I used to be fast to criticize the Pixel 9 sequence shortly after launch, and I known as out Google for shifting the needle sufficient with its newest units. Now that I’ve used the Pixel 9 Professional XL for 2 weeks, I am able to admit that my preliminary evaluation was incorrect — Google made numerous adjustments to the cellphone which can be noticeable in every day use.
Hardwired
In Hardwired, AC Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda delves into all issues {hardware}, together with telephones, audio merchandise, storage servers, and routers.
The primary space of differentiation is the construct high quality; Google switched to a brand new design language with the Pixel 9 Professional XL, and whereas the cellphone finally ends up wanting like an iPhone due to the flat sides, it feels a lot better in-hand than its predecessors. It has good weight distribution, and the squarish design with added width across the mid-frame presents elevated structural rigidity.
I’ve damaged sufficient Pixels to understand how fragile these units could be, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL got here away unscathed after just a few tumbles, so it is clear that Google paid consideration to this space. In the same vein, I’ve had points with ports and buttons on earlier Pixels, however that simply is not the case on the Pixel 9 Professional XL — the construct high quality is lastly on par with the greatest Android telephones.
One other huge change has to do with the modem. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is powered by the Tensor G4, and whereas it is not noticeably quicker than the G3, the Exynos 5400 modem delivers a lot better connectivity. The Pixel 8 Professional could not keep a dependable connection to my residence community, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL would not have these shortcomings; I acquired a gentle sign all through the home, and whereas the sign power wasn’t as excessive as Qualcomm-powered units, I had zero points in common use.
Overheating was an enormous drawback final 12 months, and the Pixel 9 Professional XL mitigates that by way of using a vapor chamber and aggressive energy limits. Google arrange the G4 to throttle sooner than the G3, and that is evident within the benchmarks. The result’s that the Pixel 9 Professional XL is not anyplace nearly as good as Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered units at gaming — it throttles means too shortly, and also you get seen jitter in demanding video games.
The upside is that the Pixel 9 Professional XL has the most effective thermals of any cellphone I utilized in 2024; it would not exceed 42 levels beneath full load, and it is apparent that Google configured the Tensor G4 this solution to stop any overheating. Whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL is not a gaming powerhouse by any measure, there’s a noticeable distinction in fluidity in day-to-day duties over the Pixel 8 Professional. I had situations the place the 8 Professional would lag in mundane duties like Chrome or Instagram, and that simply hasn’t been a difficulty on the 9 Professional XL.
On that notice, multitasking was an annoyance on Pixel 8 Professional, and the cellphone had a bent to kill background apps after just a few hours. Google modified this on the 9 Professional XL, and you may have numerous background apps energetic with none points. I perceive that each one of those appear to be trivial issues, however they have been a continuing annoyance on earlier Pixels, and it is good to see Google addressing these shortcomings on its newest gadget.
That stated, there are issues that Google wants to repair. The Pixel 9 Professional XL takes too lengthy to avoid wasting portrait pictures to the gallery, and there’s shutter lag — you possibly can’t take portrait pictures one after the opposite, and that simply is not an issue on some other high-end cellphone I used this 12 months.
After utilizing the cellphone to take over 100 images, it is clear that Google wants to vary the digital camera {hardware}. Whereas the model continues to be the most effective at software program tuning, the Pixel 9 Professional XL would not have the identical caliber of cameras because the Xiaomi 14 Extremely, Vivo X100 Extremely, or the Magic 6 Professional.
I’ve by no means had a difficulty with Google’s software program efforts; if something, I tolerated the second-rate {hardware} up to now due to the superb software program. There’s a lot to love on this space on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, with Google doubling down on AI efforts. All main cellphone manufacturers provide some degree of AI-based options, Google has significant additions I really use.
With the Pixel 8 Professional, I all the time acquired the sense that the cellphone is not constructed to the identical tolerance as different flagships, however that is not an issue on the Pixel 9 Professional XL — you are not getting a terrific digital camera hooked up to a median cellphone. The remainder of the {hardware} is simply nearly as good, and the Pixel 9 Professional XL is considerably higher than its predecessors on this regard.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL has a lot better construct high quality than its predecessor, and Google made numerous small adjustments to the {hardware} which can be noticeable in every day use.
