Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

The best Google phone yet, but not perfect

- Abhishek Baxi

PUSHING IMAGING BOUNDARIES WITH AI

₹1,24,999, store.google.​com

The 2024 Pixels aren’t just about software experience or camera capabilities, like the previous generations. The Pixel 9 series is Google’s smartphone bet for the AI era. Unlike Humane Ai Pin or Rabbit r1, the compact AI assistance devices, the new Pixels are an interface to Gemini, the company’s advanced AI model.

Of course, all that is also packed in a beautiful chassis which is quite a deviation from the Pixel 8 series from the last year… it’s more mainstream and palatable for a broader audience. It’s built well and feels solid in the hand. The edges have been flattened and the bezels around the screen are uniform with iPhone-esque metal side rails.

Inside that attractive craftsmanship, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is powered by the new Tensor G4 chip, along with 16GB of RAM and a new vapor chamber for thermal management (the last year’s lineup suffered heat issues). The gorgeous display on the Pixel 9 Pro XL is also brighter than the previous generation, and that’s not just the peak brightness numbers talking. It’s easy to spot the difference from the Pixel 8 Pro in direct sunlight.