The Google telephone I’ve waited for

I’ve all the time had what might in all probability be described as a silly perception within the Google Pixel collection. Ever since my school roommate returned from Christmas break with a Pixel XL in its Actually Blue end, I believed Google would finally have the very best Android telephone round. A daring hope, I do know — Google appears to kill off its finest merchandise simply as they attain their peak — however I believed it however. Certain, there have been hindrances and one-off options, however I feel my religion has lastly paid off. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is perhaps the finest Android telephone I’ve ever used, and it’s Google proper all the way down to the core.

For no matter purpose, my love for the Pixel collection didn’t begin with its near-stock taste of Android — it began with Google’s design. I do know, it’s best to in all probability like how utilizing your telephone feels over the way it appears, however that simply wasn’t me. I used to be drawn in by the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, two-toned finishes (nonetheless ready on one other Panda, Google), and the candy simplicity of the G emblem on the again.

Then, I watched the Pixel evolve. I watched Google undertake a bigger, sq. digital camera bump, tack on a show notch that’s not possible to neglect, and ditch the beloved rear fingerprint sensor — some modifications I appreciated and a few that I didn’t. As soon as Google launched a brand-new design with its now iconic digital camera bar with the Pixel 6 collection, although, I lastly felt prefer it was constructing in direction of one thing. It had created an Android flagship that was utterly totally different from what the likes of Samsung, Motorola, and OnePlus had been doing, and folks lastly began to ask what telephone I used to be utilizing purely based mostly on its appears.

Now, that distinctive, formidable design has matured with the Pixel 9 collection. Gone are the curves — each on the edges of the show and across the aluminum body — and the digital camera bar has morphed into extra of a digital camera island, buying and selling the potential for a two-toned Pixel for the safety of a digital camera bump that wouldn’t shatter if dropped on an edge. It’s a design evolution that I cheekily mentioned makes it my favourite iPhone ever, and I’m keen to face by that reality. No, it’s not actually an iPhone, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL lastly matches Apple’s lofty {hardware} requirements in a method that feels sturdier and extra dependable than Google’s earlier flagships.

Each fringe of the Pixel 9 Professional XL feels fastidiously thought of, with simply sufficient curve on the edges to make the huge 6.8-inch AMOLED panel decently comfy to carry and simply sufficient texture to the frosted Gorilla Glass Victus 2 again panel so the telephone shouldn’t slip proper out of your hand. If it does, at the least the IP68 score ought to guard it from the weather. Each panes of sturdy glass are joined by a color-matched high-gloss aluminum body that appears gorgeous however may work in opposition to Google’s largest flagship — at the least if in case you have smaller palms. The shift from barely rounded rails to completely flat ones makes the Pixel 9 Professional XL really feel thicker than the previous Pixel 8 Professional, although it’s a few third of a millimeter thinner at its widest level and is sort of the identical top and width. In case you’re fearful about that measurement, although, Google has a protracted overdue smaller Pixel 9 Professional to promote you, although both method you can buy a case for some added peace of thoughts.

Exterior of the brand new, flattened sides, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a story of small modifications that add as much as a major enchancment. As talked about, it has almost similar dimensions to its predecessor, but it provides an additional tenth of an inch of show actual property. What which means is that the Pixel 9 Professional XL has slimmer (however nonetheless even) bezels throughout. They’re slim to the purpose the place you received’t discover them — at the least, I didn’t — but the flattened body means you received’t by accident faucet the sides of the show, both. Google’s upgraded panel is brighter, too, peaking at 3,000 nits fairly than 2,400 and holding 2,000 nits in high-brightness mode as a substitute of 1,600. Even the colour choices on the Pixel 9 Professional XL really feel a bit extra grown up, with muted tones like Rose Quartz and Hazel changing Mint and Bay. They nonetheless look good, however they’re not fairly as vibrant as I’m used to.

Across the again, even the island-like digital camera bar matches completely on the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As a lot as I appreciated the visor-style bar on the earlier Pixels, I’ve discovered it simpler to place my fingers across the island, resting one comfortably beneath to help such a giant telephone. The slight texture of the aluminum helps, too, as I can really feel it and know that I’m not smudging my digital camera lenses. I’d smudge the temperature sensor, however I’ve ignored that characteristic as a lot as Google ignored it whereas launching the Pixel 9 collection.

