Phone Comparisons: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra

This time around, we’re comparing Xiaomi’s new flagship smartphone vs the very best Google has to offer. In other words, here’s a comparison between Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra. These two smartphones are both great and offer very compelling cameras, but they’re also quite different at the same time. That goes not only for their designs but their internals as well, not to mention the software they offer.

We will, as per usual, first list their specifications. Following that, we’ll compare the two smartphones across a bunch of categories, including design, display, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. There is a lot of ground to cover here, so… let’s get down to it, shall we?

Specs

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra, respectively

– Screen size:
6.8-inch QHD+ OLED (flat, adaptive 120Hz, HDR, 3,000 nits)
6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED (flat, adaptive 120Hz, 3,200 nits max brightness)
– Display resolution:
2992 x 1344
3200 x 1440
– SoC:
Google Tensor G4
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
– RAM:
16GB (LPDDR5X)
16GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 3.1)
512GB/1TB (UFS 4.1)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, OIS, EIS), 48MP (ultrawide, f/1.7 aperture, 123-degree FoV), 48MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, OIS, EIS, 5x optical zoom)
50MP (f/1.6 aperture, 23mm lens, 1-inch sensor size, 1.6um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS), 50MP (ultrawide (f/2.2 aperture, 115-degree FoV, 1/2.76-inch sensor size, 14mm lens, 0.64um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF), 50MP (telephoto, 1/2.51-inch sensor size, 3x optical zoom. 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, macro 10cm, OIS), 200MP (periscope telephoto, 1/2.76-inch sensor size, f/2.2 aperture 14mm lens, 115-degree FoV, 0.64um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF)
– Front cameras:
42MP (f/2.2 aperture)
32MP (f/2.0 aperture, 21mm lens, 1/3.14-inch sensor size, 0.7um pixel size)
– Battery:
5,060mAh
5,410mAh
– Charging:
37W wired, 23W wireless (Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, 5W reverse wireless (no charger)
100W wired, 80W wireless, 10W reverse wireless (charger included)
– Dimensions:
162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm
161.3 x 75.3 x 9.4 mm
– Weight:
221 grams
226/229 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3/6.0
– Security:
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
In-display fingerprint scanner (ultrasonic) & facial scanning
– OS:
Android 14 (upgradable)
Android 15 with HyperOS 2
– Price:
$1,099+
€1,499
– Buy:
Pixel 9 Pro XL (Best Buy, Google Store)
Xiaomi 15 Ultra (Amazon)

The moment you look at these two phones, you’ll notice how different they are. Yes, they’re both made out of aluminum and glass, though the Xiaomi 15 Ultra also comes in an eco leather back variant. Well, the vast majority of its back is covered by eco leather in that model. That variant also offers more grip than the rest. Both smartphones also have flat sides, but they do feel different in the hand, and look different too.

You’ll notice a centered display camera hole on the front of both phones. That camera hole is different in terms of size and position, though. Both smartphones have flat displays, but the glass on top of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s display is curved on all sides, slightly. The physical buttons on both phones are placed on the right-hand side, but they’re positioned differently. On the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the power/lock button sits above the volume up and down keys.

Their backplates are considerably different too. The one on the Pixel 9 Pro XL is completely flat, other than the camera island, but that’s not the case with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a pill-shaped camera island which spans from left to right side in the upper portion of the phone’s backplate. It’s a camera bar, basically. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra features a large camera oreo on the back, which takes a large chunk of the upper portion of the phone’s back side.

Both smartphones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. They do feel considerably different in the hand, but they both do feel like well-made devices. Just to be clear, we had way more time to use the Pixel 9 Pro XL than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, so keep that in mind. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is slightly taller, wider, and thinner, while it’s also slightly lighter in comparison.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Display

A 6.8-inch 2992 x 1344 LTPO OLED display sits on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. It offers an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz), and supports HDR10+ content. The peak brightness is 3,000 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio is 88%. The display aspect ratio is 20:9, while the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects this phone’s display. Yes, the panel on the Pixel 9 Pro XL is flat, in case you were wondering.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, on the flip side, features a 6.73-inch 3200 x 1440 LTPO AMOLED display. That display is also flat, but it has curved glass on top. It supports an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz), and Dolby Vision too. HDR10+ is supported, as is HDR Vivid. The peak brightness here is 3,200 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio is almost 90%. The display aspect ratio this phone offers is 20:9, while the Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0 protects the display.

