I bought an opportunity to mess around with the Pixel 9 Professional XL, and man, it appears to be like like we now have to utterly overhaul our understanding of the brand new Pixel household. Initially, Google not has a dual-phone technique. It is a triple-phone deal now — effectively, 4 should you embrace the brand new Pixel 9 Professional Fold, too.
You’ve got bought the Pixel 9 Professional XL on the high, the Pixel 9 as your entry-level choice, and the Pixel 9 Professional smack-dab within the center.
From left to proper: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
It is as if Google is saying, “Hey, we wish to be within the huge leagues now with Samsung and Apple,” which, by the way in which, even have at the very least three telephones of their flagship traces. The Pixel 9 sequence additionally bought a worth hike. The beginning worth is now $799, up from $699, one other sign that Google desires to compete with the large canine.
With the last-generation Pixel 8 sequence, based mostly on optics, a typical shopper will see that there is only a small cellphone and an enormous cellphone — and so they’ll select accordingly.
The last-generation Pixel 8 sequence, with the Pixel 8 Professional (left) and Pixel 8 (proper)
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Now, with the brand new Pixel 9 sequence, the typical Joe will seemingly assume, “Hm, I see two smaller telephones and an enormous third choice.”
Credit score: Kimberly
Admittedly, it is a sensible technique from Google, as this visible lineup will goad many customers to go for most placing, salient cellphone: the Pixel 9 Professional XL. (And up to date market tendencies, like Apple dropping the mini variant from the iPhone line, point out that patrons gravitate towards bigger telephones.)
Now that you simply perceive the brand new lay of the land for Google Pixel telephones, let’s dive into my first impressions of the Pixel 9 Professional XL, and by extension, the Pixel 9 Professional since their function set is wildly comparable (save for the show and battery measurement).
Pixel 9 Professional XL hands-on expertise
Can we speak concerning the unbelievable new Tremendous Res Zoom? Featured on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, it may well zero in on topics as much as 30x, up from 20x on the Pixel 8 Professional. I examined it inside a constructing in Decrease Manhattan that’s a few mile, or 5,280 ft away, from The Edge (the tallest remark deck in the complete Western Hemisphere).
The Edge is circled in purple within the far proper nook.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
From a window inside a constructing close to Pier 57, I might see The Edge from a distance. I used the Pixel 9 Professional XL to zoom in on The Edge, and all of the sudden, tiny figures got here into view on the viewfinder.
Here is The Edge at 5x zoom (that is the max the Pixel 9 Professional XL can attain on the telephoto’s optical zoom earlier than digital zoom kicks in):
Pixel 9 Professional XL at 5x zoom
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
The Edge at 10x zoom:
Pixel 9 Professional XL at 5x zoom
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
And eventually, The Edge at 30x zoom:
Pixel 9 Professional XL at 30x zoom
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
I zoomed in so shut, I might make out the colour of some guests’ lighter-colored shirts. Hell, I might even depend how many individuals had been standing on the deck if I had sufficient endurance.
That is the cellphone you buy should you attend a number of concert events and also you wish to see your favourite artist from the nosebleed seats. I used to be blown away.
However wait ’til you hear this. Sure, Tremendous Res Zoom has gotten an enchancment on digital camera, but it surely’s additionally coming to video, too. Plus, you may improve your movies as much as 8K with a brand new function known as Video Increase. Google additionally says the Night time Sight Video function is best than ever, so you may take higher captures in low-light environments.
Mashable Mild Velocity
Each the Pixel 9 Professional XL and the Pixel 9 Professional have the identical digital camera system:
In comparison with the Pixel 8 Professional, the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL’s selfie digital camera jumped to 42MP from 10.5MP. I took selfies with each the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL, however we weren’t capable of safe them to point out our readers.
Selfies with the Pixel 9 Professional XL
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
However I will say, in comparison with the iPhone 15 Professional Max, I do not seem like an ogre because of post-processing tweaks (taking a look at you, Apple.) Plus, the selfie digital camera digital camera now has autofocus.
