Google Pixel 9 Pro XL - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Gemini, Triple Rear Camera System, 24-Hour Battery, and 6.8" Super Actua Display - Rose Quartz - 256 GB

Excellent phone. I'm still discovering all the new things it can do. Transfer from old phone was so easy it's scary. Just lay them side by side and stand back and watch. Get a VPN and set up the securityNow you're as safe as you can be.

I've had the Pixel 9 Pro XL for a week, and after countless hours of testing, I am quite happy with my purchase. To be clear, I am a regular person (not a professional reviewer) and I paid for the phone with my own money. No handouts or compensation here.I would venture to say that the majority of complaints about this 9th gen Pixel are from people who don't have one (Verified Purchase?). This is a great phone. Everything just works, and works well. It is responsive and fast; while Samsung and Apple flagships may win benchmarks, in real world use, this phone is able to handle everything I've thrown at it.And real world use is where this phone shines. I come from Samsung and did not like their bloated UI and baked-in Samsung apps. This is the purest possible Android experience and it shows. Everything just works, intuitively, and works well.It's been a few years since I used an iPhone as my daily driver, but anyone who is stuck on iPhone as the "just works" phone, check this phone out. If you prefer the Google ecosystem (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, etc), the Pixel is the way to go. They are all deeply integrated without the bloat or workarounds on other phones.I've heard of problems attaining the fastest charging levels without buying the expensive Google charger, but I charge on a wireless charger at night while I sleep. Even using a third-party (and cheap) wireless charger, it charges decently. It seems this phone requires the charger to bump voltage to get the 37 watt charging, so if you care about squeezing in your charges at the fastest charging speeds, perhaps get the official Google wired charger or be very thorough in your charger research.But I dont think you'll need it. For me, charging speeds don't matter with this big battery. It has lasted me all day, every day, and I have intensely used it from sunup to sundown. Never once have I risked needing to charge it between 5am and 10pm. As long as the phone lasts all day and only needs to be charged at night, I don't think it matters if it takes 90 minutes to charge. But that's a personal decision for you to make for yourself.The camera is amazing. It takes some of the best photos I've seen come from a phone. And while there are plenty of choices out there for post-processing your photos, having features like Video Boost or Zoom Enhance baked right into the Photos app makes it a simple joy to take photos and edit them. I challenge anyone to find a simpler and easier workflow for taking the best possible photos. If you want to take amazing photos and be able to edit and enhance them in a few seconds without switching between an array of apps, this phone is for you. Of course third-party editing apps are a Play Store away, but you probably won't them them.I know Google hypes the AI, but generally that's not why I got the phone, so I'll leave the in-depth AI reviews to others. Some of it is fun -- Magic Editor is a fun toy and Zoom Enhance stretches the boundaries of what's possible on a phone camera, but things like Gemini Live feel a little half baked. Don't get me wrong; Gemini Live is a leap forward for Google, but the AI as a whole feels disjointed. Gemini Live doesn't communicate directly with regular Gemini, and while it's great for chatting, it can't do even basic tasks (which requires switching to the other Gemini).It's also quite perplexing that there are still basic Google Assistant functions that Gemini can't call up. It feels like it should be a basic ask to relay all Assistant functions, but it's not that simple. These are minor annoyances that will hopefully improve in the future, but (to Google) if you're going to hype the AI so much, please have it more integrated and seemless than this. It feels like a miss that the feature you're hyping the most is the one with the most blemishes. But AI is quickly evolving. Maybe my comments will be moot in a week. And like I said, since I didn't get the phone for the AI, this isn't a ding for me.I'll update if any issues arise, but so far I'm very satisfied with my purchase. This is my first Pixel, and I can see why there are Pixel fans. This phone might not be everything to everyone, but it's not supposed to be. If you want a premium phone that feels great, looks great, and does what it does very well, give this newest Pixel a shot. If you're using an iPhone but not yet too deeply invested in their closed box, or if you're a Samsung owner who's tired of the bloat, I recommend checking out the Pixel 9 Pro XL. It's great to have so much choice in the smartphone world, and I believe this is a choice worthy of your attention.

After using the Pixel 9 Pro XL for a few weeks, I can confidently say this is Google’s most polished smartphone to date. It takes everything great about the Pixel line — incredible camera performance, clean software, and smart AI features — and pushes it even further. But there are still a few areas that could use refinement.Design and Build QualityThe new symmetrical design feels premium and solid in hand. The matte glass back is less slippery than previous generations, and the new color options look stunning under different lighting. The camera bar is more subtle but still gives the phone a distinctive “Pixel” identity. It’s a large device, though — definitely a two-handed phone for most users.DisplayThe 6.8-inch OLED display is absolutely beautiful. It’s bright, sharp, and incredibly smooth thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. Watching videos or scrolling through content feels effortless, and the adaptive brightness works better than on previous Pixels.PerformancePowered by the Tensor G4 chip, the Pixel 9 Pro XL finally feels as fast as it should. App switching is instant, gaming performance is solid, and AI-driven features like voice recognition, call screening, and photo editing work seamlessly. However, it can still get warm under heavy use, especially when recording 4K video or gaming for extended sessions.CameraAs expected, the camera system is phenomenal. The main and telephoto lenses deliver stunning detail and dynamic range, while the ultrawide lens has noticeably improved low-light performance. The new AI-based editing tools like Best Take and Magic Editor are incredibly powerful — and surprisingly natural in results. It’s still the best phone for mobile photography, especially if you prefer realistic color tones.