I reluctantly switched to the Pixel 9 Professional XL as essentially the most smart possibility for a current journey, nevertheless it completely proved me incorrect.
The most important common telephone in Google’s Pixel 9 vary, the 9 Professional XL isn’t a delicate handset by any means. It’s an imposing slab of steel and glass, combining the massive 6.8-inch show with a really distinctive rear digicam module.
As somebody who usually prefers small telephones, this didn’t notably enchantment to me. However forward of a visit to Hawaii for the Snapdragon Summit, which I knew would push my telephone to its limits, it was the best choice out there to me.
The iPhone 16 Professional, which I’d simply completed reviewing, was nonetheless too unfamiliar after switching to an iPhone for the primary time in 12 years. And the Pixel 9 Professional’s battery life merely wasn’t adequate for the lengthy days that I knew have been forward of me.
That made the 9 Professional XL a a lot better selection for this journey, however I nonetheless had loads of considerations about how it might fare. Luckily, the qualities I used to be nervous about ended up both not being a difficulty or have been a lot better than anticipated. Let’s run by them one after the other.
It’s too massive and hulking
This was undoubtedly my largest fear. The Pixel 9 Professional is a heavy telephone, weighing 221g. With the official case utilized, that grew to become 265g. In different phrases, uncomfortably heavy once I first put my SIM card in it. Initially, I couldn’t even maintain the telephone for lengthy with out my hand getting drained.
Nevertheless it’s exceptional simply how rapidly I received used to this. Inside a few days, I used to be utilizing it identical to I’d another telephone, and shortly forgot it was even that heavy.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The dimensions of the telephone was additionally a priority, nevertheless it felt no totally different from another big-screen telephone I’d tried. Whereas one-handed utilization may not be attainable, that’s not one thing I search for in a handset, and it was nonetheless simple to make use of.
In fact, your mileage could fluctuate right here. I’ve pretty massive fingers and will make use of the large pockets on males’s trousers, which could not be the case for you.
Battery life nonetheless isn’t adequate
From studying our full Pixel 9 Professional XL assessment, I knew that the 5060mAh battery delivered higher battery life than the 4700mAh cell on the Pixel 9 Professional.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
However our reviewer Jon Mundy nonetheless put it down as a con, describing it merely as “tremendous”. That isn’t a difficulty for on a regular basis life, however throughout 12+ hour days with cell knowledge, location companies and excessive brightness? I used to be nervous.
Luckily, the Pixel 9 Professional XL exceeded my expectations. It comfortably lasted these lengthy days with cost to spare – usually round 20-30%. All through my journey, I’d describe battery life as a key power of the telephone, reasonably than a weak spot.
Charging is simply too sluggish
What about whenever you do run out of battery, although? The 9 Professional XL is the fastest-charging telephone within the Pixel 9 vary, nevertheless it’s nonetheless restricted to 37W wired speeds. As somebody who avoids charging their telephone at night time, I believed I’d run out of time to get a full day of battery life.
Nope. Utilizing the 65W charger I took with me, the 9 Professional XL constantly averaged across the 0-55% in half-hour that Google claims. Within the 45 minutes or so I typically gave myself earlier than going for breakfast, it was charged sufficient to final a full day.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
I received’t take pleasure in watching movies on it
Earlier than happening the journey, I knew that the Pixel 9 Professional XL had an amazing show. The 6.8-inch, 120Hz OLED panel is up there with the easiest, particularly with a powerful max brightness of 1198 nits making it simply seen in direct daylight.
The 9 Professional XL is the most effective telephone I’ve ever used for watching content material
Jon Mundy / Foundry
However whereas I took my laptop computer with me, I didn’t use it for any non-work duties. So, might the telephone actually be a passable substitute for TV, whereas catching up with exhibits and watching YouTube?
Sure. In fact, the expertise isn’t fairly pretty much as good as a bigger show, however I used to be stunned how little I cared. The 9 Professional XL is the most effective telephone I’ve ever used for watching content material, with the punchy stereo audio system that means I typically didn’t have to attach headphones.
I used to be undoubtedly prepared to return to my TV as soon as I received residence, however I by no means regretted not utilizing my laptop computer or that I hadn’t taken a pill as an alternative.
Images received’t be adequate to make use of on the positioning
Everyone knows how good the Pixel’s cameras normally are, and that’s no totally different on the 9 Professional XL. For stills, it’s up there with the easiest digicam telephones you should purchase, whereas video can also be a lot better than it as soon as was.
However the Snapdragon Summit included some very difficult lighting situations, from low-light environments to direct daylight. With out a devoted digicam, I additionally wanted to make certain that photographs have been adequate to make use of all through my protection on the positioning.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL actually didn’t disappoint. It was a dependable performer all through my time in Hawaii, delivering clear, crisp stills that have been well-exposed and brimming with element.
If you would like proof, you possibly can see photographs from the telephone in my protection of the Summit:
The 9 Professional XL additionally got here into its personal throughout the additional time I spent on the island, capturing dramatic surroundings and lovely sunsets. When the time got here for a selfie or video, it was a dependable performer.
It’s necessary to notice that the Pixel 9 Professional XL isn’t an ideal telephone by any means. Its dimension and weight will trigger points for some individuals, and I nonetheless want charging speeds have been higher.
Then there’s the value. The 9 Professional XL begins at £1,099/$1,099 when paying full worth, which is frustratingly costly, even when it goes a protracted option to justifying that.
Hopefully, the telephone will get considerably cheaper over Black Friday, as a result of I would like extra individuals to have the ability to expertise the advantages of utilizing Google’s newest and biggest, whether or not they have a visit deliberate or not.