Nine Months Later: The Pixel 9 Pro XL Still Holds Its Ground
The world of smartphones is rapidly evolving, with a new competitor promising to be bigger, better, faster, and smarter every few months. However, what occurs after the initial excitement subsides and the dust settles? We set out to find out just that with the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL., it’s clear that Google’s most ambitious phone yet still holds a strong hand.
Google’s hardware ambitions took a major step forward with the August 2024 launch of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. This phone came out with a lot of features, including a powerful 6.8-inch OLED display, advanced cameras, deep AI integration, and the specially designed Tensor G4 chip. But has it faced over time?
Let’s dive into our long-term Pixel 9 Pro XL review and unpack what makes this device still worth your attention in 2025.
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Why the Pixel 9 Pro XL Is Still a Top Android Phone
- Powerful Tensor G4 chip with 16GB RAM for ultra-smooth performance
- Exceptional camera system with upgraded AI features like Zoom Enhance and Best Take
- Solid 5060 mAh battery with improved charging speeds
- Google AI at its finest, with real-world helpfulness over gimmicks
- Ultra-bright OLED display with always-on functionality
- Downsides: no microSD slot, pricey at launch, only partial Qi2 support
Specification of Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
| Category | Details |
| Release Date | August 22, 2024 |
| Price (Current) | ~$899 (USD) / €791.19 (EU) / £666.38 (UK) |
| Build & Design | Glass front & back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame IP68 rated |
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 76.2 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Colors | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Display | 6.8″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2992 pixels (20:9 ratio, ~486 PPI) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Operating System | Android 14 (out of the box), upgradable to Android 15 7 years of updates |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 (4nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 |
| RAM + Storage | 16GB RAM + 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1) No microSD card slot |
| Main Camera | Triple: |
| 50 MP wide (OIS, dual pixel PDAF) | |
| 48 MP periscope telephoto (5x optical zoom, OIS) | |
| 48 MP ultrawide (123˚ FoV, dual pixel PDAF) | |
| Camera Features | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Zoom Enhance, Best Take, Ultra-HDR, panorama |
| Video Recording | 8K@30fps (cloud-based upscaling), 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@240fps, OIS, EIS |
| Selfie Camera | 42 MP ultrawide (17mm, PDAF) |
| Selfie Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Audio | Stereo speakers No 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 (tri-band), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C 3.2, GPS, UWB, NavIC support |
| Special Features | Fingerprint (under display), skin thermometer, barometer, Circle to Search, Satellite SOS |
| Battery | 5060 mAh Li-Ion (non-removable) |
| Charging | 37W wired (70% in 30 min), 23W wireless (Pixel Stand), 12W Qi, reverse wireless charging, bypass charging option |
| Battery Life | Active Use Score: 12h 32m |
Design & Build
From the first moment you hold the Pixel 9 Pro XL, it feels like a flagship. The phone retains Google’s signature curved edge design with a premium aluminum frame sandwiched between Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides. It’s solid, slightly heavy at 221g, but exudes quality.
The new Obsidian and Rose Quartz finishes catch light beautifully, while the subtle camera bar — now better integrated — gives the Pixel 9 Pro XL a distinctive silhouette. It’s IP68-rated, so rain and accidental drops into water aren’t deal breakers.
After nine months, the body has held up surprisingly well. Even with daily use (and no case for the first three months), scratches were minimal — a testament to the durability of Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Display
Even when compared to its more recent 2025 competitors, the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 6.8-inch LTPO OLED panel is still among the best we’ve seen. Everything from gaming to binge-watching YouTube is a visual feastthanks to its 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and maximum brightness of 2365 nits.
More intelligent than ever, the always-on display provides easily accessible information without significantly depleting the battery, such as what’s currently playing, upcoming events, and Assistant recommendations. It’s a pleasure to watch HDR10+ content, and even in direct sunlight, the visibility outside is superb.
Performance
At launch, the Google Tensor G4 chip — built on a 4nm process — was already impressive. But what’s remarkable is how this chip has held up nine months later. Paired with 16GB of RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, multitasking remains seamless and fast.
