Pixel 9 Pro XL Long-Term Review: Solidfying The Google Smartphone [Video]

As new flagship Android phones emerge, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is already a few months into its release cycle, but where does it sit? Have things already improved, or do we need to see more as the OS gets rebuilt for the AI age? Find out in our longer-term look at Google’s top-tier smartphone.

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For the past couple of years, we’ve finally had Pixel phones that are easier to recommend to everyone. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is not a cheap phone. It is not a phone that should be forgiven for making certain compromises, but it is a great experience wrapped up in a chassis that instantly feels familiar to those not aware that Google even made hardware.

If converting iPhone owners to Android is still the playbook, it’s hard to deny that the Apple-lite changes will turn heads. The one-two punch of Gemini and the ubiquity of the AI service could be seen as both positive and negative. Here’s how the Pixel 9 Pro XL has evolved in just a few short months…

Hardware and design

My biggest gripe with the Pixel 9 Pro XL is its somewhat annoying glossy sides. Despite practically babying my phone, I’ve amassed some minor dings and scrapes. While it looks nice from afar, the sheer volume of smears and smudges means I’m taking the phone out of a case to clean it up more often than comparable flagship phones.

Anecdotally, while I love the Hazel colorway, I feel like the Porcelain was the way to go. I’m jealous when I see the bright white and golden frame. It looks superb. Google really nailed the core colors this time around, no matter what your preference is.

I was worried about Google changing the shape, but you notice the frame nestle into your hands even when in a case. I am a little disappointed with the quality of the side buttons. There is a little rattle, and the power button is probably overdue a size increase. If we’re getting an iPhone-lite design, then we might as well get a larger power button, which is easier to reach and press.

If Google is pushing to convert iPhone people over to Pixel, it does make sense to have a familiar piece of hardware that makes the switch easy and painless. I could complain all day about the samey approach that Android OEMs take with specific hardware, but the reality for me at least, is that the software matters more.

To be honest, there isn’t much new I can add regarding the redesign from our original review – save the display. It’s borderline perfect. During the summer months, I love that I can see the screen even in bright, direct sunlight. On a recent flight with the bright sun cascading in through a window, I was able to sit and watch a YouTube video with zero legibility or visibility problems. It probably killed the battery a little faster, but I can charge to mitigate that quickly.

I said, “almost perfect,” as the slightly lower notch shouldn’t bother me, but it just irks you a little when you see UI elements drastically shifted down to account for the larger cut-out and come from an older Pixel. I’m not really a selfie taker, nor do I make many video calls, so it’s just an annoyance that only becomes frustrating if you notice it or pay extra close attention to things like that.

Performance and Android 15

In isolation, I have been very happy with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a little more from the internals, especially when I have used phones like the OnePlus 13 and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The presence of the flagship chip and, I’d argue, the faster storage means that you feel like you’re using a slower piece of tech.

That’s a nitpick. This is an important and growing nitpick in my book. You’re probably very sick of people constantly bringing up the question, “What will this phone feel like in a few years?” because, in truth, digging out an older Pixel and you’d be left impressed with how smooth they feel even with ancient SoCs and even slower storage stuffed inside. Without letting Google off the hook, at least the company will continue to refine and add finesse to the software experience that might hide (potentially) glaring performance gaps.

Something keeps coming up regarding the display and stutter. To be 100% transparent, I was unaware of this, but since it has been pointed out to me, this is something I am trying to be more aware of. In essence, some people can see display tears and minor stutter when scrolling through apps and menus. In my own testing, you can see undoubted scroll lag when using an excellent app like Openvibe.

Animations look choppy, and apparently, this has been an issue since the Pixel 8 series. Maybe because I don’t scroll very fast, I didn’t notice, but even despite protestations from Google that it has been fixed with Android 15, now that it has been pointed out to me, I’m seeing it in more and more apps. This seems to be a software-related problem, so I’m hopeful it gets fixed.

Initially, saving Android 15 for a post-launch rollout felt shortsighted, but the update is right at home on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Even with some scrolling issues, the experience remains typically “smooth” or about as much as it can be with that aforementioned screen stutter issue.

Using pure refinement, it’s impressive how well the Pixel 9 Pro XL runs compared to devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13 which are stacked with the best of the best internals. When used in isolation, you will likely never notice unless you are someone truly technically inclined.

Where does AI fit into Android? I think that lots of functions are almost ubiquitous across Android, like Gemini. I can’t honestly say that I have used Pixel Studio beyond a few weeks post-launch. Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Weather are AI-powered but could work on just about any phone. I’m not really sure where the major AI functions separate this from older Pixels.

As of Android 15, Gemini isn’t fully integrated into your phone; rather, it’s integrated into your account, and maybe one day it will be as ubiquitous as Search. Sure, you can throw the Android 16 Beta on your phone and test drive the next update, but the current public build doesn’t include much by way of integration with Big G’s big AI service.

