Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL: A tale of two screen sizes
by Chris Thomas · Android PolicePocketable and powerful
Google Pixel 9 Pro
The Pixel 9 Pro is, in a way, the evolution of the Pixel 8 that so many enthusiasts wanted. With nearly unrivaled hardware packed into a relatively compact body, you'll no longer have to sacrifice the performance edge to get something that fits easily into your pocket.
Pros
- Zero performance compromises
- Comparatively compact construction
- The same impressive brightness and pixel density
Cons
- Slower charging than the XL
- Heavier than its similarly sized predecessor
Hard-to-beat bigness
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Building on the success of the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts one of the biggest, brightest, pixel-packed displays on the market. Inside, it features all the hardware necessary to deliver a top-of-the-line Android experience for years to come.
Pros
- Large screen maximizes image capture and editing
- A hair slimmer than the last big-screen Pixel
- Increased charging speeds
Cons
- $100 more than the 9 Pro, $200 more than the 8 Pro
- Simply too big for some people
Google's Pixel lineup has been at the forefront of smartphones for years. Until recently, though, choosing the more compact version meant you'd miss out on the most advanced hardware and cutting-edge features. That changed with the release of the Pixel 9 lineup.
Now, you can get the best of the best in a more portable form factor that's identical to the smaller Pixel — no major trade-offs necessary. The 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro offers top-of-the-line specs without the bulk and heft of previous Pro releases, but you can still opt for the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL, which has few differences compared to the smaller model; minimal changes ensure both perform with almost the exact same excellence.
Price, availability, and specifications
The smaller Pixel 9 Pro starts at $1,000 for 128GB of storage, but can be as much as $1,450 for 1TB. The XL is priced at exactly $100 more across the board and, not for nothing, a consistent price comparison like that does make it a little easier for buyers to gauge which offers a better value for their money.
Both shipped on September 4, 2024 in all major markets. You'll find both the 9 Pro and XL at all major retailers and carriers, although some configurations are more popular than others. The 256GB Porcelain colorway, for example, was temporarily out of stock on Amazon at press time.
Speaking of which, per-color availability is a little more complicated. Only the Obsidian model offers the maximum 1TB of storage, while Porcelain and Hazel can only go as high as 512GB. The eye-catching Rose Quartz model is paired exclusively with 256GB inside (and, incidentally, is one of the harder ones to find in stock). Both high-end Pixel 9s share the same color and storage configuration options.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Google Pixel 9 Pro XL SoC Google Tensor G4 Google Tensor G4 Display type LTPO OLED, 1-120Hz LTPO OLED, 1-120Hz Display dimensions 6.3" 6.8" Display resolution 1280 x 2856 2992 x 1344 RAM 16GB 16GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB Battery 4,700mAh 5,060mAh Charge speed 27W wired, 21W wireless 37W wired, 23W wireless Charge options USB-C wired, Qi wireless USB-C wired, Qi wireless Ports USB-C USB-C SIM support Nano-SIM and eSIM Nano SIM and eSIM Operating System Android 14 Android 14 Front camera 42MP, f/2.2 42MP f/2.2 Rear camera 50MP, f/1.7, OIS main; 48MP, f/1.7 ultrawide; 48MP, f/2.8, 5x telephoto 50MP, f/1.7, OIS main; 48MP, f/1.7 ultrawide; 48MP, f/2.8, 5x telephoto Wi-Fi connectivity Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3 Dimensions 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm Weight 199g 221g IP Rating IP68 IP68 Colors Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, Rose Quartz Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, Rose Quartz Price From $999 From $1,099
Read our review
Review: The Pixel 9 Pro is Google's Goldilocks flagship
Not too big, not too small; just right
Read our review
Review: The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is now the best big Android phone
Google's big flagship earns its $100 price bump and then some.
Design
A little different, a lot of the same, but no complaints
Both sport notably luxurious frames and matte glass backs
The Pixel 9 Pro looks essentially identical to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but shrunk by roughly 10%. Considering how similar everything else is about these devices, this is a huge boon to the many demanding customers who decried the Pixel 8's shortcomings compared to the Pixel 8 Pro. And while they're both heavier than the previous generation, they also share a slightly more lithe 8.5mm thickness.