Jokes apart, it’s outstanding how far Google has are available simply three years. I used to be impressed with the brand new design when it launched on the Pixel 6 collection, but holding the Pixel 6 Professional subsequent to the Pixel 9 Professional XL makes the previous really feel like little greater than a proof of idea.

After all, we are able to’t proceed a Pixel-based dialogue with out speaking about what’s in all probability the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s most vital characteristic. No, it’s not the triple-camera setup — it’s the Tensor G4 chipset. This yr, it comes backed by a whopping 16GB of RAM (13GB that you should use and 3GB that’s only for Gemini) and packs greater clock speeds throughout most of its eight cores. Regardless of these all-important upgrades, although, the Pixel 9 Professional XL nonetheless solely comes with 128GB of storage in its base configuration, as a result of causes. Come on, Google, even Samsung doubled the bottom storage on its Galaxy Z Flip 6, and it doesn’t have as many cameras to seize from or ready-to-go AI options to energy by means of.

Anyway, I digress as a result of everyone knows that the Tensor’s uncooked efficiency isn’t why it issues, it’s all in regards to the software program capabilities it unlocks. Earlier than we get to these, we nonetheless should benchmark Google’s newest in-house chipset. I ran it by means of our regular gauntlet of CPU, GPU, and battery assessments in opposition to equally geared up Android flagships and Apple’s high canine, and the outcomes are something however stunning. The Tensor G4 got here up wanting all the pieces besides the Tensor G3 in each Geekbench 6 and throughout 20 runs of 3D Mark’s Wild Life take a look at. To Google’s credit score, it’s closing the hole on the OnePlus 12 and its customary Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, nevertheless it nonetheless has lots of work to do to catch Apple and Samsung. That actual efficiency improve sounds prefer it’ll should look forward to the Pixel 10.

As regular, although, the Tensor G4’s uncooked numbers don’t make or break the expertise. Most individuals merely received’t push their CPU or GPU exhausting sufficient on a given day to really feel the distinction in opposition to one thing just like the Galaxy S24 Extremely. My dad, for instance, was fearful in regards to the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s decrease efficiency scores as a purpose to not purchase the telephone, so I popped my SIM out and let him take a look at drive it for a sunny day at Hersheypark. He put it by means of a typical day, checking baseball scores whereas ready in line for rollercoasters and snapping images whereas we tried to seek out shade with the animals in ZooAmerica, and left glad with the truth that Google can sustain along with your common Joe.

I spent for much longer with the Pixel 9 Professional XL, taking it to a Pittsburgh wedding ceremony and a soccer double-header in Washington, DC, however I reached the identical conclusion. It pushed by means of a full 90 minutes (plus stoppage) of snapping images from a budget seats, then dealt with one other hour or so of sunshine gaming in Railbound and Final Golf whereas ready for the second recreation to begin. My lengthy days within the solar had been sufficient to show me one factor — the Tensor G4 nonetheless finds a method to run heat. I’ll chalk a few of it as much as the climate because it was round 85 levels Fahrenheit, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL received toasty by the top of our Wild Life stress take a look at, too, which is mirrored within the sustained GPU efficiency drop between run 15-16, and suggests longer, intensive gaming periods will finally result in throttling.

Usually, thermal efficiency like that will have me very nervous in regards to the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s battery life, however Google appears to have turned that nook, too. The 5,060mAh cell is simply a hair bigger than its predecessor, nevertheless it tops the Pixel 8 Professional throughout most metrics in our battery drain take a look at by half-hour or extra. It confirmed enchancment throughout a simulated Zoom name, internet looking, snapping images, and recording 4K video — belongings you’ll in all probability do most days. The Pixel 8 Professional handed in higher 4K video playback and gaming battery life scores, although, which could come all the way down to its barely decrease clock speeds with the ability to stretch its juice only a bit additional.

As soon as once more, in actual life, the Pixel 9 Professional XL can go all day. I usually went two days between fees, leaving my charger behind for back-to-back days of soccer and theme parks, and nonetheless reached my house in Baltimore with somewhat juice remaining.

While you finally want a cost, the Pixel 9 Professional XL provides somewhat little bit of a headache. Though Google upgraded the charging speeds throughout its whole non-folding Pixel 9 lineup, you’ll be able to solely attain them if in case you have a explicit set of chargers. On paper, the Pixel 9 Professional XL helps as much as 37W wired charging with as much as 23W wi-fi charging from Google’s in-house second-generation Pixel Stand ($79 at Greatest Purchase) or 12W wi-fi charging from some other pad.

