I reluctantly opted for the Pixel 9 Pro XL as the most sensible option for a recent trip, but it completely proved me wrong.
The largest regular phone in Google’s Pixel 9 lineup, the 9 Pro XL is by no means a subtle handset. It’s an imposing slab of metal and glass, combining the large 6.8-inch screen with a very distinctive rear camera module.
As someone who generally prefers smaller phones, this didn’t particularly appeal to me. But before 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 finished reviewing, was still too unknown after upgrading to an iPhone for the first time in 12 years. And the Pixel 9 Pro’s battery life just wasn’t enough for the long days I knew were ahead of me.
This 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 cumbersome
This was definitely my biggest worry. The Pixel 9 Pro is a heavy phone, weighing 221g. With the official case applied, this became 265 g. In other words, uncomfortably heavy when I first put my SIM card in it. At first, I couldn’t even hold the phone for long without my hand getting tired.
But it’s remarkable how quickly I got used to it. Within a few days, I was using it like any other phone, and quickly forgot that it was so heavy.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The size of the phone was also an issue, but it didn’t feel any different than any other big-screen phone I’d tried. While one-handed use may not be possible, it’s not something I look for in a handset, and it’s still easy to use.
Of course, your mileage may vary here. I have fairly large hands and could benefit from the large pockets on men’s pants, which may not be the case for you.
Battery life still not good enough
Reading our full Pixel 9 Pro XL review, I knew the 5,060 mAh battery offered better battery life than the Pixel 9 Pro’s 4,700 mAh cell.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
But our reviewer Jon Mundy still called it a scam, describing it simply as “good.” This isn’t a problem in everyday life, but for more than 12 hours a day with mobile data, location services and high brightness? I was worried.
Fortunately, the Pixel 9 Pro XL exceeded my expectations. It comfortably lasted those long days with a charge to spare – usually around 20-30%. Throughout my journey, I would describe the battery life as a strength of the phone rather than a weakness.
Charging is too slow
But what about when you’re running out of battery? The 9 Pro XL is the fastest charging phone in the Pixel 9 lineup, but it’s still limited to 37W wired speeds. As someone who avoids charging their phone at night, I figured I’d might run out of time to get a full day of battery life.
No. Using the 65W charger I brought with me, the 9 Pro XL consistently averaged about 0-55% in 30 minutes, as Google claims. In the 45 minutes or so I often gave myself before going to breakfast, it was packed enough to last a full day.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
I won’t enjoy watching videos on it
Before leaving on my trip, I knew that the Pixel 9 Pro XL had a great screen. The 6.8-inch 120Hz OLED panel is among the best, including an impressive peak brightness of 1,198 nits, making it easily visible in bright sunlight.
The 9 Pro XL is the best phone I’ve ever used for watching content
Jon Mundy / Foundry
But even though I took my laptop with me, I didn’t use it for non-work tasks. So, could the phone really be a good replacement for watching television while watching shows and watching YouTube?
Yes. Sure, the experience isn’t as good as 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 punchy stereo speakers that mean I often don’t need to connect headphones.
I was definitely ready to go back to my TV once I got home, but I never regretted not using my laptop or grabbing a tablet instead.
The photos will not be good enough to be used on the site
We all know how good the Pixel’s cameras generally are, and it’s no different on the 9 Pro XL. For photos, it’s among the best camera phones you can buy, while video is also much better than it once was.
But the Snapdragon Summit included some very challenging lighting conditions, ranging from dimly lit environments to direct sunlight. Without a dedicated camera, I also had to make sure the shots were good enough to use throughout my on-site coverage.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL certainly did not disappoint. He was a reliable performer throughout my time in Hawaii, producing still images that were clear and sharp, well exposed and packed with detail.
If you want proof, you can see photos of the phone in my Summit coverage:
The 9 Pro XL also came into its own during the extra time I spent on the island, capturing spectacular landscapes and beautiful sunsets. When it was time to take a selfie or video, he was a reliable performer.
It’s important to note that the Pixel 9 Pro XL is by no means a perfect phone. Its size and weight will cause issues for some people, and I still wish the loading speeds were better.
Then there’s the price. The 9 Pro XL starts at £1,099/$1,099 paying full price, which is extremely expensive, although it goes a long way towards justifying that.
Hopefully the phone will become significantly cheaper during Black Friday, because I want more people to be able to enjoy the benefits of using Google’s latest and greatest features, whether they have a trip planned or not.
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