Pixel 9 Pro XL hands-on review: I zoomed in on strangers 5,280 feet away and saw the color of their clothes

I got a chance to play around with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and man, it looks like we have to completely overhaul our understanding of the new Pixel family. First of all, Google no longer has a dual-phone strategy. It's a triple-phone deal now — well, four if you include the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, too.

You've got the Pixel 9 Pro XL at the top, the Pixel 9 as your entry-level option, and the Pixel 9 Pro smack-dab in the middle.

It's as if Google is saying, "Hey, we want to be in the big leagues now with Samsung and Apple," which, by the way, also have at least three phones in their flagship lines. The Pixel 9 series also got a price hike. The starting price is now $799, up from $699, another signal that Google wants to compete with the big dogs.

With the last-generation Pixel 8 series, based on optics, a typical consumer will see that there's just a small phone and a big phone — and they'll choose accordingly.

Now, with the new Pixel 9 series, the average Joe will likely think, "Hm, I see two smaller phones and a giant third option."

Admittedly, it's a smart strategy from Google, as this visual lineup will goad many consumers to opt for most striking, salient phone: the Pixel 9 Pro XL. (And recent market trends, like Apple dropping the mini variant from the iPhone line, indicate that buyers gravitate toward larger phones.)

Now that you understand the new lay of the land for Google Pixel phones, let's dive into my first impressions of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and by extension, the Pixel 9 Pro since their feature set is wildly similar (save for the display and battery size).

Pixel 9 Pro XL hands-on experience

Can we talk about the incredible new Super Res Zoom? Featured on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, it can zero in on subjects up to 30x, up from 20x on the Pixel 8 Pro. I tested it inside a building in Lower Manhattan that is about a mile, or 5,280 feet away, from The Edge (the tallest observation deck in the entire Western Hemisphere).

From a window inside a building near Pier 57, I could see The Edge from a distance. I used the Pixel 9 Pro XL to zoom in on The Edge, and suddenly, tiny figures came into view on the viewfinder.

Here's The Edge at 5x zoom (this is the max the Pixel 9 Pro XL can reach on the telephoto's optical zoom before digital zoom kicks in):

The Edge at 10x zoom:

And finally, The Edge at 30x zoom:

I zoomed in so close, I could make out the color of some visitors' lighter-colored shirts. Hell, I could even count how many people were standing on the deck if I had enough patience.

This is the phone you purchase if you attend a lot of concerts and you want to see your favorite artist from the nosebleed seats. I was blown away.

But wait 'til you hear this. Yes, Super Res Zoom has gotten an improvement on camera, but it's also coming to video, too. Plus, you can enhance your videos up to 8K with a new feature called Video Boost. Google also says the Night Sight Video feature is better than ever, so you can take better captures in low-light environments.

Both the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 9 Pro have the same camera system:

• 50MP wide camera

• 48MP ultrawide camera with a 123-degree field of view

• 48MP telephoto

• 42MP selfie camera

Compared to the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL's selfie camera jumped to 42MP from 10.5MP. I took selfies with both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, but we weren't able to secure them to show our readers.

But I will say, compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I don't look like an ogre due to post-processing tweaks (looking at you, Apple.) Plus, the selfie camera camera now has autofocus.

New design that tweaks the camera bar

The Google Pixel series is known for its signature edge-to-edge camera bar. (I've always joked that the Google Pixel series looks like Star Trek's Geordi La Forge — or Roger Federer with a sweatband).

Now, Google transformed the funky feature from a bar to an island.

Also, unlike the Pixel 8 series, the new Google Pixel 9 series' camera bar is color matched with the chassis. Although the Pixel 9 Pro XL is designed to be the largest of the trio, it didn't feel unwieldy in my hand. But it definitely won't fit in your pockets if they're of the smaller, tighter variety. Plus, I was impressed with the phone's silky matte glass finish, which didn't collect any grease nor fingerprints.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL, as well as the Pixel 9 Pro, comes in Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose Quartz. I preferred all the colors but Porcelain simply because, all due to my own fault, I accidentally smudged a bit of my own makeup on it after touching my face. As such, I just know I'd want a color that hides stains better. However, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is very easy to clean, no matter which color you get.

Stunning display

Here's where the Pixel 9 Pro XL differs from the Pixel 9 Pro. It packs a 6.8-inch, 1344 x 2992 display while the Pixel 9 Pro has a 6.3-inch, 1280 x 2856 panel. Interestingly, the Pixel 9 Pro is smaller than the Pixel 8 Pro, which is 6.7 inches.

It still has that attractive hole-punch design, and despite standing in a brightly lit room with sunlight pouring in, the screen was still punchy, clear, and well-illuminated. This is because the Pixel 9 Pro XL (and Pixel 9 Pro) has a peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits compared to the Pixel 8 Pro's 2,400 nits.

Battery life

The rule of thumb is that a larger battery capacity should lead to more battery life. If the Pixel 9 Pro XL follows that rule, it should outpace the Pixel 9 Pro with its 5,060 mAh battery capacity compared to its smaller Pro sibling's 4,700 mAh battery.

Both phones are rated for over 24 hours of battery life and up to 100 hours of battery life with Extreme Battery Saver.

Mind-blowing AI

Thanks to the new Google tensor G4 chip, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, as well as the other Pixel 9 phones, have arguably the best set of AI features I've ever seen on a phone.

For example, with the new Add Me feature, you can take a picture of a group of friends, have someone take a picture of yourself, and AI will merge that photo together as if you were in the original photo:

There's also a new AI feature called Reimagine, which lets you select an object in a photo, and with a prompt, you can transform it into anything you want.

For more AI features coming to the Google Pixel 9 series, check out our list on the cool new perks coming to the lineup.

Final thoughts

As I hinted at the outset, the new Pixel 9 Pro XL is designed to get people to grab the priciest option since consumers tend to gravitate towards either the most premium option or the entry-level model. Now, the Pixel 9 Pro is the middle child, making it less attractive to consumers.

Last year, the Pixel 8 Pro, the best Pixel phone you could get, set you back $1,000. Now, the best Pixel phone you can get, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, sets you back $1,100.

Again, it's a brilliant strategy on Google's part. Personally, I'd gravitate toward the Pixel 9 Pro XL myself because I always want the best-of-the-best. Plus, long battery runtime is important to me, so I'd opt for the device with the greatest capacity.

Overall, this year's Pixel 9 series proves that Google is serious about competing against the major players in the mobile industry — and this bold move will challenge Samsung and Apple's dominance like never before.