I (incorrectly) assumed that this meant it will work with any outdated USB PD PPS-enabled charger, so I grabbed my trusty 68W Motorola TurboPower charger — a charger that I beforehand used to fill the Galaxy S24 Extremely at full energy — and located that it wouldn’t go previous 27W on the Pixel 9 Professional XL. So, I consulted the powers that be (our resident charging professional, Robert Triggs), snagged a more-than-capable improve off Amazon, and charged my Pixel 9 Professional XL a whopping two minutes sooner than the Pixel 8 Professional.

That’s an oversimplification of the method, nevertheless it’s principally true. The Pixel 9 Professional XL stuffed its battery in 77 minutes to the Pixel 8 Professional’s 79 minutes, nevertheless it was sooner to each landmark alongside the best way. Google’s newer flagship reached a 25% cost and a 50% cost seven minutes sooner than its predecessor however then needed to throttle a bit more durable because it neared a full 100% to protect the battery’s well being and convey its thermals again in test. We’re nonetheless investigating this internally to see what the basis trigger is, however lengthy story brief, you’ll in all probability want a brand new charger to your Pixel 9 Professional XL, and even then, you’ll should watch out about which one you purchase. Watch this house for more information.

However now, for the actual purpose that the Tensor G4 chipset issues as a result of…

As Rick Osterloh mentioned extra instances throughout Made By Google than Brian Johnson sang the phrase Thunderstruck whereas singing “Thunderstruck,” we’re within the Gemini age. And, as a longtime Pixel fan and Android person, I all the time knew today was coming. I’ll readily admit that treating my telephone like a gateway to AI has all the time made me nervous, and to an extent, it nonetheless does. I don’t know if I like having all the pieces I do getting used to coach Gemini to take it off my palms, however that’s the world we dwell in.

For what it’s value, although, Google’s Gemini-powered options are actually good. The place lots of them felt incomplete on the Pixel 8 Professional, just like the artifact-laden Magic Editor, lacking Zoom Improve (which loved a long-overdue launch on the identical day because the Pixel 9 collection), and the considerably restricted Gemini Assistant, they really feel way more refined on the Pixel 9 Professional XL.

Gemini Assistant, for instance, took an enormous step additional into the uncanny valley with the launch of Gemini Stay, which supplies the AI assistant a way more human-sounding voice and a way more conversational, easy-to-interrupt stream. I attempted it each at Made By Google and as soon as I returned house to Baltimore, and I used to be shocked at how human Gemini Stay felt. It might take heed to me pester it for afternoon plans in San Francisco and wasn’t bothered once I minimize in to tell Gemini that I didn’t actually need to spend a lot cash or head to a museum. I even cross-referenced Gemini’s strategies with C. Scott Brown, our resident Californian, and he was inclined to agree with the concepts. At the moment, Gemini Stay has about eight voices to select from, starting from very human to somewhat extra generic, and I’ve been sticking to the generic finish of the spectrum.

Exterior of Gemini Stay, I’ve spent essentially the most time exploring Google’s new Pixel Studio — which could be very totally different from Samsung’s Portrait Studio. At its coronary heart, it’s a text-based picture generator that lets your thoughts run wild for higher or worse. I’ve loved placing a few of my favourite Star Wars characters into on a regular basis conditions, like taking part in in a non-cantina band or creating one-off graphics for my weekly run membership. There’s a little bit of a catch to that second concept, although — Pixel Studio received’t generate folks in the mean time. It’s doubtless for the protection of not placing political figures into compromising conditions, nevertheless it additionally dampens the enjoyable for these of us with good intentions.

The Gemini hits preserve coming in Google’s up to date Pixel Climate app. I’ve all the time appreciated Google’s strategy to the climate, utilizing a clear interface with a pleasant frog on the high, however the revamped Pixel Climate app is on a special degree. Certain, it nonetheless has your hourly and 10-day forecasts, nevertheless it now has an AI-generated climate report on the high, supplying you with a number of fast reminders for the circumstances. Typically, it’s useful, like a reminder to seize sunscreen in case the clouds burn off later, whereas different instances, it’s simply letting you realize that the climate exterior is nice. The place it shines, although, is with the organizable widgets that dwell on the backside of the interface. You’ll be able to drag and drop all the pieces from the wind route to the UV index into no matter order you like, hiding the much less helpful metrics like visibility and strain a bit additional down.