The slimmer bodies come alongside a pretty significant change to the phones' functional design. A quick glance at a render gives the impression of a similar design language to the past, but just a bit more investigation reveals relatively important changes. The Pixel 9 Pro and XL's newly flat sides maximize screen space and make them easier to hold than previous models.
The most visually noticeable update to both is the practically iconic camera visor of the past has yielded to a floating almost-oval — a rectangle bounded on either end by a semicircle, a shape known obscurely as a stadium. Ousted is the former marshmallow-esque aesthetic, in favor of an industrial look reminiscent of Thomas Bangalter's helmet of Daft Punk fame. There are no more cutesy curves on Google's phones, and it's a welcome update.
Related
Google Pixel 9: What I love and hate about its design
A lot to like, some to dislike
Display
The real reason to pick one or the other
Without a doubt, the Pixel 8 Pro was one of our favorite phones of 2023, but it was and is prohibitively large for a lot of potential buyers. And one real gripe with the base Pixel 8 was that it lagged behind the display brightness, pixel density, and durability of its larger sibling.
Google's decision to put the bigger Pixel Pro in the dryer and shrink it has put those worries behind us. This time around, you're looking at a pair of the most impressive displays we've ever seen, and the only significant difference between them is the size. The Pixel 9 Pro's 6.3-inch panel sports the same borderline-absurd 3,000-nit peak brightness as the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL's.
Pixel densities, screen-to-body ratios, and relative bezel sizes are practically identical, and both at the top of their classes. The smaller one also now sports the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which boasts a near-perfect balance of scratch and crack resistance. Google took everything we loved about the Pixel 8 Pro's industry-leading screen, made it even better, and ensured the smaller Pixel 9 Pro matched it exactly. We consider that a win for consumers.
How the Pixel 9 Pro and XL compare to each other, and some other top devices
Software
Finally, equality at the high end of Android performance
One of the biggest complaints about the previous Pixel family was that you were forced to wield one of the biggest slab phones in the world to get the best software tricks. It's yet another problem Google's made extinct, promising the same software for both the small and large top-shelf Pixels. Photography Pro Controls, identical on-device Gemini AI right off the bat, and a better-than-expected thermometer mean either device will satisfy Android fans.
While that is arguably an even bigger win for consumers, the most demanding flagship phone aficionados also take a bit of an L with the phones' software release schedule. Yes, Google pioneered the seven-year Android update lifespan, but what good is that seventh year if a phone ships with last year's Android version?
We wouldn't necessarily call the Pixel 9 family's Android 14 installation an inexplicable decision from the Big G, as Android 15 promises worthwhile upgrades that consumers deserve to see perfected out of the gate, but it's at least a bit of a disappointment. On the other hand, you might not keep your Pixel 9 Pro or XL for seven years, anyway, so this probably affects the secondhand market as much as anything.
Related
Android 15 is actually a big update, but you wouldn’t know it
Google doesn’t feel like marketing Android anymore
More generally, both feature Google's own interpretation of the Android Open Source Project. In a mild dash of irony, Google's launcher tends to be a little less customizable than popular alternatives. But it's clearly doing something right, as plenty of users appreciate how it's tailored the interface and feature set.
Performance
Shared hardware with a disappointing lateral move at CPU
As far as Google's concerned, neither new Pixel Pro pulls any punches. A welcome 16GB of RAM lends credibility to the phones' long lifespan, including — to some extent — their ability to maintain Gemini AI effectiveness over the years. They each have all the bells and whistles, including UWB support, fantastic stereo speakers, upgraded modems, and optional satellite SOS connectivity (which will eventually require a subscription).
We're also tickled to point out that, at long last, Pixels have finally abandoned the oft-criticized optical fingerprint scanner in favor of a considerably more consistent ultrasonic sensor. The sameness between the two Pixel Pros ensures that nobody's left out, whether you want the big one or the small one.
8:44
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Unfortunately, they're both also using the Tensor G4 system-on-a-chip, manufactured by Samsung Semiconductor. While this will change with the G5 as TSMC takes up Tensor G5 production, the choice continues Google's tradition of trailing behind Qualcomm chipsets. What higher clock speeds the G4 offers vs. the G3 are offset by the downsizing from 4 to 3 performance cores, and the marginal 100MHz increase in the AI core won't make a difference.
