When Google first showed off the AI capabilities of its Pixel, it started with some synthetic camera improvements on the Pixel 7 Pro. That also included some Tensor G2-powered features like Cinematic Blur. The company then upped the ante a few notches with the introduction of AI-powered effects and the ability to “magically” remove people, objects, and more with the Pixel 8 Pro. With the Pixel 9 Pro series, we’re now going beyond that. You can not only modify, but even create AI-generated content on the fly (generative AI). And it’s not just about images, but everything from replying to messages, summarizing emails, and more. AI is moving from a background role to the forefront, and into every app and space you can imagine.
Google needs better hardware to perform some of these new AI tricks on and off devices. This year, a new piece of Google silicon called the Tensor G4 is coming. The new processor significantly improves the previous one’s ability to process AI tasks (the more tokens, the better), but not so much in terms of raw power. We also get 16GB of RAM and plenty of storage (256 or 512GB in India).
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL manages to fit a slightly larger display than the Pixel 8 Pro
Continuing the AI trend, we have a ton of new features. In addition to being ubiquitous on the phone’s UI and even in Chrome on your desktop/laptop (if you have Google Gemini Advanced), the Google Gemini AI model enables new features like Add Me (you can add the photographer to a photo), Zoom Enhance (zoom in and refine photo frames), and a more powerful Magic Editor that can change the entire setting of a photo.
The powerful Gemini Live voice assistant also performs tasks or suggests solutions via live chat. Finally, Gemini has become smart enough to replace it with your trusty Google Assistant. The new Pixel Screenshots app claims to handle and remember the contents of your screenshots folder. The all-new Pixel Studio is an AI image-generating tool packaged in a separate app. There’s also Car Crash Detection, which contacts emergency services in the event of a crash.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has an ultra-wideband chip
AI issues aside, improvements have also occurred on the hardware front.
The biggest of these is the existence of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Compared to other models, it still feels as big as the Pixel 7/8 Pro, but Google engineers have somehow managed to fit a slightly larger 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display into the same chassis.
The camera setup remains pretty similar to the Pixel 8 Pro that this phone replaces. This year, there’s a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel periscope camera (5x optical zoom), and a slightly improved 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. The selfie camera gets its biggest upgrade in years, with a 42-megapixel camera that also has autofocus (like the previous model).
The battery is also getting a bit bigger. The battery has a capacity of 5,060mAh compared to 5,050mAh in the Pixel 8 Pro. Charging speeds are much improved, as the new phone offers 37W wired charging. Wireless charging has been upgraded to the faster Qi2 standard, but the Pixels lack the necessary magnets on the back panel to grab the new magnetic Qi2 chargers, ensuring a perfect, hassle-free setup.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s rear cameras remain similar to those of the Pixel 8 Pro
Let’s not forget that brand new design language. It feels refreshing even compared to last year’s Pixel 8 Pro models. The 9 Pro XL retains the Pixel 8 Pro’s rounded corners and flat display, but has flat sides with beveled edges. It reminds me of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, but that bezel has a mirror finish. The flattened, visor-like camera module reminds me a bit of the old Huawei Nexus 6P (2015), but it’s placed on a flat back panel. This makes the phone look slim from a distance, but you quickly lose that impression when you hold it. The camera module sticks out quite a bit, and for once, it doesn’t have the chrome finish that easily scratches older models.
Google AI’s gamble depends on how willing its customers are to use these features. The flip side of the story also hinges on the fact that Gemini Advanced AI features like Google Live and others are very expensive (Rs 1,950 per month for the 2TB Google One plan). This means that not everyone will subscribe to the service and not use it after the one-year free trial ends. We are yet to hear how much Apple Intelligence will cost users.
With this in mind, in this first free year, Google needs to provide a flawless and seamless demonstration of the AI service through its Pixel 9 line of smartphones. This can convince users when it comes to the usefulness of retaining Google’s AI service suite and living the AI life.
The rising prices of Google’s Pixel series is another problem in itself. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro now starts at Rs 1,09,999, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL that we have for review starts at Rs 1,24,999, which puts it in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra models that offer better hardware in some areas.
We’ll be testing all of these AI features and typical smartphone features like camera performance, heating, battery life, and more. That’s why we recommend you stay tuned for our in-depth review and make an informed purchase, as last year’s Pixel 8 Pro wasn’t much different from last year’s Pixel 7 Pro.
