Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: A king-sized comparability

Google’s new Pixel 9 sequence has arrived, and with it comes a brand new Pixel 9 Professional XL, the bigger of the 2 Professional fashions. Technically, it is a extra direct successor to the Pixel 8 Professional, which incorporates a a lot bigger show than the Pixel 8, however the “XL” provides a brand new dimension to the moniker, letting customers know that they’ve a selection.

We have had transient hands-on time with the Pixel 9 Professional XL and nonetheless must spend extra time with it earlier than we now have a full image of it. To this point, it appears prefer it may very well be the telephone to get if you would like a bigger flagship, or you possibly can doubtlessly avoid wasting cash and go for the older, extraordinarily succesful Pixel 8 Professional. Our Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional comparability ought to aid you select for those who’re having a tough time deciding.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Design and show

After years of sticking with largely the identical design for the Pixel sequence, Google is lastly altering issues up with what can solely be described as an evolution of its earlier Pixel design language. The enduring digicam bar current on the Pixel 8 Professional is gone, changed by a floating digicam visor that actually stands out among the many remainder of the Pixel 9 Professional XL design. That is maybe the obvious distinction between these two telephones, nevertheless it would not cease there.

The Pixel 9 sequence has adopted an iPhone-like design with a flat back and front panel and a flat body. If it weren’t for the digicam visor and the shortage of a Dynamic Island on the entrance, you might virtually mistake this for an iPhone. That is contrasted by the softer, much less angular design of the Pixel 8 Professional, with a matte glass again panel that curves into the marginally rounded body. Even the show, which is flat on the 8 Professional, has the smallest curve on the bezel the place it meets the body, and the digicam bar additionally curves up from the body as if the 2 are a singular piece.

Each telephones look nice in their very own approach, though it is unclear how the Pixel 9 Professional XL design will likely be acquired, particularly as soon as shoppers get it in hand. Some shoppers discover that flat, angular telephones are typically a bit painful to carry as they dig into their fingers when held with one hand, and the curved Pixel 8 Professional is pretty snug to carry. There’s a slight curve to the body, so hopefully that may alleviate any considerations.

Each telephones are additionally giant, with the Pixel 9 Professional XL sporting a barely greater 6.8-inch show. Regardless of that, the telephones have roughly the identical peak and width, though the 9 Professional XL is a bit heavier at 221g. However apart from the slight improve in measurement, there’s not a lot distinction between the 2 shows. The Pixel 9 Professional XL options the identical decision and refresh price however kicks issues up with increased peak brightness at 3,000 nits, which means you should not have any hassle viewing this show outdoor.

For cover, each telephones function Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and front and IP68 water and dirt resistance. The again glass can be matte on each telephones, which ought to present a softer contact, though you will discover some newer colours with the Pixel 9 Professional XL.

Google provides Obsidian and Porcelain hues for each telephones, in addition to some type of inexperienced. Nonetheless, as an alternative of blue, the Pixel 9 Professional is available in a pink Rose Quarts hue, which stands out among the many different choices.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Specs and {hardware}

Google has upgraded the Pixel 9 Professional XL with a brand new Tensor G4 chipset, which provides a 20% efficiency increase when shopping and is 17% quicker when opening apps when in comparison with its predecessor. How this actually interprets in real-life use remains to be but to be decided, however the focus stays clear: AI efficiency. Thus, Google is enabling tons of recent options with the chip, which we’ll talk about within the subsequent part.

Along with the chip increase, Google has additionally upped the RAM to 16, which means the Pixel 9 Professional ought to be capable to deal with extra duties. The 12GB options on the Pixel 8 Professional is nice for on-device AI processing, however 16GB offers the telephone far more room for actions.

One advantage of the brand new chip is help for satellite tv for pc connectivity, one thing we have seen on the iPhone and have been ready to see extra broadly accessible on Android telephones. We may see this seem on the Pixel 8 Professional sooner or later, as they need to additionally be capable to help it, however the newer Exynos modem within the Pixel 9 Professional mentions satellite tv for pc connectivity as a spotlight function.

You additionally get Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, and UWB on each gadgets. It is also value noting that the Pixel 9 Professional XL now makes use of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which needs to be extra correct than its predecessor.

