I reluctantly switched to the Pixel 9 Pro XL as the most sensible option for a recent trip, but it totally proved me wrong.
The biggest regular phone in Google’s Pixel 9 range, the 9 Pro XL isn’t a subtle handset by any means. It’s an imposing slab of metal and glass, combining the large 6.8-inch display with a very distinctive rear camera module.
As someone who typically prefers small phones, this didn’t particularly appeal to me. But ahead of a trip to Hawaii for the Snapdragon Summit, which I knew would push my phone to its limits, it was the best option available to me.
The iPhone 16 Pro, which I’d just finished reviewing, was still too unfamiliar after switching to an iPhone for the first time in 12 years. And the Pixel 9 Pro’s battery life simply wasn’t good enough for the long days that I knew were ahead of me.
That made the 9 Pro XL a much better choice for this trip, but I still had plenty of concerns about how it would fare. Fortunately, the qualities I was worried about ended up either not being an issue or were much better than expected. Let’s run through them one by one.
It’s too big and bulky
This was undoubtedly my biggest worry. The Pixel 9 Pro is a heavy phone, weighing 221g. With the official case applied, that became 265g. In other words, uncomfortably heavy when I first put my SIM card in it. Initially, I couldn’t even hold the phone for long without my hand getting tired.
But it’s remarkable just how quickly I got used to this. Within a couple of days, I was using it just like I would any other phone, and soon forgot it was even that heavy.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The size of the phone was also a concern, but it felt no different from any other big-screen phone I’d tried. While one-handed usage might not be possible, that’s not something I look for in a handset, and it was still easy to use.
Of course, your mileage may vary here. I have fairly large hands and could make use of the big pockets on men’s trousers, which might not be the case for you.
Battery life still isn’t good enough
From reading our full Pixel 9 Pro XL review, I knew that the 5060mAh battery delivered better battery life than the 4700mAh cell on the Pixel 9 Pro.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
But our reviewer Jon Mundy still put it down as a con, describing it simply as “fine”. That isn’t an issue for everyday life, but during 12+ hour days 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 charge to spare – typically around 20-30%. Throughout my trip, I’d describe battery life as a key strength of the phone, rather than a weakness.
Charging is too slow
What about when you do run out of battery, though? The 9 Pro XL is the fastest-charging phone in the Pixel 9 range, but it’s still limited to 37W wired speeds. As someone who avoids charging their phone at night, I thought I might run out of time to get a full day of battery life.
Nope. Using the 65W charger I took with me, the 9 Pro XL consistently averaged around the 0-55% in 30 minutes that Google claims. In the 45 minutes or so I often gave myself before going for breakfast, it was charged enough to last a full day.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
I won’t enjoy watching videos on it
Before going on the trip, I knew that the Pixel 9 Pro XL had a great display. The 6.8-inch, 120Hz OLED panel is up there with the very best, especially with an impressive max brightness of 1198 nits making it easily visible in direct sunlight.
The 9 Pro XL is the best phone I’ve ever used for watching content
Jon Mundy / Foundry
But while I took my laptop with me, I didn’t use it for any non-work tasks. So, could the phone really be a satisfactory replacement for TV, while catching up with shows and watching YouTube?
Yes. Of course, the experience isn’t quite as good as a larger display, but I was surprised how little I cared. The 9 Pro XL is the best phone I’ve ever used for watching content, with the punchy stereo speakers meaning I often didn’t have 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 that I hadn’t taken a tablet instead.
Photos won’t be good enough to use on the site
We all know how good the Pixel’s cameras usually are, and that’s no different on the 9 Pro XL. For stills, it’s up there with the very 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, from low-light environments to direct sunlight. Without a dedicated camera, I also needed to be sure that shots were good enough to use throughout my coverage on the site.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL certainly didn’t disappoint. It was a reliable performer throughout my time in Hawaii, delivering clear, crisp stills that were well-exposed and brimming with detail.
If you want proof, you can see photos from the phone in my coverage of the Summit:
The 9 Pro XL also came into its own during the extra time I spent on the island, capturing dramatic scenery and gorgeous sunsets. When the time came for a selfie or video, it was a reliable performer.
It’s important to note that the Pixel 9 Pro XL isn’t a perfect phone by any means. Its size and weight will cause issues for some people, and I still wish charging speeds were better.
Then there’s the price. The 9 Pro XL starts at £1,099/$1,099 when paying full price, which is frustratingly expensive, even if it goes a long way to justifying that.
Hopefully, the phone will get significantly cheaper over Black Friday, because I want more people to be able to experience the benefits of using Google’s latest and greatest, whether they have a trip planned or not.