Nonetheless, you'll only find the SoC a big drawback if you plan to really put your phone through the ringer, or compare its onboard AI performance side-by-side with, say, a Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Pixel 9 Pros aren't the best for gaming by a long shot, but still get fine frame rates in new titles. Chiefly, know that you'll see identical performance from either Pixel 9 Pro size.
Battery life
When different is actually (mostly) the same
All these clear similarities add up to a closely aligned power draw, too. The only thing separating the two is the XL's exactly 10%-higher pixel count. That dovetails perfectly with the 7.6% larger battery — you won't see any appreciable difference in battery life.
What you might notice is the increase to 37W wired charging. That could, arguably, afford to be a little faster (especially when full-size competitors like the OnePlus 12 max out at a whopping 80W), but it'll be fine for most uses. The Pixel 9 Pro should move from zero to 55% in a half-hour, with the XL seeing a jump to 70% in the same time frame.
It's no industry leader, but it's really not too shabby in either case. Slower charging also encourages better battery longevity, so it's not a complete loss, especially if you do plan to keep your Pixel Pro for several years.
In what you could argue is a letdown, Google didn't manage to outfit either model with Qi2 wireless charging at the last minute, like so many had hoped. 12W of wireless power transmission isn't terrible, since wireless charging is all about passive convenience. The bigger miss here is the lack of built-in magnets. In both models, case-free support for magnetic accessories would have been awesome.
Ah well, maybe next time.
Camera
This is getting out of hand; now, there are two of them
The Pixel 9 Pro improves only marginally on the 8 Pro's world-leading camera array, but mobile phone photography enthusiasts with regular-size hands can breathe a sigh of relief: The smaller 9 Pro now contains the same 5X telephoto lens as the XL. The ultrawide sensor's a hair bigger, too, and adds an impressively effective macro mode. There's also a major selfie camera upgrade, to not just a 42MP sensor, but also a FOV increase to 103 degrees.
As always, hardware's only part of the story, and Google's imaging algorithms continue to lead the league. Nobody makes a better phone for instant, point-and-shoot success when framing still or moving subjects in nearly any lighting conditions. That's alongisde the continually advancing machine learning-based features that often focus on nearly magical image editing.
There's a lot to cover in terms of those AI features, whether camera-related or not, so we won't detail them here, but AP Phones Editor extraordinaire Will Sattelberg goes into great depth in his Pixel 9 Pro review.
Related
The Pixel 9 Pros are the phones I've always wanted from Google
Finally, a real deal small Android flagship
And even as Android 15 brings some of Google's vaunted software photo tricks to the masses, you can bet that its latest flagship phones will always get the first crack at the newest, novel technologies. We'd be surprised if anything could dethrone the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL this year in terms of user-friendly picture taking and video recording.
Which one's right for you?
It may or may not be an easy decision for everybody, but it should be a pretty simple one. Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL offer impressive hardware and software, refined design and build quality, long Android lifespans, and unbeatable camera performance.
But the smaller one delivers those top-of-the-line features in a Goldilocks-sized package. Unless you plan to multitask a lot, or insist on the biggest possible camera viewfinder and image editing interface, the more reasonably sized Pixel 9 Pro is probably the wiser choice.
Top pick
Google Pixel 9 Pro
We asked Google to bring Pro-level features to the smaller Pixel, and it delivered. With the latest in hardware and software refinements (SoC performance notwithstanding, that is), the Pixel 9 Pro makes a solid case for the best high-end phone of the year.
$999 at Google Store $999 at Best Buy $999 at Amazon
Nonetheless, the bigger XL is obviously nothing to sneeze at. If you were on the fence about upgrading from an older large-format Pixel to the 8 Pro, you'll want to pull the trigger on the 9 Pro XL. It offers everything you could want outside of premium gaming performance, and its large display makes everything as easy to see as possible.
More real estate
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
If you follow the "bigger is better" philosophy, the Pixel 9 Pro XL was made for you. Its upgrades are largely iterative, but serve to put this massive slab phone at the front of the pack by any nearly measure outside of raw benchmark performance.