As somebody who critiques telephones for a residing, I don’t typically stick with one handset for lengthy.
At Tech Advisor, we’ve a strict coverage of utilizing a smartphone as our major gadget for at the least every week earlier than reviewing it. However as soon as that evaluate is full, the following telephone is commonly prepared and ready for my SIM card.
Nonetheless, after switching to the Pixel 9 Professional XL for a visit to Hawaii in October (the place it proved me mistaken), I bought the weird alternative to proceed utilizing it for for much longer. In truth, I didn’t transfer telephones till the Galaxy S25+ arrived at first of February – a interval of greater than three months.
This prolonged testing window allowed me to totally combine the telephone into my each day life. It allowed for impressions that simply aren’t attainable in every week, so the issues I focus on right here ought to higher mirror your expertise when you determine to purchase it.
So, how did the Pixel 9 Professional XL fare? My long-term evaluate of the telephone may be cut up into three classes: the great, the dangerous and the…form of ugly.
The great
In our full Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluate, Jon Mundy described it as “a superb flagship telephone”. After utilizing it for 3 months, I’d stand by that, given all of the methods wherein it actually impressed me.
Nonetheless the very best digital camera telephone (for most individuals)
The 9 Professional XL’s spotlight is undoubtedly the cameras. Many telephones have caught as much as and even surpassed the Pixel in relation to digital camera {hardware}, however none can fairly match its software program wizardry.
As somebody who desires to take nice photographs with a minimal quantity of fuss, the Pixel 9 Professional XL has been a pleasure to make use of. The 50Mp major lens constantly delivers nice color accuracy, dynamic vary and publicity – together with in low mild. It additionally handles pores and skin tones higher than any telephone I’ve ever tried.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
In contrast to most telephones, switching to the 48Mp ultrawide doesn’t imply a giant drop-off in high quality. I cherished having the flexibleness of a 123-degree subject of view that I may depend on, particularly when capturing Maui’s dramatic shoreline or the Las Vegas skyline.
As somebody who desires to take nice photographs with a minimal quantity of fuss, the Pixel 9 Professional XL has been a pleasure to make use of
Then there’s the 48Mp periscope telephoto. I discovered its 5x optical zoom to be good, permitting for detailed photographs from impressively far-off. And the 42Mp front-facing lens handles selfies like a champ.
Pixel telephones have a great deal of photo-related AI options, however I largely ignored them, secure within the data that I’d bought loads of nice photographs already.
I can’t fault the 9 Professional XL in relation to video, both. With optical picture stabilisation (OIS) on each the primary and telephoto lenses, even 1080p footage appears to be like easy and crisp in most environments. Whereas not fairly the gold customary of the iPhone, I discovered it to be superb for documenting my travels.
Placing on an ideal show
The sheer dimension of the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s display screen has triggered some points (extra on that later), however that shouldn’t take something away from the standard of the show.
The 6.8-inch panel is a beautiful 120Hz OLED, providing a crisp 1344 x 2992 decision that makes mainly every thing look good – simply ensure you allow it in Settings.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
At varied instances through the three months, I relied on the 9 Professional XL as my main leisure gadget, utilizing it to compensate for TV exhibits or watch YouTube. It didn’t let me down in any respect, providing about as immersive an expertise as you may get on a smartphone.
I may go on about how good the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show is all day
I additionally typically used the telephone exterior, together with in vivid sunshine. It powered by way of with out situation, with 3000 nits of peak brightness making certain wonderful visibility.
I may go on about how good the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s show is all day (not actually…or may I?), however I don’t wish to bore you. Relaxation assured that it’s up there with the perfect shows you’ll discover on any telephone.
Terrific Tensor
Earlier than attempting a telephone for your self, it’s tempting to dive into the benchmarks to see what you possibly can study.
That’s precisely what I did earlier than attempting out the Pixel 9 Professional XL, they usually make for grim studying. In CPU and GPU checks, telephones powered by its Tensor G4 chipset are miles behind final yr’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, not to mention the most recent Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Nonetheless, this serves as a superb reminder of how little benchmarks matter in relation to real-world efficiency. Certain, the 9 Professional XL may be a fraction slower than the Galaxy S25 Extremely or OnePlus 13, nevertheless it’s virtually not possible to inform.
All through my three months of use, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s efficiency didn’t let me down as soon as. It was constantly quick and extremely responsive, dealing with demanding apps and multitasking with ease.
All through my three months of use, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s efficiency didn’t let me down as soon as
I’m not precisely an avid gamer, however if you wish to play a little bit of PUBG Cellular or Name of Obligation: Cellular, the 9 Professional XL can deal with that too. In different phrases: don’t fear concerning the sub-par benchmarks in any respect!
Battery life for days (actually)
All that nice efficiency isn’t any good if the battery doesn’t final the gap, although.
