ZDNET’s key findings
- He Google Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available on August 22 for a starting price of $1,099, while the Pixel 9 Pro will go on sale September 4 for $999.
- For this price, you get a bigger, brighter 6.8-inch display than ever before, exclusive Google AI features, and the most forgiving camera system on the market.
- I just wish the base storage (128GB) was at least double that and the AI features were more reliable.
Holding the Google Pixel 9 Pro Series For the first time, it reminded me of when I first got my hands on the iPhone 12 Pro. The shift from last year’s curved design to flatter edges made a huge difference in how it feels and feels. The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL exude quality, and Google knows it.
Here’s why the company is charging you more for its new Pixel phones this year, with the standard model Starting at $799he Pro at $999and the Pro XL at $1,099In this economy, it’s a bold move, but generally speaking, Google has only matched the prices that competitors like Samsung and Apple have set for their flagship phones.
Also: This Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. iPhone 15 Pro camera comparison has a clear winner and a big surprise
Fortunately, paying more to Google will give you many advantages. According to my week of… evidence The Pro XL model (with brief periods of use of the smaller Pro) has greatly benefited me from upgrades like the brighter display (up to 3000 nits), AI features like Call notes and Pixel Screenshotsthe faster 45W charging and the Tensor G4 chip that has kept the phone running smoothly. The new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is also incredibly fast.
On the Pixel 9 Pro series, the design, as unexpected as it is, is the standout feature for me. Flat edges rest smoothly in my hand, giving me a secure grip when swiping and typing, a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 treatment makes the model twice as durable as last year’s, and whether you prefer a smaller or larger form factor, you have options. By comparison, the Pixel 8 Pro It feels like a toy.
Also: 5 reasons why the Pixel 9 stopped me from ditching Google phones for nothing
My two complaints about the Pixel 9 Pro’s design are the camera bump and the frosted rear glass. The former is a long-standing issue with the Google Pixel’s protruding camera bar design, which collects dust and dirt around the edges and fingerprint smudges on the visor. With the rear glass, I’ve already noticed several micro scratches that have chipped off the obsidian-colored coating. My advice: buy any color except obsidian and you should be fine.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (left) and Pixel 8 Pro (right).
Adam Breeden/ZDNET
A new Tensor G4 chip paired with 16GB of RAM means the Pixel 9 Pro is faster and more powerful than last year’s model when it comes to browsing multiple tabs, uploading videos to a social feed, editing photos, and playing games. It also benefits on-device AI tasks, which I’ll talk about later.
Also: These three AI features convinced me to buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro, and they are very smart
On my Uber ride to the airport last week, I was able to quickly load clips from the Event created by Google while downloading movies to watch during the flight. Oh, and location tracking was running in the background too. The result was a slight overheating and about a 3% drop in battery life during the 20-minute trip, which is admirable.
That said, the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 5,060mAh battery has served me well, ending most of my days at around 25-30%. It’s a phone that lasts two days with light use, but you won’t be upset if you need to charge it sooner because the Pixel now supports 45W charging. The faster speed won’t revolutionize your morning routine, but it’s a noticeable increase over the sluggish 30W rating of previous models.
Can you identify the three AI-generated edits in this photo?
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
The main improvements to the Pixel 9 Pro’s camera system mostly revolve around AI and how its imaging engine interprets and improves results. For example, the image above, while sharp in detail and beautiful in contrast, was originally captured at a slight angle, making the runway look tilted. So, I used the new auto-framing tool in Magic Editor to straighten it out while expanding the sides with AI. For fun, I added a rainbow and a plane that clearly didn’t listen to the air traffic control tower’s order to stay on the ground like the rest of us.
These AI tools are creative and fancy, but they are also inconsistent, unreliable (see the plane on the left), and require a lot of patience, both in waiting for image generations and possibly more waiting after that if the results don’t meet your creative vision.
Also: I tried Google’s $1,800 Pixel 9 Pro Fold and I’m ready to leave Samsung
I’m a bigger fan of the new stuff Add me and the Video Boost features. The former stitches together two photos, one you’ve captured of other people in the frame and another that includes you in the same frame, so that no one is left out. It’s a clever AI/AR tool that solves a real-world problem, but there’s one small catch: don’t expect a perfect edit if you’re posing among subjects. Often, parts of your body won’t be cropped properly. So for the best results, Make room!
With Video Boost, I’m happy to report that improved HDR+ and rendering fix one of the biggest issues with the Pixel camera: stuttering when switching to the 5x optical zoom camera while recording.
Pixel Screenshots lets you search and ask questions about images you’ve captured on your screen.
Adam Breeden/ZDNET
As I continue to test each New AI feature on Pixel 9Of which there are many, here are my initial ratings for the most popular ones:
- Pixel Screenshots (4/5):It’s the best AI feature I didn’t know I needed. Unlike Microsoft market withdrawalThe device database is made up of images you capture manually, so it’s just as easy to analyze but much more secure.
- Gemini live (3/5):Like ChatGPT’s voice feature, you can chat and ask Gemini Live questions while it’s running in the background. The AI will sometimes get stuck and pause the session, but haptic feedback helps guide the flow of the conversation. Multimodality and synchronization with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 It should improve the experience greatly.
- Call notes (2/5):The reliability of the summary feature is greatly affected by the quality of the call, the pace of the conversation, and whether there are unique words in the conversation, such as foreign names and objects. In most cases, Gemini transcribed dates, places, and bits of important information incorrectly.
ZDNET’s buying advice
It’s still too early to tell Google Pixel 9 Pro XL he The best android phone This year, but it’s certainly a model worth considering, even with its AI flaws. While the new model is Google’s most expensive non-foldable phone yet, the price increase is justified by improvements in aspects that have traditionally held the Pixel line back, such as charging speed, performance, and build quality.
With the reintroduction of an XL model this year, the smallest Pixel 9 Pro It should appeal to users who want a more comfortable device without compromising on specs and camera hardware. And if both phones are out of your budget, but you want the core features, consider the cheaper one. Pixel 9.
ZDNET’s review team spends over a year testing the details of every major phone release, evaluating everyday performance, camera quality, battery life and endurance, and special features. Here’s a breakdown of each factor we take into account before making recommendations:
- Design and ergonomics: The look and feel of a phone plays an important role in the purchasing process for many users, which is why we take these aspects into account during testing.
- Performance: Several factors affect a phone’s performance, including LTE/5G signal, battery life, and background tasks. Therefore, we typically begin our tests with a fully charged phone, all background tasks closed, and a mobile connection that is as stable as possible.
- Camera quality: ZDNET tests the phones’ cameras by capturing hundreds of photos and videos of different subjects and in different lighting conditions. We also compare the results to those of previous models.
- Battery life and charging: It’s also important for us to evaluate how long phones last with light, moderate and heavy use, how long they take to recharge and how they do so (wired, wireless or both).
- Special features: These features distinguish the tested devices from a rapidly expanding smartphone market and we hope that they will bring added value to users, not the opposite.
- Prices and availability: Beyond budget considerations, we also take note of whether a phone is available in the US or only internationally.
For a more extensive breakdown, check out our full guide Phone Testing Methodology Page.