These are simply the Gemini-powered options I’ve discovered time to make use of — there are lots extra. Google has additionally given screenshots a style of its AI magic, permitting you to arrange and search by means of them like an enormous Pinterest board. The Pixel 9 Professional XL helps you to save info from telephone calls with its new Name Notes characteristic, too, however I are inclined to lose digital notes sooner than bodily ones, so I’ve skipped out on that characteristic.

And, as a result of it’s a Pixel gadget with an replace promise of seven years (overlaying Android variations, safety patches, and Pixel Drops), there’s in all probability a protracted checklist of AI-powered options we’ve but to listen to about that can make their method to the Pixel 9 Professional XL. I nonetheless can’t wrap my head round why Google launched its Pixel 9 collection with Android 14 fairly than wait till Android 15 was prepared — even when the brand new Pixel apps make it really feel extra like Android 14.5.

Now, for the second that longtime Pixel followers have been ready for — the cameras. I nonetheless have fond reminiscences of the 12.2MP and 16MP pairing from the again of my Pixel 5, nevertheless it’s clear that these days are lengthy, lengthy gone. That small, sq. digital camera bar has since stretched into an edge-to-edge digital camera bar to suit a 3rd sensor, and now it’s shrunk right into a pill-shaped island however saved the identical place among the many finest digital camera telephones round.

Relating to sensors, the Pixel 9 Professional XL isn’t a lot totally different from its predecessor. It packs the identical 50MP major digital camera with a shallow most aperture of ƒ/1.7 and the equal of a large 25mm focal size, and it’s nonetheless backed by a 48MP periscope telephoto that gives 5x optical zoom. This yr, although, Google swapped out its 48MP ultrawide sensor, selecting up the identical ƒ/1.7 most aperture as its major sensor however shrinking barely to a 123-degree discipline of view. It’s a small change that you simply’re not terribly prone to discover — however the additional gentle seize ought to assist those that love Google’s software-based macro mode.

When you get the Pixel 9 Professional XL out into the actual world, you understand that this isn’t the identical digital camera setup you noticed on the Pixel 8 Professional. The place I usually use the first sensor for the majority of my capturing, I discovered myself way more keen to depend on Google’s tighter telephoto sensor on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, punching into 5x zoom and past whereas watching Chelsea FC Girls beat Arsenal FC Girls in a pre-season pleasant. Even Google’s maxed-out 30x Tremendous Res Zoom is spectacular, capturing considerably higher element than its predecessor because of up to date picture processing. Let’s get to the photographs, and also you’ll see what I imply.

In earlier years, I by no means would have put a 10x zoom picture within the first row of a evaluation gallery. I’m used to them shortly giving up on particulars, even on a flagship-grade setup. This time, although, the Pixel 9 Professional XL blew me away. I stood underneath the steps to the higher deck at Audi Area and punched in on the flag waving by the Chelsea purpose. It is perhaps lacking a number of textures inside the folds of the flag, however the colours are spot-on, the main points are sharp, and you may simply make out the Arsenal followers within the far background with their crimson shirts and white sleeves. The Pixel 9 Professional XL dealt with a a lot wider scene with out situation, too, completely recreating the afternoon sky above the west aspect of Audi Area with its whispy clouds and not-quite-blue coloring.

As soon as once more, the Pixel 9 Professional XL nails the colours throughout all 4 photographs above — in sunny circumstances and only a few minutes earlier than rain. The macro shot of the white flowers is barely a real macro picture since I couldn’t maintain them nonetheless sufficient for an excellent shot, nevertheless it at the least exhibits off the shallow depth of discipline that the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s digital camera can obtain, retaining the primary few flowers in focus however falling off properly as you attain the water within the background. If I’ve one grievance from this set, it’s that Google didn’t obtain even lighting throughout the neon signal, with the C in YMCA lacking the glow that the opposite letters have.

The Pixel 9 Professional XL can deal with low-light capturing with glorious element, too, because of the dimensions of its major sensor. I captured the primary two pictures, with my colleague Paul Jones including the third, and all three present totally different strengths of the telephone. I notably like that the Pixel captured the gradual change within the colour of the sky to the left whereas nonetheless holding onto a number of of the clouds proper close to the lightbulbs. You’ll be able to nonetheless select particulars within the brick constructing, too.

