Made by Google is happening right now. Check out our live blog for the news as it breaks, and our Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL hands-on.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is here, and with it a host of design changes to improve on the prior design. With the Pixel 9 series, Google is bringing a new sleek design, vastly improved cameras and a host of new AI features aimed to make your life easier. However, this is the first time we've seen a Pixel XL since the Google Pixel 4 XL.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is pretty pricey, especially when compared to the Google Pixel 8 Pro. While the Google Pixel 8 Pro costs $999 on release, while the new Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl will start at $1,099. Unfortunately, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL won't have Android 15 at release, and there is no indication of when it might be released. However, the Pixel 9 Pro XL will have access to all the same features as the Pixel 9, and more besides.
If you're okay with the price increase, then let's have a look at all the new software and hardware coming with the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: The Major Changes
- The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with 16 GB of RAM and 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1TB of storage
- The device will be powered by the new Tensor G4 chip
- Google's added a larger, brighter and tougher display with the 6.8-inch Super Actua display, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- For photos, you have a 50 MP wide camera, 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide and a 48 MP Quad PD telephoto, plus a brand new 42MP main camera.
- Your choice of colors is Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel and Rose Quartz
- The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with Gemini inbuilt, screenshots and a host of AI editing tools.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Rumored release date and price
The Pixel 9 Pro Xl starts at $1,099 for the 128GB model. That's a considerable amount more than the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which had a base cost of $999 and only reached the same price when upgrading to the 256GB model.
There are four color options available for the Pixel 9 XL: Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel and Rose Quartz. For those of us not in Google's color naming division, that means black, white, grey and a pink-gold combination.
The Pixel 9 Pro will be available for pre-order on August 13, with the phone currently scheduled for release on August 22 alongside the Pixel 9.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Specs
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: What's New
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL features a similar design to the base Pixel 9 with a new flat-sided look The new camera bump also has been made flatter and smaller. However, the Pixel 9 Pro XL far exceeds the screen size of other models, with it coming in at an impressive 6.8 inches compared to the 6.3 inches of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro.
The other major change with the screen is the improved brightness, with the Pixel 9 XL reaching an impressive 3,000 nits brightness according to Google. For reference, the Pixel 8 Pro only has a max brightness of 1,526 nits in our testing. The new display should work well in bright lights as a result, plus it's tougher than ever with the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back glass.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL features a 5,060 mAh larger battery, which promises up to a hundred hours of battery life when using the Extreme Battery Saver mode. The device also features 45-watt fast charging, with the phone reportedly able to reach 70% in thirty minutes. However, there won't be a fast charger bundled with the device by default, so you will have to fork out for that separately.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL also comes with Google's new Tensor G4 chipset and a massive 16GB of RAM. Google has reportedly specialized the G4 towards AI, especially its own Gemini Nano model, to offer the most capable on-device AI on the market. All of this means that the Pixel 9 Pro XL has all the tools it needs to blow the prior AI-capable Pixel phones out of the water.
One of the major focuses for the wealth of new AI features is the improved cameras. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with a 50MP main camera, a 48MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus andƒ/1.7 aperture, a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and a maximum Super Res zoom of up to 30x.
Finally, both the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL have an improved selfie camera, a 42MP model that also adds autofocus for the first time. This is a major improvement over the 10.5MP selfie camera found on the Pixel 9.
Outside of the camera, there are several new AI features on offer for the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Firstly, the Pixel 9 Pro XL will be one of the first phones to have a multimodal version of Gemini Nano built into the device and an improved Gemini Assistant. There are also, of course, a host of editing features designed to get the most out of your images, including Add Me and Magic Editor. There's also on-device image generation with the new Pixel Studio
Finally, the Pixel 9 Pro XL will come with a Satellite SOS feature to help you contact the emergency services wherever you are.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: How it compares to other phones
The biggest competitors to the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL are going to be the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. When it comes to price the Pixel 9 Pro XL is $100 cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro and $200 cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max will soon be replaced by the iPhone 16 Pro Max, we can still get a good idea of the completion. The iPhone is slightly smaller than the Pixel 9 Pro XL, has less RAM and a smaller battery. However, the iPhone should come out in front when it comes to the chip, as the A17 Pro is a real powerhouse. The Pixel has the advantage with AI features available at launch since Apple Intelligence is still in beta.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is more expensive than either model, but it makes up for it thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip and its 200MP main camera dual telephoto cameras. While the S24 Ultra might have less RAM than the Pixel 9 Pro XL, there is no doubt that the Snapdragon is one of the most powerful chips when it comes to AI and power conservation.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL outlook
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL might not be the highest-specced phone on the market, but for its price, it offers a lot for users. The new design, alongside the improved chip, RAM and battery helps it to mark its place in the market. However, it will have some difficulty in standing out against competition and the biggest upcoming challenge will be how it compares to the iPhone 16 Pro cost when that is announced.
Will update this page as we complete more testing and have the final review and verdict for the Pixel 9 Pro XL. In the meantime check out our coverage of the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, as well as the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2.
