Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: A king-sized comparability

Google’s new Pixel 9 collection has arrived, and with it comes a brand new Pixel 9 Professional XL, the bigger of the 2 Professional fashions. Technically, it is a extra direct successor to the Pixel 8 Professional, which contains a a lot bigger show than the Pixel 8, however the “XL” provides a brand new dimension to the moniker, letting customers know that they’ve a alternative.

We have had transient hands-on time with the Pixel 9 Professional XL and nonetheless must spend extra time with it earlier than now we have a full image of it. Up to now, it appears to be like prefer it may very well be the cellphone to get in order for you a bigger flagship, or you may doubtlessly avoid wasting cash and go for the older, extraordinarily succesful Pixel 8 Professional. Our Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional comparability ought to show you how to select if you happen to’re having a tough time deciding.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Design and show

After years of sticking with largely the identical design for the Pixel collection, Google is lastly altering issues up with what can solely be described as an evolution of its earlier Pixel design language. The enduring digital camera bar current on the Pixel 8 Professional is gone, changed by a floating digital camera visor that actually stands out among the many remainder of the Pixel 9 Professional XL design. That is maybe the obvious distinction between these two telephones, however it would not cease there.

The Pixel 9 collection has adopted an iPhone-like design with a flat back and front panel and a flat body. If it weren’t for the digital camera visor and the shortage of a Dynamic Island on the entrance, you can virtually mistake this for an iPhone. That is contrasted by the softer, much less angular design of the Pixel 8 Professional, with a matte glass again panel that curves into the marginally rounded body. Even the show, which is flat on the 8 Professional, has the smallest curve on the bezel the place it meets the body, and the digital camera bar additionally curves up from the body as if the 2 are a singular piece.

Each telephones look nice in their very own method, though it is unclear how the Pixel 9 Professional XL design will probably be acquired, particularly as soon as shoppers get it in hand. Some shoppers discover that flat, angular telephones are typically a bit painful to carry as they dig into their fingers when held with one hand, and the curved Pixel 8 Professional is pretty comfy to carry. There’s a slight curve to the body, so hopefully that may alleviate any considerations.

Each telephones are additionally giant, with the Pixel 9 Professional XL sporting a barely greater 6.8-inch show. Regardless of that, the telephones have roughly the identical top and width, though the 9 Professional XL is a bit heavier at 221g. However apart from the slight enhance in measurement, there’s not a lot distinction between the 2 shows. The Pixel 9 Professional XL options the identical decision and refresh price however kicks issues up with larger peak brightness at 3,000 nits, that means you shouldn’t have any bother viewing this show outside.

For cover, each telephones characteristic Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and front and IP68 water and dirt resistance. The again glass can also be matte on each telephones, which ought to present a softer contact, though you will discover some newer colours with the Pixel 9 Professional XL.

Google affords Obsidian and Porcelain hues for each telephones, in addition to some type of inexperienced. Nonetheless, as an alternative of blue, the Pixel 9 Professional is available in a pink Rose Quarts hue, which stands out among the many different choices.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Specs and {hardware}

Google has upgraded the Pixel 9 Professional XL with a brand new Tensor G4 chipset, which affords a 20% efficiency enhance when shopping and is 17% quicker when opening apps when in comparison with its predecessor. How this actually interprets in real-life use remains to be but to be decided, however the focus stays clear: AI efficiency. Thus, Google is enabling tons of recent options with the chip, which we’ll focus on within the subsequent part.

Along with the chip enhance, Google has additionally upped the RAM to 16, that means the Pixel 9 Professional ought to be capable of deal with extra duties. The 12GB options on the Pixel 8 Professional is nice for on-device AI processing, however 16GB offers the cellphone rather more room for actions.

One good thing about the brand new chip is help for satellite tv for pc connectivity, one thing we have seen on the iPhone and have been ready to see extra broadly obtainable on Android telephones. We may see this seem on the Pixel 8 Professional sooner or later, as they need to additionally be capable of help it, however the newer Exynos modem within the Pixel 9 Professional mentions satellite tv for pc connectivity as a spotlight characteristic.

You additionally get Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, and UWB on each gadgets. It is also price noting that the Pixel 9 Professional XL now makes use of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which must be extra correct than its predecessor.

