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I reluctantly switched to the Pixel 9 Pro XL as the most sensible option for a recent trip, but it completely proved me wrong.
The 9 Pro XL, the largest regular phone in Google’s Pixel 9 range, isn’t a subtle handset by any means. It is an imposing slab of metal and glass, which combines the large 6.8-inch screen with a very striking camera module on the rear.
As someone who generally prefers small phones, this didn’t particularly appeal to me. But ahead of a trip to Hawaii for the Snapdragon Summit, which I knew would push my phone to its limits, this was the best option available to me.
The iPhone 16 Pro, which I had just reviewed, was still too unknown after switching to an iPhone for the first time in 12 years. And the Pixel 9 Pro’s battery life simply wasn’t good enough for the long days I knew lay ahead.
That made the 9 Pro XL a much better choice for this trip, but I still had a lot of concerns about how it would turn out. Fortunately, the qualities I was concerned about ended up not being a problem or were much better than expected. Let’s go through them one by one.
It’s too big and bulky
This was undoubtedly my biggest concern. The Pixel 9 Pro is a heavy phone and weighs 221 grams. With the official case applied, that became 265 grams. In other words, uncomfortably heavy when I first put my SIM card in. Initially, I couldn’t even hold the phone for long without my hand getting tired.
But it’s remarkable how quickly I got used to this. Within a few days I was using it like any other phone, and soon forgot it was even that heavy.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The size of the phone was also a concern, but it didn’t feel any different than any other large-screen phone I’d tried. While one-handed use may not be possible, that’s not something I look for in a handset, and it was still easy to use.
Of course, your mileage may differ here. I have quite large hands and could use the large pockets of men’s trousers, which may not be the case for you.
The battery life is still not good enough
When I read our full Pixel 9 Pro XL review, I knew that the 5060 mAh battery delivered better battery life than the 4700 mAh cell on the Pixel 9 Pro.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
But our reviewer Jon Mundy still called it a negative and simply described it as “fine.” That’s not a problem for everyday life, but during days of more than 12 hours with mobile data, location services and high brightness? I was worried.
Fortunately, the Pixel 9 Pro XL exceeded my expectations. It lasted comfortably through those long days with a reserve charge – usually around 20-30%. During my journey, I would describe battery life as a major strength of the phone, rather than a weakness.
Charging is too slow
But what about if the battery is empty? The 9 Pro XL is the fastest charging phone in the Pixel 9 range, but it’s still limited to 37W wired speeds. As someone who doesn’t charge their phone overnight, I thought I might run out of time to keep the battery running all day.
No. Using the 65W charger I brought with me, the 9 Pro XL consistently averaged around the 0-55% in 30 minutes that Google claims. In the 45 minutes or so I often gave myself before breakfast, it was charged enough for a whole day.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
I won’t enjoy watching videos on it
Before traveling, I knew the Pixel 9 Pro XL had a great screen. The 6.8-inch, 120Hz OLED panel is among the very best, especially with an impressive maximum brightness of 1198 nits, making it easily viewable in direct sunlight.
The 9 Pro XL is the best phone I’ve ever used for watching content
Jon Mundy / Foundry
But even though I brought my laptop, I didn’t use it for non-work related tasks. So could the phone really be a satisfying replacement for TV while you catch up on shows and watch YouTube?
Yes. Sure, the experience isn’t as good as on a larger screen, but I was surprised at how little I cared. The 9 Pro XL is the best phone I’ve ever used for watching content, with powerful stereo speakers often eliminating the need to plug in headphones.
I was definitely ready to get back to the TV as soon as I got home, but I never regretted not using my laptop or not getting a tablet.
Photos are not good enough to use on the site
We all know how good the Pixel’s cameras usually are, and the 9 Pro XL is no different. For photos it’s one of the best camera phones you can buy, while video is also much better than it used to be.
But the Snapdragon Summit had some very challenging lighting conditions, from low-light environments to direct sunlight. Without a dedicated camera, I also had to make sure the photos were good enough to use in my reporting on the site.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL certainly didn’t disappoint. Throughout my time in Hawaii it was a reliable performer, delivering bright, sharp photos that were well exposed and packed with detail.
If you want proof, you can see photos of the phone in my coverage of the Summit:
The 9 Pro XL also came into its own during the extra time I spent on the island, capturing dramatic landscapes and beautiful sunsets. When it was time for a selfie or video, it was a reliable performer.
It’s important to note that the Pixel 9 Pro XL isn’t a perfect phone by any means. The size and weight will cause issues for some people, and I still wish the loading speeds were better.
Then there is the price. The 9 Pro XL starts at £1,099 / $1,099 if you pay full price, which is frustratingly expensive, even if that goes a long way to justifying that.
Hopefully the phone will be significantly cheaper this Black Friday, because I want more people to be able to experience the benefits of using Google’s latest and greatest, whether they have a trip planned or not.