The center picture barely counts as night time mode, because of the lights of Baltimore’s Interior Harbor, nevertheless it does present how far the Tensor G4 can stretch the sunshine it captures. You’ll be able to simply establish every rope within the rigging, and the black-painted boards on the ship’s aspect are nonetheless distinct regardless of the darkish coloring and even darker water.

Punching out, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s ultrawide digital camera places me in an attention-grabbing spot. Sure, the photographs all look crisp and free from distortion, however there’s not a lot extremely on this ultrawide. Google’s sensor solely punches out to 0.7x, which isn’t fairly as extensive as Samsung’s 0.6x or Apple’s 0.5x. I nonetheless suppose the Tensor G4 nailed the colours throughout all 4, and the main points across the edges are spot-on, however I’d have appreciated a bit extra of an angle.

Zooming in, although, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is just glorious. I’d usually dismiss photographs taken past 5x zoom, however this time, I fortunately shared photographs from the 10x to 15x vary on my Instagram story — each at an Orioles recreation and whereas watching soccer. Google’s 5x optical zoom performs an enormous position on this high quality, after all, primarily beginning it on third base once you punch into 10x zoom or extra and letting the Tensor G4 deliver it house. I don’t suppose I’d zoom in a lot nearer on the 30x picture as the main points get fairly mushy, nevertheless it’s spectacular how sharp the rows of membership seats and the announcers within the field are when taken at face worth.

After all, what Pixel flagship can be full with out software program options, proper? Up first, Google reimagined its panorama mode. I do know it won’t sound terribly thrilling — most individuals shoot a panorama as soon as and by no means come again to it — however the Pixel 9 Professional XL makes it a lot simpler. Moderately than information your telephone between two tight strains, you merely shift alongside the horizon, briefly pausing inside glowing yellow circles whereas the telephone grabs a picture. When you’re carried out, it stitches them collectively for easy photographs just like the one above. It does appear to battle with objects within the foreground, although, so there’s nonetheless somewhat little bit of ironing out to be carried out.

Google additionally lastly launched Zoom Improve nearly a yr after it was first introduced. Frankly, I see why it took so lengthy. There are some areas in each of the photographs above the place Zoom Improve appears to work effectively, like Aubrey Kingsbury’s proper leg and ponytail, however there are simply as many the place it struggles, like along with her identify on the again of her shirt and with nearly all of Trinity Rodman’s hair. However hey, it made that grass appear to be actually sharp grass, proper?

There’s nonetheless lots of potential for Zoom Improve to get higher over time, and I’m positive it should just do that with frequent updates — it’s simply not fairly there but.

After which, there’s Add Me, which does simply that — provides you (or a pal) to a photograph in order that no person has to overlook out on an opportunity encounter with a star or a household picture. It additionally works for any model of the pointing Spider-Man meme you can provide you with, as seen above. Add Me appears to want a comparatively diversified background to work correctly, although, as easy backgrounds are inclined to confuse its sense of scale, making one particular person a lot greater than one other in a shot.

Google additionally provides a variety of different AI-powered instruments you’ll be able to discover on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, like the flexibility to utterly change your images with the Reimagine characteristic in Magic Editor. I’ve tried to show the Ikea chair that my cats sleep on into a ship on uneven waters a number of instances now with blended outcomes, however I’ll say that longer-standing instruments like Magic Eraser present clear indicators of maturity, with fewer artifacts and smoother replacements.

One different digital camera that I haven’t talked about to date is Google’s up to date selfie shooter. The Pixel 9 Professional XL now has a whopping 42MP punch gap in its 6.8-inch show, and it makes essentially the most of its {hardware}. I didn’t suppose it will be considerably higher than the Pixel 9’s customary 10.5MP selfie digital camera, however Google’s top-end Pixel handed in higher particulars and extra correct colours throughout a number of totally different capturing situations. It additionally defaults to 1x zoom, however I favor the digital 0.7x ultrawide angle to suit extra of my background within the shot.

Lastly, I feel Google is after Apple’s crown because the king of smartphone movies. It now helps Video Enhance for clips at as much as a most of 20x Tremendous Res Zoom, both day or night time, and may upscale your clips to 8K decision, from which you’ll be able to pull 33MP nonetheless pictures. Combine in Google’s already glorious stabilization, and the one factor that’s lacking is to shoot in Log format to color-grade later. I’m not an newbie cinematographer, although, so I’m happy with Google’s default colour profile when sharing clips. In addition to, you continue to get cinema-like options like Pan and Blur for regular sweeping photographs and a mushy, movie-like focus in your topics.

