This year Google is taking an alternative route with its Pixel smartphones. The company will follow Apple’s trend and will have two Pixel 9 Pro smartphones: One regular Pixel 9 with Pro specs, and a bigger variant dubbed Pixel 9 Pro XL. The XL will be the smartphone we’ve used in the Pixel series since the Pixel 6 Pro, however, this year we will see some changes in the design language. Today, there is an extensive 19-minute hands-on video that shows the new flagship in all its glory. It’s one of the best previews we get for the smartphone ahead of its reveal on August 13.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL New Design Language
The video confirms the Pixel 9 Pro features a flat sides design. The company also changed the design of its camera visor. The island protrudes a bit more and no longer extends from side to side. It’s closer to a conventional camera design than the visor we’ve been used to in the Pixel series.
The front features a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with nearly QHD+ resolution and up to 120 Hz refresh rate. The front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, although Google managed to deliver a matte finish to the rear glass.
Google Tensor G4
Under the hood, the Pixel 9 Pro XL features the Google Tensor G4 chipset. It is said to be 15% faster than the Tensor G3. It lags behind the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but after three Tensor Generations, we already know that Google is not pursuing the competition’s performance.
The Tensor G4 appeared on Geekbench last month and it gave us some insight into the chipset’s specs. For instance, it will bring a Prime Core clocked at 3.1 GHz, three performance cores at 2.6 GHz, and four performance cores at 1.95 GHz. For graphics tasks, the device will be equipped with a Mali-G715 GPU. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL scored 1,378 cores in the single-core tests and 3,732 points in the multi-core department. The device appeared on Geekbench with 16 GB of RAM and Android 14. The new chipset also improves significantly in battery life, and Google is confident the phone will deliver more efficiency even with the same 5,050 mAh battery.
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Incremental Upgrades in the Camera Department
In terms of optics, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL will feature a triple camera setup and it uses the same arrangement from last year. It brings a 50 MP main camera, a 48 MP ultrawide, and a 48 MP 5x periscope camera. However, every year Google manages to improve image quality via software. We’re keen that the Pixel 9 Pro XL will capture better images and videos when compared to its predecessor. Moving on, the selfie camera does bring a hardware upgrade. Google ditches the 10.5 MP camera for a 42 MP sensor.
Judging by the leaks, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL will cost €1,200 for the base 128 GB variant. It will go all the way up to €1,690 for the high-end model with 1 TB of Internal Storage.
Pixel 9 Pro XL Technical Specifications
- Display: 6.8-inch Display with 2,992 x 1,344 pixels of resolution, 487 ppi, 120 Hz, and HDR10+
- Build: Glass back cover and aluminum edges
- Protection: IP68 (immersion to a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes), Gorilla Glass
- Processor: 4nm Google Tensor G4
- Memory Options: 12GB/256GB, 12/512GB, 16GB/1TB
- Rear Camera: Main camera: resolution 50 MP, aperture f/1.7, sensor 25 mm, matrix size 1/1.31″, pixel size 1.2 µm, multi-zone laser autofocus, two-pixel PDAF, optical stabilization; Telephoto: resolution 48 MP, matrix size 1/2.51″, two-pixel PDAF, optical stabilization, 5x optical zoom; Ultra-wide-angle lens: 48 MP resolution, 1/2.51″ matrix size, dual-pixel PDAF.
- Front-Camera: Resolution 42 MP, matrix size 1/2.51″, PDAF, Video recording in 4K@60fps;
- Communications: 5G network, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, navigation services GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS;
- Sound: Stereo;
- Battery and Charging Tech: 5050 mAh, Wired 30 W (up to 50% in 30 minutes), wireless 23 W
Besides the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, we will also see the Pixel 9, a Pixel 9 Pro with the same display size as vanilla, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