Both of these displays are very good. They’re vivid, offer great viewing angles, and they’re more than sharp enough. The touch response is good on both, while both panels also offer those deep OLED blacks that people love so much. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s panel does have the advantage of offering high-frequency PWM dimming, while both displays get more than bright enough.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Performance

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is fueled by the Google Tensor G4 processor. That is Google’s 4nm chip, Google paired that SoC with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, on the flip side, is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a 3nm chip, and Qualcomm’s most powerful offering. In addition to that, this phone offers 16GB of RAM globally, along with UFS 4.1 flash storage. Neither phone supports storage expansion, by the way.

That chip inside Xiaomi’s smartphone is more powerful, without the doubt. The Tensor G4 cannot keep up, but the Tensor is optimized specifically for Pixels, and it works great in the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Yes, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is snappier in direct comparison, but if you don’t compare them side by side, you really won’t notice the difference. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is plenty fast, that’s for sure. There’s no lag here or anything of the sort.

When it comes to games, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is probably the better choice. We did not have a chance to review the phone, we only used it for a while, so take note of that. The Pixel 9 Pro XL does do a good job with games, but when it comes to the most demanding ones, it can struggle a bit. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra should do a better job in that regard, but we cannot guarantee that. Both phones are very competent performers, though.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Battery

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with a 5,060mAh battery. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra includes a 5,410mAh battery, globally. In China, that phone has a 6,000mAh battery. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL does offer very good battery life, but it seems like it cannot compare with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. From what we’ve seen, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra trumps the Pixel 9 Pro XL in the battery department.

The thing is, both of these phones will be more than enough for most people. Both of them can easily last you through the day, though if you push your phones really hard, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will end up offering more juice in the end. That’s not surprising considering the battery capacity difference, of course. Chances are you won’t be disappointed with either phone when it comes to battery life, though.

When it comes to charging, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a huge advantage. It offers 90W wired, 80W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging. The Pixel 9 Pro XL supports 37W wired, 23W wireless (with Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, and reverse wireless charging. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra not only charges a lot faster both via the wire and wirelessly, but it also comes with a charger in the box, unlike the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Well, at least in Europe.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Cameras

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has three cameras on the back, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has four. Google’s handset includes a 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor), a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor, 123-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (1/2.55-inch sensor, 5x optical zoom).

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, on the other hand, has a 50-megapixel main camera (1-inch type sensor), and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.76-inch sensor size, 115-degree FoV). On top of that, a 50-megapixel telephoto camera (1/2.51-inch sensor size, 3x optical zoom, macro) is included, as is a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (1/1.4-inch sensor size, 4.3x optical zoom). Leica lenses are in use here.

We did not have much time with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera thus far. From what we’ve seen, though, it does overall provide sharper images. The image styles are also totally different, the images from the Xiaomi 15 Ultra do tend to look closer to real life. The Pixel 9 Pro XL can compete, but most of the time, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes out on top. It all depends on the scene. Both of these phones do pack in very capable cameras, though, each of which has its issues.

Audio

There are also stereo speakers included on both smartphones. The ones on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra are a bit louder, but the audio quality from both sets of speakers is good. It’s different, though, so if you have a chance to hear both, that would be best. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s speakers do seem to offer a wider soundstage.

There is no audio jack on either one of these two smartphones. You can connect your wired headphones via their Type-C ports, though. Alternatively, for wireless audio connectivity, the Pixel 9 Pro XL offers Bluetooth 5.3, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra supports Bluetooth 6.0.