The Pixel 9 series marks Google’s most ambitious release since the Pixel 6 series in 2021. The search giant announced four new smartphones, including the base Pixel 9, two Pro variants, and a foldable device. We’ve already discussed the base and foldable in other posts, which you should check out. In this Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro XL comparison, we’re focusing on their specs and discussing their differences to answer which one is worth getting.
Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Specs at Glance
| Specs | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm), Titan M2 security coprocessor | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm), Titan M2 security coprocessor |
| RAM/Storage | 16 GB RAM + 256 GB UFS 4.0 Storage | 16GB RAM + 256 GB/512 GB 4.0 Storage |
| Display | 6.34 inches, 1.5K (1280 x 2856), 20:9, LTPO OLED, 120 Hz, HDR 10+ | 6.8 inches, QHD+ (1344 x 2992), 20:9, LTPO OLED, 120 Hz, HDR 10+ |
| Rear Camera | 50 MP Main + 48 MP Ultra-wide + 48 MP 5x Telephoto | 50 MP Main + 48 MP Ultra-wide + 48 MP 5x Telephoto |
| Front Selfie Camera | 42 MP | 42 MP |
| Video | Up to 8K at 30FPS, 4K at 60FPS, Gyro EIS, OIS, 10 Bit HDR | Up to 8K at 30FPS, 4K at 60FPS, Gyro EIS, OIS, 10 Bit HDR |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC | 45-watt fast wired charging, 23-watt wireless charging |
| Port | USB Type C 3.2 | USB Type C 3.2 |
| Battery | 4,700 mAh | 5,060 mAh |
| Charging | 45-watt fast wired charging, 23-watt wireless charging | 45-watt fast wired charging, 23-Watt wireless charging |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Software | Android 14 7 years of OS updates | Android 14 7 years of OS updates |
Build and Design
The Pixel 9 series has undergone another design refresh, going flat on all sides. Focusing solely on the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL, they have glossy metal frames with a frosted glass finish at the back. The camera bump is compact this time with more prominent rounded sides and retains the matte finish of the back.
I’m not a big fan of this flat design language, which started with the iPhone. And later carried on by the Galaxy S24 series this year. Despite both phones’ 8.5mm thickness, the flat edges will make it difficult to handle than the Pixel 8 Pro with 8.8mm thickness. That’s because it had curved sides.
The Pixel 9 Pro and the 9 Pro XL look identical, with the power and volume buttons on the right side, and the USB-C port, speaker, and SIM card tray at the bottom. The only difference between the two is size. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the larger of the two Pro models. But I guess the name might have given it away already.
Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Display
For display, the Pixel 9 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen with 1.5k resolution. The XL model gets a larger 6.8-inch panel with a higher QHD+ resolution. Besides the size and the resolution, everything else remains the same on the two devices.
Both have an LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR 10+ support, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection. The display is surrounded by relatively thin, uniform bezels with a center pinhole for the selfie shooter.
Hardware and Battery
With the new Pixels comes the new Tensor processor. This time it is the Tensor G4 based on 4-nanometer architecture. As you can see from the table, the cores are clocked higher and arranged in a more conventional 1+3+4 configuration. It also includes the new Samsung Exynos Modem 5400 modem, which allows satellite connectivity.
- 1x Cortex-X4 (3.1 GHz)
- 3x Cortex-A720 (2.6 GHz)
- 4x Cortex-A520 (1.95 GHz)
The 9 Pro and the Pro XL models will be paired with 16 GB of RAM, but the Pro model will only have a single 256 GB variant with the Pro XL, you can pick between 256 or 512 GB of storage.
Powering this processor is a 4,700 mAh battery on the 9 Pro and a bigger 5,060 mAh on the Pro XL. Given the more efficient chip, the two devices should last for 6–7 hours easily. Regarding charging the two devices, the Pixel 9 Pro models have 45-watt quick charging support. They both also support 23-watt wireless charging.
Camera and Video
In the camera department, Google is sticking with the same 50 MP Samsung Isocell GN2 sensor they used in the 8 Pro. It has an aperture of f/1.68 and a 1/1.31″ sensor with an 82-degree field of view. This means that it can capture some stunning photos in practically most lighting situations.
Like the main lens, you’ll see a 48 MP ultrawide lens with a 123-degree field of view and another 48 MP telephoto sensor with the same 5x zoom on both phones. All these cameras come with OIS and can shoot videos up to 8k 30 FPS with the option to pick between 4k 30/60 or 1080p 30/60/120 and 240 FPS if you wish to record some slow-motion footage.
The selfie shooter is a 42 MP camera. Both devices can record videos in 4K resolution at 30 and even 60 FPS, making this an attractive pair of phones for anyone who’s into vlogging.
Camera specs are just one piece of the puzzle. Most of the work will be done after the photo is clicked using Google’s computational photography algorithms. Oh, and did I mention that the thermal sensor from the Pixel 8 Pro has also made a return on both these Pro models?
Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Which One Should You Get?
The new Pro devices are definitely the most polished Pixels we have seen to date. They’re eye-catching and, dare I say, look premium while still capturing that Pixel look. Even though the new Tensor G4 isn’t a huge upgrade from last year’s G3, the camera on these devices has seen the biggest bump of all. Shows where Google’s focus is with their smartphones.
The fact that Google didn’t leave out anything significant on the non-XL model makes the 9 Pro a pretty good option for the minority of people still looking for a powerful compact phone in 2024. For the first time in a while, you don’t have to get the bigger phone to get the best specs. But if you have become used to the bigger form factor, it can’t get better than the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
