[Review] Google Pixel 9 Pro XL features, camera, battery

I’ve had my eye on the Google Pixel series for years—mainly because of the camera. As a photography enthusiast, the promise of cutting-edge mobile photography has always piqued my interest. 

So, when I had the chance to test the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL together with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 for almost three weeks, I was beyond excited. After hearing Google’s keynote on the Pixel 9 series, I knew I had to see if the hype was real.

Here’s a short review of the Buds Pro 2 and the breakdown of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, especially from a camera lover’s perspective. 

First impressions: The packaging 

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of the gadgets, let’s talk about the unboxing experience. 

This year, Google made a big push towards sustainability, shipping the Pixels in recycled cardboard packaging. No plastic in sight, not even inside. The packaging for the earbuds was similar.

The boxes are sturdy, with a cradle to keep the phone and earbuds safe during transit. As someone who appreciates eco-friendly efforts, I was impressed by this touch.

Google Buds Pro 2

The Google Buds Pro 2 are noise-cancelling earbuds that deliver excellent sound quality and strong noise cancellation. They’re particularly geared toward Android and Pixel users, thanks to seamless integration with Google’s ecosystem.

The buds are small and light, and come with a new “twist-to-adjust stabiliser” for a better fit. I had to change the eartip size of my earbuds to find the one that actually fit snugly; if not, the sound quality and noise-cancelling performance dropped significantly. 

Powered by Google’s new Tensor A1 chip, the Buds Pro 2 offers hands-free Gemini AI, improved sound, better noise cancellation, and decent voice-calling performance.

Using the buds alone, you can get it to do just about anything Gemini can do on your phone, and you get access to all of these features without needing to even unlock the phone.

The buds come with Bluetooth 5.4, spatial audio (for specific Pixel devices), and a long battery life of up to 12 hours without noise-cancelling. 

Priced at RM1,099, the Buds Pro 2 are definitely on the pricier side when compared with their predecessors. Unless you are a Google Pixel user, I think there are better options out there that are more affordable.  

Phone’s design: Sleek and inspired

The design of the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a far cry from the older Pixel models. For years, the Pixels have been known for their exceptional software but lacklustre hardware. Not anymore.

When I held the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the first thing that came to mind was how iPhone-like it felt. The smooth satin finish, aluminium frame, and the way the buttons are positioned—it all felt premium. 

The back of the phone, with its Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels, is sleek, but quite slippery without a case. Luckily, mine came with a case, saving me from a few near-slips.

The camera bump is, of course, the standout feature, housing three cameras: a 50MP primary, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP 5x telephoto lens. It’s designed in such a way that the phone doesn’t wobble when laid flat, which is a nice bonus.

Specs and performance

The 6.8-inch display is truly a joy to look at, especially with its 3,000 nits peak brightness. 

Even under Malaysia’s glaring sun, I didn’t struggle to see what was on the screen. While the brightness is impressive, it does dim after extended use, so that’s something to keep in mind.

The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is a game-changer, especially after the struggles with older Pixel models. 

The phone’s Tensor G4 chip isn’t necessarily the fastest in benchmarks compared to other flagship models, but in real-world use, it’s plenty smooth.

Battery life? Solid. It comfortably lasts a full day with mixed usage, and fast charging took just over an hour to go from 10% to full. Not the fastest in the market, but enough to get by for a power user like me.

One thing that shook me was how fast I was able to transfer all my data from my current phone, Samsung S22, to Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. The moment I switched on the Pixel, it was able to detect my phone immediately. It took me less than 40 minutes to set up everything in the Pixel, from transferring my data to setting up my email.

AI features: A mixed bag

The Google Gemini AI is a major highlight this year. It can do everything from generating text for emails to summarising phone calls. You can even ask it what to cook based on a picture of your fridge’s contents. I’ve got to say that’s pretty nifty.

But as much as I loved playing around with these features, I didn’t rely on them too much.

The AI-based photo editing tools, like Magic Editor, allow you to completely transform your images, adding new backgrounds or removing distractions. 

Not only that, but Google also included AI-based Add Me feature on the camera, which can seamlessly merge two photos into one image.

While fun, it feels more like a gimmick for casual users. As someone who prefers the authenticity of a well-shot photo, again, I didn’t find myself using these features regularly.

However, with that being said, if you are a beginner or looking to level up your photography and editing, these features will definitely make your life easier.

Camera’s performance

Now, the moment I had been waiting for—the camera.

If there’s one thing Google consistently excels at, it’s photography. The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s camera setup delivers sharp, well-exposed images with low noise. 

The Super Res Zoom at 10x and 30x is surprisingly good, even in low light, but it does get grainy beyond 20x in video mode. So, I stuck to using it in good lighting conditions.

Shooting in full 50MP resolution? Gorgeous but laggy. There’s a noticeable delay between pressing the shutter and capturing the shot, which can be frustrating if you’re trying to snap a fast-moving subject.

One thing I noticed was the colour accuracy—it tends to over-filter the yellows, making skies a bit too blue and greenery too green. Thankfully, this can be corrected in post-processing.

The selfie camera is a powerful 42MP shooter, but it falls short in low light. Videos taken in dim environments displayed weird watercolour artefacts. This was a letdown, especially when compared to the performance of the rear cameras.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL can record up to 8K30 and 4K60 with stabilisation. The AI-enhanced Video Boost mode processes footage in the cloud, improving HDR, stabilisation, and zoom. 

It’s cool in theory, but I wasn’t thrilled by the need to back up files to Google Photos before I could access the enhanced version.

Battery life and thermal management

With my typical usage—camera, social media, and some light gaming—I easily got through the day on a single charge. Screen-on-time averaged around 8 hours, which is impressive for a flagship device.

Thermals were also solid. The phone got mildly warm during heavy camera use, but nothing that caused overheating or throttling. This was a relief, especially after seeing some online complaints about heating issues.

Final thoughts: A worthy camera phone?

So, is the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL a game-changer for photography enthusiasts like me? In many ways, yes.

Starting from RM5,699, the Super Res Zoom, impressive main cameras, and Google’s unparalleled AI tricks make it a strong contender for anyone who loves mobile photography.

That being said, it’s not without flaws: the camera lags at 50MP, there’s low-light noise in zoom shots, and the over-saturated colours may not appeal to everyone.

Overall, though, I found the experience refreshing. Google has crafted a phone that’s not just about software anymore—it’s about design, performance, and an all-around flagship experience.

Would I switch? It’s a definite yes for me because Google has upped its game this time, and I’m genuinely impressed. If you’re in the market for a phone with stellar photography features, the Pixel 9 Pro XL should be on your radar.

Pros	Cons
All the latest AI features	Slippery and hard to keep clean surface
Sleek new design	Difficulty in holding the phone properly due to the size
Amazing camera quality
Solid battery life
Very good speaker quality

• Learn more about Google Pixel 9 Pro XL here. 
• Read other articles we’ve written about Google Pixel here.

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