New design that tweaks the digital camera bar
The Google Pixel sequence is understood for its signature edge-to-edge digital camera bar. (I’ve all the time joked that the Google Pixel sequence appears to be like like Star Trek’s Geordi La Forge — or Roger Federer with a sweatband).
That is the Google Pixel 8 Professional, which has the edge-to-edge digital camera bar
Credit score: Alex Perry / Mashable
Now, Google reworked the funky function from a bar to an island.
Pixel 9 Professional XL in Rose Quartz
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Additionally, not like the Pixel 8 sequence, the brand new Google Pixel 9 sequence’ digital camera bar is colour matched with the chassis. Though the Pixel 9 Professional XL is designed to be the most important of the trio, it did not really feel unwieldy in my hand. But it surely positively will not slot in your pockets in the event that they’re of the smaller, tighter selection. Plus, I used to be impressed with the cellphone’s silky matte glass end, which did not acquire any grease nor fingerprints.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL, in addition to the Pixel 9 Professional, is available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose Quartz. I most popular all the colours however Porcelain just because, all because of my very own fault, I by chance smudged a little bit of my very own make-up on it after touching my face. As such, I simply know I would need a colour that hides stains higher. Nonetheless, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is very straightforward to scrub, irrespective of which colour you get.
Gorgeous show
Here is the place the Pixel 9 Professional XL differs from the Pixel 9 Professional. It packs a 6.8-inch, 1344 x 2992 show whereas the Pixel 9 Professional has a 6.3-inch, 1280 x 2856 panel. Apparently, the Pixel 9 Professional is smaller than the Pixel 8 Professional, which is 6.7 inches.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
It nonetheless has that engaging hole-punch design, and regardless of standing in a brightly lit room with daylight pouring in, the display screen was nonetheless punchy, clear, and well-illuminated. It is because the Pixel 9 Professional XL (and Pixel 9 Professional) has a peak brightness of as much as 3,000 nits in comparison with the Pixel 8 Professional’s 2,400 nits.
Battery life
The rule of thumb is {that a} bigger battery capability ought to result in extra battery life. If the Pixel 9 Professional XL follows that rule, it ought to outpace the Pixel 9 Professional with its 5,060 mAh battery capability in comparison with its smaller Professional sibling’s 4,700 mAh battery.
Each telephones are rated for over 24 hours of battery life and as much as 100 hours of battery life with Excessive Battery Saver.
Thoughts-blowing AI
Due to the brand new Google tensor G4 chip, the Pixel 9 Professional XL, in addition to the opposite Pixel 9 telephones, have arguably the most effective set of AI options I’ve ever seen on a cellphone.
For instance, with the brand new Add Me function, you may take an image of a bunch of associates, have somebody take an image of your self, and AI will merge that photograph collectively as should you had been within the authentic photograph:
Add Me function
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable / Canva
There’s additionally a brand new AI function known as Reimagine, which lets you choose an object in a photograph, and with a immediate, you may remodel it into something you need.
With Reimagine, you may remodel a highway right into a raging river.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable / Canva
For extra AI options coming to the Google Pixel 9 sequence, take a look at our record on the cool new perks coming to the lineup.
Remaining ideas
As I hinted on the outset, the brand new Pixel 9 Professional XL is designed to get folks to seize the priciest choice since customers are likely to gravitate in the direction of both probably the most premium choice or the entry-level mannequin. Now, the Pixel 9 Professional is the center youngster, making it much less engaging to customers.
Final yr, the Pixel 8 Professional, the most effective Pixel cellphone you may get, set you again $1,000. Now, the most effective Pixel cellphone you may get, the Pixel 9 Professional XL, units you again $1,100.
Once more, it is a sensible technique on Google’s half. Personally, I would gravitate towards the Pixel 9 Professional XL myself as a result of I all the time need the best-of-the-best. Plus, lengthy battery runtime is vital to me, so I would go for the gadget with the best capability.
General, this yr’s Pixel 9 sequence proves that Google is critical about competing in opposition to the most important gamers within the cell trade — and this daring transfer will problem Samsung and Apple’s dominance like by no means earlier than.