Curiously, the battery contained in the Pixel 9 Professional grew ever-so-slightly, as much as 5060mAh from 5050mAh. Nonetheless, the massive change right here is the charging pace, which has been elevated by 7W. Google says {that a} 30-minute cost with its 45W charger ought to offer you about 70% battery life, which is a big leap. The Pixel 8 Professional can solely attain 50% in the identical period of time.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Cameras

The Pixel 8 Professional affords spectacular cameras, and it is arduous to argue with Google’s glorious computational images. The Pixel 9 Professional XL digital camera setup is not an enormous improve from its predecessor, however there are some notable modifications.

The 50MP sensor is just about similar, which is okay. The Pixel 8 Professional’s digital camera produces superb photographs with loads of depth and distinction whereas not being too excessive. It additionally takes improbable low-light and nighttime photographs, so I count on the identical from the Pixel 9 Professional XL.

Google outfitted the Pixel 9 Professional XL with a brand new 48MP ultrawide sensor, that includes a wider f/1.7 aperture, that means it ought to take higher low-light photographs than the Pixel 8 Professional’s ultrawide digital camera. Nonetheless, the tradeoff is a barely narrower area of view at 123-degrees, in comparison with 125-degrees on the 9 Professional. The telephoto sensor has modified barely however nonetheless options the identical 30X Tremendous Res Zoom.

Selfies ought to get a lift, with a brand new 42MP sensor. This may seemingly use pixel-binning to take 10.5MP photographs, the identical decision because the Pixel 8 Professional, however this might additionally lead to sharper photographs and higher low-light capabilities. It additionally has a wider area of view, which makes it higher for group selfies.

Just like the Pixel 8 Professional, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is able to 4K video recording however will get a literal enhance due to Tremendous Res Video Zoom, which seems to boost high quality when zoomed in. The Video Increase characteristic additionally will get upgraded and upscales video to 8K decision. It is admittedly a cool characteristic, and we’ll must strive it out for ourselves, though it stays to be seen how helpful 8K movies will probably be on such a small display. Nonetheless, that is not the one cool software program enchancment geared toward bettering your digital camera expertise…

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Software program

Each telephones run Android 14, though Android 15 is probably going proper across the nook. Even so, the Pixel 9 Professional XL has just a few further software program goodies that the Pixel 8 Professional would not but have or may not even get. The 8K video is one such characteristic, however there are a handful of cool AI-powered options that Google is touting with the 9 Professional XL. Amongst them is the Add Me characteristic, which helps you to take a photograph after which you may add your self to that very same picture due to an augmented actuality overlay.

Magic Editor additionally will get some new upgrades, with new Reimagine and Auto Body options, letting customers simply alter features of the picture to their liking or higher body a photograph.

However in addition to digital camera options, Google can also be including another useful AI goodies, equivalent to Gemini Reside, which helps you to have a extra pure dialog with the assistant chatbot, and Pixel Studio, which helps you to create photographs from textual content prompts. Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Climate are additionally new on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, which carry new AI enhancements to your screenshots with a Recall-like characteristic and to your climate forecasts.

It is fairly seemingly many of those options will arrive on the Pixel 8 Professional, however it’s clear they have been constructed with the Tensor G4 in thoughts, that means you will get the perfect efficiency from the Pixel 9 Professional XL, which additionally has extra RAM.

In any other case, each telephones will obtain the identical 7-year replace promise, though the Pixel 8 Professional is already a yr into its software program lifespan, so the Pixel 9 Professional XL could also be your cellphone in order for you that added longevity.

Google Pixel 9 Professional XL vs. Pixel 8 Professional: Which do you have to purchase?

These are two top-of-the-line Pixel telephones that may get you entry to among the most superior AI options Google has to supply. The Pixel 8 Professional is likely one of the greatest there may be, and it is nonetheless a improbable alternative if you happen to’re searching for an even bigger cellphone with extra cameras and extra AI. In fact, the Pixel 9 Professional XL has improved on a few of that with its higher Tensor chipset, quicker charging speeds, enhanced cameras, and new AI options.

It actually comes right down to design and help. The primary is subjective, so it is probably not cut-and-dry which cellphone has the higher design, and it is as much as your private style. Assist on the 9 Professional XL will technically final you an extra yr since it is the newer cellphone, however help on each nonetheless outpaces many gadgets in the marketplace.

The one factor is that not all the brand new AI options might trickle right down to the Pixel 8 Professional, and we’ll must see what makes it down the road. However if you happen to’re not too anxious about that, you then actually cannot go unsuitable with both choice, and the Pixel 8 Professional will no less than prevent just a little cash.

And in order for you one thing smaller however simply as highly effective, you may take a look at our Pixel 9 Professional vs. Pixel 8 Professional comparability.