And the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s 5060mAh capability isn’t something to jot down residence about, particularly with a vibrant 6.8-inch show to energy.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Fortunately, all of the battery life issues I had rapidly pale away as soon as I began utilizing the telephone. Even on probably the most demanding 12+ hour days whereas travelling, the telephone didn’t die on me as soon as earlier than I went to mattress.
Again residence, that would simply stretch to 2 or three days on a single cost. Relying on how you employ it, the 9 Professional XL can provide true multi-day battery life.
Relying on how you employ it, the 9 Professional XL can provide true multi-day battery life
Peak smartphone software program?
Gone are the times when Android was a complicated, cluttered mess. Relying on which telephone you purchase, Android 15 can provide an intuitive, considerate expertise that’s packed stuffed with helpful options.
This newest iteration got here pre-installed on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, and as somebody who primarily makes use of Google apps, I felt proper at residence. Pixel telephones provide an impressively built-in method that’s utterly free from bloatware, which may be very refreshing.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
It feels as if Google has thought by way of each side of the consumer interface, whereas the AI options are probably the most superior obtainable on a smartphone proper now. I ended up utilizing Gemini and Circle to Search much more than I used to be anticipating.
A dedication to 6 extra years of OS and safety updates is the icing on the cake.
The dangerous
Nonetheless, it’s not all excellent news. Prolonged utilization of the Pixel 9 Professional XL revealed some issues I wasn’t such a giant fan of.
Let me flip off my Wi-Fi in peace!
Nearly as good because the software program is, one side of Android 15 triggered main frustration. In contrast to mainly each different Android telephone, turning Wi-Fi or Cellular knowledge on or off from the short settings menu requires two faucets – one to pick ‘Web’ and the opposite to really toggle it.
Foundry
It may not sound like a giant deal, however whenever you do that a number of instances a day, each day for 3 months, it quickly will get annoying. Why can’t Google simply separate them into two one-tap buttons?
It’s too rattling huge and heavy
It’ll come as a shock to completely no person that the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a giant telephone. It has a 6.8-inch show, in any case!
However as somebody with comparatively giant palms, I believed I may cope with it. Incorrect.
A few month in, the 9 Professional XL’s dimension began to turn into an actual burden. Even with the comparatively large pockets in males’s trousers, there wasn’t a lot room left for anything. Any time I bent over, I needed to brace myself for a light-weight jabbing. A minimum of the corners are curved, I suppose.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Sadly, truly utilizing the telephone didn’t provide any respite. The 9 Professional XL is already one of many heaviest round at 221g, however I’d extremely suggest including a case for further grip and safety. Google’s official one took the entire to 265g.
The end result: after about 10 minutes of use, my wrist started to ache, and my pinkie finger threatened to present method below the burden. Not a superb look.
In fact, this drawback isn’t unique to the Pixel 9 Professional XL – mainly any giant flagship will trigger related points. Nevertheless it left me craving for a a lot smaller and lighter gadget.
If solely the common Pixel 9 Professional had higher battery life…
The ugly
There’s one side of the Pixel 9 Professional XL that irritated me a lot it had to enter the ‘ugly’ part. Not solely is it the telephone’s greatest draw back, however Google additionally makes it unnecessarily sophisticated to get probably the most out of it.
What the hell is occurring with charging?
Once I noticed that the Pixel 9 Professional XL supported Google’s 45W quick charger I used to be excited. Lastly, we’re getting a Pixel with first rate charging speeds!
Sadly, it was too good to be true. In actuality, the telephone is proscribed to 37W, and even that depends on you having that appropriate charger. With out it, speeds are considerably slower nonetheless.
As somebody who doesn’t cost their telephone in a single day, I would like a tool that may go from 0-100% rapidly. The Pixel 9 Professional XL ain’t it – count on effectively over an hour for a full cost.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Qi wi-fi charging is handy, however don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to the 23W determine. That depends on you shopping for a devoted Pixel Stand accent, which isn’t even obtainable anymore through the Google web site.
With out it, you’re painfully gradual 12W speeds. It most likely goes with out saying, however I didn’t hassle.
As irritating because the charging state of affairs is, battery life is sweet sufficient to imply it isn’t a dealbreaker for most individuals. However on these events once I was working low, to name it irritating could be an understatement. Google, you are able to do higher than this!
My 3-month verdict on the Pixel 9 Professional XL
Regardless of a number of downsides, the Pixel 9 Professional XL continues to be straightforward to suggest to most individuals.
It gives the very best mixture of show, cameras, battery life and software program on any telephone in 2025. Even the efficiency, which appears to be like like a weak spot on paper, finally ends up being a key power.
Nonetheless, the sheer dimension of the telephone and the farce round charging speeds take the shine off the expertise. The Pixel 9 Professional XL continues to be effectively value shopping for, however provided that you’re content material with these compromises.
Searching for alternate options? See our information to the very best telephones you should buy proper now.