Is this the “AI phone”? Well, no. It has some AI features and functions, but nothing truly groundbreaking as of early 2025 Lots of the core functions are already available on existing Pixels, which doesn’t help truly separate the Pixel 9 series from a software standpoint right now. We’ve seen lots of ML and AI functions just evolve like Call Screen, Hold for Me, and much more.

That’s probably why image generation and Gemini-powered functions don’t yet feel like they are mindblowing or truly game-changing. That said, the functions that are here are useful like Circle to Search, Gemini Live, and even image touch-up functions like Reimagine – so long as you are only making simple edits. I do doubt that I’ll keep my Gemini Advanced subscription beyond the 12 month free trial.

Longevity and battery

My one major complaint that seems to stick with just about every single Pixel I have ever used is how the battery holds up after extended usage. I’m 100% an edge-case, because while testing, tuning, tweaking, and generally covering Android day-to-day, I find myself killing the battery quicker than the average person.

For reference I’m at over 75 full battery cycles since launch and I have lots of apps on rotation for testing and whatnot. It’s one of the few concerns I have had, but it’s just that I expect a little more from a 5,000mAh battery. Can I get a full day? Yes, with ease. The only annoyance is that I see 20% or less at around 11:00pm after taking off charge at around 7:00am.

At least until the December Pixel Drop, I charged my phone to 100% every day. Since the introduction of the “Charge Limit” function, I’ve set the limit to 80%, and it hasn’t drastically affected how much time I get to use my phone each day. I do tend to go hours without even using my phone, so maybe there’s a reason for this lack of real-world lifespan.

I’m going to keep talking about the charging speed as we’re seeing Google make important changes in practically every area, saving this one important place. Yes, you can get 50% in under 30 minutes, which is great. I just wanted the official 45W charger to, well, charge at 45 or close to 45 watts. That’s all I want from the next generation.

Camera

I love the pictures I can take with the 9 Pro XL and for anyone that uses this phone they will too. The lingering problem is that everyone else has caught up and starting to surpass what was once the outright gold standard of smartphone photography. It’s like some of the sheen has been dulled. I get that most of the modes are designed to be foolproof, but why can’t we have more?

I really would love to see more controls in the admittedly lightweight “Pro mode.” It’s not exactly stuffed with options, and Samsung’s Expert RAW puts it to shame. As a purely point-and-shoot system, it’s great at what it does, and while I am less of a mobile photographer than I may have been previously, I am almost always happy with how things turn out.

There is plenty of detail, great dynamic range, and almost perfect handling of moving subjects practically held in stasis preserved as they should be. I can understand why Google has kept the camera interface super simple; it just makes you take your phone out of your pocket, hit the shutter, and get awesome pictures.

If you love taking selfies, then there are few better out there. You’re basically getting rear camera quality hiding in the display notch. Sure, not all apps make you look as good as the default camera application, but if you want the best selfies, look no further.

There are little things that are starting to need attention, in my opinion.

Google needs to fix the portrait mode. It has taken noticeable backward steps and is far behind the top-tier iPhone and Samsung Galaxies. Edge detection is basically broken at times, and I cannot recommend that anyone use this in-camera mode over punching in with the telephoto lens.

Video Boost is another head-scratcher. The thing is, the final video output is excellent, and I like that this at least gets around a limitation with the Tensor processors ISP. The 8K video that gets processed is incredible considering that it is 4K upscaled. If you have the storage capacity, I would 100% use this to future-proof precious family moments. The 8K video is the best I’ve seen come from a phone, even though it’s not technically shot at the same resolution.

The kicker? You can’t record for longer than 10 minutes. For 99.9% of people, this is fine, and I’m in that camp. My gripe? The best modes are still not obvious, and the long processing time will put lots of people off before they’ve even seen how much of a difference Video Boost makes to their footage. It’s a good workaround but simultaneously a cop-out. I’m just hoping for on-device processing in future Pixel phones.

Final thoughts

I’ve complained and nitpicked the Pixel 9 series quite a lot this year, and maybe it’s part and parcel of using the Made by Google lineup for so long. I want more from the phone series. Period. The fact of the matter is that the Pixel 9 Pro XL is just a good, solid Google phone. This is something we’ve craved for years leading up to probably the Pixel 7 series. Glaring faults are just not there anymore.

Remixing the design and shape has made for an exponentially better-feeling slab. While I would have loved a little oomph inside, it’s yet another prime example of refinement over re-definement. You probably knew that by now, as it’s nothing new and an intrinsic part of Google’s Pixel playbook. For nine generations, this has been the sentiment, and it applies here once again.

As good as this phone is at its best; my default device has switched from the Pixel 9 Pro XL to the 9 Pro Fold, but that doesn’t detract from just how solid the handset is. If you take away the bluster of the competition, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is right up there with the best from Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, Honor, and more. How that changes as the year progresses remains to be seen, but for now, it’s doing just as much with technically less. Like always, just avoid paying the full price, and you will get an even better deal.

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