I discovered very helpful on a current crusing journey. Nonetheless, I’ve skilled camera tilt at 5x zoom that causes pictures to be considerably off-kilter. I have been fixing this with a fast crop, however I am assured Google will resolve this difficulty within the coming weeks with a digital camera app replace. Together with the already talked about telephoto lens, the Pixel 9 Professional sequence options an f/1.7 50-megapixel large digital camera that is the identical as final yr’s major digital camera.

It nonetheless snaps nice images that strike a stability between the over-processed really feel of Samsung’s Galaxy sequence and the more and more out-of-this-world tackle images Apple has been pushing for the previous few years (check out the sky in iPhone 15 Professional images, and you will see what I imply). Of all of the flagship smartphones at the moment accessible, the Pixel 9 sequence presents probably the most true-to-life pictures, which is slightly ironic given the tech big’s emphasis on AI this yr, bringing into query what {a photograph} even is anymore.

Pixel 9 digital camera options like “Add Me,” which lets you create a composite group shot with out asking a stranger to snap the photograph, are additionally a part of the Pixel 9 Professional sequence’ quiver of AI-powered performance. “Add Me” works simply as nicely with the Pixel 9 Professional line and is the sort of harmless AI function I truly discover helpful.

One vital factor to notice is that the Pixel 9 Professional’s AI digital camera options don’t work when you may have the principle shooter set to 48 megapixels as an alternative of 12 megapixels, which is a disappointing transfer on Google’s half. This possible has one thing to do with the present AI processing pipeline and the way Google makes use of the bigger sensor, however it might be nice to see compatibility with 48-megapixel pictures within the Pixel 10 Professional sequence nonetheless.

Talking of 48-megapixel pictures, I do not discover the necessity to snap them fairly often except I intend to crop the picture ultimately. The shutter can be nonetheless a bit slower when utilizing the total sensor, making it troublesome to quickly take images, which was a problem whereas snapping footage on the Toronto Worldwide Airshow, forcing me to principally stick with 12-megapixel pictures. It was nonetheless attainable to rapidly snap the images I needed with the 48-megapixel sensor, however I wanted to be very intentional with my pictures.

There’s additionally the f/1.7 48-megapixel ultra-wide shooter that provides a minor improve over final yr’s ultra-wide. It snaps respectable images, however past the occasional macro shot, I do not discover myself utilizing the ultra-wide digital camera fairly often. And at last, there’s the f/2.2 42-megapixel front-facing digital camera that snaps clearer footage than final yr’s selfie shooter. I am not an enormous selfie individual, however the images I shot are clear, with even publicity all through. I usually discover that selfie cameras blow out a picture’s highlights, and that is not the case with the Pixel 9 Professional sequence’ front-facing digital camera.

Pixel 9 Professional XL efficiency

The Tensor G4 benchmarks below the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, however who cares?

On the efficiency facet, Google’s Tensor G4 runs nice within the Pixel 9 Professional XL. Even below a heavy load, I did not expertise the identical warmth points as I sometimes encountered with the Pixel 8 Professional, possible due to the brand new inner cooling design and the telephone’s bigger measurement. Nonetheless, the Tensor G4 just isn’t that a lot of a leap over the Pixel 8 Professional by way of uncooked efficiency. For many who care about benchmarks, the Pixel 9 Professional XL scores 1,901 for single-core and 4,707 for multi-core. These marks are nicely under these of units powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Nonetheless, I did not encounter a single occasion of slowdown, whether or not I used to be looking the web, taking part in video games, doing minor photograph edits in Adobe’s Lightroom CC, or watching the occasional video on YouTube.

Except you are the definition of a smartphone energy person, you will discover only a few points with the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s efficiency, even in case you’re an enormous multi-tasker, due to its ample 16GB of RAM. Smartphone chips have been overkill for years, and the Pixel 9 Professional XL is not any exception. Battery life lasts nicely into the late night with average use, just like my expertise with the Pixel 9. Provided that the Pixel 9 Professional XL incorporates a bigger 5,060mAh cell versus the 4,700mAh battery within the Pixel 9, I am curious to see if the smaller 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Professional achieves the identical respectable battery life.

Pixel 9 Professional XL softwareAI coupled with a throwback to a less complicated period of iOS

On the software program facet, Google’s Pixel 9 Professional sequence helps all the identical considerably terrifying AI options because the Pixel 9, together with “Reimagine,” which lets you add almost something to a picture with prompts, and Pixel Studio, Google’s AI app that generates pictures. There’s additionally Screenshots, a wonderful app that makes use of AI to floor related screenshots, and extra.

Reimagine’s guardrails are fairly unfastened. With creative prompts, you’ll be able to simply trick it into creating off-putting pictures, and in some instances, these AI-edited images look very convincing. Do not get me fallacious, they’re usually ridiculous-looking and clearly faux, however that is not all the time the case (take a look at that image under of a submarine in Lake Ontario). Alternatively, Pixel Studio is a foolish AI picture generator according to Meta AI or OpenAI’s DALL·E 3 that works moderately nicely.

My key concern is that these pictures is likely to be posted as actuality with none apparent indication that they’re AI-generated. It is a slippery slope we have been sliding down for months, and it is solely a matter of time earlier than these options attain different Android units, making AI-altered and generated pictures much more frequent on social media.

For extra on the Pixel 9 sequence’ potential AI pitfalls and the intense implications Reimagine may have, check out my Pixel 9 review. It is price mentioning that even in its early state, Gemini and its extra conversational counterpart, Gemini Dwell (which is free for a yr with the acquisition of a Pixel 9 system and $20/month after), work shockingly nicely. Despite the fact that I’ve encountered the occasional glitch, I’ve by no means really been capable of have a dialog with an AI earlier than Gemini/Gemini Dwell. Does speaking to an AI assistant match into my workflow, although? Not likely, and I am unsure it ever will.

Lastly, I am an enormous fan of the Pixel’s Android pores and skin. It is easy, easy, and clear. Actually, I discover it simpler to navigate than iOS 18. Apple’s cell working system has grow to be more and more sophisticated over the previous few years, and Android 14 operating on the Pixel 9 sequence has made that much more obvious. It is also nice that Google has promised to supply seven years of software program updates to the Pixel 9 line.

Do you have to purchase the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL?

It is one in all Google’s most full smartphone packages in years

Most individuals ought to go for the usual Pixel 9, however in case you’re into images, the Pixel 9 Professional sequence has loads to supply. It captures my favourite smartphone images but, providing a extra true-to-life stability that sits firmly between Samsung’s intense saturation and Apple’s more and more inconsistent, out-there tackle pictures and movies. That is in stark distinction to the varied photograph and video AI options supplied by the Pixel 9 Professional sequence, together with Zoom Improve and Tremendous Res Zoom Video, which I discovered significantly helpful.

That mentioned, I am nonetheless involved about Reimagine’s broader implications, given how straightforward it’s to make use of and the way convincing the outcomes could be generally. Moreover, I have not discovered a option to combine Gemini into my life, regardless of its spectacular capabilities. General, the Pixel 9 Professional line presents one in all Google’s most full smartphone packages in years, however in case you’re not an avid photographer, it can save you a number of hundred {dollars} and keep on with the usual Pixel 9.

This system was supplied to Pocket-lint by Google.

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Pixel 9 Professional XL