It’s also possible to take a look at full-resolution variations of those photographs (and lots of extra from myself and different testers at Android Authority) at this Google Drive hyperlink.

As you’ve in all probability guessed, I actually, actually just like the Pixel 9 Professional XL. Regardless of the evaluation rating I’ve given it, it’s not perfection; nothing ever is. The Tensor efficiency upgrades look to be reserved for the Pixel 10, and the charging scenario is… complicated. However neither of those are dealbreakers for me, and I don’t suppose they need to be for you, both.

The Pixel 9 Professional XL feels just like the elite flagship telephone Google has been constructing as much as ever because it introduced its chipset manufacturing in-house, combining best-in-class software program updates with refined {hardware} and a novel design which can be each higher than ever. And sure, I do know I mentioned virtually the identical actual factor in regards to the Pixel 8 Professional once I reviewed it, however I promise you that the Pixel 9 Professional XL is all that however higher — even when it prices $100 extra.

Suppose you had instructed me, again once I was trying out my roommate’s Pixel XL, that at some point, Google would have a flagship with higher {hardware} than the iPhone, three extremely succesful, AI-powered cameras, genuinely good battery life, and that it will obtain software program updates into the beginning of the 2030s. In that case, I might need laughed at you. It might need appeared like my dream, however my actuality was a Pixel with one 12.3MP digital camera, chunky high and backside bezels, and only a few years of updates on the horizon. I believed Google would quit on its Pixel collection earlier than it reached this level, however now I ponder the way it will enhance for the following era. Someplace on the market, it is a child’s first Pixel, they usually have no concept what they missed.

Oh, and should you occur to suppose that the huge Pixel 9 Professional XL is an excessive amount of telephone for you, Google has an answer: the smaller Pixel 9 Professional ($999 at Amazon). It packs a lot of the identical Google-y goodness with Gemini options, digital camera smarts, and high-end {hardware} because the Pixel 9 Professional XL, simply compressed right into a 6.3-inch physique. There are some trade-offs, like a smaller battery and slower charging, however I’d say they’re value it for what is perhaps essentially the most succesful small Android telephone in a very long time, and I’ve solely simply begun utilizing it on the time of penning this evaluation.

And but, I don’t suppose everybody will just like the Pixel 9 Professional XL. It’s a superb telephone in a crowded market of improbable telephones, and it’s more durable than ever to drag somebody out of their most popular ecosystem. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Extremely ($1419.99 at Amazon) is the Pixel’s most pure rival, providing an identical 6.8-inch show with a a lot boxier type issue. It’s an influence person’s dream, pairing the S Pen with the highly effective Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset and working its quad-camera setup again for one more yr (although shifting objects are nonetheless a problem for Samsung’s cameras).

Samsung has its share of Galaxy AI options, too, with issues like Be aware Help to arrange your handwriting into an simply readable doc and Picture Help to wash up your images, sort of just like the Magic Editor. Though should you suppose the Pixel 9 Professional XL is simply too large, the Galaxy S24 Extremely feels even greater, its sharper corners make it much less comfy to slide right into a pocket, and its AI push isn’t fairly as mature as Google’s. It’s additionally dearer even with Google’s value hike.

After which, for many who aren’t dead-set on Android, there’s the iPhone 15 Professional Max ($999 at Amazon). Bodily, it’s in all probability the telephone that feels essentially the most just like the Pixel 9 Professional XL, proper all the way down to its flat sides and the location of its antennas. After all, you’ll have to just accept iOS and discover your method into Apple’s walled backyard, which could be an costly change to make. On the intense aspect, Apple nonetheless has glorious optimization throughout its whole ecosystem, getting extra out of smaller batteries and rolling out updates for so long as it needs to. However actually, with Google’s seven years of updates and much-improved battery life, is that a lot of a promoting level over the Pixel 9 Professional XL nowadays?

There’s additionally the upcoming iPhone 16 Professional Max, which is simply over per week away on the time of writing, after which the Galaxy S25 Extremely ready within the wings in early 2025. We received’t know till then if Google’s contender has carried out sufficient to actually high the cell mountain, however proper now, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is the one I’ve been ready for.