Google recently launched four new Pixel 9 smartphones. These include two non-foldable “Pro” smartphones, which we compare here: the Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Google has actually made no compromises with the smaller flagship this time. Basically, the two smartphones are on the same level. The larger model, however, has a larger display and therefore a larger battery. However, it has no particular advantages over the smaller version, so you can choose the size that suits you.
Of course, there’s also the standard Pixel 9 model, which is inferior to both but almost as powerful. The last new smartphone is Google’s new foldable device, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. With that in mind, we’ll first list the specs of the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. Then we’ll compare the two smartphones in a number of other categories, from design to audio output. Let’s get started.
Technical data
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
– Screen size:
6.3-inch QHD+ OLED (120 Hz, HDR, 3,000 nits)
6.8-inch QHD+ OLED (120 Hz, HDR, 3,000 nits)
– Screen resolution:
2856×1280
2992×1344
– SoC:
Google TensorG4
– R.A.M.:
16 GB
– storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
– Rear view cameras:
50 MP (wide angle, f/1.7 aperture, 1.2 µm pixel size, OIS, EIS), 48 MP (ultra wide angle, f/1.7 aperture, 123-degree field of view), 48 MP (periscope telephoto lens, f/2.8 aperture, OIS, EIS, 5x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
42 MP (f/2.2 aperture)
– battery:
4,700mAh
5,060mAh
– Load:
27W wired, 21W wireless (Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, 5W reverse wireless (no charger)
37W wired, 23W wireless (Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, 5W reverse wireless (no charger)
– Mass:
152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm
162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm
– Weight:
199 grams
221 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, WiFi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner in the display
– Operating system:
Android14
– Price:
Starting at $999
From 1,099 USD
– Buy:
Google Pixel 9 Pro (Best Buy, Google Store)
Pixel 9 Pro XL (Best Buy, Google Store)
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Design
These two smartphones look exactly the same. The only difference, of course, is their size. The “XL” model is essentially a larger version of the Pixel 9 Pro. Both phones are made of metal and glass. An aluminum frame is supported on the back by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The corners are rounded and the frame is flat all around on both devices. The frame is also curved towards the sides.
You will notice a flat display here on the front with a centered hole for the display camera. The bezels are thin on both smartphones and also uniform. The physical buttons are on the right side with the power/lock button placed above the volume rockers. If we flip the two phones over, you will notice that the back plate is also flat. Both smartphones have the same pill-shaped camera island with three cameras on the inside.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is quite a bit taller and wider than the Pixel 9 Pro, but the two phones are the same thickness. The “XL” model is also 22 grams heavier than the “Pro” device. Both smartphones are IP68-certified, making them water and dust resistant. It’s also worth noting that they’re both quite slippery, so using a case can be a good idea. Both devices have a matte backplate, matte camera island, and glossy bezels. They feel like high-quality tech in the hand, that’s for sure.
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Display
The Google Pixel 9 Pro features a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display with 2856 x 1280 pixels. The panel is flat and has an adaptive refresh rate (1-120 Hz). HDR content is supported here and the peak brightness of this display is 3,000 nits on paper. The display aspect ratio is 20:9 while Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the panel.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL, on the other hand, has a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with 2992 x 1344 pixels. It’s flat, supports HDR content, and also has an adaptive refresh rate (1-120 Hz). The peak brightness here is also 3,000 nits on paper, while the display aspect ratio on this panel is 20:9, the same as the Pixel 9 Pro. This display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
These two panels are basically identical. The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s display is larger and ever so slightly sharper, but the difference is barely perceptible, you won’t notice it. Both panels are vibrant and sharp, have great viewing angles and good touch sensitivity. Blacks are deep, as they should be. Both displays get more than bright enough even in direct sunlight, so no need to worry. Focus on the size that suits you, otherwise both panels are more than good enough.
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Performance
The Google Tensor G4 processor powers both smartphones. It’s a 4nm chip that comes directly from Google. It’s optimized for Pixel devices and their AI features, although technically it’s nowhere near as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Google also uses a Titan M2 coprocessor for security reasons. Both smartphones come with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and offer UFS 3.1 flash storage.
The performance of these two smartphones should be basically the same. That’s what we saw when we first used them, and that’s the only logical conclusion since they have the same chip, RAM and flash memory, not to mention the same software. So is the performance good? Well, the phones were launched two days ago at the time of writing this article, so we haven’t really had much time with them. However, our first impressions are positive.
Both devices are quite snappy in use. You can open apps very quickly and switch between them with ease too. General tasks like browsing, multimedia usage, messaging, etc. run very smoothly. As for gaming, you’ll have to wait for our full review. We haven’t been able to play any games yet and that will require extensive testing. Just note that neither phone is designed for gaming per se. The Tensor G4 isn’t exactly a gaming-focused chip.
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Battery
The Pixel 9 Pro has a 4,700mAh battery, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5,060mAh battery. The “XL” model obviously has a larger battery since it has a larger display. Both smartphones generally have good battery capacities considering their specs, but that isn’t always reflected in battery life. Well, we haven’t been able to actually test battery life yet, we can only share our first impressions.
We remain optimistic as battery life seems to be good on both devices. However, this should be taken with a grain of salt as we haven’t really put either phone through its paces. We don’t expect either phone to be the best battery phone on the market, but let’s hope both can consistently achieve at least 6.5-7 hours of screen time. We’ll report back once we have more information in a review.
Both phones support wired, wireless, and reverse wireless charging. The Pixel 9 Pro supports 27W wired charging, 21W wireless charging with Pixel Stand, 12W Qi wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Pixel 9 Pro XL supports 37W wired charging, 23W wireless charging with Pixel Stand, 12W Qi wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. Note that neither phone comes with a charger in the box.
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Cameras
These two smartphones have exactly the same cameras. That goes for all three rear-facing cameras and one front-facing one. You will find a 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.7 aperture, 1/1.31-inch sensor size, 1.2 µm pixel size, OIS, EIS) on both smartphones. They also have a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera (f/1.7 aperture, 123-degree field of view, 1/2.55-inch sensor size) and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (f/2.8 aperture, 133mm lens, OIS, EIS, 5x optical zoom).
On the front, both smartphones feature a 42-megapixel camera (f/2.2 aperture, 17mm lens, PDAF). The images these two smartphones deliver are identical. They are said to be the same in the camera department, which is nice to see. You have the option to choose the size that suits you best without having to worry about sacrificing top-notch camera performance.
As for the images themselves, they’re really good, at least based on our initial impressions. It’ll be a while before we can fully test the camera performance, but from what we’ve seen, the detail in the images is great and the images have that pixelated look, that high contrast look with highlighted colors. We’ve also noticed an improvement in depth of field due to larger sensors, which is nice to see.
Audio
Both phones have stereo speakers and support Spatial Audio. They sounded good at first, but we won’t make any assumptions before we’ve thoroughly tested both phones in this regard.
There is no audio port on either device. However, there is a Type-C port on the bottom of both devices that you can use. If you prefer wireless audio, both phones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3.
