I Tried To Survive With A Google Pixel XL In 2025; Here’s How It Went
Contents
I’ve always enjoyed the original Google Pixel XL in Really Blue. The Pixel 2 XL gets all the attention, and rightfully so, but something about the Pixel XL’s design appeals to me. Until recently, it was the last time Google got aggressive with pigmentation on a phone, and I loved its clean aesthetic. It also reminds me of when Google kept its Android software mostly stock, and I enjoyed my experience with the phone.
Unfortunately, time passed the Google Pixel XL by. Google only provided 3 years of software support, and it’s been stuck on Android 10 without security updates for years. However, does that make it unusable in 2025? Nostalgia got the better of me, and I had to find out. I loaded it up with the most updated versions of modern apps to find out. I used the Google Pixel XL for a week in 2025; here’s what happened.
Related
Bringing it up to date
Mostly everything was supported
My Pixel XL wasn’t entirely outdated, as I powered it on and messed with it once every year. I may keep the apps updated, but I don’t seriously set up the phone for use. Most apps weren’t a problem. WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook didn’t protest about running on Android 10. I could download Slack for work, and my spirits were high. This was turning out to be easier than I thought. Unfortunately, there was a holdout. Asana, an app I need for work, wouldn’t download on Android 10. It was the only app that didn’t want to join the party, and I had to push on without it.
Other than Asana, the process was relatively painless. I could log into all my Google accounts and scroll Facebook in minutes. I was ready for my week of work on an almost 9-year-old smartphone, but app compatibility issues weren’t the only problems I faced.
Not a powerhouse in 2025
More RAM makes a difference
The Google Pixel XL’s spec sheet didn’t age well. It’s unfair to ask any smartphone from nearly a decade ago to perform like new, but the Pixel XL’s lack of RAM is particularly limiting. It only has 4GB of RAM, so my Pixel XL constantly closed programs in the background to manage. Unfortunately, that taxed the ancient Snapdragon 821 to its limit, forcing it to open programs repeatedly. I encountered numerous slowdowns with even basic tasks, more than similar devices from the time with more RAM. I wasn’t expecting screaming performance in 2025, but I wanted to be able to complete basic tasks without issue.
I enjoyed my time with the Pixel XL in 2025, but I don’t lack the self-awareness not to admit my enjoyment was partially fueled by nostalgia.
When the Pixel XL wasn’t busy closing apps, the experience was acceptable. I dealt with random slowdowns on X scrolls, and multiple notifications at once would cause my Pixel XL to have a fit. However, after a few moments, the performance would return to baseline, and I could mostly do what I set out to do. If you let apps load in properly and are patient, the experience can almost be considered smooth. Anything more complicated than a text or email, and you’re viciously brought back to the reality of using 9-year-old hardware. Still, I never experienced a showstopping error using the Pixel XL for a week.
The widgets were frustrating to set up, but once completed, I could replicate something similar to the layout I have on my modern phones. I love having a calendar and email widget on my second page. And once I tried several times to get the widgets to load, they mostly behaved.
Don’t ask for much, and you won’t be disappointed
It’s not a lifestyle phone in 2025
I enjoyed my time with the Pixel XL in 2025, but I don’t lack the self-awareness not to admit my enjoyment was partially fueled by nostalgia. I also helped prop up the Pixel XL’s capabilities by keeping the phone task and productivity-oriented. My work involves reading text, responding to emails, and collaborating with colleagues on Slack. If you keep to that workflow, the Pixel XL still has some life left.
However, once you leave work, your Pixel XL will have you wanting more. Sure, Instagram scrolls are possible and enjoyable, but even light gaming brings the Snapdragon 821 to its knees. More complex widgets and apps would tax the system’s limited RAM and bog down the phone. Battery life kept me to about 3 hours of screen time on a single charge, hardly the figure you’d desire in a daily driver. Even though it’s limited compared to today’s sensors, the camera holds up decently on the Pixel XL, producing a saturated and crisp image in ideal lighting.
Still, using the Pixel XL, I appreciated features no longer included in today’s flagships. I loved the 3.5mm headphone jack on the Pixel XL’s top frame. It also has a physical fingerprint reader on the back, which is still the perfect placement. The Pixel XL’s screen is gorgeous, and it makes me wonder how the company got so far off-course with screens in phones that came later, like the Pixel 4 XL.
Should you put your old Pixel XL back in service?
I don’t recommend using the Google Pixel XL for any serious work in 2025. It’s alright as a backup phone if you have one sitting around in a drawer or if you’re an enthusiast like me who enjoys returning to older hardware. Still, too many inexpensive budget and midrange options make more sense. And while a 9-year-old phone wouldn’t be considered, budget phones have gotten good enough that they are viable options against even two- or three-year-old flagships. I miss the Google Pixel XL, but I know it’s better off back in the drawer.