Curiously, the battery contained in the Pixel 9 Professional grew ever-so-slightly, as much as 5060mAh from 5050mAh. Nonetheless, the massive change right here is the charging pace, which has been elevated by 7W. Google says {that a} 30-minute cost with its 45W charger ought to provide you with about 70% battery life, which is a enormous soar. The Pixel 8 Professional can solely attain 50% in the identical period of time.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Cameras

The Pixel 8 Professional provides spectacular cameras, and it is exhausting to argue with Google’s glorious computational pictures. The Pixel 9 Professional XL digicam setup is not an enormous improve from its predecessor, however there are some notable adjustments.

The 50MP sensor is just about an identical, which is okay. The Pixel 8 Professional’s digicam produces wonderful images with loads of depth and distinction whereas not being too excessive. It additionally takes incredible low-light and nighttime photographs, so I anticipate the identical from the Pixel 9 Professional XL.

Google outfitted the Pixel 9 Professional XL with a brand new 48MP ultrawide sensor, that includes a wider f/1.7 aperture, which means it ought to take higher low-light images than the Pixel 8 Professional’s ultrawide digicam. Nonetheless, the tradeoff is a barely narrower area of view at 123-degrees, in comparison with 125-degrees on the 9 Professional. The telephoto sensor has modified barely however nonetheless options the identical 30X Tremendous Res Zoom.

Selfies ought to get a lift, with a brand new 42MP sensor. It will seemingly use pixel-binning to take 10.5MP photographs, the identical decision because the Pixel 8 Professional, however this might additionally lead to sharper photographs and higher low-light capabilities. It additionally has a wider area of view, which makes it higher for group selfies.

Just like the Pixel 8 Professional, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is able to 4K video recording however will get a literal increase because of Tremendous Res Video Zoom, which seems to boost high quality when zoomed in. The Video Enhance function additionally will get upgraded and upscales video to 8K decision. It is admittedly a cool function, and we’ll need to attempt it out for ourselves, though it stays to be seen how helpful 8K movies will likely be on such a small display. Nonetheless, that is not the one cool software program enchancment aimed toward bettering your digicam expertise…

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Software program

Each telephones run Android 14, though Android 15 is probably going proper across the nook. Even so, the Pixel 9 Professional XL has just a few additional software program goodies that the Pixel 8 Professional would not but have or won’t even get. The 8K video is one such function, however there are a handful of cool AI-powered options that Google is touting with the 9 Professional XL. Amongst them is the Add Me function, which helps you to take a photograph after which you possibly can add your self to that very same picture because of an augmented actuality overlay.

Magic Editor additionally will get some new upgrades, with new Reimagine and Auto Body options, letting customers simply alter features of the picture to their liking or higher body a photograph.

However apart from digicam options, Google can be including another useful AI goodies, reminiscent of Gemini Reside, which helps you to have a extra pure dialog with the assistant chatbot, and Pixel Studio, which helps you to create photographs from textual content prompts. Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Climate are additionally new on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, which carry new AI enhancements to your screenshots with a Recall-like function and to your climate forecasts.

It is fairly seemingly many of those options will arrive on the Pixel 8 Professional, nevertheless it’s clear they have been constructed with the Tensor G4 in thoughts, which means you will get one of the best efficiency from the Pixel 9 Professional XL, which additionally has extra RAM.

In any other case, each telephones will obtain the identical 7-year replace promise, though the Pixel 8 Professional is already a 12 months into its software program lifespan, so the Pixel 9 Professional XL could also be your telephone if you would like that added longevity.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Which do you have to purchase?

These are two top-of-the-line Pixel telephones that may get you entry to a number of the most superior AI options Google has to supply. The Pixel 8 Professional is without doubt one of the finest there may be, and it is nonetheless a incredible selection for those who’re in search of an even bigger telephone with extra cameras and extra AI. In fact, the Pixel 9 Professional XL has improved on a few of that with its higher Tensor chipset, quicker charging speeds, enhanced cameras, and new AI options.

It actually comes right down to design and help. The primary is subjective, so it is not likely cut-and-dry which telephone has the higher design, and it is as much as your private style. Help on the 9 Professional XL will technically final you an extra 12 months since it is the newer telephone, however help on each nonetheless outpaces many gadgets in the marketplace.

The one factor is that not all the brand new AI options could trickle right down to the Pixel 8 Professional, and we’ll need to see what makes it down the road. However for those who’re not too nervous about that, then you definitely actually cannot go incorrect with both possibility, and the Pixel 8 Professional will no less than prevent a bit cash.

And if you would like one thing smaller however simply as highly effective, you possibly can try our Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 8 Professional comparability.