Whether it’s playing graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact, juggling between a dozen Chrome tabs, or running AI tasks in the background, the Pixel 9 Pro XL never stutters. Benchmarks remain strong with an AnTuTu score of 1.38 million and a Geekbench 6 score of 4854.
One standout over time? AI processing. Thanks to continuous updates, features like real-time transcription, Circle to Search, and Smart Replies have become faster and more accurate — a testament to Google’s software optimization.
Google AI
AI is everywhere in phones these days, but Google does it best — and the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the poster child. Over the past nine months, features like:
- Best Take: letting you swap facial expressions from a burst of photos,
- Zoom Enhance: which sharpens blurry digital zooms with AI upscaling, and
- Circle to Search: letting you search anything on your screen with a gesture,
have only improved in accuracy and speed.
The AI Recorder app still dominates with unmatched transcription and labeling capabilities, and Magic Eraser — now faster — continues to be a game-changer for editing photos.
Also notable: the Personal Voice Model. Over time, your phone learns your voice, your speech patterns, and your preferences. Voice typing is nearly flawless now, even in noisy environments.
Cameras
Google’s Pixel phones have always been synonymous with photography excellence, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL might be its best effort yet. Nine months later, the 50MP wide sensor, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP periscope telephoto camera still produce stunning results.
Thanks to ongoing updates to the ProVisual Engine and machine learning enhancements, we’ve seen real-world improvements in:
- Night Sight: even clearer low-light shots
- Zoom: sharper details at 5x and even 10x digital
- Portrait Mode: better edge detection, especially with pets and moving kids
- Ultra-HDR: improved dynamic range in challenging lighting
In head-to-head comparisons with phones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Pixel 9 Pro XL still wins in color accuracy and detail preservation in most daylight and indoor conditions.
Selfies are also top-tier with the 42MP ultrawide front camera. It’s excellent for group shots and vlogging, capturing vibrant colors and skin tones naturally.
Battery Life and Charging
When we first tested the Pixel 9 Pro XL, we averaged about 11.5 hours of moderate use. Fast forward nine months — and battery degradation seems negligible. The active use score remains above 12 hours with regular usage (screen on time averaging 6.5 hours daily).
The 5060 mAh cell, paired with the Tensor G4’s efficiency gains and adaptive battery features, keeps you going from dawn till night. Plus, the option to limit charging to 80% helps reduce long-term battery wear — a clever addition.
Charging is solid:
- 37W wired = 70% in 30 minutes
- 23W wireless with Pixel Stand
- Reverse wireless charging for accessories
While it doesn’t fully embrace Qi2’s magnetic charging, the wireless experience remains practical and speedy.
Software Experience: Clean, Smooth, Future-Proof
The Pixel 9 Pro XL shipped with Android 14 and has already received Android 15 — with smooth transitions and no bugs in sight. Google’s clean UI, timely updates, and thoughtful features continue to be a major selling point.
Key updates post-launch added:
- Enhanced app hibernation to save battery
- Smart notifications via Assistant
- Live Translate refinements with better offline support
And with Google promising 7 years of Android updates, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is as future-proof as they come.
Price & Value: Worth It in 2025?
At launch, the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s $999+ price tag felt steep. But today, with prices dropping as low as $899 in the US, it’s easily one of the best deals in flagship territory — especially when compared to newer phones that offer marginal improvements for much more money.
If you’re after a top-tier Android experience, incredible camera system, long-term updates, and truly useful AI, the Pixel 9 Pro XL hits the sweet spot.
Conclusion: Still the Smartest Buy in the Android World
Nine months into its lifecycle, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL in the US is no longer the “newest” phone — but it’s still one of the smartest. In a market where flagships are becoming more iterative and AI more gimmicky, Google’s focused approach pays off.
Between its evolving intelligence, reliable performance, and unmatched camera capabilities, the Pixel 9 Pro XL earns its place not just as a 2024 standout — but a 2025 must-buy.
Rating: 4.8/5
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